[bimmerboi510]

Hey guys, I've done a good amount of research on these N54 E92 6at tranny flashes, I know how it works and what it does in different modes etc. However, I cannot seem to find any thread regarding the reliability side and the long term use of this flash. I want to flash my 09 E92 335 with the Alpina B3 flash but if it's bad for the tranny in anyway ( tranny blowing up around 120k miles) I do not want to risk it. Is there anybody that's bumped into any problems with this flash? I just can't imagine making the tranny work extra hard and not having any downsides to it. Please share your input and experiences. Thanks!

[thecooltype]

I never got it done because I heard it made the car drive shitty at low speed/rpm. Idk if I was fed false info.

[srbarnes4ever]

Originally Posted by bimmerboi510

Hey guys, I've done a good amount of research on these N54 E92 6at tranny flashes, I know how it works and what it does in different modes etc. However, I cannot seem to find any thread regarding the reliability side and the long term use of this flash. I want to flash my 09 E92 335 with the Alpina B3 flash but if it's bad for the tranny in anyway ( tranny blowing up around 120k miles) I do not want to risk it. Is there anybody that's bumped into any problems with this flash? I just can't imagine making the tranny work extra hard and not having any downsides to it. Please share your input and experiences. Thanks!

I can't flash it as my 07 E90 is a Sept 06 build and the TCU didn't have room in flash for the data, as I understand it. Having said that, I drive 90% of the time in DS mode and it is all but perfect for me....I'd have to drive someone's car with the flash to know if it is an improvement at all.

[Dark_Knight_335]

Too twitchy for me. Yes, over time, it WILL take a toll on your transmission.


Pay to play

[bimmerboi510]

Originally Posted by Dark_Knight_335

Too twitchy for me. Yes, over time, it WILL take a toll on your transmission.


Pay to play

I see, yeah I just wanted to read about the downsides to it since every thread I find, people are saying its a must to any 07+ n54....... but no one's confirmed it has messed up their tranny.

[Footdeep_milelong]

+1, I would love to know the long term issues people have encountered. I just did it on my 2011 e90 N55 +PPK, and while I love it, I am worried about potential issues.

I have 71k miles and have not had the tranny fluid done, and I may have a faulty diff. I am still under CPO warranty but I want to find out any feedback from any others with higher mileage cars.

[bimmerboi510]

is it really as twitchy as some people say? and hows the car for DD now?

[Dark_Knight_335]

Originally Posted by bimmerboi510

I see, yeah I just wanted to read about the downsides to it since every thread I find, people are saying its a must to any 07+ n54....... but no one's confirmed it has messed up their tranny.

I'm sure you'll be fine brother.

Everything we do to request our components to operate outside their OEM specs take a toll, however small.

There are far worse things you can do, and the N54 tranny is pretty well up for the task.

[Dark_Knight_335]

Originally Posted by bimmerboi510

is it really as twitchy as some people say? and hows the car for DD now?

Imagine your DS being your D, and S being faster to shift, rev matching pretty well.

It was pretty nice on my N55, but I'm just getting old, and I'm keeping the car, so wanted to minimize any potential TCU tomfoolery, however small.

[bimmerboi510]

Originally Posted by Dark_Knight_335

Imagine your DS being your D, and S being faster to shift, rev matching pretty well.

It was pretty nice on my N55, but I'm just getting old, and I'm keeping the car, so wanted to minimize any potential TCU tomfoolery, however small.

okay! I see, might follow through with it this weekend haha

[bimmerboi510]

more inputs would be appreciated!

[Fabb]

I got jerky first second gear sometimes. But it's gone after the car warms up.

Besides that, lightning upshift and downshift with rev matching!

[Twin_Snails]

So far so good for me, the Alpina flash is great. Like everyone says the D mode sucks, it shifts too quick, meaning your in gear 6 by like 40mph lol (something along the line). I only use paddles so thats where the Alpina flash is great, i love how much better downshifts are and how quicker the upshifts are. As for reliability i'm not too sure, i've had my tranny flashed for almost over 4 years and seems to be running the same before the flash.

[Hpirx]

I don't really see how it could "mess up" the transmission.
I think poor driving technique is probably a lot harsher on the tranny than a flash that changes the shift points.
That said, I have had the Alpina flash for about a year without problem.
Yes, the Alpina "D" mode is more annoying than the stock "D" mode, but still driveable.
And you can use the paddles to shift in Alpina "D" (Could you do that in Stock D? I forget).
The real pleasure is in Alpina Sport mode. Much faster all around. (Drinks gas though).
If you don't have paddle shifters, this mod might not be as practical as the stock TCU, because although it works well most of the time, since the modes are pushed farther to their respective extremes, there are instances when it's nice to intervene manually,quickly.

[DaZuc]

I've had it for about 30k miles not I'm at 64k now.

I've noticed occasionally my 2nd to 3rd shift lags and shift slower than any other gears. 4>5>6 is lighting (compared to stock)

Also starting in D mode in city is annoying, it downshifts to 1st when you stop, then will shift at 1600rpm into 2nd. Which causes start off slow coming from a ref light.

[cRaZyiNgLiSh]

I love it. I'm picking that the lack of people posting about the pitfalls, risks, etc is probably testament to the reliability of the "mod". Let's be honest, it's a transmission flash designed by BMW for use in their cars. No doubt it would be a stock option in every model if they didn't figure they could make good coin by charging extra for it.

p.s. only my wife drives in "D"...

[Socket]

Ive had the alpina flash for over 12 months and 30,000 Km
Zero issues at all

Is absolutely an improvement over stock

As others have said D sux even with the flash
Only drive it in S or manual

[BeastMode335i]

I've had the alpina flash for about 18 months, and I never have had any issues with it.. I drive in M mode 99% of the time though, as I find that S1-S6 mode hangs in 4th gear for a little longer than I'd like..

[bloppitybloop]

I've had it for about 70k miles and have had no issues.

[TomD335xicoupe]

Same as everybody else had it 1.5 years and about 18k miles, but one precautionary advisement. D mode sucks I only drive in sport. So not that uncommon an issue , happen to me. The wires (which are simply to short) attached to the gear shifter which signal the transmission control unit that you want to be in sport mode are susceptible to ware from "over use" of the switching function, going back and forth with the gear shifter. Has nothing to do directly with the Alpina flash except you will hate D and always be shifting out of it. I know you would think they covered this at BMW but get used to stupid shit going wrong. When or if they do fail you are permanently stuck in D mode till you fix it. A few videos on line about it reasonably easy fix but a PITA

[bimmerboi510]

Originally Posted by cRaZyiNgLiSh

I love it. I'm picking that the lack of people posting about the pitfalls, risks, etc is probably testament to the reliability of the "mod". Let's be honest, it's a transmission flash designed by BMW for use in their cars. No doubt it would be a stock option in every model if they didn't figure they could make good coin by charging extra for it.

p.s. only my wife drives in "D"...

Interesting. So D mode is worse than stock D mode? but S mode is so much better that it makes up for the differences in D mode?

That's kind of the idea everyone's giving me haha

[cRaZyiNgLiSh]

Originally Posted by bimmerboi510

Interesting. So D mode is worse than stock D mode? but S mode is so much better that it makes up for the differences in D mode?

That's kind of the idea everyone's giving me haha

Pretty much bro. Also I have MHD burble set aggressive in S and off in D, so if I pull up next to the man or just wanna go stealth I slap it back into D. Sometimes it's handy to have the gear displayed on the dash, too. I wouldn't go back to stock, put it that way.