[Russbmw]

So I've had the car over a year now, and I'm getting seriously tempted to remap it, as the output gains are impressive for relatively little outlay.

My only concern is the warranty.

Has anyone else had theirs remapped and run into any issues regarding warranty work when required?

Obviously the map can be removed/reloaded if required, but that's a bit of a faff.

[Lorcan]

There's an element of risk with pretty much all tuning/modding so my advice would be to manage that risk as best you can. Choose your tuner carefully. Maps can be removed/reloaded IF you have the opportunity. If your motor grenades on the M6 and is recovered by BMW you won't have that opportunity. So you might want to consider how much risk you want to take on and whether you can afford that risk as well as the purchase price of the map.

[Russbmw]

I hear you Lorcan.

I didn't remap my e92 335 as it had the N54 lump, and I was already concerned enough with that blowing a foo-foo valve.

I suppose in my head, the F32 is newer, a lot less miles on it so chance of something shitting itself should theoretically be significantly lower, and also being the N55 engine, not prone to the same turbo problems of the earlier engine.

[Watsey]

It depends on the gains that you want to achieve, and what's available of course.

MPPK maintains the full BMW warranty, but is at the conservative end of the spectrum.

ECU piggyback probably the most convenient for install/removal, but be careful choosing one which doesn't have a crude method of operation i.e. simply increasing fuel rail pressure. Multi channel systems should be a better bet.

Full remap often considered to the the 'best' overall, and the more reputable tuners may provide a warranty.

Engines and gearboxes do have limits and they also have headroom to make safe gains. A stock engine/gearbox which has to endure launch control on a frequent basis is more likely to suffer premature wear or failure compared to a tuned car which is treated with some mechanical sympathy.

[Tengocity]

I had my remap done by DMS and it's had a bit of warranty work carried out since then and the map was never detected. That warranty work included replacing the EGR system, so an engine issue.

I think one of the dealers suspected a remap (but never asked me), as they re-installed the engine management system which wiped the map, but failed to notice the cracked EGR pipe and the fault remained. I had the map re-installed by DMS and went to a different dealer who immediately said the EGR system needed changed. Again, they didn't detect the remap.

So, what I'm saying is, get the right re-mapper and I don't think you need worry too much.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by Lorcan

There's an element of risk with pretty much all tuning/modding so my advice would be to manage that risk as best you can. Choose your tuner carefully. Maps can be removed/reloaded IF you have the opportunity. If your motor grenades on the M6 and is recovered by BMW you won't have that opportunity. So you might want to consider how much risk you want to take on and whether you can afford that risk as well as the purchase price of the map.

GOOD Advise.

[Ajs_435d]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I had my remap done by DMS and it's had a bit of warranty work carried out since then and the map was never detected. That warranty work included replacing the EGR system, so an engine issue.

I think one of the dealers suspected a remap (but never asked me), as they re-installed the engine management system which wiped the map, but failed to notice the cracked EGR pipe and the fault remained. I had the map re-installed by DMS and went to a different dealer who immediately said the EGR system needed changed. Again, they didn't detect the remap.

So, what I'm saying is, get the right re-mapper and I don't think you need worry too much.

Interesting, what was the symptoms of a cracked Egr pipe?

[t5pilot]

And if it does go bang, so what?
A professional map is not detectable by dealer diagnostic. They would have to drive the car to suspect it's been done. Can't do that if it won't run.

The specific ECU parameters would need analysing, with a direct comparison of those parameters with a 'standard' ECU.

This is very specialised stuff for a manufacturer to undertake.

I say this from experience. My mapped E90 developed an ECU fault.

Lots of extended diagnosis done, including data being sent to Germany. ECU was replaced under warranty, no questions ever asked.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Ajs_435d

Interesting, what was the symptoms of a cracked Egr pipe?

I had an intermittent engine warning light, and the occasional smell of exhaust fumes under the bonnet.

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by t5pilot

And if it does go bang, so what?
A professional map is not detectable by dealer diagnostic. They would have to drive the car to suspect it's been done. Can't do that if it won't run.

The specific ECU parameters would need analysing, with a direct comparison of those parameters with a 'standard' ECU.

This is very specialised stuff for a manufacturer to undertake.

I say this from experience. My mapped E90 developed an ECU fault.

Lots of extended diagnosis done, including data being sent to Germany. ECU was replaced under warranty, no questions ever asked.

Im not so sure about that. I was talking to the service advisor at my dealer the other week and asked about detecting remaps. He said the remap puts a marker in the ecu that can be detected by their gear.
My car is going in again for something in a couple of days and if I get to chat with a technician, I'll ask him too.

Obviously they won't go looking for it unless your engine goes bang, otherwise I guess they won't give a stuff.

Things have moved on a bit since the E90 days.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by dopper99

Im not so sure about that. I was talking to the service advisor at my dealer the other week and asked about detecting remaps. He said the remap puts a marker in the ecu that can be detected by their gear.
My car is going in again for something in a couple of days and if I get to chat with a technician, I'll ask him too.

Obviously they won't go looking for it unless your engine goes bang, otherwise I guess they won't give a stuff.

Things have moved on a bit since the E90 days.

Sorry Dopper, I can categorically tell you that it is possible to remap a car and the dealer diagnostic equipment not detect it. I don't know how difficult it is to do, and what proportion of remappers can do it, but my own experience proves it.

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Sorry Dopper, I can categorically tell you that it is possible to remap a car and the dealer diagnostic equipment not detect it. I don't know how difficult it is to do, and what proportion of remappers can do it, but my own experience proves it.

I'm not going to argue as I'm only repeating what I've been told.

But did they actually tell you they looked for a remap and said they found nothing?

If they had no reason to look, they won't find one.

But if they did look.......?

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by dopper99

But did they actually tell you they looked for a remap and said they found nothing?

If they had no reason to look, they won't find one.

But if they did look.......?

First garage didn't, but by definition it had to have been connected up to do the re-programming.

The second place I was standing with the technician as he connected it up and he said that diagnostics check would throw up a warning if it detected a remap, and that it would also state which parts of the cars where warranty was voided at the same time.

So the very act of running the diagnostics includes the car systems being checked for a remap as I understood it.

I asked if they do detect them and he said yes they do sometimes, though usually on older cars where the warranty is over anyway so it doesn't matter in that regard.

So, that does suggest that not all remappers are as able to cover their tracks as others.

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

First garage didn't, but by definition it had to have been connected up to do the re-programming.

The second place I was standing with the technician as he connected it up and he said that diagnostics check would throw up a warning if it detected a remap, and that it would also state which parts of the cars where warranty was voided at the same time.

So the very act of running the diagnostics includes the car systems being checked for a remap as I understood it.

I asked if they do detect them and he said yes they do sometimes, though usually on older cars where the warranty is over anyway so it doesn't matter in that regard.

So, that does suggest that not all remappers are as able to cover their tracks as others.

That's great info, can't argue with that.

I'll be looking for a dms map then, if I ever get mine done.

[t5pilot]

Originally Posted by dopper99

That's great info, can't argue with that.

I'll be looking for a dms map then, if I ever get mine done.

And if you weren't completely satisfied, I'm only too happy to confirm Tengocity is correct.
My cars just had a dealer major service. Map undetected despite me asking the technician to try & find it. He, nor any of the BMW wizardry found anything. He would have relished to find it as well, to 'get one over on his dad'... Me!

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by t5pilot

And if you weren't completely satisfied, I'm only too happy to confirm Tengocity is correct.
My cars just had a dealer major service. Map undetected despite me asking the technician to try & find it. He, nor any of the BMW wizardry found anything. He would have relished to find it as well, to 'get one over on his dad'... Me!

Haha, good one! So you have a DMS map too?

[t5pilot]

Originally Posted by dopper99

Haha, good one! So you have a DMS map too?

No. RS Tuning, Leeds. I've known Paul for years. Wouldn't go anywhere else with just about any motor.