ESS ECU DirectFlash Tune Install, Review, Impressions and Dyno [+20whp/+16wtq]

[Penguino]

I received my ESS ECU Tune several months ago and I wanted to make sure I drive the vehicle extensively before posting any reviews. So I decided to take a minute and write a brief review on this great product. Currently the ESS Tune is installed with an AFE Intake, AFE Scoops, Stock X-pipe and Siskin Valvetronic Exhaust.

First I have to say thank you to Roman@ESS and AJ@ESS for the absolutely best service you can possible get on this type of product. Even as a long time vendor I have been very impressed with everything that ESS has produced. VT1/VT2 will come later but for now here are my impressions on the tune.

Installation:
Installation was a breeze. Everything was pretty straight forward. Plugged in the USB drive, installed the software, plugged the DirectFlash cable to the car, read the ECU file, sent the file to AJ@ESS and within hours I received the file back. Loaded the file into the DirectFlash and within minutes I was ready to install the tune in the car.



Impressions:
I was very skeptical of installing any ECU tune on an NA engine, especially such a sophisticated engine like the S65. After much thought I decided to give it a try and to go with a company that I felt comfortable with and the DirectFlash option sealed the deal for me. The ability to tune and flash the car back to stock within minutes is just perfect. I`m a very picky enthusiast and everything must feel just right. I wasn't really expecting anything dramatic in the car but as long as there was an increase in power from stock and the vehicle ran smooth I was willing to give it a try.

Well, I`m glad I went with ESS. After I loaded the file, I went for a test drive. Anything below 5500rpm felt absolutely the same (confirmed by dyno below). But passed 5500rpm the car was a different animal. I decided to take it easy for the next 300 miles to allow for full adaptation and went for another test drive and pass 5500rpm I kept missing the shifts (DCT). The rpms just fly after 5500rpm all the way to redline. Power is very impressive at the upper range and quite noticeable yet the car feels 100% like stock under 5500rpm. Since my butt dyno noticed some power I decided to take it to an actual dyno and see how much I gained. I was honestly expecting no more than 10whp.

Dyno day:
For the dyno day I ran the car with 93 oct, Shell gas. Stock intake, stock exhaust, stock xpipe. Everything was stock other than the tune. We ran the car with the Tune first, loaded the stock tune and then ran the car stock. I picked the highest stock and the highest tuned run.

The car peaked at 353whp and 260wtq (STD) with a stock baseline of 339whp and 260wtq. For a peak gain of +14whp. What was impressive was a max gain of +20whp and 16wtq throughout the power band and power held consistently all the way to redline.

Here is the dyno:




Customer Service:
Top notch. That's all I gotta say. Any time of the day I was able to get a reply to my emails. Even on a saturday night Roman was still answering my emails and making sure I was getting the help I needed.

Conclusion:
The ESS DirectFlash is a very impressive unit and definitely recommended. The Remote tuning is something indispensable in my opinion. I have the DirectFlash unit in my trunk and I`m able to flash the ECU back and forth within 30 minutes whenever I feel like it.

The ESS Tune has to be one of my favorite mods on my M3. I recently flashed the car back to stock for a dealer visit. Walked into my office and started complaining on how slow the car felt for some reason. Until I realized the tune was stock and flashed...

I`ll be dyno'ing the car with a full catless exhaust system. I`ll post the updated dynos onced that's done.

Greentings,

[biglare]

Very nice write up and congrats on the tune!

Enjoy and be safe out there!

[GOLFFRR]

Awesome I also went with the ESS tune! ESS is a great company and def knows what they are doing. good to see another happy ESS customer on the road. Enjoy

[dnotorious]

congrats Carlitosz....you defintely sounds like a happy camper; do mind me asking what did this cost you? From your discovery; seems that you only added a tune and got an umph out of it. Best part; you even took it back to a dealer and feel in love with it again.. wondering if everything was stock internals and all u got was this tune if it would be still worth it...

[IMG]

Thanks for sharing, Can't wait to see you with a kit already

[ClementeCa]

I also went with the ESS tune! ESS is a great company and def knows what they are doing.

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by ClementeCa

I also went with the ESS tune! ESS is a great company and def knows what they are doing.

Woa what the hell

[Bogie]

Nice numbers.

[tha_good_life]

I should dyno my car. I did the same tune but I have a Akra EVO. I might just wait until I do my SC but the power is definetly there.

[Penguino]

Originally Posted by biglare

Very nice write up and congrats on the tune!

Enjoy and be safe out there!

Also have a 1M. Is that yours on the avatar? I dyno'ed the 1M and the gains where pretty significant. I`ll post the dyno for that as well.

[Penguino]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

Awesome I also went with the ESS tune! ESS is a great company and def knows what they are doing. good to see another happy ESS customer on the road. Enjoy

ESS is most definitely the way to go.

[Penguino]

Originally Posted by dnotorious

congrats Carlitosz....you defintely sounds like a happy camper; do mind me asking what did this cost you? From your discovery; seems that you only added a tune and got an umph out of it. Best part; you even took it back to a dealer and feel in love with it again.. wondering if everything was stock internals and all u got was this tune if it would be still worth it...

I believe it was $995 for the tune. The best thing is the ability to remove the flash remotely and drive to the dealer. This is not possible with most other tunes.

Yes. I have a completely stock engine and you saw the gains. This is definitely recommended. I installed an exhaust, AFE intake (no gains) and exhaust. I`ll be redyno'ing when the xpipe is installed.

[Penguino]

Originally Posted by ClementeCa

I also went with the ESS tune! ESS is a great company and def knows what they are doing.

It is!

Originally Posted by Bogie

Nice numbers.

Thank you.

Originally Posted by bapesta206

I should dyno my car. I did the same tune but I have a Akra EVO. I might just wait until I do my SC but the power is definetly there.

You`ll be surprised at the power gains the Akra will add mated to the ESS tune.

[datbimmerdoe]

great review! thx a bunch 4 sharin

[GIdriver]

I also went with ESS. Great product!

[chasing-infinity]

I'm planning on getting the ess tune as well as turner test pipe when my m3 gets delivered. Thanks for the great post!

[CCLSVTM3]

Very nice write up.... Thats why I am a proud owner of the tuner also....

[Penguino]

Originally Posted by the infamous...

great review! thx a bunch 4 sharin

You are welcome.

Originally Posted by GIdriver

I also went with ESS. Great product!

Haven't got a single complaint!

Originally Posted by chasing-infinity

I'm planning on getting the ess tune as well as turner test pipe when my m3 gets delivered. Thanks for the great post!

Let us know how that goes!

Originally Posted by CCL16M3

Very nice write up.... Thats why I am a proud owner of the tuner also....

[Penguino]

UPDATE: Had a customer service issue last week and couldn't have had a better customer service experience. To anybody even considering a tune, ESS is the only way to go.

Here is a small video of my tune + exhaust. Enjoy.

[C-M2]

Sounds great, What wheels are on the car?

[Penguino]

Originally Posted by Smg Ftw

Sounds great, What wheels are on the car?

Those are ALUFELGEN CS7.

[ueritaGro]

you even took it back to a dealer and feel in love with it again