G-Tech Pro Competition - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Dobber · 19th May 2003, 20:14

Any group buys or recent evaluations? Has anyone ever tried to do a buy?

Has the fabled M5 RPM detection been fixed yet? Anyone have the new software promised early '03?

Any Pros or Cons?

XrayMD · 19th May 2003, 20:20

I just got one last month and no, it still doesn't detect RPM properly via electrical noise. I called the company and left a message because I had some questions, but they never called me back.

M Power · 19th May 2003, 20:46

Is this the device that measures G force as one is accelerating?

Also 0 - 60mph times ..? If so, I missed the problem.. is it faulty?

Dobber · 19th May 2003, 22:12

The competition model has an RPM sensor (just by measuring voltage in cig ltr!) that can help to gauge shifting and signal optimal shift points. I've been told that the RPM sensing function does not work with the M5 or the S06 vette. Last posts are from late last year so I figured I'd see if there are any updates.

No returned calls?!! That can't be good. Seems to be quite a few of them on the 'used' market as well. Am I getting a signal here?

Hamann7 · 19th May 2003, 22:17

The G-Tech Pro Competition is a great product. The owner of the company is a good friend of mine, in fact, I just had coffee with him yesterday.

I am sure he will do whatever he can to make it work with the M5. After all, he himself has an E46 M3.

If you call G-Tech, ask for my friend Ray Grunch in Marketing Dept., and tell him that Tyson sent you. I am sure he will help you out.

I will inquire about your comments, and he can use my car as a test mule to make sure it works. I haven't tried mine in the M5 yet, but I'll let you know.

As we speak they are working on a software upgrade to make it even better for road racing use.

greg · 20th May 2003, 18:22

Hamann -

I have spoken to Ray a bunch. He is helpless. The software updates are a year overdue. I am so frustrated withthis company. They haven't delivered what they said they would. They promised road race-oriented features in V2 - all I got was useless "cornering lights" - you STILL can't just start the thing and have it log G force without starting from a dead stop - and even though they haven't released their "pc analysis" software they DISABLED the ability to download the data to a PC for my own analysis in Excel. The thing is totally geared for drag racers. It is such a shame- a very promising product, elegant hardware. But I have complained - and the answer has always been "it is just about out." B.S.

It does work in the Porsche so I've tried it there - but because I'm not into drag racing the feature set is all wrong for me.

FYI - It doesn't sense RPM by cigarette lighter voltage, it samples the ignition and/or alternator noise there. However this has never worked in the M5. (You can get it to almost work if you put a big electrical load on, making the alternator work harder - turn on headlights, fogs, seat heaters, etc.)

If you are friends with the owner, I would appreciate it if you would tell him I would love to talk to him. Not to be angry with him, but to share my excitement and ideas for the way this product COULD be, and to help any way I can. I WANT it to work. Please PM me with details...

JIMMY · 21st May 2003, 10:54

Got it, tried it. Returned it.

Comments:
1. Not as accurate/consistent as the 1st generation.
2. RPM is hard to adjust and it goes off even when its calibrated.
3. Too complicated for my simple brain.

4. Better off to the drag strip

Here is my result on the 1st generation G-Tech:

http://www.jimmy540i.com/gtech.htm

Regards,
JIMMY
www.Jimmy540i.com

Dobber · 28th May 2003, 20:03

Hamann7.....Any updates from your buddy at G-Tech? What is the deal?

Hamann7 · 28th May 2003, 20:52

Sorry guys, I haven't been able to speak with Jovo in the past week. I've been really busy. I was supposed to see him at a party last weekend, but I didn't go.

I will try to connect with him this week and I will forward all your comments to him!

greg · 29th May 2003, 02:00

Hamann -

just to clarify my above post, when I said Ray was "helpless" - he has been very nice on the phone, and sympathetic. However he simply doesn't have the tools and products he needs to help me. Perhaps I should have used the word "powerless." It is very clear he either doesn't communicate the degree of customer dissatisfaction up to the boss, or the boss doesn't understand what a terrible mistake the company is making by failing to communicate with its customers. I suspect the latter.

I wrote several lengthy emails early on, because the unit I received included a note saying "you are one of the first few hundred, blha blah, we really want your input..." Even then, I didn't even get a sungle acknowledgement that I had taken the time to write., let alone to thank me for making constructive suggestions. Bad, bad marketing.

But I have a multi-hundred $$ lump sitting on my desk that simply doesn't work - and hasn't, for WAY too long. I want them to admit their mistakes, promise a date for a fix and meet it, or refund my money.

And the sad thing is - it COULD BE such a completely great totally cool truly useful product! I would much rather they fix it than give me my money back, but they have failed to deliver on every promise they've made, and I'm out of patience. AND I will say so to anyone who asks.