OK...I went from stock ECU programming to a competitor of Powerchip shortly getting my '02 M5. I didn't like the competitor's programming as I felt a mid-range powerhole and hiccup. I switched to Powerchip shortly after the Gold 93 version came out and was subsequently upgraded to version 2 of the Gold 93 programming.
Because of an unrelated problem, my service tech. cleared my ECU about a month and a half ago and replaced it with the latest BMW programming. This was a bit of an improvement over stock programming as I am told it leaned the mixture a bit and raised the rev limiter by about 100 RPM. This is the programming that is currently in place in the '03 M5. However, I lost the partial throttle response and the increased torque and higher rev limiter increase that the Powerchip gave me.
I've dealt with Wayne, Travis, Sam and 1 or 2 others at Powerchip from the beginning and they have always acted professionally and answered questions to my satisfaction and helped with any problems, troubleshooting, etc. that came up. I decided I wanted the Powerchip back and contacted them and received the laptop and cable last week and installed the programming late the other evening. After solving a minor glitch because of a corrupted file via email, the procedure went flawlessly. Since I have driven my beast with stock programming now for 1 1/2 mos., I can tell you that the difference was like night & day! Partial throttle resonse is awesome and torque is definitely increased noticibly. I'm sure I'll notice the 1 mpg better mileage I saw the last time as well.
I've watched the other thread regarding Powerchip and I can only say that that has not been my experience with Powerchip and certainly not with Wayne. You can't please everyone 100% of the time. Don't let that thread discourage you from trying something that will greatly improve the "drivability" of your beast. Now, I can't wait until I get the intake air temp. sensor moved (7/31) as I know the improvement will be even greater! BTW, I am not an owner or investor in Powerchip, nor do I receive any compensation from them. I am just a very satisfied customer, again.
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Steve
'02 M5 LeMans Blue:
Active Autowerke CAI/brake ducts
Supersprint Headers and cats
SuperSprint exhaust with X-pipe
Evosport custom 3.45 diff. with 30% lockup and 2x dynamic lockup
UFMotorsport intake air temp sensor relocation
Powerchip Gold (SS header/cats version)
Ignition Solutions plasma coils
Dinan Stage III suspension
BeastPower sway bar brackets
Dinan front strut tower brace
Stoptech Custom Silver Big Brake kit (fronts)
RMS short shifter
Rogue Performance transmission mounts, Royal Purple Synchromax fluid
Llumar window tint (35%)
steve,
thanks for the write up. Ive always been worried about such modifications, but every now and then I think maybe someday Ill do it... reading your writeup brings me a little closer.......
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All the best,
Jerry 00 Z8 Jet Black/Red Sport / some others
I can second Xray’s experience.
After Steve had his ecu cleared, I had mine cleared as well, since our respective SA’s were touting this “much-improved” factory software.
Got my PC back in the same night as Xray’s, and I’m a happy camper.
Interesting, though, the factory ‘03 M5’s really DO make more HP and torque than the ‘01 and ‘02 M5’s.
For those of you that want to remain stock (the few, the proud..), it would be wise to ask your SA to upgrade your ecu to ‘03 specs.
Or just buy the PC, for an even bigger bang...
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Tony
01 M5 Carbon Black (going..)
02 M5 Imola Red/Black (gone)
01 M3 convertible Red/black
(Looking arounf for an 03 M5)
Originally posted by MEnthusiast steve,
thanks for the write up. Ive always been worried about such modifications, but every now and then I think maybe someday Ill do it... reading your writeup brings me a little closer.......
Jerry,
I'm not heavy into mods, and I'm not an aggressive driver by any means, but I can also attest to the 'driveabilty' of the M5 after the Power Chip went on. The throttle response and power delivery are smooth as silk, at any RPM in any gear. Everything is effortless.
I cannot say enough how much I love this chip, and that is coming from a Dinan chip, which gave noticeable 'driveability' gain over stock already. I did a direct comparison when I drove my car (Dinan chipped) and Sugi's stock car back-to-back immediately. Power Chip pits Dinan to shame. If you go from stock to Power Chip, the feeling is unbound.
I'd urge you to give this chip a try. No one should be denied such guilty pleasures.
Steve, did you have to pay Powerchip for the second download? I am always fearful that the dealer will overwrite my ECU to latest specs w/o telling me. It would be good to know that if they did, I could get PC reinstalled at no charge (except maybe paying for shipping of the cables).
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Need4Spd
'01 M5/UUC SSK + Rogue WSR/RE Tranny Mounts+Royal Purple Synchromax/Axxis ULT Pads/StopTech SS Lines/TC Design from BeastPower Anti-roll Bar Brackets/Dinan LtWtFlywheel and Stage 3 suspension/Goodyear F1 Asymmetrics/Vines thrust arms/IATS relocation/10w-60 oil/hardwired Escort 9500i/Euro Armrest/TEC Cupholder/IceLink/PowerChip 91 Gold/TUBIs!/Strong Strut/BSW Stage 1/BT/Angel iBrights 3.0
'05 M3 Imola Cabrio 6MT, Nav, HK
"Is it the sounds that make a BMW a BMW? A BMW is designed to be heard, felt, experienced. So our engines sing. Our steering talks back. And we insist on offering manual transmissions in nearly all our models for drivers who crave them. The result is an almost telepathic oneness with the car. Just as surely as you can hear a BMW, a BMW hears you."
Originally posted by TonyS555 Interesting, though, the factory ‘03 M5’s really DO make more HP and torque than the ‘01 and ‘02 M5’s.
For those of you that want to remain stock (the few, the proud..), it would be wise to ask your SA to upgrade your ecu to ‘03 specs.
Or just buy the PC, for an even bigger bang...
Proof is in the pudding. I concour with Steve.
I have an 03 and it is faster than my short lived 99.
But the Powerchip difference from 03 to PC Still is Night & Day. I love it. The car drives exactly the way is was meant too.
I hear a lot of people say that the car sometimes makes them feel foolish when they shift. Powerchip have smoothed this out and now shifts are perfect. There is a much greater urgency about the car now.
I have since added the Underdrive pullies and they are Great, as well. I'm sure a dyno, if I could get one might only say 20 to 30 Hp improvement, but it is right in the sweet spot, where it is need most. The car is strong at the entire rev range.
Another totally satidfied customer, who lives about 3,000+ kms from Powerchip and has absoloutly no connection. I'm 2 states away from them.
X-Ray, I'm going to do the full Dinan CAI setup. I can't wait to see how that Blends in with the PC and UDP.
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///Mark 03 E39 M5 MIB He's in Apples hands now.
MIB...it should be an awesome setup, particularly because the new Dinan CAI kits include the modification of moving the intake air temp. sensor. As noted in previous threads, the stock placement is bad because of erroneously high temp sensing due to engine heat/heat soak. In my tests with Tony's M5 and mine, his air intake temps were at least 50 degrees cooler. When the ECU gets these high readings, it responds by ******ing timing and robbing you of a noticeable amount of power.
I purchased the non-Dinan temp. sensor relocation kit which will be install this Thursday. I will report back on the difference but I believe it will be an excellent complimentary mod with the Powerchip.
might only say 20 to 30 Hp improvement, but it is right in the sweet spot, where it is need most. The car is strong at the entire rev range.
Linear Mode
