Dinan Question & Answer Show

My55 · 21st August 2007, 22:22

I am going to start a new thread that I will use try and help answer questions regarding Dinan products. Anything I cannot answer I will relay to Steve Dinan, Chris Chandler or Eric Bateman to get the proper terms.

FIRE AWAY! Please be courteous to me, I am taking time away from my money earning job to provide answers to respectable questions!

This is as quote about my history with Dinan from another thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 550Chris

I used to work for Dinan from 2000 to 2004 as a regional sales manager. I handled BMW and Independant dealer accounts for half of the united states and also was on the other end of all the retail phone calls. I myself have answered many questions from board members and sold a lot of parts to you guys.

I have followed this board for many years and have been frustuarated by all of the misconceptions, mostly from guys that dont have Dinan products and never will. When I worked at Dinan we were not allowed to respond or post on any message boards, this philosiphy changed for a short while but Steve felt that even though they made a presence here it went unappreciated.

Now that I am in an entirely different industry I can post where/what I want to. I still have very close ties (family) at Dinan and get 1st hand info to answer all of your questions to the best of my ability without giving away trade secrets. I do this to help you guys understand what really goes on over at Dinan headquarters, not because I care how you feel about them or their products. I have Dinan stuff on my own car because I know that these were fully engineered and will not mess with the warranty of my 07 BMW.

Another misconception is that Steve is just lining his pockets... This is the furthest thing from the truth (beleive me I had taken many pay cuts). He pumps ALL the money back into research and development. He does not live lavish in a mulitmillion dollar home or take vacations. He works 7 days a week 10-12 hours a day with engineering to develop/fix products. To be the best most reliable products on the market. I know everything about this company inside and out and I trust every statement that is made!

In closing I would like to point out that THE ONLY GUYS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE NEW M5 SOFTWARE MADE BY DINAN ARE CARS WITH OTHER COMPANIES MODIFICATIONS, this is not a fault by Dinan or the other tuners but it seems that they just dont go together!!

zzyzx · 22nd August 2007, 02:48

Hey Chris, will Dinan ever make header and software for E460 M5? How about CAI? any ETA on these items? and MSRP.

tks in advacne for your help

My55 · 22nd August 2007, 03:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by zzyzx

Hey Chris, will Dinan ever make header and software for E460 M5? How about CAI? any ETA on these items? and MSRP.

tks in advacne for your help

HEADERS: Oct ~ Dec
They are working diligently on a header setup but the gains to cost ratio might not work out very favorably for most E60 owners. It Might only be included on the stroker motor, but I will clarify this tomorrow.

SOFTWARE: Out now
It is currently available at any Dinan authorized independent shop or BMW dealer. Cost is $999 and will only really take 15 minutes to install. >many good S/A will not charge labor because it is so easy<
Also this is currently the most inexpensive software available for the M5

CAI: Sept ~ Oct
Top Priority item. Dinan has a air/water flow software program and I cannot think of what this type of program is but some you guys would know (CAD?)
Probaly the only intake manufacturer that does this. There is a white paper just put up on their website Friday where Steve Dinan claims a 25hp increase. It will probably be a ram air type function with a large capcity intake box.

Cams: Oct ~ Dec
Everything about these is very secret even to me

MCarRacr07 · 22nd August 2007, 03:06

I have been a customer of Dinan since 1995 and can honestly say that I have always been happy with their product....the dealer/installers ...not always the best....thankfully Dinan has sourced some VERY GOOD indies.
My question for you is...the software Stage4 for an E39 M5....can it be "undone" by the dealer???...what I mean is do I need the software re-flashed when a Big Service is done???
Regards
S

zzyzx · 22nd August 2007, 03:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by 550Chris

HEADERS: Oct ~ Dec
They are working diligently on a header setup but the gains to cost ratio might not work out very favorably for most E60 owners. It Might only be included on the stroker motor, but I will clarify this tomorrow.

SOFTWARE: Out now
It is currently available at any Dinan authorized independent shop or BMW dealer. Cost is $999 and will only really take 15 minutes to install. >many good S/A will not charge labor because it is so easy<
Also this is currently the most inexpensive software available for the M5

CAI: Sept ~ Oct
Top Priority item. Dinan has a air/water flow software program and I cannot think of what this type of program is but some you guys would know (CAD?)
Probaly the only intake manufacturer that does this. There is a white paper just put up on their website Friday where Steve Dinan claims a 25hp increase. It will probably be a ram air type function with a large capcity intake box.

Cams: Oct ~ Dec
Everything about these is very secret even to me

thanks for the quick reply Chris. Any way you can find out how much and what kind of performace on the header? does it need different software then the current software Dinan offers?

Will the CAI be using carbon fiber tubing? and same question as above, does need software update?

last question, will the current stage I software work with latest BMW v.26 software?

tks

My55 · 22nd August 2007, 03:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by MCarRacr07

I have been a customer of Dinan since 1995 and can honestly say that I have always been happy with their product....the dealer/installers ...not always the best....thankfully Dinan has sourced some VERY GOOD indies.
My question for you is...the software Stage4 for an E39 M5....can it be "undone" by the dealer???...what I mean is do I need the software re-flashed when a Big Service is done???
Regards
S

Once you pay for Dinan software it is yours for life it can be reloaded 1 million times without cost to you. If you go in for a major service and it is not a Dinan dealer that has the ability to reflash your car using the MIPP tool then you have two choices.

1) Have them take out the ECU that is labeled "DME" and send it to Dinan to get benched flashed. It will be two days worth of air mail and 15 minutes on Dinans computer.

2) Drive carefully to the closest Dinan flash tool and have it reloaded when your service is done.

If your service is at a Dinan dealer or Indy then just remind them over and over to RE-FLASH THAT BAD BOY!!

T Bone · 22nd August 2007, 03:12

Chris,

With the CAI, will they make one for the M6? It looks like the M6 already has a cold air snorkel.

My55 · 22nd August 2007, 03:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by T Bone

Chris,

With the CAI, will they make one for the M6? It looks like the M6 already has a cold air snorkel.

What they look at is two things.

1. How can we improve the volume and path for that air to go into the intake boxes? The will run their CAD? program to also make sure that when driving in the rain the RAM air will not ingest ANY water.

2. Are the boxes currently holding enough air. Can they increase the volume with larger or different shaped boxes and if that will even be beneficial.

My55 · 22nd August 2007, 03:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by zzyzx

thanks for the quick reply Chris. Any way you can find out how much and what kind of performace on the header? does it need different software then the current software Dinan offers?

Will the CAI be using carbon fiber tubing? and same question as above, does need software update?

last question, will the current stage I software work with latest BMW v.26 software?

tks

The headers is still in early stages but I can try and drag more out of them about "expectations" Steve really does not like to forecast anything and usually goes by hard facts.

anytime there is a significant modification that will affect air or require more fuel Dinan will release a new stage of software that will incorporate that specific product. There is usually and upgrade fee of $100-200 because they have to recoup the cost of R&D but again the software is always yours.

Dinan may go with carbon fiber on the M cars it has been a trend for them over the years. The have invested a lot of money into their own plastic molding machine for airboxes etc.

What happens with BMW software (v25, V26) updates is sometimes it affects the Dinan program where they do not recognize each other, but every time this happens it gets recorded on their MIPP tool. Dinan sees what cars did not take and opens that to see what BMW changed. It will usually be available within 30 days for that specific car or the DME can be sent in by the dealer to get benched flashed.

ZHH · 22nd August 2007, 05:48

Thanks for the help. I love Dinan products myself, and cant wait to get the CAI and Cams.