|
|
SUPPORT ZPOST BY DOING YOUR TIRERACK SHOPPING FROM THIS BANNER, THANKS! |
Post Reply |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
03-09-2011, 03:52 PM | #1 |
Private
5
Rep 53
Posts |
ESS DirectFlash First Impressions
I ordered a DirectFlash for my Z4M a week or so ago from SonicMS and it arrived the other day. So far It's been about 24 hours with the software installed so I thought I'd give my first impressions.
Firstly if you're considering the DirectFlash as an option to quickly change between tunes - forget about it. It takes about 25 minutes to flash the ECU so loading up a tune quickly for race gas, valet mode, or whatever you might have in mind isn't going to work well. All of those tunes would have to come from ESS as well and they would charge for them. The process is pretty straight forward, install some software on a Windows PC (I used a Windows VM on my Mac for this), update the DirectFlash and the software and then head to your car. You have to first read and copy the existing ECU to the DirectFlash to send the resulting image file to ESS. After that they will modify it and send you back an updated copy which you will then write to the ECU. Both reading and writing the ECU takes about 25 minutes each time - so make sure your car is on a battery charger during this. The charger my car was connected to apparently wasn't working because after reading and writing my ECU I wasn't able to get the car to turn over - the battery was near dead. When the ECU was being written the fuel pump was running the entire time draining the battery. So be warned - if your battery died while flashing you would be at risk of bricking your ECU. I didn't have any issues thankfully. Throttle response is noticeably quicker and I would describe it somewhere between sport and non-sport mode of the stock car. Sport feels unchanged. It's much more manageable and immediate, I felt the stock non-sport mode to be somewhat numb; as if the car was asking you 'are you sure you want to press the throttle?' Now it just goes like it should. The car 'feels' faster overall mostly due to the throttle response improvements and has a noticeable boost midrange making the 1st to 2nd shift change feel more like a sportscar and the tires will spin easily if you're not paying attention under throttle. I haven't measured on a dyno, or timed 0-60 runs or anything of the sort. The software was mostly an experiment for me, all my other BMW's have been Sharked or otherwise been software tuned and I've always felt afterward that they sharpened up the car and made them feel more immediate. Bottom line, car feels better, improved throttle response, feels more fun. Not sure if it's worth the price of entry. |
03-09-2011, 04:05 PM | #2 |
Major General
423
Rep 5,329
Posts |
Honest review.... respect.
__________________
Z4MR VT2 - Clubsport build.
Multi award winning Detailing | Wrap | PPF specialists UK based - www.topwrapz.com |
Appreciate
0
|
03-09-2011, 04:32 PM | #3 |
International Bar Hopper
25
Rep 350
Posts
Drives: 2006 Imola Red Z4 M Roadster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Incline Village, Lake Tahoe
|
__________________
2006 Imola Red Z4 M, ESS VT2-500 Supercharged, SS V2 step headers, AEM water/meth, Nitto NT555R Drag Radials, ESS VT3 coming
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-09-2011, 07:53 PM | #5 |
Banned
56
Rep 1,739
Posts
Drives: 2008 Z4MC
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Seattle, Vancouver
|
Good review. Seems it may be more beneficial to ppl with headers etc as RobMCoupe said.
I'd really like to hear from people with the AA tune before/after VS this one. Anyone? |
Appreciate
0
|
03-10-2011, 02:44 AM | #6 |
Major General
423
Rep 5,329
Posts |
im very dissapointed witht he flash time......
25mins with the pump running is ridiculous imo..... what causes it to do that??
__________________
Z4MR VT2 - Clubsport build.
Multi award winning Detailing | Wrap | PPF specialists UK based - www.topwrapz.com |
Appreciate
0
|
03-10-2011, 05:13 AM | #7 |
Colonel
479
Rep 2,782
Posts
Drives: ESS/G-Power Z4M, VF Z4, 996tt
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles
|
It's not ESS's fault. It's our slow communication bus. While we have the upgraded ECU, we still use the E46 M3's dated communication system. It's like having a lightning-fast computer on a dial up connection... or a truck with a massive V8 trying to tow a boat with dental floss. It's the weak link. It's the reason it took an hour and a half get the AA tune, even though it was only a few megabytes.
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-10-2011, 06:31 AM | #8 |
Major
28
Rep 1,110
Posts |
thanks for the review, im excited to see how this tune works eith my headers in may
__________________
2007 TiAg ///MCoupe
* Dinan strut bars * ZHP knob * RPI scoop * Ultimate Pedals * RE Diablo * 3.91 TMS gears * Apex PS7 * Eventuri intake* Nitto NT05 * TMS pullies * Zeck CDV * RE tranny mounts * Tekarbon * Mstache 2 * '14 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi... No more snow for the M! |
Appreciate
0
|
03-11-2011, 07:25 AM | #10 |
Private
5
Rep 53
Posts |
I do intend to do further mods to my vehicle and I'm sure the unit will come in handy then - first when I get headers and then later if I supercharge.
One of the things I am interested in seeing over time is if there is any mileage improvements which could very likely pay for themselves. |
Appreciate
0
|
03-11-2011, 12:49 PM | #11 |
Captain
47
Rep 715
Posts |
so tempting!
__________________
RPI scoop|BMC drop in filter|EAS V1 aluminum mount|ZHP shiftknob|RHO plate holder|matte black grill|LED interior & license plate light|RE SSK|RE tranny mount|UUC engine mount|Bavarian CDV|clutch stop|18" Forgestar CF5 GOLD|RPI exhaust|H&R coilovers| RE RSM|
coming soon: aFe intake|tune|secondary cat delete| |
Appreciate
0
|
03-12-2011, 01:43 AM | #13 | |
391
Rep 3,149
Posts |
Quote:
Each vehicle is different and read / write times will vary depending on the ECU. Some are quick and some take longer than others. The Z4M has a more complex ECU than the older E46 M3 unit so it takes a bit longer to switch maps. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-12-2011, 02:06 AM | #14 | |
Captain
47
Rep 715
Posts |
Quote:
so how much will the map be? since OP said it copies the stock map data to the device and then send to u guys to get it remap(i guess tuned) Thanks!
__________________
RPI scoop|BMC drop in filter|EAS V1 aluminum mount|ZHP shiftknob|RHO plate holder|matte black grill|LED interior & license plate light|RE SSK|RE tranny mount|UUC engine mount|Bavarian CDV|clutch stop|18" Forgestar CF5 GOLD|RPI exhaust|H&R coilovers| RE RSM|
coming soon: aFe intake|tune|secondary cat delete| |
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-12-2011, 06:54 AM | #15 | |
Major
28
Rep 1,110
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
2007 TiAg ///MCoupe
* Dinan strut bars * ZHP knob * RPI scoop * Ultimate Pedals * RE Diablo * 3.91 TMS gears * Apex PS7 * Eventuri intake* Nitto NT05 * TMS pullies * Zeck CDV * RE tranny mounts * Tekarbon * Mstache 2 * '14 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi... No more snow for the M! |
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-12-2011, 09:44 AM | #16 |
///M-fanatic
193
Rep 3,885
Posts |
I think I'm the only one that tried out the AA tune (because it was a lot more affordable for essentially the same thing as ESS) and actually did before-and-after dynos to compare differences
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-12-2011, 09:59 PM | #18 |
Colonel
479
Rep 2,782
Posts
Drives: ESS/G-Power Z4M, VF Z4, 996tt
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles
|
I would have, if the performance shop hadn't blown me off all three times (after a net of 4 1/2 hours driving there and back). I'll get a post-tune dyno after I move next month. It won't be as good as before/after on the same car, same dyno, but at least it will be another data point.
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-13-2011, 12:41 AM | #19 | |
///M-fanatic
193
Rep 3,885
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-13-2011, 01:24 AM | #20 |
Colonel
479
Rep 2,782
Posts
Drives: ESS/G-Power Z4M, VF Z4, 996tt
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles
|
Unfortunately, I don't have any dynos. I'll be able to get an after dyno to compare with your car and a stock one in a month or two, but that's it
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-14-2011, 01:22 AM | #21 |
///M-fanatic
193
Rep 3,885
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-14-2011, 02:56 PM | #22 |
Major
28
Rep 1,110
Posts |
better yet, post it up for all members to see
__________________
2007 TiAg ///MCoupe
* Dinan strut bars * ZHP knob * RPI scoop * Ultimate Pedals * RE Diablo * 3.91 TMS gears * Apex PS7 * Eventuri intake* Nitto NT05 * TMS pullies * Zeck CDV * RE tranny mounts * Tekarbon * Mstache 2 * '14 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi... No more snow for the M! |
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|