ESS DirectFlash First Impressions

[mfanatic325]

Originally Posted by Z4Murder

better yet, post it up for all members to see

lol that too

[pokeybritches]

Perhaps I could do it on a dyno day. PM me when you get one set up. I rarely check the local threads because that hardly ever concern me

[mfanatic325]

Originally Posted by pokeybritches

Perhaps I could do it on a dyno day. PM me when you get one set up. I rarely check the local threads because that hardly ever concern me

There was going to be one on March 26th in Hayward, CA. but I think it's being rescheduled to the first week of April. I will keep you posted.

[johanness]

Any further updates on this handheld? How does it feel now that you have some miles under your belt? I'm really torn between this and the AA one.

On one hand, AA is cheap(er), and I have a place local that can do the flash (no need to ship ECU).
But I'm still under warranty until Aug 2012, and think that having the ability to revert to stock (if needed) is a good selling point.

Is AA hooked up to give you a tune specific to your individual mods? We run 94oct (no ethanol) here in Vancouver all the time, so if I'm looking for a variety of tunes... ESS may be the way to go.

OP, what's your longer-term review?

[bol]

Long term review is still similar impressions of the first one. I am enjoying the sharper response and more immediate nature of the car. I find the car feels a lot closer to the way it should have been from the factory. You've got the euro headers so I'm sure it'd be even better on your car. No change in fuel economy (which is still pitiful, but I didn't buy this car to be economical.)

I do notice a greater difference with the ESS tune on 94 octane than I did with the stock tune.

All said and done I think I would do it again.

[Arxangel]

Originally Posted by bol

Long term review is still similar impressions of the first one. I am enjoying the sharper response and more immediate nature of the car. I find the car feels a lot closer to the way it should have been from the factory. You've got the euro headers so I'm sure it'd be even better on your car. No change in fuel economy (which is still pitiful, but I didn't buy this car to be economical.)

I do notice a greater difference with the ESS tune on 94 octane than I did with the stock tune.

All said and done I think I would do it again.

Sorry to comment on something a bit off topic here, but I really would like to make a clarification or two. When you say that the tune makes the throttle as it should have come from the factory, keep in mind that the throttle is exactly as BMW intended it to be. I, for one, like the non-sport throttle, especially when driving in the city. It makes the car more passive, yes, but this helps me keep the consumption in check, if you press harder you go faster, just have to make the pedal travel a bit more. If the car starts jumping every time I feather the throttle I will floor it every time and that means driving back to the fuel station every 150km city driving.
I will be getting the ESS direct flash device and tune, right after I have my transmission repaired, and I am about to see just how sensitive the throttle would be with the tune. I hope it will not be very aggressive.

[bol]

Originally Posted by Arxangel

I hope it will not be very aggressive.

It is nothing like the factory 'sport mode' which I consider to be near unusable. I have race prep'd motorcycles with smoother throttle response than whatever BMW considers sport mode to be.

[txz4]

Originally Posted by bol

Long term review is still similar impressions of the first one. I am enjoying the sharper response and more immediate nature of the car. I find the car feels a lot closer to the way it should have been from the factory. You've got the euro headers so I'm sure it'd be even better on your car. No change in fuel economy (which is still pitiful, but I didn't buy this car to be economical.)

I do notice a greater difference with the ESS tune on 94 octane than I did with the stock tune.

All said and done I think I would do it again.

when i got my old Si tuned my mileage went down by about 2mpg so i would be happy that there is no change. When tuners tune our cars they advance the timing and make the car to run richer among other things (if im not mistaken). So typically when one gets a tune the mileage drops, so yet again anything stock would be nice.

[ZStig]

anyone know how much I can gain from a tune if I already have euro headers installed, with the sensors relocated?

[dorifto88]

Curious as to the above question as well because I already prepaid for my tune

[Arxangel]

Originally Posted by bol

It is nothing like the factory 'sport mode' which I consider to be near unusable. I have race prep'd motorcycles with smoother throttle response than whatever BMW considers sport mode to be.

I find the factory sport mode, coupled with manual shifting ofc, to be great fun on winding country or mountain roads. After all, it was meant to be used there.

[Arxangel]

It also works great in heavy traffic.

[sho-one]

Hi Roman, I'm interested in tune options for my mods. PM sent.