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      03-09-2011, 03:52 PM   #1
bol
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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.
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      03-09-2011, 04:05 PM   #2
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Honest review.... respect.
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      03-09-2011, 04:32 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by Beedub View Post
Honest review.... respect.
what he said
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      03-09-2011, 06:51 PM   #4
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Thank you for the review.

I feel ESS DirectFlash is worth it if you have headers or FI. I am waiting to install headers before making this purchase.
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      03-09-2011, 07:53 PM   #5
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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?
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      03-10-2011, 02:44 AM   #6
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im very dissapointed witht he flash time......

25mins with the pump running is ridiculous imo..... what causes it to do that??
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      03-10-2011, 05:13 AM   #7
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Quote:
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im very dissapointed witht he flash time......

25mins with the pump running is ridiculous imo..... what causes it to do that??
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.
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      03-10-2011, 06:31 AM   #8
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thanks for the review, im excited to see how this tune works eith my headers in may
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      03-10-2011, 01:53 PM   #9
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Thanks for the honest review. I was under the impression the ESS DF unit comes preloaded with the tuned file, I'll have to clarify with ESS in regards to this.
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      03-11-2011, 07:25 AM   #10
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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.
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      03-11-2011, 12:49 PM   #11
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so tempting!
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      03-11-2011, 05:53 PM   #12
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wow that is really interesting. thanks dude very honest too
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      03-12-2011, 01:43 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cal@Sonic MS View Post
Thanks for the honest review. I was under the impression the ESS DF unit comes preloaded with the tuned file, I'll have to clarify with ESS in regards to this.
The direct flash is designed as a tool to allow customers to read, send, recieve and load our software. It is also designed to hold up to 10 files so that you can have your stock file and other options like a race gas tune available if needed / wanted. This system also makes updates or changes to software easy for the customer as it can be done thru email and the ECU does not need to be removed and shipped each time. Customers who have aftermarket headers have found this feature to be convienent for remote updates when needed. By working with each version of software direct from the customer and not dumping in a generic file it allows us to make changes if needed and also tune for vehicles in all regions of the world.

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.
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      03-12-2011, 02:06 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roman@ESS View Post
The direct flash is designed as a tool to allow customers to read, send, recieve and load our software. It is also designed to hold up to 10 files so that you can have your stock file and other options like a race gas tune available if needed / wanted. This system also makes updates or changes to software easy for the customer as it can be done thru email and the ECU does not need to be removed and shipped each time. Customers who have aftermarket headers have found this feature to be convienent for remote updates when needed. By working with each version of software direct from the customer and not dumping in a generic file it allows us to make changes if needed and also tune for vehicles in all regions of the world.

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.
great update

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!
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      03-12-2011, 06:54 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roman@ESS View Post
The direct flash is designed as a tool to allow customers to read, send, recieve and load our software. It is also designed to hold up to 10 files so that you can have your stock file and other options like a race gas tune available if needed / wanted. This system also makes updates or changes to software easy for the customer as it can be done thru email and the ECU does not need to be removed and shipped each time. Customers who have aftermarket headers have found this feature to be convienent for remote updates when needed. By working with each version of software direct from the customer and not dumping in a generic file it allows us to make changes if needed and also tune for vehicles in all regions of the world.

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.
1 tuned map should be included in the price correct?
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      03-12-2011, 09:44 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johanness View Post
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?
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
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      03-12-2011, 10:54 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Z4Murder View Post
1 tuned map should be included in the price correct?
Correct
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      03-12-2011, 09:59 PM   #18
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Originally Posted by mfanatic325 View Post
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
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.
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      03-13-2011, 12:41 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pokeybritches View Post
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.
Ohhh icic. Can you link me to your "before" dyno? Also, what type of dyno did you use? Were you provided a fan/blower to feed air into the kidney grills?
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      03-13-2011, 01:24 AM   #20
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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
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      03-14-2011, 01:22 AM   #21
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Quote:
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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
haha icic. Cool, no prob. PM me the info when you get it all done
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      03-14-2011, 02:56 PM   #22
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Quote:
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haha icic. Cool, no prob. PM me the info when you get it all done
better yet, post it up for all members to see
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