To mod or trade-up?

KCcarguy · Mon, Jul-26-2010, 01:46:32 AM

A quick intro......I bought my car a couple years ago...a 2005 smg coupe w/ 9k miles at the time. The only mod the car had at purchase was a Dinan S ecu upgrade. Since then the only performance mods I've done are zcp brakes/ ss brake lines. the car had a great edge to it when I bought it.....in sport mode it used to scare the hell out of me. However, I had the emmisions-recall ecu reprogram done by BMW, and my wife and I both swear the car hasn't been the same since. To some it up, my wife says my car "lost it's balls".

I had planned on starting more mods this summer. Including: TCK coilovers, headers+cats (+shark), 3.91 diff. So, that's about $5k worth of mods. Will that give my car the "racey" feel I want/ used to have? Or, should I do what my wife says: trade the car for something else (911, e92 M3, z06), and put the money toward a down payment?

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EYEHAVEYOU · Mon, Jul-26-2010, 01:53:48 AM

The emissions recall overwrote the Dinan S ecu/software upgrade you had done - why not start by re-doing the tune (Dinan, ESS, Shark - lots of options) and seeing if that gets you back to what you missed about your car?

That said, if you can afford a 997 911, I would jump on that. 996, not so much (unless it was GT3 or Turbo)

neverlift · Mon, Jul-26-2010, 02:15:07 AM

I had the same issue, BMWs software update made my car much slower, I had a custom file made for it and it was back. Just get some more software to start.

opey · Mon, Jul-26-2010, 02:54:17 AM

exactly, the emmisions upgrade erased your dinan program, thats why it lost its balls

KCcarguy · Mon, Jul-26-2010, 03:25:21 AM

I did get the dinan program re-installed, there was some improvements, but not the same as before. The powerband seems less linear than it used to be, downshifts are sluggish at times, and trottle response is lessened. I might try shark instead.....it's a lot cheaper than a new car!

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KCcarguy · Mon, Jul-26-2010, 03:27:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EYEHAVEYOU

The emissions recall overwrote the Dinan S ecu/software upgrade you had done - why not start by re-doing the tune (Dinan, ESS, Shark - lots of options) and seeing if that gets you back to what you missed about your car?

That said, if you can afford a 997 911, I would jump on that. 996, not so much (unless it was GT3 or Turbo)

I can afford a used 997, but I love the e46 M3, and want to "salvage" this one if I can.

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Khanman · Mon, Jul-26-2010, 03:29:53 AM

I'd say mod IMO. along with the stuff my e46 had when I bought it, I just installed a CF CSL bootlid and even that small change makes me feel like I have a new car. it's fantastic because I know it looks better.

I'm planning to do some similar mods in the next couple of months, can't wait!

just me though. then again, a 996TT would be awesome too!

Mookster · Mon, Jul-26-2010, 04:25:03 AM

I been kinda debating the same thing but i can't get out of my E46 M3(too much into mods) so i will have to wait out couple years and then upgrade. If i could upgrade i'd go with an E92 M3.

///M3AN ONE · Mon, Jul-26-2010, 05:16:49 AM

Bro, I think all of us E46 M3 owners have thought at one time to upgrade to a E90 M3, GT3, 997 Turbo, etc... I'm guilty! But there's always something about the E46 M3 that is just "Timeless". My solution, add FI until the next thought! Lolz.

mlminor · Mon, Jul-26-2010, 04:54:38 PM

I don't remember ever being sent notice of an emissions recall. Is this a specific state (CA maybe) recall?

I dealer last "touched" my car to perform a schedule I the last week it was in warranty (mid April 2009). Was this "recall" issued before then? I heard about an "update" to lower the redline, but nothing else that should harm the performance....

I'm the original owner, and it has always run great. I had a GTI many years ago that ran great until the dealer "tuned" it up - it ran like it lost 30 h.p. after that, and they offered no solutions/apologies. I loved that little car ('86 last year of college, yea I'm old!) ended up selling the car soon thereafter, the lack of power drove me nuts, I feel your pain!

Try cheap solutions before trading - unless you find a great deal, it's almost always better to keep & mod a vehicle you already own (if you like it) than to trade and go through the hassle of sales taxes, fees, registration, etc..

Mon, Jul-26-2010, 01:46:32 AM	#1
KCcarguy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 162 Reputation: 0 Location: Tulsa	To mod or trade-up? A quick intro......I bought my car a couple years ago...a 2005 smg coupe w/ 9k miles at the time. The only mod the car had at purchase was a Dinan S ecu upgrade. Since then the only performance mods I've done are zcp brakes/ ss brake lines. the car had a great edge to it when I bought it.....in sport mode it used to scare the hell out of me. However, I had the emmisions-recall ecu reprogram done by BMW, and my wife and I both swear the car hasn't been the same since. To some it up, my wife says my car "lost it's balls". I had planned on starting more mods this summer. Including: TCK coilovers, headers+cats (+shark), 3.91 diff. So, that's about $5k worth of mods. Will that give my car the "racey" feel I want/ used to have? Or, should I do what my wife says: trade the car for something else (911, e92 M3, z06), and put the money toward a down payment? Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

Mon, Jul-26-2010, 01:53:48 AM	#2
EYEHAVEYOU likes it raspy Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,097 In the garage: '05 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Connecticut	The emissions recall overwrote the Dinan S ecu/software upgrade you had done - why not start by re-doing the tune (Dinan, ESS, Shark - lots of options) and seeing if that gets you back to what you missed about your car? That said, if you can afford a 997 911, I would jump on that. 996, not so much (unless it was GT3 or Turbo) __________________ 2005 M3 ZCP 6MT - Alpine White /// Imola Red

Mon, Jul-26-2010, 02:15:07 AM	#3
neverlift Muffler Tech Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 111 Reputation: 0 Location: Sacramento Ca	I had the same issue, BMWs software update made my car much slower, I had a custom file made for it and it was back. Just get some more software to start. __________________

Mon, Jul-26-2010, 02:54:17 AM	#4
opey Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,764 Reputation: 0 Location: Long Island	exactly, the emmisions upgrade erased your dinan program, thats why it lost its balls __________________ 04 IR/IR 6spd sold =(

Mon, Jul-26-2010, 03:29:53 AM	#7
Khanman Bored. Probably drinking. Join Date: Aug 2009 Age: 28 Posts: 5,909 Reputation: 0 Location: Las Vegas	I'd say mod IMO. along with the stuff my e46 had when I bought it, I just installed a CF CSL bootlid and even that small change makes me feel like I have a new car. it's fantastic because I know it looks better. I'm planning to do some similar mods in the next couple of months, can't wait! just me though. then again, a 996TT would be awesome too! __________________ rides: 2012 Dodge Ram 1500- Current

Mon, Jul-26-2010, 03:25:21 AM	#5
KCcarguy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 162 Reputation: 0 Location: Tulsa	I did get the dinan program re-installed, there was some improvements, but not the same as before. The powerband seems less linear than it used to be, downshifts are sluggish at times, and trottle response is lessened. I might try shark instead.....it's a lot cheaper than a new car! Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

Mon, Jul-26-2010, 04:25:03 AM	#8
Mookster Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3,146 Reputation: 0 Location: Seattle	I been kinda debating the same thing but i can't get out of my E46 M3(too much into mods) so i will have to wait out couple years and then upgrade. If i could upgrade i'd go with an E92 M3. __________________

Mon, Jul-26-2010, 05:16:49 AM	#9
///M3AN ONE Live life to the fullest... Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3,342 Reputation: 0 Location: Bay Area	Bro, I think all of us E46 M3 owners have thought at one time to upgrade to a E90 M3, GT3, 997 Turbo, etc... I'm guilty! But there's always something about the E46 M3 that is just "Timeless". My solution, add FI until the next thought! Lolz.

Mon, Jul-26-2010, 04:54:38 PM	#10
mlminor Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 441 Reputation: 0	Emissions recall.... I don't remember ever being sent notice of an emissions recall. Is this a specific state (CA maybe) recall? I dealer last "touched" my car to perform a schedule I the last week it was in warranty (mid April 2009). Was this "recall" issued before then? I heard about an "update" to lower the redline, but nothing else that should harm the performance.... I'm the original owner, and it has always run great. I had a GTI many years ago that ran great until the dealer "tuned" it up - it ran like it lost 30 h.p. after that, and they offered no solutions/apologies. I loved that little car ('86 last year of college, yea I'm old!) ended up selling the car soon thereafter, the lack of power drove me nuts, I feel your pain! Try cheap solutions before trading - unless you find a great deal, it's almost always better to keep & mod a vehicle you already own (if you like it) than to trade and go through the hassle of sales taxes, fees, registration, etc..

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