DINAN for N20 has arrived!

[b00gers]

I have been lurking these forums for about 10 months. After 12k miles, I am finally ready to order the Dinan tune for my s28i. I think Canyonblaster convinced me.

I hope this will make my daily driving a little nicer!

[bimmr]

I have never tuned a car before but I came across this thread and find it very interesting (thanks!).

However, based on what you guys said, a tuned x28i (N20) can have similar power as x35i (N55) - so... I am wondering why not just buy a x35i at the first place? It's just $3000 more, and I believe Dinan + Installing Cost wouldn't be cheap neither right?

[Njerts]

Originally Posted by bimmr

I have never tuned a car before but I came across this thread and find it very interesting (thanks!).

However, based on what you guys said, a tuned x28i (N20) can have similar power as x35i (N55) - so... I am wondering why not just buy a x35i at the first place? It's just $3000 more, and I believe Dinan + Installing Cost wouldn't be cheap neither right?

I did not like the 6 speed at all, if the x35i had the ZF8 it would be a no brainer.
Maybe N20 + Dinan + ZF8 is the ultimate setup for the X1

[bimmr]

whats the difference between 6-speed (n55) vs. 8-speed (n20)? (newbie here)

[Njerts]

The ZF8 is a modern smooth fast gearbox whereas the 6 speed in the N55 is quite old, I am not sure but I think the x35i X1 is the only product from BMW that still uses it.
With the ZF8 you are not aware of the torque converter the gives you that old automatic feel. It feels very close to a direct shift gearbox.
My personal opinion is that a gearbox can make or break a car.

[PrematureApex]

Pretty poor on BMW's part giving us N55 guys the old box. The end result is, unless your priority is power (meaning a tuned N55), the N20 is the better call.

[PrematureApex]

Originally Posted by Njerts

My personal opinion is that a gearbox can make or break a car.

I agree, but I wouldn't say the six cogger breaks the N55 X1. It's still a "good" automatic, was one of the best when it came out, its just not on the level of the 8. The bigger motor does better with the longer gears than the N20 would have.

[Njerts]

I agree, it is definitely better than the typical automatic. I took a x35i for a test a few weeks ago.
After almost a year with the 8 speed the 6 speed felt dated, but the N55 is just an amazing engine.
Buying an X1 is all about tradeoffs😀

[bimmr]

So it seems like BMW x1 is always the model that get the old/outdated junk? When other models are moving on to F-Chassis, the X1 released on E-Chassis.

Even the next generation x1, its going to be on F-Chassis where the other models are already moving on to G-Chassis?

Going at this rate, the X1 will never catch up and will always be a model made up with outdated parts?

[PrematureApex]

Originally Posted by bimmr

So it seems like BMW x1 is always the model that get the old/outdated junk? When other models are moving on to F-Chassis, the X1 released on E-Chassis.

Even the next generation x1, its going to be on F-Chassis where the other models are already moving on to G-Chassis?

Going at this rate, the X1 will never catch up and will always be a model made up with outdated parts?

Junk? The E chassis is a significantly better-driving chassis than the much-lamented F-chassis is. There's a reason many professionals call the X1 one of the last good-driving BMWs.

The next gen isn't on the F chassis is it? I thought it was on the Mini chassis (or is that F-based too?)...

[Njerts]

Originally Posted by bimmr

So it seems like BMW x1 is always the model that get the old/outdated junk? When other models are moving on to F-Chassis, the X1 released on E-Chassis.

Even the next generation x1, its going to be on F-Chassis where the other models are already moving on to G-Chassis?

Going at this rate, the X1 will never catch up and will always be a model made up with outdated parts?

I think you should make peace with the fact that this is the entry level X? And in my opinion the best value for money in the BMW camp.
I did not care about anything else other than drivability.
I got that from the N20 with lots of torque and a decent gearbox and chassis.
But we always want more performance, hence this thread.

[bimmr]

I am very sorry, I don't mean 'junk' but you get the idea (i got a x1 too, so yeah)

I just meant 'outdated parts'; I am happy with the price and drivability overall, but features seem to be lacking such as HUD, power gate etc. I would've paid for those if it was available.

[Njerts]

No problem, I get it.
Options are nice, but it would not have made any difference for me.
I bought my X1 off the lot, there is no way I can wait 6-8 weeks for anything, if I want it I want it now😀

[Twix]

Originally Posted by PrematureApex

Junk? The E chassis is a significantly better-driving chassis than the much-lamented F-chassis is. There's a reason many professionals call the X1 one of the last good-driving BMWs.

The next gen isn't on the F chassis is it? I thought it was on the Mini chassis (or is that F-based too?)...

The new X1 will be on the F48 chassis, which is BMW's UKL. There's a bunch of vehicles being produced already on this chassis.

[PrematureApex]

Originally Posted by Twix

The new X1 will be on the F48 chassis, which is BMW's UKL. There's a bunch of vehicles being produced already on this chassis.

Sure, BMW calls it the "F"48...but it's not an "F chassis" as we think of the current car being an "E" chassis car. It's the UKL which will be used as the basis for some of the Minis as well. It's not exactly similar to the underpinnings of the F chassis 3 series (like the E chassis X1 is to the E90/2/3).

Calling the new X1 an F chassis car is a bit misleading I'd say.

[Twix]

True, but it still is an F chassis. The not all of the other F chassis cars have identical underpinnings. The X1 shares it's underpinnings with both the E9x and the E82. If anything, BMW should have made the first gen X1 the E95 or even E91.5. It shares more underneath with the 3 series wagon than it does with the 1 series.

The mini uses the F56 code for it's chassis, the 2 series AT uses F45 for it's internal chassis code. In reality, many of the parts will swap over, BMW just uses whatever numbers they think are cool for the chassis code.

Once upon a time, the numbers meant something. It was a successive numbering system. The E28 was released before the E30 and so on. BMW lost their ways once they started giving each body style a different number. They also started running out of numbers.

It's not misleading, it's just confusing. But 99.99% of BMW customers haven't a clue what their chassis code is, nor would they give any _____.

[Canyonblaster]

Originally Posted by Canyonblaster

Got the Dinan installed in our 28i. AWESOME improvement. The car is smooth and fast. A tiny bit of increased lag from idle but that was expected. With the 8 cogs it isn't an issue to keep the car on boost. Really happy.

Note: We just came out of a new X1 35i (BMW buy back - repeat trans issues). The 28i with Dinan and the 8 speed is better/more fun IMHO.
I had an '07 335i with Dinan stage 2 and that car was a beast.

After more seat time I am revising my earlier post RE lag. The Dinan tune adds ZERO additional lag. All I am feeling is the typical BMW throttle by wire hesitation at tip-in. The X1 35i had it, as did my 2007 335i Dinan Stg 2.

I think I got that impression initially just because the boost is so much stronger. Anyways, I was wrong. Really enjoying the car!

[b00gers]

Originally Posted by Canyonblaster

After more seat time I am revising my earlier post RE lag. The Dinan tune adds ZERO additional lag. All I am feeling is the typical BMW throttle by wire hesitation at tip-in. The X1 35i had it, as did my 2007 335i Dinan Stg 2.

I think I got that impression initially just because the boost is so much stronger. Anyways, I was wrong. Really enjoying the car!

Can you comment on what the tune does in terms of daily driving? How does the car feel when not at WOT or on the lower and mid part of the rpms?

I didn't get a chance to schedule my car in yet. I hope to do that early next week

[Twix]

Mid range seems to be aggressive in DS, but nothing different in D for me anyways. I reset my economy gauge just before I installed JB4 last year, and between JB4 and Dinan, I still get 27.4 MPG average. I drive my car HARD! I have noticed with Dinan, I get better mileage than with JB4. I also notice that with eco pro on, throttle response is zero. You really have to press the pedal to get the car to start moving down the highway. That might also be due to the downpipe getting rid of the hot gasses too quickly for the low throttle angle.

[Canyonblaster]

I have done chip and/or ECU tuning for approx 12 years on many new german cars so I do have considerable experience with it, and as mentioned earlier this is my second Dinan tuned BMW ('07 335i Stg 2).

The Dinan stg 1 on the X1 is really good. It feels very linear with no noticeable flat or peaky spots along the rev range. Considerably and noticeably more power across the rev range. Zero negatives to report. Really makes the 28i much more powerful and fun to drive.

[atomic]

Originally Posted by bimmr

I have never tuned a car before but I came across this thread and find it very interesting (thanks!).

However, based on what you guys said, a tuned x28i (N20) can have similar power as x35i (N55) - so... I am wondering why not just buy a x35i at the first place? It's just $3000 more, and I believe Dinan + Installing Cost wouldn't be cheap neither right?

It is more than 3k more.

[Canyonblaster]

Dinan Stg 1 for 28i incl labor was $1,700 at dealer, and beauty was they put it in our lease, added $40 to pmt on 36 mo, no brainer, IMHO.