x5 3.0D remap

[Mikey]

So after been snooping around here for weeks, i thought i would pop a question iv been having for some time now. Im thinking of getting my X remaped\tuned it's a 05 3.0 disel w automatic trans.

Do not care about mpg, insurense etc so dont need to remind me of that =) just wondering how mutch my auto trans can cope with ? is this doomed to fail? or will it do okay as longe as i use commen sence?


Thx for any answers =)

[Sim0x]

Sorry to jack your thread but I would also like to know about a remap on my 2006 e53 but on the flip side, I'd like to know about increasing the mpg.

Thanks
(Sorry again)

[Sanj]

Lots on here about remapped E53's guys, just do a quick search. Diesels give better gains and no boxes known to have failed because of a direct result of a remap. Cars tend to just drive better after one too.

[Mikey]

have serached, but havent found any "numbers" where the auto box will start to tremble.

[X5Sport]

As long as you stay within the rating that the torque converter and transmission can handle you should be OK.

Jason would know the hard data.

Richard

[ChrisLux]

I had my '05 3.0d re-mapped about 2 months after I bought it 6 years ago.

It already had a 'strong' engine before the re-map according to the guy that did it.

I had it on a rolling road about 3 years ago and it had 275 PS and 535 NM if I remember correctly.
Fuel consumption improved 1-2 MPG on shorter journeys and up to 8 MPG on motorway runs.

Before I had 25/27 MPG on the school/town run and 33/35 on m'way. Now I get 27/29 and I've had
44 on one journey over to UK, but the norm is 36/38.

It made the throttle response much quicker and of course you feel the power more, it's just nicer to
drive all round really.

[SlimX47]

I think the 6 speed 'box should be fine with a moderate remap, but as mentioned, I'd get some advice before going nuts with it!

A bit risky, but I had my '03 3.0d remapped a couple of weeks ago. Pulling nicely now, and fuel consumption seems to have improved a little too, overall average between 33 and 34mpg.
The guy I used (Anthony from ADA Diagnostics, based near Fakenham in Norfolk) had 3 remap stages available, 1st for purely economy, 2nd with added grunt, and a 3rd which would unleash everything the engine has to offer!
As I have the old 184bhp with 5-speed GM auto box, he recommended option 2 as didn't want to risk trashing the gearbox! The GM box doesn't like too much torque, so using the improvements mostly for drivability and economy more than the reduced 0-60 times etc! Forgot the actual figures, but roughly a 20% increase in horses and torque. Now I'm wondering if a 5-speed auto box can be 'beefed up' to handle more power, or would it be just a case of changing the whole car?

[AVI-8]

[quote="SlimX47"]
I think the 6 speed 'box should be fine with a moderate remap, but as mentioned, I'd get some advice before going nuts with it!

A bit risky, but I had my '03 3.0d remapped a couple of weeks ago. Pulling nicely now, and fuel consumption seems to have improved a little too, overall average between 33 and 34mpg.
The guy I used (Anthony from ADA Diagnostics, based near Fakenham in Norfolk) had 3 remap stages available, 1st for purely economy, 2nd with added grunt, and a 3rd which would unleash everything the engine has to offer!
As I have the old 184bhp with 5-speed GM auto box, he recommended option 2 as didn't want to risk trashing the gearbox! The GM box doesn't like too much torque, so using the improvements mostly for drivability and economy more than the reduced 0-60 times etc! Forgot the actual figures, but roughly a 20% increase in horses and torque. Now I'm wondering if a 5-speed auto box can be 'beefed up' to handle more power, or would it be just a case of changing the whole car?
[/quote]

That would be a major job and very expensive even if you did find someone to do it

[SlimX47]

My thoughts exactly! I'm starting to feel a slight juddering when slowing down from 70ish now too, so maybe a recon gearbox and/or torque converter will be required soon anyway. Car has done 74k, and I do about 500 miles a week, so it's about due according to all the posts on here ;-(

[Steamyrotter]

There are many a thread on upgrading the GM 5l40E as fitted to the pre facelift E53..
However before you start note that BMW have already done some of it to get it from 360-390Nm.

There are a lot of notes form teh states on what to do, how to do it and where it is most likely to fail..
agin though it will cost significantly to get it much higher and then you get in the arguement about cost per gain...

Probably not worth it.

There are some simple things you can do, like upgrade the valve block with Sonax valve gear which wil remove most pressure issues in the box.  The oil pump can be skimmed to get tolerances back correctly, but you have to skim the mounting face also to keep gasket thichness correct.  Not easy, not cheap and if someone does it wrong will trash the bell housing... (I have found that one out myself!!  it is not a nice situation to be in especially when you cannot get another 'correct' bellhousing... LONG Story..)

After that you can go about tweeking the gearbox pressures.  This is controlled by the EGS (Gearbox ECU) so you could interpret the signal and modify it with a selection of electronics, or just cut off the supply to the pressure regulating solenoid and have full pressure at all times... But if you go that route you could end up popping the pistons out of the clutch packs....

Then you will end up with the torque convertor as the weakest link in which case you are up a certain creek....
HAving said that there are upgrades that can be done to the TQ.  As long as you can find someon to do it for you...

I have researched this a fair bit, even to the "swap for the 6SP ZF" and "convert to manual routes.."
Got all the parts for the latter but decided the GM warranted one last chance.............(well 2 or 3!!)

[SlimX47]

Thanks Steamy!
You have been doing some research, looks like these aren't the sort of changes (Sonnax valve gear etc) that can be done on a driveway over a weekend though? I'm pretty competent mechanically wise, but don't really know much about auto transmissions, apart from how a torque converter works! As I only have the one car, and use it daily for travelling to work all over the place, I would have to be able to re-assemble the whole thing on the same day really.
Looks like I'm stuck with option 4 of finding a pre April 2006 model (before the road tax went stupid!), have already started looking. Failing that, get a recon box fitted if mine starts to fail...

cheers
Simon

[Steamyrotter]

Mind all the above pales into insignificance when you (well more technically I ) actually read the first post properly...  :-[ :-[

GM fitted up to pre facelift... (ie pre 2004)

Yours is the ZF.......


pity my research didn't actually extend to reading properly.....
lol
>:D O:-) )

[SlimX47]

You read properly- Mikey's will be the 6-speed ZF, mine is 5-speed GM ;-(

[Steamyrotter]

In that case I retract my retraction in a retracting manner.......



..

??

[X5-D-Sport]

I bought a remap chip device that plugs in on top of the engine.... boasted approx. 30% more pull...

delighted with the result....

Definitely get more power & much better mpg when cruising on cruise control too....

The pull away power is good to the point I need to be gentle, as I don't want to destroy the gearbox or drive joints......
But it is there if I need it in a hurry...
Best £70 I spent in a long time