Bluefin By Superchips
Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 6:48 am
Some of you may remember that I had been looking into a remap for a considerable while. And that I promised to write about it if I ever got around to biting the bullet and purchasing one. The only problem that, the x5 being in Pakistan, my choices were limited to a Bluefin switch or Evolve. I did contact a few other tuners but received no response, including Jason from BWChiptune. I looked into every possible aspect I could think of, as my main concern was that if anything should go wrong it would be a nightmare to put right as the local auto experts here don't have a clue as to what remaps are. In fact I was almost put off, almost I say. Eventually I decided on bluefin, Micheal Alvey-Anderson of superchips was most helpful and answered my many questions and doubts. I think he got quite fed up with me after a while, I know I would of. So finally I bit the bullet and bought one. With a 10% discount for being a member of the old site (even/after when it was down) the total cost was £400.
After a few weeks wait, the bluefin reached me ( couriered in person by friend as the import tax's would have been about £1000+, no wonder no one has heard of them over here!!) on Thursday 12 Aug. I got around to installing it yesterday ( friday). Not hard at all, the original x5 map is loaded into the bluefin hand monitor, via OBD port, from where it is sent to Superchips, via PC, and I was sent back the remap within 15 minutes and loaded it into the x5. The whole process took about 35-40 minutes and thats with receiving an error the first time I tried to load the remap. Micheal asked me to try again, which I did and Voila!! Remap installed. I must thank Superchips for a very efficient job, as I was concerned, the time when I sent them the original map was around 4.00 pm or so and I was worried that they would not get it back to me on the same day. I'd waited enough and could no longer bare to wait another weekend.
Took it for a spin.
and all I can say is WOW! WOW! WOW!
Guys I can't tell you what a tremendous difference it has made to the drivability of the x5. I was happy with the performance and drive before but I now feel as if I've bought a new car. The x5 is so very much more smoother in the gears. It feels as if you have a limitless amount of power even at the top end of the rev range. It does feel a lot quicker but the most gains are felt in the effortless smoothness of the mid range. It feels as if another turbo has been put on. Last year in the U.K I drove the normal E70 3.0d back to back with a SD, and that would be a pretty good comparison to my X5 before and after the remap.
You know when you've spent money on something and even though its got a 14 day money back guarantee your opinion will still be biased. Well I have driver/ chauffeur here and he hasn't a clue on what I was up to. After my initial test drive, I gave him a test saying that I had earlier been reading fault codes ( had installed HID bulbs earlier and faced some minor problems), and even though he's never ever allowed to boot it, he too felt the difference straight away. And that was my litmus test.
I know its early days yet and I can't tell you how much difference it will make to the mpg or what long term effects it will have on the Turbo or gearbox or any other component for that matter or why if these gains are to be had why manufacturers don't install them in the first place. But what I can say for sure is the effect that its had on me and that is a big grin thats constantly stuck on my face when driving the x5.
Regards
Shaz
After a few weeks wait, the bluefin reached me ( couriered in person by friend as the import tax's would have been about £1000+, no wonder no one has heard of them over here!!) on Thursday 12 Aug. I got around to installing it yesterday ( friday). Not hard at all, the original x5 map is loaded into the bluefin hand monitor, via OBD port, from where it is sent to Superchips, via PC, and I was sent back the remap within 15 minutes and loaded it into the x5. The whole process took about 35-40 minutes and thats with receiving an error the first time I tried to load the remap. Micheal asked me to try again, which I did and Voila!! Remap installed. I must thank Superchips for a very efficient job, as I was concerned, the time when I sent them the original map was around 4.00 pm or so and I was worried that they would not get it back to me on the same day. I'd waited enough and could no longer bare to wait another weekend.
Took it for a spin.
and all I can say is WOW! WOW! WOW!Guys I can't tell you what a tremendous difference it has made to the drivability of the x5. I was happy with the performance and drive before but I now feel as if I've bought a new car. The x5 is so very much more smoother in the gears. It feels as if you have a limitless amount of power even at the top end of the rev range. It does feel a lot quicker but the most gains are felt in the effortless smoothness of the mid range. It feels as if another turbo has been put on. Last year in the U.K I drove the normal E70 3.0d back to back with a SD, and that would be a pretty good comparison to my X5 before and after the remap.
You know when you've spent money on something and even though its got a 14 day money back guarantee your opinion will still be biased. Well I have driver/ chauffeur here and he hasn't a clue on what I was up to. After my initial test drive, I gave him a test saying that I had earlier been reading fault codes ( had installed HID bulbs earlier and faced some minor problems), and even though he's never ever allowed to boot it, he too felt the difference straight away. And that was my litmus test.
I know its early days yet and I can't tell you how much difference it will make to the mpg or what long term effects it will have on the Turbo or gearbox or any other component for that matter or why if these gains are to be had why manufacturers don't install them in the first place. But what I can say for sure is the effect that its had on me and that is a big grin thats constantly stuck on my face when driving the x5.
Regards
Shaz
