BMW Racemode Tuning FAQ – by Moeed Qureshi
Which Calibration Software Should I Use?
The BMW tuning platform is popular with enthusiasts with many software suites to choose from! You have many options, which I will briefly discuss below. If you have any in-depth questions you'd like to explore with us, do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
Software
EcuTek is our preferred software platform for BMW and other platforms that we support. With over two decades of engine electronics expertise, EcuTek is an industry leader in software calibration tools. With BMW specifically, they brought custom maps, flex fuel, intricate data logging, CAN input/outputs that offer powerful functionality to the consumers.
EcuTek implements Motiv Reflex integration, which is one of the most important benefits it has over other competitors. At the time of writing this article, they are the only ones to offer this which makes this the most robust offering for any users utilizing port injection. With this powerful control over both the factory DI system and supplemental port injection to work in conjunction, we can implement joint fuel deliveries and safeties in the event of a PI system failure. This is crucial in the event of a PI failure where you would end up with a lean cylinder that can cause catastrophic damage.
Another feature that EcuTek leverages for the BMW platform is additional sensor inputs for Motiv Reflex, such as fuel pumps or boost control solenoids that tie back into the DME. For B58 Gen 1/Gen 2, S55, and S58(Cloned), we recommend EcuTek.
BM3 is a newer cloud based software that can be used for many BMW platforms. They offer OTS and custom tuning that can be flashed from your phone or laptop. They also include easy to change options such as cold start delete, burble adjustments, and flex-fuel maps that can be changed quickly. We offer in-house flashing for any of BM3's OTS maps along with custom calibrations. This is for customers who have already purchased a BM3 license and want to save money opposed to switching to other software suites such as EcuTek or MHD. BM3 are continuously making improvements to their software, and we are excited to see what they have to offer.
MHD + features that were recently announced bring similar features to EcuTek's software suite such as Motiv Reflex integration, boost by gear, true flex fuel, and a few others that will be made available to the B58/S58 platform. We are looking forward to utilizing this platform more and more in the future with their robust capabilities.
What should I choose? The tuning landscape for BMWs is constantly evolving. The competition amongst these big three tuning suites only benefits us as professionals, which trickles down to the consumer. Our suggestions can change over time, and a specific hardware configuration may make us favor one software over another. Please get in touch with us if you need our guidance on which software platform to choose for your modern-day BMW.