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2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Seems like a bargain if you're only paying $10 per 1 HP. Think of what some people spend to get 100 more HP--a lot more than $1,000 bucks.
No "tune" is for free, something has to be given away
It's amazing how hard that is to grasp.
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2018 430i Gran Coupe
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Unfortunately I think part of it is the litigious society we live in today. BMW is very specific about not wanting its customers to modify its vehicles in any way. This includes everything from chips to tires. BMW or its dealerships don't want to be liable.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Going with what @Mr_Shiftright said, did you price out a 328i similarly equipped to your 320i? Now that you have Rick's 328xi GT back stateside, have you driven the 2 cars back to back? Do you plan to keep your 320i for the long haul or will you start looking once the end of the 50K warranty is coming near?
I hope you don't think I'm trying to pick a fight with you. I'm honestly curious to your mindset. I'm completely neurotic when it comes to "pushing the envelope" with certain things. I KNOW I'd be the guy that gets caught & has to fight not to get my warranty voided.
Just as an example, this past Saturday night my wife & I took our 3 kids to an AHL (minor league) hockey game. We always get the kids something to eat when we go to an event, but we do like to bring our own juice, water, & snacks so we don't spend a car payment on concessions. My wife brings a bag in, holding our daughter & gets waved right through. My bag gets searched thoroughly & a few bottles of water as well as bags of chips get tossed before I walk in.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
In my eyes BMW has the right to void any warrantee - certainly on leased cars because they make mucho duckets on the used market - I get that.
@Mr_Shiftright has a point here - if you can afford the extra payment go for power. BMW offers "el cheapo" to get people in the door. Real enthusiasts will pay more for 328 or 333 or even m cars.
BMS= Burger Motorsports; their JB4 Performance Tuner is a very well regarded piece of equipment in the BMW community.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I used to represent these remarks:
I participate some, but read at lot of postings on Audiworld. I read the posts of folks who seem to research and often agonize over the new Audi they have or are about to order.
Then, as time passes, their new prize possessions arrive and they take pictures of their soon to be delivered rides -- they post them and seem to beam with pride about the new car they have acquired.
Next, pictures of the new cars in the owner's driveways or garages are posted -- and the captions on these pics are "Let the Mods Begin."
Later, the details of the aftermarket wheels, tires, engine management chips, breathing management aids and even brake rotors are detailed along with the window tinting expenses and, sometimes, even elaborate retrofitting of navigation systems to cars not factory equipped with nav systems are laid out, including the sometimes breathtaking costs required to add such features aftermarket.
In some cases the modifications involve the suspension systems, exhaust systems and underhood plumbing (for the super or turbo chargers) too.
The expenses seem to have no ceiling -- and as soon as one is completed, the next improvement is lusted after in print on the Audiworld forum for that particular model.
Often, so it seems, these mods exceed the costs of simply ordering the cars with the factory upgrade. I mean, really, I have seen folks mod their A4 SLines so much that they reach and sometimes surpass the MSRPs of the car so lusted after, the S4.
The mods that make the A4 have more power often will void the warranty. The S4, stock, comes with a very nice warranty.
Why buy a nearly $50K A4 and mod the crap out of it so that you have more than the cost of an unmodded S4 in it, knowing that the S4 is likely to outperform the modded A4?
Is the joy of modding the joy? If a stock S4 can be had for about the same cost as a modded A4 (which then loses its warranty) what in the wide wide world of sports would posses someone to do this?
BTW, I said, it takes one to know one -- but I must admit, my modding was limited to a chip put into an Audi turbo engine for a total cost well under $1000. But I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now.
Color me confused.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
No one thinks the rules apply to them..
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2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2018 430i Gran Coupe
When it comes to Chipped stuff, I get the same MPG as I did before I chipped my 320i, same reliability, so again your point?
I guess I must lead an infinitely charmed life...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2018 430i Gran Coupe
For what it's worth, BMW also claims that their MPPK does not affect fuel economy.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2018 430i Gran Coupe
As to "same reliability," well, that's a premature argument, and lacks a control. You actually have no idea how it has affected or will affect the reliability. I broke my 135i. Did the mods do it or was it doomed to happen even if stock? There is no way for anybody to know.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
My teenager thinks you can chip a car, with no adverse effects, ever. But, then again, he has never paid a car repair bill.
Want to see the effect of mods? Go shop for a used Subaru WRX, note the mods, then note the repairs.
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It's fine to mod the car, if that's what floats one's boat. The cost may be instantly evident, or deferred in time (perhaps beyond the ownership span), it may be high or low. The benefits may as well be worth it for the owner, outweighing that cost, I'm not disputing that, either. I simply disagree with the "zero cost whatsoever" notion.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I did some homework when I modified the supercharger on my car. I opted for colder spark plugs a larger intercooler and using the very best engine oils. So far so good. I will throw a check engine light though if I do a long hard climb up a mountain on a hot day. No doubt related to fuel mixture.