[dpaschal]

I recently installed a Dinan Stage 1 (yes, I bought it for the warranty) on my 228 with the N26 engine. I thought others considering a Dinan tune might be interested in my experience.

I'm very pleased with the street additional power (based on the "butt dyno" test). However, the track improvement is negligible. My track experience is consistent with Dinan's dyno chart showing the power gains substantially diminishing above 5500 RPM.

If you're just trying to feel more power accelerating down an on ramp, I think you'll be pleased. If you're trying to improve track performance, not so much.

[3rdcoast228i]

Thanks for the input!

Please note though that there is a sub forum for tuning.

[BarryJI]

I have the same car and the same setup. I agree that the Dinan S1 really sharpens the 228i's performance on the street and I have found that with a (Dinan) performance suspension and shock tuning in addition to the engine tune, the car becomes a genuinely fierce performer in street driving.

I am sure you are right about the power/torque deficit above 5500 RPM but I think that is a very practical peak-power point for tunes designed primarily for the street. To add additional performance beyond that point, I would consider the Stage 4 Big Turbo/Intercooler tune but not only would that be of use only on the track, it would not be street-legal in many states, including here in CA.

I realized pretty fast that there is an effective performance ceiling for the SULEV N26 although I am very happy with the degree to which both engine and suspension tuning can really enhance its street performance and driving dynamics. An S1-tuned 228i with THP will do 0-60 MPH in ~ 4.6 sec and 100 MPH is reached at < 4000 RPM in the higher gears, leaving plenty of torque available for overtaking at that speed and above, especially using sport gearing in the AT. The boost enhancements achieved by the Dinan S1 are also very significant in this kind of driving and really wake the engine up. My modded 228 would not have the high-end grunt needed for the track but it is capable of getting me into a LOT of trouble on the street/highway and I am constantly reeling it in to keep the CHP and the boys in blue away from me.

I have seen many very capable 228s on the track (more than the heavier M235s, in fact) but these are all non-SULEV N20-powered cars. Anyone who buys the N26 to track it competitively will be at a great disadvantage, I fear.

[crabu2]

Originally Posted by BarryJI

An S1-tuned 228i with THP will do 0-60 MPH in ~ 4.6 sec and 100 MPH is reached at < 4000 RPM in the higher gears

Where did you get the 4.6 number from? I'm surprised a S1 tune would get the car to below 5 seconds.

[BarryJI]

Originally Posted by crabu2

Where did you get the 4.6 number from? I'm surprised a S1 tune would get the car to below 5 seconds.

It 5.1 sec stock. A friend timed it at 4.67 after the tune.

[crabu2]

Originally Posted by BarryJI

It 5.1 sec stock. A friend timed it at 4.67 after the tune.

Was it done with a Vbox, something similar or just a stop watch?

Thanks!

[BarryJI]

Originally Posted by crabu2

Was it done with a Vbox, something similar or just a stop watch?

Thanks!

Stopwatch. That's why I used the ~. I'm not claiming it's accurate to the last tenth.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by dpaschal

I recently installed a Dinan Stage 1 (yes, I bought it for the warranty) on my 228 with the N26 engine. I thought others considering a Dinan tune might be interested in my experience.

I'm very pleased with the street additional power (based on the "butt dyno" test). However, the track improvement is negligible. My track experience is consistent with Dinan's dyno chart showing the power gains substantially diminishing above 5500 RPM.

If you're just trying to feel more power accelerating down an on ramp, I think you'll be pleased. If you're trying to improve track performance, not so much.

As 3rdcoast228i noted: Check this subforum. This is not the place for this post.



Oh, mods! ...

[mike@x-ph.com]

Congrats and thank you for the review

[Bimmer Pleaser]

So I am also looking at getting a used 228i and then a S1 Dinan. To all who have done it, can you please give me some feedback? Are you happy with the performance? What about reliability? Any maintenance issues?
Thanks,

[BarryJI]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Pleaser

So I am also looking at getting a used 228i and then a S1 Dinan. To all who have done it, can you please give me some feedback? Are you happy with the performance? What about reliability? Any maintenance issues?
Thanks,

I'm very happy with the Dinan S1 for the 228. It makes the car much livelier and adds power and torque you can really use on the street. It wakes the 228 up and brings out its potential as a proper driver's car. The extra power is put to even better use with a performance suspension and therefore less understeer but even on the stock springs it more than justifies itself.

[Tpeterson]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Pleaser

So I am also looking at getting a used 228i and then a S1 Dinan. To all who have done it, can you please give me some feedback? Are you happy with the performance? What about reliability? Any maintenance issues?
Thanks,

Since you're in Houston, I assume you have an N20 engine which is what my car has. The performance increase is very subtle,meaning it not going to seem like you have an N55 under the hood. It makes the Comfort throttle setting more responsive and more usable. The power increase is mainly noticeable at higher speeds.Accelerating from say 70 to 100 MPH is effortless. The extra torque is hard to use because the traction control in my MT car limits wheel spin and bogs the engine down during low speed acceleration. Disabling it allows too much wheel spin.
At $1500 I think it is overpriced even with the warranty.If I had to do it over again I would wait until near the end of the factory warranty period and get one of the many less expensive tunes on the market.There is even a flash tune (BOOTMOD3) on the market now that doesn't require removing the ECU, which might be the way to go.