BMW M135i XHP Stage 3 Vbox Test & Review: Is it Worth The Money?

BMW M135i XHP Stage 3 Vbox Test & Review: Is it Worth The Money?

The MHD tuned M135i we tested a few weeks ago has just had the transmission upgraded with a XHP stage 3 flash tune. We wanted to get it straight back to test in exactly the same conditions to compare the 0-100 times with the new tune.

The launch mode was left in the default settings, which could have been adjusted to exact even some more improvements out of.

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[SuperHbkforever]

When I was stock the fastest time I got was 5.7 seconds to 100.

Now I'm running stage 2+ e30 tune with supporting mods. I have yet to test the times in the dry, but in the wet my car got 5.17 to 100. So the same as in this video pretty much. The xhp flash has definitely helped with these times, the shifts feel crisp and powerful. I'm equipped with the ZF 6speed. The only thing I've noticed is that my 4-5 shift is disgustingly sluggish. But I noticed that before I flashed the TCU.

I'm pretty sure after watching the video you guys posted about the shift solenoids that this might be the cause of my issue.

The xhp flash is awesome. I recommend it any day

[kraazed]

Well I decided to spend a little money on my 2016 m135i and go for the XHP stage 3/4 flash for the 8 speed.

Straight off the bat the logic in regular drive mode was different and improved, I found it didn't gear hang like it used to.

When in DSC off or Sports+, it feels quicker to engage and disengage the gear. So much so that I found my car would light up the rears shifting second to third gear easier. Keeping in mind it is slightly wet and coolish around Brisbane today and I am running MHD stage 2+ 91.

Better than the outright performance is the way it feels, I had a friend drive it and he said that it felt way closer to the DSG in the Golf R.

It also fixed a weird tuning issue I have had since going MHD. Shifting gears at wide open throttle previously would sometimes see a single cylinder have a timing correction of -6, or sometimes all of them would drop -3, and continue gain timing back to where it should be all the way to redline. This would previously happen in stage 1, 2, 91 or 93, and intake temps had next to no effect on this behaviour. If I did logging from 2500 to 7000 in 3rd or 4th without changing gear it would 8/10 times have no timing corrections, and if it did correct it would usually drop -3 around 6k on a cylinder or two.

[friguy]

How you guys aren't hosting a show funded by the big money folks baffles me. Or even big sponsors. But maybe that's something you are wanting to steer clear of in some ways. Anyway I dig your channel so much it's the first and only channel I actually joined. Cheers gentlemen from Canada!!

[THEZEST]

After seeing your videos on the E92 335i xHP tune I decided to pull the trigger on my E92 320d (6 speed ZF). It's just a daily but I always felt it suffered from a "rubber band" effect in first and second and my theory was due to the car being diesel BMW did not want to TC lock too early to avoid driveline vibration. After the flash it bites a lot harder off the line even under normal driving conditions and by god it shifts faster in manual and sport mode. I also took the liberty of changing the shift points to utilise the diesels low down torque better. All round it now feels like a much more refined and zippy car. There was also about a 10% decrease in fuel consumption in CBD traffic conditions. If you ahve a 6 speed ZF I could not reccomend the flash any more.

[jznat]

Don’t know why YouTube was hiding you’ll for me, but glade I found you again. Hello from Florida!

[neil]

Hi Guys great video.
I have exactly the same M135i and setup. MHD Stage 1 / XHP Stage 3
As I understand it, sports plus is a stand alone mode and get the fastest up and downshifts doesn’t for performance this is the best option to go for when timing. When in DSC off or any other traction mode you won’t get the fastest shifts it can make which is probably what you were feeling and commenting on when in launch control.
I think you guys are probably suffering with the heat over there as I have got 4.42 0-60mph and 9.79 100-200kph here in the UK on my dragy.
Wonder if there is anywhere near you suitable to test the 100-200 as that is a much more meaningful display of performance 👍

[gixeris]

I have xHP stage3 (MHD stage2+ as well, f30 335i N55) and I like D and S with all the driving modes (Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport, Sport+), but I don't really like the Manual gear response speed time with Sport mode. The Stock map gives gear shift speed level 3 with all the modes on Manual (Comfort, Sport, and Sport+), while with xHP they are (Manual) something like: Comfort - 1 speed level; Sport - 2 speed level; Sport+ 3+ speed level. I used OEM Sport mode with Manual (paddle) option most of the time when cruising, but with xHP Sport mode I feel laggy shifts, so I have to use Sport+. But it's not so comfortable to use Sport+ when cruising in order just to have a faster paddle response - because in Sport+ the engine setup is more aggressive, plus some other options disappear (i.e. cruise control not available). Now xHP manual response time comparing to Stock is Slower(comfort), Slower(sport), Faster(sport+) but why it just can be Slower(comfort), the Same(sport), Faster(sport+)? It still would be 3 different modes with xHP, but programmed in a different way, not Slower, Slower, Faster but Slower, Same, Faster. From my point of view, if you like Manual shifting, xHP isn't the best option for you.

[emilpetersson]

you can increase the torqe reduction. I also drive with xhp3 on my f11 535D. in the ap it says slider plus "can pruduse faster and crisper shifts" (more torqe during shifts) And the slider minus can puduce turbo lag after shift

[Saif]

I think your right about removing torque limiters.

Stage 1 tune without xhp would be bogged down a bit by the factory torque limiters.

Fantastic car/gearbox. 👌

Mine is on XHP stage 3, with custom module, I've ramped up the Shift speed to the highest and increased torque reduction to the max, as well as throttle blip setting, I like to feel the gear change, its rapid too. E90 335i Stage 1 at the moment. 😬

[JoeAchilles]

Another great video guys, I hadn't ever heard about the MHD gearbox tune, very interesting! Hopefully see you soon x

[npower]

Very nice Time for 2 Person and 29 Grad plus 👍XHP its very nice Coding

[marcwang]

I just got myself a Dragy gps timer and went out for a run ! Same car n55 EWG m135i. Managed 4.8s 0-100kph, BM3 Stage 1 91 Octane on 98 Ron Fuel. Stock GB tune. I'm getting much much less wheel spin on Michelin PS4. Launched it without launch control, but with the GB loaded up to 1.5k rpm. I suspect you could be getting into the 4.6~4.7s with better tyres.

[incubusiyrix]

Has this got the option to do downshift throttle blips?

[richierich]

Nice video, I think I will push the button on the xhp, I was concerned the car would be awful to drive in comfort and wasnt willing to trade off.

[dukenudes]

Is, xHP installed first? or MHD? because you should install xHP first.. otherwise mhd will overwrite some settings exept you choose "8ZF xHP tuned" in the process of mhd flashing.

sorry for my bad english lol.

[azpitbull]

From a mechanical perspective; which is not discussed, or probably understood from this video somehow has been conveniently left out. Causative research on your end is paramount before using this software.

Let's have a look at what is going on with the internals shall we?

(1) Pressure accumulator - The pressure accumulator is fitted on the bottom left of the transmission and makes sure that there is always sufficient oil pressure for a gearshift to be executed (this software adds stress to the component!). A freely moving piston subdivides the pressure accumulator into 2 chambers. One chamber is charged with nitrogen at approx 27 bar and -25C(a lifelong charge). The other chamber takes up oil from the hydraulic pump. Here, the oil exerts pressure on one side of the piston, compressing the nitrogen. The compressed oxygen maintains the oil pressure during shifting (this software creates excessive pressures for both chambers!).

(2)The hydraulic pressure sensor is reprogrammed (to an unstable configuration and will prematurely fail!).

(3)The hydraulic pump with electric motor builds up around 55 bar system pressure for the gearshifts(this software commands more pressure within the pump).

(4) The inductive sensor measures the transmission input speed with the engine speed and computes the closing of the clutch(i, e, how fast the clutch can establish the optimal power flow between engine and transmission) this app software actually flashes and over-rides this sensor, while increasing voltage output while nullifying the self-learning cycle of the ECM.

Additional components that are adversely affected over time are too numerous to mention.
(5) Solenoid valves -there are 4 actually-, are affected the most as it serves as a pressure valve, actuator, and pressure relief for the entire valve body in the tranny.

Recommendation: Invest in a performance drivetrain that can withstand the demands of a stage 3 package.

Conclusion; This pleasure of running stage 3 software will eventually deliver a large dose of pain to your wallet -read and heed my friends! When it doubt, visit a certified BMW service center.

[johnherbert]

I am thinking about XHP on my 335i will you guys install XHP to a ZF6?

[christopherjz]

what's with the jazz hands fellas?

[ceddy]

Flashed it an hour ago. The whole progress went smooth. But when it is done. I started the engine and got Chassis Stabilization Malfunction error.
Now I can't use sport and sport + mode. I tried flash it stage 1 and 2. Same error when start the engine.