Only a year and a half after I spoke to a Dinan rep about their soon to be released shock software for my EDC equipped 550 they finally released it. Too bad I sold my 550 three weeks ago.
Interesting, I wonder if this allows you to turn off DTC completely and keep sport edc settings active (one of my pet peeves) Would like to hear feedback if anyone has had this installed.
Okay there must be something about the 535. :dunno:
I'll guess some dufus dropping off a 535 for development/testing must have run over Steve Dinan's foot and he swore he would never have another 535 in his shop again! :rofl:
This looks like a fun thing to add!
I was hoping to not be the first.... but I sent the email asking when they can install it... I have an appointment on the 25, so if the software is available, I think they will do it on that day....
Thats great.. Id love to hear what you think of it;
Do you have the Dinan Suspension also (it appears you can do this software without the Dinan Suspension is why I ask)
I have the Suspension upgrade already, and I booked my appointment for the 25th as I have to be there for some other work anyways so I'd love to hear your impressions of this upgrade before they flash mine!
The biggest problem with Dinan is their installation process/staff. I can't keep count the number of bad downloads and install issues that members have had here. Don't get me wrong, I lover their products, but there's too frequently a challange in getting it installed.
Scheduled an install for the end of the month: Dinan suspension (non-XI version) and Shockware (first one at this dealer -- not ideal, but someone has to go first).
Will let everyone know how it turns out.
Just got the software installed and I would say that it works as advertised in the 15 minutes of testing. Normal now feels like sport mode and sport mode now feels really good. I also have the Dinan springs and higher speed turns in sport mode are now really crisp.
Is there any change to the steering feel, weight/stiffness that has resulted in the Dinan flash also?
I was wondering as when you select sport it stiffens the steering inputs and suspension, but if the Dinan is already changing the Edc does it leave the steering input at the comfort settings?
And if it does changing steering feel is it progressive as you move up in modes?
No changes to the steering since it's an xDrive car. I don't think the EDC button in an xDrive car changes the steering because it does not have an electric steering like the RWD cars.
That might be true and I may have never felt it because before this software, I only drove the car in sport mode or sport+ so I don't know what normal feels like. However, after the software update, I don't remember feeling that the steering was any different going from normal to sport. Let me check again during lunch and confirm.
It works for the stock springs:
"DINAN Shockware™ can be used as a stand alone upgrade. However, your BMW performs best when paired with the DINAN Performance Suspension System."
I agree with you as well, but I was checking for BMGUY because he also has xdrive and claims that he can feel a steering difference. Personally I have not noticed any.
That's for checking... I wa slaying with it today also just to see if I was out to lunch...
Hereis what I noticed
At idle, and car not moving threes no difference I can detect.
When the car is moving and I switch back and forth there is a difference I can feel, but it takes about 2 seconds for the steering to firm up. It's not dramatic just a little stiffer, enough to notice.
And once again, when the car slows down the resistance seems to reduce and starts to feel the same as comfort mode the slower it goes.
I could be completely imagining this... But it's so convincing when I try it. I asked a passenger to drive and see, and they said the same, subtle but there...
I'm wondering if there is even mechanical stuff to allow for this?
Either way the question was to see if the steering retained its feel from sport when in comfort mode, which was answered as yes it does... So at leader know what to expect there...
Just went to BMW website and it in fact specialty says steering tightens! I don't think I'm wrong on this, maybe a difference in features in the cars? I'm fully loaded except soft close doors
Driving Experience Control.
How would you like to drive today? Driving Experience Control, fitted as standard, makes the difference. Adapt your BMW 5 Series Sedan to meet your needs - or those of your passengers.
A touch of the Driving Experience Control next to the gearshift lever changes the level of driving pleasure from COMFORT to SPORT: the engine responds more spontaneously to the accelerator and the eight-speed transmission Steptronic lets the engine rev high before quickly changing up a gear. At the same time the steering and chassis tighten. Touch the paddle again to enter the SPORT + mode where the Dynamic Stability Control allows controlled drifting to the limit.
The currently active mode is permanently displayed underneath the speedometer, and in the SPORT mode the drive train and chassis settings can be quickly and individually configured using the iDrive Controller for dynamic driving on badly surfaced roads for example.
The COMFORT+ mode is available with Dynamic Damping Control which provides both the driver and passengers with maximum comfort on longer journeys.
And that is true for non-xi vehicles that use electronic steering. Not the xi which uses hydraulic. If I remember correctly their is something that changes the amount of pressure needed on the steering wheel depending on speed (you need more help in a parking lot then at 120MPH) but it does not have anything to do with the Sport/Comfort settings. At least not on the xi. Sorry to disappoint.
The bottom line is that the Shockware feels really good and anyone with a 550 should schedule the first available appointment to have it installed, especially if you already have springs installed.
I'm already in Board... Heading in on the 25 th....
I'm pretty happy that the default will in fact be the sport mode.... That's worth the money alone... And it sounds like sport plus puts it over he top... Looking forward to this upgrade for sure
Got Dinan Shockwave software installed today and I can pretty much say WoW what a difference. I have a 2011 550i w/ M Sport w/ ARS and ACS Springs. I drove 60 miles home on Normal mode and this mode felt firmer than under the stock Sport mode. Switched it to the new Sport mode but couldn't tell the difference since the highway was pretty straight. Once I got closer to home I decided to try the car on a familiar downhill that has a sharp left turn. The first try was under Normal mode and the car did not have any body roll whatsoever. Then decided to try it under the new Sport mode. The car felt even tighter at the turn that made me feel confident to speed up a little bit to I point where I felt the Continental DWS All Season tires I had on was giving way. I have not tried the Comfort mode or the Sport+ mode yet. IMHO I think this mod is worth every penny Dinan is asking for and its the one of the several things they offer that is under $1k installed under 30 minutes.
Has anyone with Dinan suspension done the software upgrade? I'm sure there's a huge difference with the standard suspension + software. I wonder if there will be a significant difference when mated to the Dinan suspension though....
Well, got the car back from the shop today after having the shockware program, and its is very noticeable improvement...
I'm very pleased that it firms up the ride to almost like sport was before the upgrade... (I cant say if its exactly the same, but it feels really good);
I still find when I bump up to the new sports mode it drives very nice! very pleased; and as others have mentioned in much betters reviews than I could write, the sports plus is exactly what you you need to find the "sport" in this sedan....
Overall; I think if the car came like this from the factory, I think many more people would pleased! (you still get a very decent ride in comfort and normal, but sport and sport plus change this 550xi car in a very good way)
This is worth the upgrade cost without hesitation; I have it paired with the Dinan suspension, so I don't know how this performs with stock suspension but I suspect it would be a massive improvement for stock setup also.
I had the Dinan Suspension on for about 6 months before this software; and I can say that putting this on top of your Dinan mechanical susp upgrade is very worth while!
Sure feels like a German sports sedan now!
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