Performance Chips

I have a 2007 328 i coup....The other day heard someone tell me that they have a chip in their bimmer that gives the car more HP and much more power/fun to ride....I never heard of this and i was not even aware this was possible. Apparently these are after market products....My question(s) Are these chips safe? Does BMW offer these chips or it only outside sources that supply these? Has anyone tried these chips? Are the worth it?

Originally Posted by Montreal 007

I have a 2007 328 i coup....The other day heard someone tell me that they have a chip in their bimmer that gives the car more HP and much more power/fun to ride....I never heard of this and i was not even aware this was possible. Apparently these are after market products....My question(s) Are these chips safe? Does BMW offer these chips or it only outside sources that supply these? Has anyone tried these chips? Are the worth it?

For newer models, it's not an actual chip, it's either software downloaded into the car's ECU or a "piggyback" device that plugs into the car's ECU system under the hood and stays there (so I guess that could be considered a "chip", but anyway....).

BMW does make a version of the software (they call it the Power Performance Kit, PPK) for certain engines. It gives a little extra HP and torque (about 30/30 IIRC).

Other makers offer versions that have various amounts (most are user selectable) of additional HP/torque.

The bad news is that they are almost all exclusively for turbocharged engines, which your 328 is not. There aren't (m)any modifications that provide any significant power increases for the 328.

Are they safe? Given that any additional HP/Torque on the engine is additional stress for a variety of car components, then theoretically they are making the lifetime of the car shorter. In real workd aplications, maybe, maybe not.

Are they worth it? Well, depends on how much you spend, and what your goals of your car are....$400 for a JB4 (piggyback) that can provide significant HP and torque improvements, or $600 (used) to $750 (new) for a Cobb (ECU overwrite) can be lots of fun....and give you upwards of over 100hp/100 lb/ft added in, with just stage one (not other modifications) made.

You can definitely add a chip, intake, and exhaust to make some more power out of the N52 motor. If you're looking for a tune specifically, I'd recommend that you check out the BMS Power Box. The BMS Power Box remaps the throttle mapping for better throttle response, and an increase in horsepower and torque. The Power Box features easy installation and removal, and gas pedal switching between 7 performance maps. The Power Box shows power gains from 8-10 horsepower and 8-10 Ft./Lbs. of torque at the rear wheels on a dyno. It is completely reversible, and no cutting of any wires is needed leaving it untraceable by the dealership. There are tons of enthusiasts running this on their cars as well without any issues!