I wouldn’t pay more than $500 for an extra 20hp but it’s great to have options. It appears BMW is tired of losing so much profit to Dinan and others. My 135i is very fun with Dinan stage 2 software.

Now that wer’re talking about options.. I’m still waiting for the limited slip differential option for non-M cars. BMW is so busy handicapping their regular cars to protect the M3 they didn’t notice most other manufacturers offer one as an option on nearly every model. For example, you can get LSD on an Infiniti G37 Journey by selecting the $1,850 sport package option. Not that I would buy a G37 but you get the idea.

A lot of people are mentioning the aftermarket upgrade that provides more for cheaper. I think the key word here is WARRANTY!

I have never driven the new M3 and figured after being addicted to my 335’s low end torque, I would find the M3’s torque character anemic as most of my driving isn’t on the track/revving high.

But your claims of cheap insurance, adequate torque, and decent fuel consumption help further my notion that I’d never get any of the BMW Performance stuff and I would definitely swing over to an M3.

Insurance is actually less on my ///M3 sedan than my E60 Sport Wagon; go figure!

-M

After buying all the BMW Performance crap and getting it installed on my 335i, I would end up spending more than the MSRP of an M3 and still be slower and have no LSD.

No thanks, I’ll take the M3 even with it’s torque-less fuel guzzling engine and high insurance costs.

While we agree 20 HP is not all that much compared to other tunes BMW is backing the tune with a warranty and it will not adversely impact engine life. I would also imagine that this upgrade is underrated as the N54 normally is. The variation in engines and elevations is what creates all these different horsepower numbers.

If you recall a few years ago when Mazda released the new rotary engine in the RX8 they had rated and it was not producing that number, that was a big deal. BMW underrating is in the customers best interest since they always get more than is stated…

When we get some seat time with this tune, we will let you know what we think as numbers are not always the full story.

There also must be a large enough gap between the ///M3 and the 335 performance to keep the ///M where it should be. Having driven 335s and the ///M3 extensively now, I can say that no amount of power is going to make a 335 perform like the ///M though it is a great car. BUT from a normal buyers perspective and the marketing department’s view: If the hp numbers and all that are so close why would anyone by the ///M? That is more than likely why only “20″hp increase.

-M

At this time there is no mention for the 5 Series or the X6. I suspect volume of sales and testing is the main reason but we are working on finding out more US specific info and if additional options will be available. I do not see this kit as being “cheap” so pricing is anyone’s guess.

Are there specific engineering reasons why the 535 is excluded?

MLM