s35i DCT Dinan S-II Report: 1 year, 10,500 miles

[Rubber Ducky]

Configuration as shown below.

On-going impressions:

• Great looking car; rare on the roads
• Dinan tune Stage II makes it a bomb when you want it
• DCT (using paddles/shifter) is absolutely superb
• Excellent visibility with top up or down
• White nappa leather is holding up well but has some minor rub creases left bolster driver side that seem to have worn away the color coating
• Sound system is great
• iPod hookup is flawless
• No bad comments on the handling - car does what you want it to without fuss
• Sport setting seems right for everything except long trips (Normal) and perhaps Sport+ for aggressive driving
• Zero oil used - is now at center of range on DIC
• DIC shows 7000 miles to first service
• Deep Sea Blue is surprisingly good at masking dirt; much better than black
• Top mechanism has been flawless
• The trunk is really big (top up) for a 'vert
• Dealer-provided floor mats suck - have velcroed them down to keep driver side from tangling underfoot

Mods:

• Dinan Stage II (at Chris Chapas's C2Design in Tampa - great shop)
• Debadged 's-drive 35i' from both fenders (really easy, many threads say how, cannot screw it up) - left 'Z4' on the trunk - looks much better now
• Removed the actuator hose to the exhaust system butterfly valve at right tailpipe - sounds great

Troubles: pump for windshield washer leaked - repaired under warranty; only trip to the dealer since new.

Earlier reports here:

• http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=312841
• http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthre...ghlight=report

Car is on a 30-month lease. Intend to buy the car at lease end. This is my 8th BMW and by far the best I've ever owned or driven (though would move to an M3 were I to start regularly tracking a car).

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Nice Review(s) Thanks for sharing ...

I agree with all except for the wheels and RFT ... let's not get into that

[rmorin49]

RD, Did you use the dental floss technique for debadging the sides of your Z?

[Lewis@MWDesign]

Agree with everything you have said mostly but just wanted to add more details.

On-going impressions:

* Great looking car; rare on the roads - AGREE, MOST PEOPLE STILL AM NOT SURE WHAT CAR IT IS - THEY KNOW ITS A BMW, SOME THOUGHT IT WAS A MASERATI
* Dinan tune Stage II makes it a bomb when you want it - AGREE
* DCT (using paddles/shifter) is absolutely superb - 6 SPD MANUAL HERE, VERY ENJOYABLE GEARBOX, NO EXTRA EFFORTS NEEDED ON SHIFTS
* Excellent visibility with top up or down - AGREE
* Sound system is great
* iPod hookup is flawless
* No bad comments on the handling - car does what you want it to without fuss - AGREE, HANDLES PERFECTLY ON THE TRACK AS WELL
* Sport setting seems right for everything except long trips (Normal) and perhaps Sport+ for aggressive driving - KEEP IT AT NORMAL MODE, MOSTLY STREET DRIVING - NO FREEWAYS
* Top mechanism has been flawless - SAME HERE
* The trunk is really big (top up) for a 'vert - AGREE
* Dealer-provided floor mats suck - have velcroed them down to keep driver side from tangling underfoot - AGREE

Mods:

* Dinan Stage II+ and full Stett FMIC/DV setup = best money spent for performance gains
* Can't wait till coilovers and BBK setup are going in next spring

Troubles: had an issue with my steering column sensor/junction box - car was at the dealership for 3.5 weeks, trunk partition cover is broken - dealership fix, windows pop back down at times when closing them all at once

[Rubber Ducky]

Originally Posted by rmorin49

RD, Did you use the dental floss technique for debadging the sides of your Z?

Yes. A few seconds with a hair drier (one piece at a time), until the piece is movable/wiggly with your fingers. Floss or fishing line, pull and saw. The adhesive is a rubber-like strip that peels off with an assist from Goo-gone or the like (keep it wetted with a rag or paper towel) - use your fingernail. I cleaned the spots with Windex and then washed the car. In all, it's simple enough for a naval officer to do successfully.

[Rubber Ducky]

Originally Posted by Lewis@MWDesign

windows pop back down at times when closing them all at once

Ditto and same issue in previous E93. Need to hold the all-up switch firmly in up position - if windows reverse and go down, pull a little harder and then they'll go back up.

[dcs2k]

great review!

[flpnout]

I also have Dinan Stage II, except you are many miles a head of me. I had the window once pop back down. Never happened again. Thanks for the update! I'm getting ready to have the Eisenmann Race Exhaust and 3D Design diffuser installed end of next week or early November.

[taYab]

I had same problem on window closing as Lewis did several times.
Anyone knows why?
It seems only happening when you are trying to close the window all four at the same time. But not frequently, thou.

[suvidh]

Originally Posted by Rubber Ducky

Configuration as shown below.

On-going impressions:

• Great looking car; rare on the roads
• Dinan tune Stage II makes it a bomb when you want it
• DCT (using paddles/shifter) is absolutely superb
• Excellent visibility with top up or down
• White nappa leather is holding up well but has some minor rub creases left bolster driver side that seem to have worn away the color coating
• Sound system is great
• iPod hookup is flawless
• No bad comments on the handling - car does what you want it to without fuss
• Sport setting seems right for everything except long trips (Normal) and perhaps Sport+ for aggressive driving
• Zero oil used - is now at center of range on DIC
• DIC shows 7000 miles to first service
• Deep Sea Blue is surprisingly good at masking dirt; much better than black
• Top mechanism has been flawless
• The trunk is really big (top up) for a 'vert
• Dealer-provided floor mats suck - have velcroed them down to keep driver side from tangling underfoot

Mods:

• Dinan Stage II (at Chris Chapas's C2Design in Tampa - great shop)
• Debadged 's-drive 35i' from both fenders (really easy, many threads say how, cannot screw it up) - left 'Z4' on the trunk - looks much better now
• Removed the actuator hose to the exhaust system butterfly valve at right tailpipe - sounds great

Troubles: pump for windshield washer leaked - repaired under warranty; only trip to the dealer since new.

Earlier reports here:

• http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=312841
• http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthre...ghlight=report

Car is on a 30-month lease. Intend to buy the car at lease end. This is my 8th BMW and by far the best I've ever owned or driven (though would move to an M3 were I to start regularly tracking a car).

I am considering getting the dinan on my 35i. What sort of gain you have achieved on your 0-60 timing with the dinan? And is the DCT keeping up with the performance increase.

Any issues i should be aware of?

Thanks
S

[mcbeee]

Look at it this way, the 35iS gives you a boost for 7 seconds, the Dinan gives you more boost, all the time and controls the other parts (water pump etc) for optimum efficiency. My 35i with Stage II is amazing, my gas mileage is about 34 mpg (imperial) on the highway at 75mph. I would never have another 35i wthout the Dinan....