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My BMW X3 m40i gets a Bootmod 3 stage 1 map & NGK Iridium spark plugs

26th September 2024, 15:05 by Ananth Iyer

Stock B58 itself is so powerful and basic Stage 1 map will increase the horsepower by 20%-30% as per ProTuning.

BHPian mobike008 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Transforming a Beast into a Monster——BootMod3 Stage 1 Tuning

1. Why Bootmod3?

BootMod3 is one of the earliest tuning companies to come into the market and their company foundation is highly focused on tuning BMW cars. Their tunes are predominantly for BMW cars and especially the most popular performance engines like the N55, B58 and S58.

Within a few seconds, the Stage 1 map tune can be converted back to a stock tune (Bootmod3 stores the stock map for reversal, if ever required)

2. What is Bootmod3?

It is a software license that you buy from the company (Protuning Freaks) which costs $600 for a life time ownership of the software license (transferable once if you wish to sell when you sell your car).

Connecting to BMW :

To connect to the car, you can go the traditional way of getting a wired adapter but, I decided to get their latest product- BM3 Wifi adapter that costs $100.

Since I bought the wifi version of the adapter, Once the adapter is connected to the OBD port, I can only use an iPhone to connect to it.

Tuning/Flashing Process :

You can tune or flash the car from a laptop or your phone. The process is relatively simple (at least that’s what I thought but, I tried it once and failed in the first attempt as my phone is unable to connect to the wifi adapter. Reached out to customer support and they are prompt and respond within minutes. Will try again over this weekend.)

Once the car is tuned, there are multiple Stock (Unmodified BMW’s) maps available like for example

Stage 1, Octane 91
Stage 1, Octane 93
Stage 2, Octane 91
Stage 2, Octane 93
Stage 3, Octane 91
Stage 3, Octane 93

Other than above, they have stock maps for cars that are already modified with downpipes, intercooler added etc. All these are readily available in the Boatmap 3 App to be flashed to the car.

You can also request a “Custom Tune” via. The iPhone App and Protuning Freaks will design a custom tune for your car at no extra cost.

Now comes the fun part :

The app on the phone is super simple and has many configurations once the map is flashed like :

A) Make the exhaust note aggressive and schedule it in between gearing
B) Make changes to the burbles, pops, crackles of the B58
C) Exhaust Flap Open and Close

Finally, if you have installed more than one map on your phone, then you can switch between the maps on the fly (Through the steering wheel cruise control buttons)- Isn’t that cool?

And, many more which I need to learn and understand.

3. How much bump in horsepower & torque you can expect?

Minimum gain is 50 horsepower-Maximum Gain is 500 Horsepower.

Yup, you read that correct. When I came across this product last year, I was in complete disbelief but, over the year have seen many videos and BMW owners who have done it are super happy with the power gain and overall reliability.

This is an insane amount of power addition to an already powerful engine.

Excerpts from the article (Please read this article for detailed information which predominantly focuses on the B58 engine)

The Benefits of B58 Stage 1 Tuning :

Now that you know what goes into Stage 1 tuning, let's explore the benefits:

Thrilling Performance: The most apparent benefit is the surge in power. Your BMW will feel noticeably quicker, making overtaking on the motorway or conquering winding roads in Slough a breeze.

Improved Throttle Response: Throttle response becomes more immediate, offering a more engaging and responsive driving experience.
Reliability: A well-executed Stage 1 tune won't compromise your BMW's reliability. It's engineered to provide a significant power boost while maintaining the engine's integrity.
Enhanced Drivability: Whether you're navigating city streets or enjoying open roads in Slough, Stage 1 tuning enhances drivability across the RPM range.
Fuel Efficiency: Surprisingly, some drivers report improved fuel efficiency with Stage 1 tuning. This occurs because the engine operates more efficiently with the optimized software.

I’m already feeling like a kid who has a candy in front of him. Just could not control the excitement.

Stock B58 itself is so powerful and basic Stage 1 map will increase the horsepower by 20%-30% as per ProTuning Folks is making me drool with excitement even more.

Imagine getting closer to the magic-500 BHP mark with a simple tune s what real dreams are made of. Wohooooooo !!

Cheers & Stay Tuned !!

Once it’s installed and I put in some miles, I will share a detailed review of “Life After BootMod3-Stage 1” .

Bootmod3 Software License Price

BM3 Wifi Adapter Price

My spark plugs are stock and have done ~ 40K miles (64,000 kms) and are in good condition as per recent service. However, I decided to change them prior to the tune so got this highly recommended NGK plugs which is going to take the excitement to a whole new level.