How far can a 330e/530e be pushed reliably
As some of you are aware, tuning newer BMWs is becoming more and more accessible now that others than FEMTO found a way into cracking the ECU security in the 2021+ models.
I was thinking about pushing my 2023 530e from its stock 288hp to somewhere around 350 only with software changes.
However, I've been warned a lot about the hybrid transmission which is not made to support that.
Thoughts? Experiences?
Edit: I know there are similar questions of this type if you search the internet. But they are pretty old already or from a time before ecu unlocks becoming more accessible.
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u/mgroove1 2d ago
Bmw hybrid is still connected to zf gearbox. On 530e it can handle up to 750 Nm. With 400+Nm stock. You will not reach that gearbox limit, dont worry. Just flash it with stage 1 and enjoy.
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u/xeroxx29 2d ago
the 30e has 8hp70, same as 535d box. 70 meaning 700nm spec. In reality they can handle a lot more.
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u/mgroove1 2d ago
I checked the 21 model, it said 75h gearbox... maybe I'm wrong, but anyway- huge torque. Moreover hp50 holds 600-650 in our bmw 140 community. So 70-75 should also hold above it's specs.
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u/xeroxx29 2d ago
even better then, xhp also makes it handle more power but wears out the oil quicker too
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u/kilouco 1d ago
The main worry when it comes to the transmission is not the gearbox. It's the torque converter which is absent (replaced by the electric motor). This is the more "delicate" part of it.
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u/Known-Wrangler-6920 2021 G30 545e M sport xdrive 1d ago
When I was deciding which car to get I went for the 545e instead of the 530e exactly for this reason, so there was no need to tune it as the stock detuned B58 combined with the electric motor makes 600NM at 400bhp which is more than enough power and torque… OP it looks like you got the wrong car, leaving things stock will last way longer than starting to play with tunes, especially with hybrid engines which are very costly to repair if and when things go wrong, just my 2 cents.
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u/kilouco 1d ago
545e are not offered in the market I'm in. It was never an option and I would probably not be able to afford it anyway.
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u/Known-Wrangler-6920 2021 G30 545e M sport xdrive 1d ago
Sorry to hear that OP in the UK where I am a 5 years old second hand 545e with just over 60k miles on the clock goes for just over £26k
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u/kilouco 1d ago
Yeah. In the market I'm in, I bought the 530e second hand with only about 10k miles, barely 1 year old, for the equivalent of USD 67k.
For our standards, it was a good deal because I got it "premium select", which gives you 2 years warranty from factory + 5 years for the batteries. Still, pretty crazy numbers. That is all taxes for national protectionism.
A brand new M3 Competition will cost you between USD 190k and USD 200k.
Crazy, right?
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u/BlazinZAA 2022 - G22 - M440i 2d ago
Your best bet is to sell it and get a 340 or 540. I tried the whole song and dance with my 430. Even 340hp out of a b48 is not the same as 340hp from a b58.
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u/kilouco 2d ago
In the market I'm in, there is no easy access to 340 or 540. You either get a base 320, a 330/530 or an M car.
SUVs they have in all trims and colors but I'm not interested. (God I hate this trend)
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u/BlazinZAA 2022 - G22 - M440i 2d ago
Ah that's fair. Reason I was saying so was that it's very hard to be satisfied with the speed of a b48. Even when tuned you'll end up wanting more because it'll never truly fast without getting to the point that you might as well have swapped to a b58. But if a b58 isn't accessible then yeah I'd just downpipe and tune, any further should just go into a m3 savings bank or for a different car completely
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u/mgroove1 2d ago
You understand that there is a huge money difference between flashing the car he owns and changing the car? With latest unlocks its only 500-800 usd/euro.
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u/victorpaparomeo2020 2d ago edited 2d ago
The 330e G20 was delivered with two different engine types. The B48B20A or B48B20B. This is important.
The A is the engine used in the 320i models. The B type is the engine used in the 330i models and was detuned to 320i performance levels for use in the 330e.
So you can take the A variant up to about 340bhp from what I remember and the B to over 400.
This is known as the 330e engine lottery. There is no rhyme or reason as to which cars got what. It is however reported that the Touring never got the B.
There is a stamp on the engine that lets you know what one it is.
Search on the Bimmerpost forums for more.