RTC450

ahhahaahaa just incredible your amazing by any chance you work in CNN hahahaha just kidding....we love you

removedCFGaccount

Haaaa, haaaaa, how'd you know. Haaaa, haaaa.

Do you think that motor can take that increase in power/combustion on a continuous basis for several years?

Well, are you feeling lucky?

Haaaa, haaaaaaaaa! Kaboom! Haaaaa, haaaaa!

Darrington

Have I mentioned...? "Looking forward to some other data points here...40hp increase at the wheels should be noticeable."

I just looked at the first post...noticed the base run show 310hp. If the car is stock at 329hp, that's only a 5% parasitic loss thru the drivetrain? Seems a bit low on the loss...unless my math is wrong.

I guess either way, it's a 40hp delta.

I have an old school Gtech meter, so could do some 0-60 baseline and Dinan runs when the time comes.

Mr. J

I wouldn't do this unless you are running 93 octane all the time. Out here on the West Coast 93 octane is pretty scarce.

removedCFGaccount

Let him do it, he's been running tunes for twenty years.

Darrington

For the "undisclosed price", if I didn't feel the power and the interface sucked, the unit would be returned. What are ya paying for...more horsepower, right?

removedCFGaccount

What? I don't doubt, objectively, there is more power, and have opined only that subjectively it "feels" mild at best.

I have at least two reasons to hang on to it: to induce Dinan to make a full tune, and to avoid the inconvenience of dealing with a return. At my age, convenience is everything and $300 is chump change.

RTC450

Here in Florida we have 93 everywhere and in a couple of gas station they have E85 too.
We have a few real good sport car clubs with a lots different events thru the year that included ,drag racing , private circuit in race course and autocross

MASSC450

In this post of yours, it certainly sounds like you hated the Dinan piggy-back...

"Just drove about 30 city and highway miles, so here are my SUBJECTIVE opinions:

1. On the Butt Dyno, overall, I'd give it one butt since it's easy to install;

2. The app is worse than crap, in fact it is pure Dee, unadulterated ****e, and disconnects randomly, and often; a huge thumbs down, or sore butt;

3. The app showed boost pressure increases, but I felt nothing new in any mode, either Mercedes or Dinan, so thumbs down or a sore butt;

4. The Mercedes computer showed very slight mileage increases in all modes, even with zero indicated boost, so either it confused the computer or it does increase efficiency, but who knows, so I'll give it a horizontal thumb, or a neutral butt; and,

5. In any Mercedes S+ or Dinan mode, including zero boost, the crackle is largely gone, thus a thumbs down and a VERY sore butt.

Overall subjective score: a very chapped ***.

Subjectively, this is hardly a ringing endorsement, and I reckon it is a sore butt!


I still haven't received my Dinan unit, but I'm on the fence if I want to install it or return it/sell it.

removedCFGaccount

I was trying to use humor, and obviously failed. My bad.

The first opinion was one butt on a butt dyno, intended to signify a mild, subjective increase in power. I should have defined the scale. I agree that the third opinion confuses this and don't remember why I stated it this way. All I can say is that I used the term "overall."

Also, I was still waiting on phone support and a bit pissed, which the crap app aggravated. So, I did then have a chapped ***.

These were my preliminary opinions, which I modified over time. I do now believe it does exactly what Dinan states and implies, and is a good value even if the app is terrible.

Sum: as several have cast doubt on the weight of my subjective opinions, I suggest you try it out since it is easy to install, and if too mild for you, return it. I'll likely keep mine, as stated, to hopefully show Dinan a full tune market exists and because I just can't be bothered with the trouble of a return.

All I can say is that I tried to use more precise language to describe the effect of the device as I got more experience with it. But, the flakey results of the app, especially boost, remain with my IPhone 7.

Finally, I now have about 80%, more or less, crackle.

"Overall," at this point in time and subject to further use, I'd have to say I'm ambivalent about it, and hopeful it results in a full Dinan tune.

removedCFGaccount

If you need help finding the sensor, don't guess! Come back here for help or try Dinan.

Also, and this is very subjective, I do have an analogy. If you remember the first overclocking devices for 8088 based computers, which doubled the clock speed as I recall, that's what you will feel. Some operations feel more "brisk" and others stay the same, subjectively.

Sorry, that's the best I can do.

Sorry for the prolixity....

MASSC450

Thank you, and thanks for clarifying your review of the Dinan piggy-back.

Since I have not received my Dinan unit yet, can I ask you what the return policy notice states...as in can it be returned if installed, or returned at all even if it hasn't been used?

subzero05

seems like a fair assessment CFG: I have never been a fan of the app either, its more of a "trinket" for me, the boost gauge bounces around a bit and who knows is Bluetooth operated how accurate it really is, BUT for $300 its a quick easy bump in performance and does what they claim. There aren't a lot of options for our cars in terms of piggy backs to begin with, and even fewer with the price point this falls in so overall im happy with it. Should they offer a full "warranted: piggy back unit like their higher end BMW units, I would vote yes but that for them to determine if the market is big enough to support the development around such a unit.
I like my sport and was happy with the minimal investment.
I would be if there is someone in the bay area , hit them up and they might be willing to dyno your car and post those results. It is Dinan were talking about here, not a fly by night who wants to "hide stuff". In my opinion only the app itself needs an overhaul since it could be much better.

removedCFGaccount

https://www.dinancars.com/product/d4...?series=&mid=/

This usually means you must be personally satisfied, in the exercise of good faith...I'd call em....

subzero05

just to be clear a "full warranted tune" from Dinan will still be a "piggy back" like sport , only with more " stuff " inside looking at other aspects of the engine , goingvto morecsensors perhaps etc . It's not going to be a "flash tune" it would be a piggy back style solution

removedCFGaccount

I'm for it. Money waiting....

Darrington

CFG - did you ever get a call back from Dinan or Golan or whoever it was you called?

5Zigen18

Yes CFG - Dinan, from my previous experiences have been good with customer service...did they call you back and address your issues?

removedCFGaccount

I haven't the foggiest. After several hours, I figured out the flakey app and went for my test drive.

Addendum: more accurately, I figured out the app with iOS is flakey.

thatkidfromjrsy

just installed the dinan unit and it's awesome.

Got it done in like 10 minutes with no tools. Immediate improvement in response and power. Clearly doing what it's supposed to be.

The app is kind of glitchy and annoying, but that doesn't really matter to me. I set it to race mode and i have no reason to ever open the app again.

I'll take the car to raceway park soon to verify gains, but based upon feel I expect a good 4-5 tenths. Worth every penny.

MASSC450

Good to read a positive review on the Dinan piggy-back! I'm glad you like it.

If I decide to keep my Dinan unit (if it ever shows up to my house), I will just set it to S+ and leave it there since 93 octane in Mass is readily available.

removedCFGaccount

I hope you get those times! I'm rooting for you.

jherm

thatkid, what is your experience with the exhaust crackle after installing the dinan unit? there seems to be varying feedback on that. some saying it greatly reduced/eliminated the crackle, some saying reduced the sound/occurrence by ~20% and some saying it augmented it.

besides that, it seems the general feedback is that the increased performance is noticeable while driving and that the app sucks (ios and android or maybe just ios). however, i would think the app should be able to be easily updated so as long as the device hardware is solid that's all that matters.

removedCFGaccount

I can't account for my experience. Maybe I didn't succeed in turning it on, at first, but as I recall it ships in S+.

I'd say the crackle is almost back to what I recall.

It is clearly a high quality device and if the objective data supports about 40 hp, a real bargain.

jherm

Interesting, it seems you've done a 180 on your opinion of the unit since I first saw you provide feedback. I haven't seen every post you've made on the topic; it sounds like perhaps your original install wasn't done correctly and that's what that initial feedback was based on? But you figured that out and are now impressed with the "butt dyno" results as compared to stock?

At the end of the day, the exhaust crackle was one of the car's selling points for me so I'm trying to gauge people's post-install crackle experience to evaluate if losing/lessening that is worth (reportedly) 10% more HP.