Upgrading to DNA Stage 2 Filter requires ECU flash remapping?

[Witsend]

I just bought the DNA kit filter and bracket. Shortly after I get a reply to my inquiry:

"Regarding the P-BM18CR20-S2-COMBO in case you wish to proceed with the purchase of this Stage 2 Air Filter we inform you that the ECU remapping is mandatory"

This means what? Now I have to take it in to a BMW mechanic? Or I'd have to buy the Bren Tune ECU thing and hassle with uploading downloading installing a new ECU remap? Both options were more than I anticipated.

 

[Anibal]

Have a read at the below. I think you may need to tell the ECU.

https://www.r18forums.com/threads/anyone-install-an-aftermarket-air-filter.319/page-2

 

[DonC]

I just bought the DNA kit filter and bracket. Shortly after I get a reply to my inquiry:

"Regarding the P-BM18CR20-S2-COMBO in case you wish to proceed with the purchase of this Stage 2 Air Filter we inform you that the ECU remapping is mandatory"

This means what? Now I have to take it in to a BMW mechanic? Or I'd have to buy the Bren Tune ECU thing and hassle with uploading downloading installing a new ECU remap? Both options were more than I anticipated.

I installed the DNA filter and removed the airbox. Works fine without retuning. I got different responses to ‘ do I need to’, the shop I bought it through does a lot of bmw custom work and they said I kneed to retune only if I do the air box and a full exhaust change. I also changed the mufflers, but left the stock headers and no retune necessary.

 

[BigJimSlim]

I just bought the DNA kit filter and bracket. Shortly after I get a reply to my inquiry:

"Regarding the P-BM18CR20-S2-COMBO in case you wish to proceed with the purchase of this Stage 2 Air Filter we inform you that the ECU remapping is mandatory"

This means what? Now I have to take it in to a BMW mechanic? Or I'd have to buy the Bren Tune ECU thing and hassle with uploading downloading installing a new ECU remap? Both options were more than I anticipated.

As I understand it, the R18 has wide band O2 sensors and is capable of “auto tuning” to accommodate the change in air filter and mod to airbox. I’ve done 3000 miles on my changed filter without issue.

I did also mod with the BT tune, but that wasn’t due to changing the filter.

 

[Witsend]

Thanks gents... I guess it won't hurt anything if I change the AF and if I get 'check engine' (or whatever the equiv. error type indicators would be) --I can always revert until I get the Bren Tune.

 

[BigJimSlim]

Thanks gents... I guess it won't hurt anything if I change the AF and if I get 'check engine' (or whatever the equiv. error type indicators would be) --I can always revert until I get the Bren Tune.

I don't think you'll get a check engine light. I did as much reading here before I did the filter and no one mentioned a CEL, so I expect you'll be good to go.

 

[DonC]

I don't think you'll get a check engine light. I did as much reading here before I did the filter and no one mentioned a CEL, so I expect you'll be good to go.

I did the change and didn’t need a tune nor did I get an error code, so I think you’re good to go.

 

[Star-Lord]

I've always ask myself why folks are compelled to replace the stock, engineered paper filter with an air filter that requires much more maintenance (cleaning & such, vs simply replacing with a new filter)?

I doubt simply swapping the air filter gives any performance improvements... i.e. I had a DUCATI, which I had upgraded to the TERMIGNONI exhaust system; the entire kit included the Exhaust, a larger air box which utilized the existing paper air filter and an ECU which was a plug and play swap out of all three pieces... and this kit absolutely resulted in a performance improvement, by design..

Wouldn't the BMW engineers have already worked out the air filter design to be matched to the R18 engine; or perhaps, the R18 is remapping the ECU based on realtime data?

 

[BigJimSlim]

I've always ask myself why folks are compelled to replace the stock, engineered paper filter with an air filter that requires much more maintenance (cleaning & such, vs simply replacing with a new filter)?

I doubt simply swapping the air filter gives any performance improvements... i.e. I had a DUCATI, which I had upgraded to the TERMIGNONI exhaust system; the entire kit included the Exhaust, a larger air box which utilized the existing paper air filter and an ECU which was a plug and play swap out of all three pieces... and this kit absolutely resulted in a performance improvement, by design..

Wouldn't the BMW engineers have already worked out the air filter design to be matched to the R18 engine; or perhaps, the R18 is remapping the ECU based on realtime data?

As I understand it, and I’m by no means an engineer, the intake/exhaust system on stock vehicles is always a compromise between many factors to ensure compliance with emissions, noise, fuel consumption and whatever other requirements exist. With this, an easy choke point for engineers is the airbox. In just about any performance application I’ve researched or performed myself includes altering the airbox and using a different filter.

The R18’s airbox, as you know, has two snorkels that are really the only air the bike gets. Opening that up allows more air, and the bike adapts to use more fuel, creating more go.

The air filter swap is always a question mark, but there are field studies you can find on YouTube that suggest the cloth and oil type filter is good for as much as 5% gains depending on the application. There’s some idea that the cloth filters let in more dirt, which is probably accurate. But in a normal environment, most folks won’t ever be impacted.

 

[DonC]

I've always ask myself why folks are compelled to replace the stock, engineered paper filter with an air filter that requires much more maintenance (cleaning & such, vs simply replacing with a new filter)?

I doubt simply swapping the air filter gives any performance improvements... i.e. I had a DUCATI, which I had upgraded to the TERMIGNONI exhaust system; the entire kit included the Exhaust, a larger air box which utilized the existing paper air filter and an ECU which was a plug and play swap out of all three pieces... and this kit absolutely resulted in a performance improvement, by design..

Wouldn't the BMW engineers have already worked out the air filter design to be matched to the R18 engine; or perhaps, the R18 is remapping the ECU based on realtime data?

There is plenty of evidence that increasing air flow increases power. There is also plenty of evidence that K&N / DNA type filters do a better job of filtering the air. Additionally, the ability to clean and reuse the filter, as opposed to replacing stock paper filters each time, is not only cheaper in the long run but also allows you to clean and reuse often, which means your bike’s intake can function on an optimal level much longer than the stock paper filters which slowly deteriorate

 

[jackxer]

I don't believe that K&N type filters do a lot more than give a better intake sound on the R18, only the filter doesn't let in much more air than a paper filter. Only if you delete the snorkels and the exhaustflappers a little bit more power eventually can come out of it but I think it's more in our mind than in real gain of power. In the past on all kind of bikes I did stage 1 exhaust, airfilter and dynotuning but the results were very little compared to the cost of it all. Unless it's a gain of 20hp an torque I stay original in filter.
But I hope someone does a dynorun to see if it really makes a difference.

 

[DonC]

I don't believe that K&N type filters do a lot more than give a better intake sound on the R18, only the filter doesn't let in much more air than a paper filter. Only if you delete the snorkels and the exhaustflappers a little bit more power eventually can come out of it but I think it's more in our mind than in real gain of power. In the past on all kind of bikes I did stage 1 exhaust, airfilter and dynotuning but the results were very little compared to the cost of it all. Unless it's a gain of 20hp an torque I stay original in filter.
But I hope someone does a dynorun to see if it really makes a difference.

I had before and after dyno runs on both my triumphs and it made a 10% increase and 12% increase with just the filter/air box change. Much more whenever I did exhaust & tune change with it. I haven’t done a dyno run on my R18 but every bike I’ve ever owned (many in 50 years of riding) has had noticeable seat-of-the-pants improvements, any dyno runs just backed up those impressions. Besides improved flow and better filtering (lots of credible evidence to back up those statements) it allows you to clean the filter often to keep it at maximum efficiency where a stock paper filter deteriorates in efficiency steadily until you replace it. For me, well worth a few dollars and a few minutes of my time.

 

[jackxer]

So we await the choosen one who puts his money in filter, exhaust and dynorun to prove each other case. I am really curious.

 

[DonC]

Hey, you express your opinion and I express mine- that’s what it’s all about.