Power by stage
Stage 1 to 3 are tuners' and turbo makers' own published figures, mostly engine horsepower on pump fuel (91–93 US / 95–98 RON). Stage 4 is a community range in wheel horsepower (whp), from owners' dyno sheets. Real results depend on fuel, weather and the individual car.
Names with an arrow go straight to that part's product page for this car. Names in a dashed outline are other brands that make the part; exact links for them are being added.
Software only
+75 to +115 hpMost tunes flash over the OBD port, but many cars need the engine computer unlocked on a bench first: bootmod3 says 2019-on cars with March 2019 software need it, and MHD says cars built after June 2020 and European cars with a particulate filter always do. bootmod3 and MHD include a DCT gearbox flash. Dinan measured a stock car at 480 hp on its own dyno, well above BMW's 425 hp, which is one reason tuners' figures differ.
Typical cost: $579–$924 (JB4, bootmod3, Dinan, Active Autowerke); MHD €279 licence plus €109 per map pack; €609–€3,743 (RaceChip, Mosselman, G-Power, AC Schnitzer); Dinan+ with warranty $1,750. Pinned crank hub $429–$975 (Mosselman, VAC).List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.
Stage 1 tunes compared
| Tune | Fuel | Claimed power | Claimed torque | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinan Stage 1 | 91 / 93 US | 514 / 538 hp | 522 / 542 lb-ft | Dinan's calculated engine figures; its heat exchanger is "highly recommended" |
| Dinan+ | 91–93 US | 499 hp | 477 lb-ft | Comes with Dinan's 4-year / 50,000-mile warranty |
| MHD Stage 1 | 91–93 US / 95–98 RON | up to 530 hp | 700 Nm | For stock cars; DCT flash included |
| bootmod3 Stage 1 | 91 / 93 US | +20% / +22% | +22% / +23% | Quoted as a percentage over stock; DCT flash included |
| AC Schnitzer | 98 RON | 510 hp | 645 Nm | Plug-in unit; German approval on DCT cars; works with the particulate filter; 36-month warranty |
| Litchfield (EcuTek) | 95 / 97–99 RON | 500 / 520 bhp | 485 / 510 lb-ft | Works on cars with a particulate filter |
| G-Power GP-500 | — | 500 hp | 650 Nm | Software only |
| Mosselman Stage 1 | 98 RON / 93 US | 500 hp | 660 Nm | Same figure for base, Competition and CS |
| Burger JB4 | 91 US or higher | up to +80 whp | up to +100 lb-ft (wheel) | Piggyback; up to +120 whp on E85 |
| Active Autowerke | 91–93 US | up to +150 whp | up to +120 lb-ft (wheel) | ECU mailed in or flashed at a dealer |
| RaceChip GTS 5 Black | — | +86 PS | +107 Nm | Plug-in module (431 PS M4) |
| DTE PowerControl | — | +92 hp | +66 lb-ft | Plug-in module (431 hp M3) |
Recommended with Stage 1
- Engine computer unlock newer cars
MHD S55 licencebootmod3Dinan
Depends on the software and production date of your engine computer, not the car's build date; ask before you buy.
- Heat exchanger or charge cooler recommended
Dinan heat exchangerCSF charge-air coolerForge
Dinan says the stock system heat-soaks after only three pulls; its heat exchanger alone claims +10 hp.
- Pinned crank hub recommended
VAC 4-pin crank hubMosselman crank hubEvolve
Evolve warns the factory hub can slip "even on stock cars"; a slip changes the cam timing and can bend valves.
Downpipes, intake and cooling
+105 to +150 hpStage 2 adds downpipes and better cooling, with a file written for them. The biggest claims come from downpipes without catalysts, which are sold for track or export use only. MHD notes that ethanol maps are capped by the stock fuel system at this stage.
Typical cost: downpipes $480–$1,999 (VRSF, Active Autowerke); charge cooler $750–$1,695 (Dinan, CSF); Mosselman remap with downpipes €2,651 before tax.List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.
Stage 2 packages compared
| Package | Fuel | Claimed power | Claimed torque | Required hardware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MHD Stage 2 / 2+ | Pump fuel | 560 / 575 hp | 780 / 850 Nm | High-flow downpipes |
| G-Power GP-540 / GP-570 | — | 540 / 570 hp | 680 / 720 Nm | G-Power silencer; the GP-570 also needs G-Power downpipes |
| Litchfield Stage 3 (de-cat) | Pump fuel | 560 bhp | 530 lb-ft | Downpipes without catalysts; off-road use only |
| Manhart MH4 550 | — | 555 PS | 820 Nm | Race downpipes without catalysts, exhaust and Eventuri intake (demo car) |
| Mosselman Stage 2 | 98 RON / 93 US | 530 hp | 700 Nm | Sport-cat or catless downpipes |
| bootmod3 Stage 2 | 91 / 93 US | +23% / +24% | +26% | Hardware not listed on the page |
Parts list
- Downpipes required
Active Autowerke catted downpipesVRSF downpipesAkrapovičG-Power
VRSF's catless pipes claim 20–25 whp with a tune; Active Autowerke's catted pipes need no tune change.
- Charge cooler upgrade required
CSF charge-air coolerDinan heat exchangerWagner TuningForge
CSF's core is 60% larger than the factory one.
- Intake optional
Eventuri V2 intake
Eventuri claims 15–20 hp.
- Charge pipes optional
FTP charge pipe
Replaces the factory plastic pipe, which can split at higher boost.
- Exhaust optional
Akrapovič link pipes
Akrapovič claims +7.5 kW for the titanium link pipes alone.
Upgraded turbos
620–710 hpStage 3 upgrades both turbos. Mosselman's MSL turbos claim 620 hp on 98 octane, G-Power's GP-660 package 660 hp, and Manhart's full kit 708 hp. Pure Turbos rates its hybrids as capable of 700 whp and more with a custom tune and ethanol. A pinned crank hub and a stronger gearbox clutch come with this power.
Typical cost: turbos $2,995–$5,685 (Pure) or €4,248 before tax (Mosselman); DCT clutches $2,599; Manhart's full kit €37,500.List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.
Turbo upgrades compared
| Kit | Fuel | Claimed power | Claimed torque | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mosselman Stage 3 (MSL turbos) | 98 RON / 93 US | 620 hp | 750 Nm | Catless downpipes and oil thermostat; intercooler recommended |
| G-Power GP-660 | — | 660 hp | 800 Nm | Only with G-Power turbos, downpipes and exhaust |
| Manhart Performance Kit | — | 708 hp | 980 Nm | Turbos, CSF intercooler, charge pipes and gearbox upgrade; no road approval, export only |
| Pure Turbos Pure700 / Pure800 | — | 700+ / 750+ whp | — | Wheel figures, "capable" ratings; custom tune required |
Parts list
- Upgraded turbos required
Mosselman MSL turbosPure Turbos S55G-PowerWeistec
Mosselman's are based on new Mitsubishi turbos and sold plug-and-play.
- Pinned crank hub required
VAC 4-pin crank hubMosselman crank hubEvolve
Mosselman lists its hub as recommended for Stage 3.
- Port injection and flex fuel ethanol builds
Fuel-It port injectionFuel-It flex-fuel kit
For E85 or methanol; Fuel-It rates its kits by injector size.
- DCT clutch upgrade recommended
SSP Spec-R DCT clutchesDodson
BMW publishes no torque limit for the DCT; SSP says its kit is tested to 900+ lb-ft.
Built engine
800–900 whpOwners' builds with a built bottom end, upgraded fuel system and E85 run roughly 800–900 whp; one F80 M3 made 877 whp with Pure turbos, a built engine, full E85 and upgraded DCT clutches. DOC Race lists single-turbo kits at 825 to 1,445 hp depending on the turbo, without saying whether that is at the engine or the wheels.
Parts list
- Big turbos or a single-turbo kit required
DOC Race single-turbo kitPure Turbos S55
Twin hybrids or one large turbo.
- Built bottom end required
PauterWiseco
Forged rods and pistons, with the pinned crank hub.
- Fuel system and gearbox required
Fuel-It port injectionSSP Spec-R DCT clutches
Port injection and a bigger low-pressure pump for ethanol, and DCT clutches that hold the torque.
Questions to ask the shop
- What software and production date does my engine computer have? Can it be flashed over the OBD port, or does it need a bench unlock?
- Is the figure you quote at the engine or at the wheels, on which dyno and on what fuel? Can I see runs from my exact version (base, Competition or CS)?
- Does the tune include a DCT flash, and what torque will the stock clutches hold at this stage?
- Do you recommend a pinned crank hub at this power, which one, and is it in the price?
- How do you deal with heat soak: heat exchanger, charge cooler, or both?
- On a European car, does the setup keep the particulate filter and catalysts, and will it pass inspection? What warranty do you give?