B-Spec Tune – BMW E46 M3
$329.00
The B-Spec Tune is an off-the-shelf (OTS) E46 M3 MAF-based E-Flash tune that delivers a smooth power band all the way to redline while improving engine performance over stock. Get up to 30 whp / 15 wtq over baseline tune with 16+ free add-on features. We do not support forced induction (FI) or Alpha N configurations at this time. Tuning may take up to 5 business days, from the time we have your bin file and screenshot, to complete.
⚠️ None of our tuning products can be used at any time on any emissions control vehicle that is used for anything other than off-road/track performance and shall not be used on public roads. We have the right to cancel your order if deemed necessary.
Up to 30+ WHP Increase
Dyno-proven horsepower gains. B-Spec Tune will deliver a smooth power band all the way to redline while improving engine performance over stock.
Remote Tuning
Flash your car with our Remote Tuning support. All you need is a cable and computer.
312.04
WHP
+41.79
WHP Max Δ
248.08
WTQ
+27.6
WTQ Max Δ
1. Extract your current bin file using BMWFlash. Read our DIY here: How to Extract & Flash BIN File with BMWFlash
- Take a screenshot of your current ECU/DME logs. Read our DIY here: How to Read & Diagnose Check Engine Light via BMWLogger
Upload both the extracted bin and screenshot of your logs with your tune order above
No steps necessary here!
-We will send you a new bin file
-Flash your new bin file using BMWFlash. Read our DIY here: How to Extract & Flash BIN File with BMWFlash
16+ Free Add-Ons
For a full description of each B-Spec E46 M3 tune add-on feature and what it does, check out ECUWorx’s website or email us at info@thebuildjournal.com for a list of recommended add-ons for your setup.
In addition, we have a couple of features that are not on the list:
Valet Mode – Overrides your ‘Comfort’ Mode (Sport mode off) to limit peak power and acceleration. Ideal use case is to drive normally with the ‘Sport’ button on and turn it off for Valet Mode situations.
Sport Enhanced Mode – Overrides your ‘Sport’ Mode (Sport mode on) with our custom linear-throttle remapping. This add-on feature gives you a more consistent feel to the throttle press.
Sport Plus Mode – All the features of Sport Enhanced plus some additional torque management changes and WOT map changes.
Raised Idle – Reduces NVH for those who are running poly or solid motor mounts.
Sport Fan Curve – Rescaled the curves that determines the auxiliary fan functions for better cooling during idling.
Ignition Cut Off – When your car hits the rev limiter, on the stock ECU there are 2 stages of cutting power. First is fuel cut and the second stage is ignition cut. Fuel cut results in slower pickup in power vs ignition based cut off.
Sport DSC Tune – Similar to M-Track Mode, sport DSC Tune will override stock MK20 DSC parameters and ignition cut off so it is less intrusive during spirited driving.
Addition or removal of most add-on selections are free, however a re-tune fee will only apply. Please visit the Re-tune Service for B-Spec Tune page to submit your change request.
Chassis | E46 |
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Model | M3 |
Brand | Buildjournal |
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
The CSL gearbox update is a must have for SMG owners
I changed headers on my e46 m3, and removed the EGT sensor, post 02 sensors, and the SAP. I was having trouble with the immobilizer also. I was asking around on some pages for help, I was recommended to try a B-Spec tune. Overall it did everything I wanted at a low price, I received good customer support.
So worth it!!! The mid range gains are insane. Worth every penny. Other tunes are twice the price with half the performance and options Buildjournal offers. Two thumbs up!!
5 STARS ALL DAY EVERYDAY!
LONG OVER DUE ON MY END, BUT THANK YOU SO SO MUCH TO BOTH CONNIE AND ANDREW FOR BEING THE MOST RAD ENTHUSIASTS IN THE GAME. I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU’VE DONE FOR THE E46 COMMUNITY, AND JUST THE BMW COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.
FIRST OFF, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS INSANE! THE STEPS AND EVEN TURN AROUND TIME WAS LIGHTENING FAST. I SENT MY FILE OVER ON NEW YEARS EVE LAST YEAR, AND THEY LITERALLY SENT THE FILE HOURS BEFORE THE NEW YEAR. EVEN WITH IT BEING A HOLIDAY, THEY PUT ME, THE CUSTOMER, FIRST AND MADE SURE I CAN SNAP CRACKLE POP INTO THE NEW YEAR.
NOW THE REVIEW ON PERFORMANCE: YO! MY CAR DEFINITELY FEELS A LOT MORE RESPONSIVE TOP END. ONCE IM CLIMBING, I DEFINITELY CAN FEEL IT WANTING TO CONTINUE THE PULL WHERE IT USED TO PEAK AND PLATEAU. I WENT AHEAD AND SELECTED A LOT OF THE OTHER ADD ON FEATURES SUCH AS REV MATCH, WHICH MADE MY DRIVING EXPERIENCE A LOT NICER. THE UPGRADED SHIFTING ADD ON AS WELL ENLIGHTENED THE SMG EXPERIENCE. NOT ONLY DID THE CAR UNLOCK SOME AVAILABLE HP, BUT ITS SHIFTING FEELS VERY ALIVE AND RESPONSIVE. MY FAVORITE PART BESIDES THE ACTUAL POWER GAIN AND BUTT DYNO BEING STOKED, WAS THE BURBLE. I HAVE A FULL EXHAUST, STRAIGHT PIPED WITH FILTHY HABITS MUFFLER, AND LET ME TELL YOU I AM BREAKING NECKS AND ENJOYING THE CRISP POPS FROM MY EXHAUST.
OVERALL, 5 EFFING STARS FOR YOU GUYS. DONT HESITATE TO GET TUNED THROUGH THESE GUYS. HANDS DOWN THE BEST MOD IVE DONE TO MY CAR, AND I HAVE DONE A DECENT AMOUNT OF MODIFICATIONS. EASIEST, CHEAPEST, AND MOST NOTICEABLE ONE IVE DONE.
TO WRAP THIS UP, I VOUCH FOR YOU GUYS AND WILL REP YOU GUYS UNTIL THE END. I RECOMMEND ANYONE AND EVERYONE TO GO THROUGH THESE GUYS, AND TO READ THEIR DIY’S AND OTHER POSTS. THEY ARE VERY EDUCATED, AND HAVE HANDS ON EXPERIENCE WITH OUR MODEL VEHICLE. THEIR REVIEWS HAVE INFLUENCED AND HELPED ME TO HAVE MY CAR WHERE IT CURRENTLY IS.
I WILL BE MAKING A REVIEW OF THIS TUNE REAL SOON, AND WILL GO OVER HOW MUCH OF AN UPGRADE THIS IS AND HOW EVERY PENNY IS WORTH THIS TUNE. CONNIE, ILL BE HITTING YOU UP FOR A FLEX FUEL KIT IN THE NEAR FUTURE AS WELL.
MUCH LOVE TO YOU GUYS, DONT EVER STOP BEING HUMBLE, GENUINE AND BAD ASS.
IG:S54JOE
-JOE VALENCIA
(PS, IM BUYING ANOTHER STICKER AS I LOST MINE DURING MY MOVE OUT)
I purchased the tune after installing my catless headers and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the product and the process. Connie and Buildjournal were very responsive and answered every single question that I had and helped me through the process with their insight and experience.
Car now feels smooth as butter. CEL is gone and there are noticeable gains in the midrange. Incredible value for all the options you get and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this tune to anyone with an E46 M3!
Hi, I understand you are experiencing issues with your car. Coming up with a verdict based on the concerns you listed is not a reliable way to diagnose this issue – especially “slower 1/4 mile times.” Our product is an off-the-shelf solution and the tuning parameters are similar to what I run on my track-dedicated car and the other 350+ S54 customer car’s we’ve tuned. I am confident we can get to the bottom of it and we’d love to further investigate the potential issues, if you desire.
Ohh boy!!! i got the car 5 years back and i always hated the way SMG behave in city traffic…so i got a TTFS tune for the gearbox.It improved the shifting a bit but was still not what i was looking for so after 2 and a half years i went for it and got Buildjurnal tune … boy that is a difference…HUGE!!! car feels so powerfull,fast shift times,smooth around town.
I did not expect that at all… it is way better. every m3 has to have this tune,its a must.
I cant say nothing negative about the tune or about connie or BLDJRNL … very helpfull,amazing product.
Keep up the good work guys!
Would this tune work with a z4m?
Hi, the B-Spec Tune will not work on a Z4M. While they have the same motor, there are other parameters in the Z4M DME that are not the same as the E46 M3.
I was hit with the issue of misfiring when I changed my headers due to a bad o2 sensor. Buildjournal gave me good advice as this was my first time doing anything like this. Very simple and easy to communicate with. They reach out to you on weekends which is amazing. The product itself is ridiculous and makes the car a whole new beast. Absolutely recommend to anyone who wants to do something like this because they will take good good care of you. Very impressed, thank you Connie!
Very happy whit this software! And also great customer service. My E46 M3 feels a totally different car and love this tune and great for the money.
I approached Buildjournal about a year ago now when I purchased my e46 m3 and was very quickly persuaded to take on their tunes based on prior reviews from other customers on m3forum, Facebook and on their page.
Initial contact was fast, along with retunes, and they’ve been more than helpful in terms of advice, sorting queries and giving the m3 what it should have been from the factory.
Their extensive reviews, frequent R&D rollouts, all free of course, have helped play major part in decisions for the ultimate driving machine.
Buildjournal have an awesome team, awesome tune and awesome pricing. For quick, safe and effective tuning you cannot look past them. It’s worth taking the time to read their online articles, reviews and more. They’re extensive and very informative.
Thank you guys time and time again!
This has been one of the best modifications I’ve made to my car. I DD my car and don’t really track it. I still have stock headers on and it still made such a big difference. 1 year and still going song.
For the low price, you may think it’s too good to be true, but this tune really does blow me away. Buttery smooth power delivery, sweet add ons, and excellent customer service. They keep in touch even after your purchase, so you’re like a customer for life. If that’s a byproduct of their small employee base, I hope they don’t grow too big. BONUS: the apparel is crispy
So much smoooooth power! I have catless headers that I finally got real power out of! No CEL. I have a lightweight flywheel that chatters a lot at idle. Had them raise my idle. All the extra features are awesome as well. Go for the sport plus mode!
Lots of extra useable power. Definitely feel it. And the price is unbelievable!
I flashed the B-Spec tune on a few hundred street miles and 8 track sessions ago. Zero complaints and no issues to report. This is a great value, and I concur with everyone else: great customer service!
I have BW stepped headers and Euro cats, and this tune cleared “Code 79” and corrected the common power dip at about 3k RPMs. Sport mode is far more usable now too!
The second I started my car after installing the tune I could tell it was going to be what I was looking for. I have the catless tune paired with the ape flex fuel kit and the car is everything I wanted and more. Instructions made the whole tune setup easy as can be. I recommend it to anyone even thinking about it. Can’t be beat for the price either!
It’s been a while since I drove my car, she’s been a garage queen for the past three month, the reason was because she was running lean. I installed a cat-less headers about six months ago and did not get a proper tune. Buying the Buildjournal B-apex tune is with out a shadow of a doubt, one of the best investment I made for my car. It’s super cheap and unlike other tuners, I got the best results and performance out of my NA M3. The customer service is excellent, I am forever great full, Five stars!!
I don’t know how to start 🙂 This is certainly the best mod I bought for my M3 ! After few discussions with our dear Connie who gave me some advices according my project, I purchased this tune with the settings that Buildjournal recommended to me + a decat section 1 and flashed the car myself, since I live in Europe.
From the first meters of the test drive, I immediately felt the difference. The car has more torque and power before vanos’ rpm (2000 – 4500) and slightly pulls faster from 4500 to 8100. I filmed several tests before and after the tune, always in the same conditions (same road, same weight, same gear, rpm), and I can confirm today that thanks to the B-Spec tune, my M3 pulls from 40 to 100 km/h (25-60mph) in 2nd gear in 4s instead of 4,2s, impressive improvements for a stock N/A engine! In any case, my butt dyno feels a true difference, it’s not a placebo.
But the better part of the tune, is the backfire features. It was my dearest wish to see some flames shot by one of my cars, once at least. I never expected that the M3 will shoot 1 meter flames one day !!!!!!!! XD It’s so unbelievable, and the loud bangs popping while driving are also so funny !! I love the car even more henceforth <3
Last point, as everybody already said it, the Buildjournal team and their customer service are incredibly cool, Connie and Andrew are two adorable petrolheads 😀 Thank you so much guys, you rock !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7ktfiqqEhA
http://www.noelshack.com/2019-02-3-1547036041-img-20190107-124903-680.jpg
A must have tune !
The Build Journal tune is amazing, I could not be happier, the car runs great, smooth idle, additional power is obvious, throttle response is quicker. the included added features are great. The best and most important thing is the terrific customer service. I will be recommending Build Journal to everyone.
If you have an E46M3 and have not gotten the tune,…. then WHAT ARE YOU WAITING ON. The tune wakes up the car and Buildjournal offers some neat features such as a two step, higher redline, and shiftlights. I would agree like some comments below and say that this is how the car should have came from the factory.
If you are new to flashing your car I can tell you that Connie and the team are very fast at responding and they have a step by step guide that will show you all you need in order to tune the car.
The B-Spec tune worth each penny!! I got the fresh on NYE and immediately feel the power difference even just a slow test drive in underground parking lot. Also, the SMG shift time is amazing, it now feels like a M-DCT shift. Most importantly the tune support Euro spec car with 98 octane gas. Highly recommended ECU tune!!
Great bang for your buck especially during Black Friday sale. This tune definitely improves the overall powerband of the car. With the stock map ,there was always a dip at 3000 RPM or so but with the tune, powerband is much more constant and linear. The additional features are outstanding and BMW should have added them from the factory to begin with. On top of that, instant gains in combination with catless headers. Would definitely recommend this tune. Customer service is also outstanding, replies very quickly and willing to help. I am definitely looking forward to testing this tune out at AutoX or track
Are you planning on making a tune for supercharged cars?
At this time, we do not have plans to develop a tune for supercharged cars.
Does this tune lock the DME and prevent other changes we make with other tools such as throttle mapping?
No, we do not lock our tunes.
Literally emails went back and forth. All were helpful responses from these guys! Oscar was very helpful and literally worked with me tirelessly and smoothly through all my questions and requests for my tune. Thank you guys, I really appreciate it!
As a member of Buildjournal, our goal is to provide a tune for the E46 M3 that provides consistent gains across the power band. We love the E46 M3 community and we’re here to help.
I cannot stress this enough – if you have an M3, you need the tune. The car wakes up, and the transmission acts like it should have when it rolled off the showroom floor. The SMG is shifts MUCH better, and is exceptionally smooth. Flashing the tune is extremely simple, just make sure you have the correct K+DCAN cable. The customer service is great, Oscar was extremely prompt, and even made a point to get my tune made and sent out on a Sunday afternoon. I didn’t expect to get my tune back until Monday. No complaints, best $279 you can spend on your car.
A lot of reviews rave about how the B-spec tune is great for the price. In my opinion, their tune is excellent even if I had to pay $750-$1,000. It’s right on par with the more expensive tune that I have experienced on other cars. I don’t really street drive my car and for the longest time I’ve been trying to leave my engine stock with the exception of a cat back exhaust. My car is primarily focused on developing the suspension setup. The exhaust makes it easier to hear my shift points on track. With that being said, every change made to my car can be quantified into time savings on track. With no other changes, the b-Spec tune helped me achieve a new personal best around Chuckwalla Valley Raceway with a 1.3 second decrease in time. The track conditions were about 25 degrees hotter than my last PB as well. The biggest benefit I saw from the tune was the increase in mid range power. It allowed me to leave downshift less and keep the car more composed on corner entry. The shift lights also were a nice touch that were surprisingly more useful than I thought they’d be. I’ve spent far more money on my car that has resulted in less of a time improvement. There is no better upgrade to your S54 powered car for the money.
I run a stock SMG and do not go tracking; however, it still provides a noticeable difference in the canyons and daily driving. First off, this tune is quite easy to install. Install were very straight forward and quick for anyone of any background, if you do the research ahead of time. (I ran into some issues on the flash but that was my fault with Windows XP PC) With the SMG update, the shift is much quicker. Whether it’s regular street driving or spirited driving, this tune has made the car feel much more alive and power is more consistent. Thank you to BuildJournal for making me fall in love my car all over again and thank you to Connie for the follow-up customer service.
I highly recommend for catless setups, I have the aFe race headers. I went to Willow Springs this weekend and could feel noticeable gains around 6,000+ RPM, memory sport mode was very useful too. Upon startup the car is idling smoothly and disabling the SAP allows for some minor weight reduction in the engine bay. Extra add-ons like launch control, burble and shift lights are fun and cool points. Great customer service. #connieftw
Title says it all. The tune is amazing! I had this page bookmarked for a couple months not knowing if I wanted to really gamble my money on it. Well after talking to Connie at Buildjournal and their willingness to help out even though I wasn’t a customer just yet I felt more at ease. Long story short, if you are sitting there wondering if you should buy it or not, the answer is yes! You won’t be disappointed.
i love this tune it the best thing I ever did on my e46 m3 it makes the car feel so much more alive. It definitely makes a noticeable difference with just this tune and the customer support is the best i’ve ever seen. The people are extremely helpful and kind I cant thank them enough for all there help.
Fantastic tune! The M3 feels so much better, specially if your a smg owner. Customer service is out of this world!! Recommend this to any e46 m3 owner out there!
Since buying this marvelous tune I have become a war hero, time traveled, made millions in the stock market, stopped drug wars, and made love to women across the world while hunting diamonds. Good buy.
I don’t even know what to say about the Tune, that’s not been said already.
The car just feels alive, and all the small little functions that the car lacked from the start, it now has.
Hands down – best deal on the market that has so many options to your regular daily driver, or winter storage sleeper.
The E46 M3 needs, what the Buildjournal has.
As many of the other m3 owners I was skeptical at first about paying for a flash tune. This is the first car that I have done it with, and even running catted I highly recommend it. The SMG update refreshes the way the m3 drives and it shifts so much quicker it’s ridiculous. The engine runs smoother and has a more linear power band now than before. The car feels more refined and easier to control at higher speeds in my opinion. I highly recommend doing this as soon as possible for SMG owners. Their customer service is great, and they’re very helpful people.
Amazing tune, very noticible difference, the car pulls so much stronger after 5k rpm. All features work just as advertised! Not to mention the price! Best bang for buck and customer service!
Hands down best bang for your buck tune if you’re running a catless setup! Launch Control, Shift Lights, and Burble…. what more could you want. The Price is always a Bargain & 1/2!! Best Customer Service/Support in the Business, Highly Recommend it to anyone!! @Devil_M3
Starting from the customer service down to helping me choose my tuning options before they made the final adjustments they geninely care! A lot of tuners make you wait on their time and just get back to you whenever but not with these guys! Now for the tune, MY GOD! The car feels faster throughout the powerband and wakes it up completely! Don’t hesitate when buying this tune and I guarantee you will not be disappointed!
I purchased my B Spec Tune 2 weeks ago and it transforms the behavior of the car. I recommend this tune to those who are looking to gain Whp and other cool features such as valet mode and launch control. This price is unbeatable for the amount of features you can get. Also, the customer service is spot on they answered all the questions i had and even let us know there will be new features added to this tune. The turn around time is about 1 whole day which is insane. Thank you to the peeps over at Buildjournal for developing such an rewarding tune!
Noticeable power gain all accross the powerband. Restored low end power since I decat the car. Best thing about it is that its actually affordable lol. Customer service is out of this world. Highly recommend it.
I got this tune for my 6MT and boy did it really wake the car up! All the bells and whistles of this tune (launch control, shift lights, increased redline, etc.) make it well worth it. I don’t have headers yet, but am planning on it – so the $20 retune option was what really sold it for me. I also love that this group is always improving on the tune add-ons and how they’re free to existing customers.
Oh and when I bought the tune I had requested launch control at 3100. After flashing I found out that 3100 was a bit too much for my car. Oscar was nice enough to give me a new file at 2800. After flashing again, the launches are perfect. Now that’s what I call service!
Overall A+ product with A+ service. Why go anywhere else?
By far the best mod I have done to date the power is very noticible and the addons are perfect! the price is just a huge plus! And the customer service is top notch! They respond sometimes in minutes to your question! Mind blowing customer support and service! If u have a e46 m3 and u don’t have this tune. GET IT!
Flashed my M3 a few weeks back. Customer service and the product is fantastic!
Burble – I had the burble tune already flashed, however it now seems to pop a lot louder and must be throwing flames. Yet to stick a gopro to the cars bum to record said flames. Hoping to do this soon.
Power – I was already running catless, so gains upon my M3 will be less than those published in the Build Journal’s dyno run. That said, there is an evident bump in available torque and power through the midrange. The car seems to be much more alive now. Power also continues all the way up to the redline.
All other options work as suggested. Awesome to now have shift lights.
10/10 product from these amazing people. Keep up the great work!
The tune is awesome! The difference is noticable. Added more power in the midrange. Throttle response in sport mode is much smoother and shift are crisp(smg). The price is unbeatableTune was done within 24 hours.Highly recommended .Thank you guys!
after running the tune on my car for a few weeks I can say that my car feels a lot better and pulls a lot harder. In the lower rpms, it feels like it did before making this tune perfect for daily driving. On the other hand, the higher rpms pull a lot harder all the way to the redline. Aside from the tune itself, the people over at buildjournal are super nice and were cool to chat with. Thanks guys!
I tuned my ’02 M3 with this tune a few weeks ago, and can agree with everything said previously..
Customer service was the first thing I noticed, and I immediately got the feeling that they will do anything they can to help me. There were a few options that they recommended for my particular setup, so they contacted me and told me why they recommended them, answering any questions I had. They sent my tune over in only a few hours after the order, and I obviously rushed to go flash it. Having already had the burble tune, that was nothing new (Burble is awesome though, gives it much more aggression). But then, I punched it. Immediately, I felt power in the low end that I’ve never felt before. I thought it would end there, and mid-high end would feel exactly the same – but no, it kept pulling and pulling. My butt dyno definitely felt some serious gains. The car feels like a different animal now, and puts the same smile on my face that I had when I first drove this car.
To summarize: Great customer service, very easy to install remotely, serious gains, great customization options, all for a very fair price. Props to the guys at Buildjournal! Quality mod all around.
I’ve read countless threads and opinions about how pointless it is to get a tune for this car, everyone kept saying you can’t squeeze out more then the factory gave you. Good thing i never listened and now im here with a completely different, faster and sharper car. This tune is perfect, there are no drawbacks and the price basically makes it a steal. I highly recommend getting this and fast before these great guys realize they should be charging way more for the amount of joy their product provides.
Excellent product. I just received an email to update my Tune to Version 2. I will wait on 6MT LC to release before I do. Read it again. Free updates. Find that somewhere else.
I have every option except the burble and pop and I have nothing but great things to say about the tune. I feel like it really turned the S54 into the beast it should’ve been from the factory (paired with catless headers). The sport enhanced mode has to be my favorite option, it makes the gas pedal the perfect sensitivity level. The customer support is stellar, and the ease of flashing the tune is ultra simplistic. Don’t hesitate to purchase this tune, it has nothing but 5 star reviews for a reason.
I was about to tune my E46 m3 with other brand. But all of them are more than 500 USD and seems like not willing to reply email. Than I found buildjournal on instagram and they answered all of the questions very fast. After I uploaded the bin, they shoot me back within 6 hours. So if you’re looking for a good flash for your m3 and good customer service for yourself, here’s the right place.
after struggling with the ess e-flash and there tunes making my car run really rich and flashing there “catless compatible” tune car was the same 02 sensors and all that will still go of and they would tell me something was wrong with my m3 so eventually i got tired of dealing with them gave build journal a shot and i was really impressed and happy the bspec tune was well worth the money fixed all the issues with my car what so ever even added the burble effect and i absolutely love it not only that but great customer service as well i highly recomand build journals tune!!
I initially just got this tune to turn off the CEL due to going catless but once I installed it, I learned that it was so much more. The car idles better and definitely has more pull according to the trusty butt dyno. Will be back when I get another M3
I’ve loved my e46 m3 since the day I bought it and started modding it but with my euro headers and thus tune I am in love all over again. Service us above and beyond and the price is unbeatable. Above all the product is tried and tested and is Spectacular. Thanks buildjournal..
Spoke to customer service on FB before purchasing the tune and discussed my needs. The response was quick and informative.
The tune definitely improved throttle response and i don’t feel any flat spots when revving to 8100rpm 🙂
For the price, this is a very good off-the-shelf tune!
The tune is pretty nice! Drivability and throttle linearity is awesome! But im one of the 2% of the e46 m3 owners that has uncompatibility with the shift light!
The best deal for its price. The car feels amazing – much more powerful. Customer service was amazing as well, they made sure the tune ran perfectly and even checked back in.
The customer service is great and they are willing to help out whatever they can. The B-Spec tune is great, I definitely don’t like a lot of Christmas lights on my dash and this did the job. I like everything about the tune. My favorite part is the valet mode, for when I lend out my car.
Money well spent
Well having had this tune for over a week now I feel confident enough to say this is probably the best money you can spend on you m3 period.
Service is spectacular and I got my tune super quick! Extremely pleased there as I am super impatient. I still have stock headers with cats so no pops and fire for me (yet!) but I could instantly feel the difference the tune makes. I’ve had tunes on other Na cars and could barely feel the difference but hot damn there’s no doubt there’s extra hp here! Seriously impressed. Can’t wait to get my header installed and reflashed for the catless file and feel the real power. Seriously don’t wait. There’s no downside and it’s the cheapest thing you can do powerwise!
I did the basic tune, paired with the CSL SMG remap for me it has definitely made the car more drive-able. The car is stock otherwise. I will say the major difference is at around 5k RPM before, it was like a slingshot sensation and the lower RPMs were touch and go. It would sometimes shimmy and feel under powered under 3k RPMs. Now with the tune the power-band is very consistent. Engage sport mode or as I like to call it “M” mode and it turns my car insane. It’s like the whole car just wakes up and is very angry! One thing I have learned is to not engage sport mode while accelerating. It will start hopping because it is such a kick up. Other then that I am enjoying the tune!
This was my fist time attempting a tune on a car and the process was very simple and smooth! I fired up an old laptop with windows 7 and had no issues! The car does seem to pull harder, smoother and I love the add-ons! Disabling the cold start air pump and recalibrating the warmup lights has been awesome! No complaints so far! Great price!
Had the tune for about 3 months now, and so far no issues whatsoever. I tested out the tune on the track and definitely saw and felt a difference. The car accelerated quicker and smoother out of turns with out the use of “sport” mode and when using sports mode It diffently felt alive. I definitely recomend this tune.
Most of what I would say is covered by the other positive reviews here. That said, this is without a doubt the best $250 I’ve spent on the car. If you really want to bring your car to life don’t hesitate to buy this.
I got the B-Spec tune on my car about 2 months ago and I really wanted to get a good feel of the car before I wrote a review. The only mod I’m running on my M3 are headers and exhaust so the options I included were all the emissions related bits, shift lights, and enhanced throttle. Right off the bat you notice how much smoother the car runs with the tune. At idle it got rid of some of the roughness that comes with these cars and while on throttle it has a much more consistent and linear feel all the way up to 8000RPM which I attribute to the throttle remapping. There was definitely a gain in power with the tune not really noticeable down low though where you will notice it is up top. Above 6500RPM the car flys I was surprised when the car was keeping up or outrunning much bigger V8 cars ;). It might feel as the car has lost some lower end power but that’s not the case as I’ve come to figure out it’s just simply that much smoother pulls just as hard but without the jerkiness. After my headers install I had noticed a drop in midrange power. With the tune it greatly improved midrange power but it still lacks a little but that’s due to the headers id say. The car has been ran hard and has improved in terms power, and smoothness. Overall it’s safe to say the only regret I have is not getting the burble tune as it was included but i opted out of it. Great support and great people keep up the good work guys might have to go back soon to get the burble!
Tuned performed flawlessly. Super smooth, and there is definitely a power increase even with my Bimmerworld Race exhaust. Upper RPM it just pulls on the track. Glad I went with the buildjournal tune, for the price it’s the best bang for the buck. My car mostly lives on the track and I couldn’t ask for a better tune.
Customer service has been great throughout the whole process! Any question I had was answered quickly. As far as the tune.. i fell in love with my car all over again! This is the most noticeable gain in power i have ever had with my car. Honestly the beat deal you can get for the money. Very impressed!
Friendly group, very welcoming… The tune is definitely noticeable in the mid range.
Running catless system and even when daily driven at 6th gear 2k you can feel a difference if you get on it.
Thank you guys
You’d be crazy not to get a tune from these guys. It’s cheaper than any other tune on the market, yet The price certainly does not compromise the quality. Hey re very understanding and know exactly what they’re doing. My SMG has benefited significantly from the CSL and inertia update, and I also love the Valet mode and updated sport mode. They also helped clear an airbag code that was stuck on and I would buy from them again hands down.
If you have an SMG, the CSL goodies in this flash are a must. It’s amazing how much smoother the car drives now. This is how the car should have left the factory floor!
The crew at BuildJournal were great to work with, and offer a level of professionalism that is often lacking in our scene.
I was incredibly surprised by how big the improvement was across the entire power band, I wasn’t expecting to notice the difference nearly as much as I did when I flashed it! Sport mode is incredibly smooth and so much better to drive with the pedal remapping. Stage 3 backfires are really cool, managed to get a video of a few flames with catless headers and the rest of the exhaust stock. Customer service was incredible, Connie and Oscar really made sure they got the car exactly how I wanted it. They went well out of their way to make sure the Valet mode was limited to just the right amount, and sent me a couple different files to try until I was satisfied. Definitely the best value by far out there for the E46 M3!
Tune is comparable to Evolve-R, Shark (not really a competition), and TTFS E-Flash. Best tune per price, B-Spec is the route to go. Rev match, SMG inertia, and low-mid range power gain is worth every dollar. Thank you Oscar, Andrew, and Connie for the great customer service.
Step 1) Order tune and add-on(s).
Step 2) Copy partial stock tune with BMWFlash and error codes with BMWLogger.
Step 3) Send stock tune and error codes to BuildJournal Tuner for edit. (Turn around time no longer than 1 day)
Step 4) Flash edited tune back to DME with BMWFlash.
Step 5) Drive and Enjoy!
The tune feels great and is easily noticeable, as well as adding in all the other features I wanted. There really is no better value for money, and the support I’ve received since purchasing has made me a very satisfied customer. If you’re thinking about buying but aren’t sure yet, be sure, it’s worth it.
Their website DIYs made the installation a breeze and answered the questions I had about the process. From the time I had sent them the binary file of my factory ECU it was literally one hour before they sent back the new tune. Pretty impressive turnaround time and very user friendly process. The new tune has the standard “add-on” features of sport mode memory, 6mt shift lights, cold start delete, o2 cel delete, etc. and also gives a little bump in performance, as well as adding the burble feature when applying light throttle on deceleration.
While I’ve yet to put the car on the dyno to measure actual power gains, it feels quicker to me and friends who’ve ridden in my car before and after the new tune. The burble feature is something I honestly expected to be obnoxious and tiresome after a few days, but the more I drive the car the more I enjoy it. Under normal driving the only noticeable difference is a loud crack on WOT upshifts or a few burbles when upshifting at medium throttle. The big backfires and flames really only happen if the exhaust is hot and you go WOT up to redline and then feather the throttle while decelerating down. It’s nice that I can drive past cops and not draw too much attention to myself (at least any more than a SS Race section 3 normally draws haha).
All in all, I’m pretty happy with the tune. I kind of doubt it makes as much power as a custom tune from RK or TTFS, but for the cost and ease of install I’m glad I went this route. And again, I have nothing other than my butt dyno and a couple pulls against buddies telling me it’s marginally slower than those, nothing scientific here.
The customer service from the guys at buildjournal really surprised me considering the cost of their services. I was expecting to wait a day or two before my questions were answered and absolutely wasn’t counting on my tune being ready the same day I ordered it. Their behavior was on par with what I’d expect out of a much more expensive service, including following up a few days after I installed the tune to make sure everything was running well and I was happy with the product.
Just flashed my car, this is my first tune on my M3 and I couldn’t be happier. Turnaround time was less than 1 day.
-Great website with detailed info and step-by-step instructions. I contacted them on IG and they were able to answer my questions in detail. The B-Spec tune is perfect for a beginner, the process was extremely smooth.
-I felt some gains after installing the euro headers, but this tune definitely brought that mod to full potential. From mid-range to redline it just pulls hard and feels like it wants to keep going.
-I was pleasantly surprised to see the 6MT shift lights work on my ’01. I thought it would only work on 03+ clusters. Still need to try to the new sport mode.
-Backfire sounds dope, and is controllable.. shouldn’t happen randomly. You have to let off the throttle after punching it, like around 4k. Rest of the exhaust sounds normal. This is good for me as I’m not trying to catch extra heat from cops.
My engine light is finally gone! No more error codes for deleting my SAP and secondary o2 sensors. If I pass e-test (just obd plug-in) I’m laughing. Just need to make sure the monitors show as ready or not applicable.
Overall… B-Spec Tune is bless. Major props to the guys for bringing this great affordable tuning option to the market.
FAST SERVICE!!! TUNE HAS BEEN AMAZING!! ITS EVERYTHING I CAN ASK FOR! EVERY M3 E46 NEEDS THIS!
Looked into this tune after getting my headers installed. You can definitely feel more midrange power during WOT. Not sure if its just a placebo, but I feel like my car runs a lot better with the tune flashed into my car. First attempt at flashing my car wasn’t the best, BUT the guys at Buildjournal I got to say really know how to take care of you. Messaged them right after the problem occurred, got a reply in minutes, and then they helped me fix it right away. I went for the Stage 3 Backfire option with my B-Spec tune, and the first crackle pop I heard gave me the biggest smirk during a test drive. Going to be taking my car on a track day to see how the tune does for me.
Best bang for buck tune you can get as of right now. Other tunes could run you $500+, but you could save a couple hundred dollars for a few track days by purchasing this tune. You’re not just paying for the tune, you’re paying for the incredible customer support. These guys are definitely out here trying to help out our fellow M3 owners! Give the tune a try!
I love the tune! Definite gains in the midrange and love not having the CEL on and having to press the sport button each time! Customer service was excellent too! Questions were answered within minutes and I received the tune in the same day.
Could definitely feel a difference in power and a lot better throttle response. Got my tune back in the same day it was sent.
I love the midrange pull after the tune. I did a track event at sow about a week after I had Andrew and Oscar flash the car and it pulled strong and flawless all day. Even a few other buddies with e46 will be getting the tune after feeling the difference accelerating out of the corners. The match reving makes me feel like I’m heeltoeing like I used to. Thy were also able to remove my cel due to my BMW motorsports thermostat, so I was able to smog my car! A+ Would recommend & have recommended!
I purchased the B-Spec tune for my E46 M3 after going catless. I am happy with the additional power gains and I don’t have that annoying CEL anymore. 🙂