What the xHP Flash Settings can do

Tuning a transmission is always a compromise at some point. Just like the factory did the calibrations with a particular target group in mind, we do the same at xHP, but that group is usually more focused than the average BMW buyer. Nevertheless, we offer three different setups for nearly every car supported to fit as many driver types as possible. But even with that spread, there are still a lot of users with special needs, driving environments, aftermarket engine setups, etc., who need to tweak the transmission behavior further. 

That’s exactly what Flash Settings is offering. It offers various ways to tailor the OTS maps to your personal needs. The latest two additions are:

1) Setting a Torque Limit per Gear. 

Limiting torque in the lower gears, especially on high-power RWD cars, can improve traction and make them easier to handle. xHP offers a range from 300 Nm (221 ft lb) to a maximum of 1000 Nm (737 ft lb) for each gear. It can be used either to limit boost in the lower gears or to limit the engine power overall in all gears to protect the drive-train components. The electronic limiter requests the ECU (Engine Control Unit) to lower torque once the limit is reached. The ECU then takes the necessary measures (close the throttle/lower boost/lower timing) to stay steady on this limit. It's the same method applied during shifts when the TCU (Transmission Control Unit) also takes over the torque control from the engine to enhance the shifting. This method of control works steadily and within split seconds.

2) Altering the torque intervention during a gear shift

This function lets you set how much torque reduction the gearbox requests from the engine during upshifts. Like with a manual, where the driver presses the clutch while releasing the throttle, the automatic transmission requests your vehicle’s engine to lower torque while shifting from one gear to another. Decreasing the amount of torque reduction can reduce turbo lag after shifts, especially in the lower gears. The opposite, raising the torque reduction, can produce faster/crisper shifts. The primary purpose of this function is to fine-tune your shifts to your current engine setup, as every aftermarket component or tune slightly alters the engine’s behavior during shifts. Tuned cars with big turbos may need less reduction than ones with stock turbos. If you experience a bit of "lag" on a particular shift, you can also try to lower the torque intervention by a few % until it smooths out. Reducing the torque pulled during a change puts more load on your clutches and stretches the shift time a bit, so just minimizing all values won't do the trick. Users are advised to use this function with care. Playing around with it is not dangerous to feel the effects. Still, you must be aware that lowering torque reduction substantially (e.g. -25%) over extended periods will increase the load on the clutches and reduce their lifetime. 

Besides those two functions, the Flash Settings offers a lot more, like Changing shift points, changing the intensity of the throttle blips, configuring the gear display in the dash, etc. The xHP manual holds a description for every function! You can access the manual here on the website and directly within the App in the Sidebar Menu!