Power Comander V5 question

[Ravenbyrne]

Looking for a wee bit of advice... I have a Power Commander V5 that I'm thinking I might install on to my 2008 GSA.... I want to keep the original pipes and exhaust so will the V5 make a difference. Thanks in advance Brian

 

[Delboy777]

Looking for a wee bit of advice... I have a Power Commander V5 that I'm thinking I might install on to my 2008 GSA.... I want to keep the original pipes and exhaust so will the V5 make a difference. Thanks in advance Brian

I have one fitted to my bike, and although i had changed my can you can easily leave the original on. I had my one set up on a dyno so that it was tuned to my engine rather than a generic map.

 

[UturnTony]

Looking for a wee bit of advice... I have a Power Commander V5 that I'm thinking I might install on to my 2008 GSA.... I want to keep the original pipes and exhaust so will the V5 make a difference. Thanks in advance Brian

Yes, it will make a difference on a standard set up but, you will only maximise the improvement if you get the bike dyno'd.

 

[oddshapedballs]

It will make a difference, and you can tweak the map with a laptop, you can highlight the map (as you do in Excel) and update the cells equally within the chosen range to add/remove fuel in 10% increments.

 

[comberjohn]

Make sure you have the correct version. The 2008 should use the PCV serial number ending 01. Later TC models like mine ended 012.
Don't know the difference, maybe connectors?
Don't waste money getting it dynod. Only good for bumming about it in the pub. Besides, the ecu no longer adapts because you have to disconnect the O2 sensors. So, if you really want to maintain peak performance, you would have to dyno it every now and again as the engine components wear. It'll no longer self tune like it does standard or with a re map or AF XiED units.
The standard map that comes with it is good, the standard European map is better. Something to do with better quality fuel here than the States.
You won't believe the difference in driveability.
Make sure you thoroughly waterproof the connectors to the TPS on the side of the left throttle body. If it gets damp, the engine revs will rise and fall instead of ticking over. You won't be left stranded, but it's really annoying.
That's the main reason I changed over to the AF XiED units.
Remember, of course, to tell your insurance. It's too easy to spot if you have a claim. Most insurance companies are ok about them anyway.
Easy to fit. Just have plenty of cable ties to hand.

 

[Ravenbyrne]

Thanks for the replies Gentlemen... I might just sell the unit any idea what it is worth second hand

 

[jetjock]

Thanks for the replies Gentlemen... I might just sell the unit any idea what it is worth second hand

Go on completed listings on eBay , that'll give you an idea


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Delboy777]

"Don't waste money getting it dynod. Only good for bumming about it in the pub. Besides, the ecu no longer adapts because you have to disconnect the O2 sensors. So, if you really want to maintain peak performance, you would have to dyno it every now and again as the engine components wear. It'll no longer self tune like it does standard or with a re map or AF XiED units."
Well if that's the case then the map that's loaded onto the PCv will also through time become useless. Is that what your saying ?? I dont think so, but your entitled to your own opinion.

 

[comberjohn]

That's exactly what I'm saying.
Not my opinion, it's been discussed at length before.
When you fit a PCV you no longer use the fuel map BMW installed. A new one is used instead. It's a fixed map, which is why the O2 sensors are disconnected. You can, of course, plug a laptop into the PCV and make adjustments to the fueling, but you lose the adaptability of the original ECU as the engine components wear. This is how the engine stays within environmental limits
It's a lot smarter than most people realise.
The PCV fueling remains the same until you plug it into your laptop again.
Now, my OPINION is that a PCV makes the bike a lot better to ride by just plug and playing a map. Get it dynod and you might get a few more bhp. If you feel you really need those few bhp for a couple of hundred quids worth of dyno time, then knock yourself out. It's a free country.
Seem to remember reading that even Geoff at Hilltop only obtains a few additional bhp by dynoing it after remapping.
If it hadn't have been for the crappy connectors on the TPS, I probably would have kept mine. Less of a problem on jap bikes as the same connector would probably be under the tank.

 

[Delboy777]

That's exactly what I'm saying.
Not my opinion, it's been discussed at length before.
When you fit a PCV you no longer use the fuel map BMW installed. A new one is used instead. It's a fixed map, which is why the O2 sensors are disconnected. You can, of course, plug a laptop into the PCV and make adjustments to the fueling, but you lose the adaptability of the original ECU as the engine components wear. This is how the engine stays within environmental limits
It's a lot smarter than most people realise.
The PCV fueling remains the same until you plug it into your laptop again.
Now, my OPINION is that a PCV makes the bike a lot better to ride by just plug and playing a map. Get it dynod and you might get a few more bhp. If you feel you really need those few bhp for a couple of hundred quids worth of dyno time, then knock yourself out. It's a free country.
Seem to remember reading that even Geoff at Hilltop only obtains a few additional bhp by dynoing it after remapping.
If it hadn't have been for the crappy connectors on the TPS, I probably would have kept mine. Less of a problem on jap bikes as the same connector would probably be under the tank.

Well im not convinced, but as you say its all very subjective. Lots of peeps on here think they know what they are talking about, but in fact don't have a clue except from what they have read. I'm no expert but im happy with what ive done so like you say i did knock myself out and relieved my rear pocket of some dosh......that's my privilege.

 

[Roger 04 RT]

The BMSK ECU uses its two O2 sensors as its sole feedback source for fueling accuracy. When you connect the PCV, you disconnect the O2 sensors, which leaves the BMSK blind. It can no longer adapt for changes to fuel stoichiometry (ethanol content), fuel pressure variation, Injector flow variation as they aged--especially left-right balance differences, air flow changes, vacuum leaks, etc.

If you review a GS-911 log, you will see Lambda Control Factors, Additive Trims and Multiplicative Trims. These are the correction factors produced using the O2 sensors. There is nothing subjective about it.

When you richen your mixture with an LC-2 or AF-XIED the O2 sensors stay connected and the BMSK keeps performing fully.

 

[harry]

Looking for a wee bit of advice... I have a Power Commander V5 that I'm thinking I might install on to my 2008 GSA.... I want to keep the original pipes and exhaust so will the V5 make a difference. Thanks in advance Brian

Yes, it will make a difference for the better. However I would think long and hard about fitting it. I have one on my XT660Z, original one went kaput after a year of faultless running. One day the bike would not start, I carried out all the usual checks over a few days, spark,fuel etc and came to the conclusion it was the PCV. Took it off the bike, not an easy job with plugs hidden away etc. The bike started and ran perfectly. I'd bought the PCV it from OFFroad d.e. so contacted them and explained the problem. They stopped just short of calling me a liar and made me jump through all sorts of hoops for over a month before saying send it back.

OFFroad sent it to Dynojet europe, in Holland, all this took about 3 months I seem to remember. I was informed by OR that they were sending me a new PCV. Nobody ever said what the problem was. I debated fitting it and decided that I'd give it another try. The first one I had set up on the dyno, 2nd one I used a generic map for my state of tune which seemed to work just as well!
There are too many plugs, bits of wire, sensors etc prone to getting weather beaten, which could let you down on a dark, wet night. I would'nt bother again.

 

[Bendy toy]

I have a PCV on my 2008 which was originally dyno tuned for an Akraprovic exhaust system. I have an Akraprovic system so simply fitted it and it worked. Though it runs a slightly rich but with baffles the engine runs very rich. It needs a dyno tune but is that with baffles or without baffles?

I paid £100 so have no problems on cost but it could not do the job properly without setting on a dyno. If buying new I would go for the AF-XIED of maybe a Hilltop. A used AF-XIED would be the best option of all.

 

[Rockred]

Can anyone tell me, how easy or hard it is to fit an AF-XIED unit to a 2015 GS please. I'm not well versed in electronic stuff, but panels, tanks, seats ect doable. Also do they come with full instructions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[comberjohn]

Very easy. The instructions are fairly basic, mainly because there's not much to say.
I'm going to assume that the layout of your GS is similar to the hexhead and the connectors to the O2 sensors on your exhaust live underneath the cylinder heads.
On the hexheads, there's a plastic cover over the connectors fastened with two screws. Just remove it and the connectors are easily spotted. Unplug the connector and plug the AF XiED unit in line with it. It's impossible to get wrong!
Have plenty of nylon cable ties to hand.
I used a few to keep things tidy at the connectors. There are some pics on the thread I had started about fitting them.
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/418381-Standard-vs-PCV-vs-AF-XIED
Once you have things tidy, run the cable back up to a suitable place to mount the units themselves. They're not very big and I've put a pound coin in the pics to give an idea of size.
Use more cable ties to keep the cable routing neat to prevent it snagging the throttle cables.
The units are then plugged into the cable once you find somewhere to mount them. I just used some double sided tape to mount them.
The only other connection is a good earth for each unit. I had read that the best earth is directly to the battery which is where I terminated mine. The units are powered by the O2 sensors feeds.
Most people run them at 7 or 8. Zero being stock. I run mine at 8. The instructions detail how to read the settings.
Remember, it'll take at least a couple of tanks of fuel for the ECU to adapt. Beemer Boneyard reckons a thousand miles.
I always thought the changes they made made my TC feel something approaching the LC that I had taken out on a test ride, so would be really interested to hear the effects on your GS.
Please let us know what you find when you try them.

 

[oldnfat]

As per Comberjohn I fitted my AFXIED units earlier this year...I have had remaps and PCV...the AF units are the best all round compromise IMO.....love my bike with these fitted.

As CJ says...easy to fit ....about 30-45 mins for my TC GSA. Best decision I made getting these things.

 

[Rockred]

Thanks Comberjohn and Oldnfat for your reply'. I'm going to order the unit after Xmas, as at the best of times, things take ages to get to Gib, and sometimes never arrive. So thought best to wait until after the Xmas rush. I will post up my findings when it's been on for a few tankfuls.

Thanks again.

 

[Bendy toy]

My brother has the same GSA as me - sad but the price was good. His is bog standard except for Remus full exhaust system. His bike feels heavy to ride. Mine, also with aftermarket exhaust and PCV feels lighter to ride and even feels like it handles better. In reality his must be capable of better handling as its got 1/3 the mileage of my bike and my shocks are close to shot.