The B58 engine, found in BMW vehicles as well as the MKV Toyota Supra, continues the trend with manufacturers moving toward modeled systems in the ECU.  Looking at the diagram below we can begin to get an idea of how the different systems are put together. While some information is shared between the various components of the module, many different areas (torque, ignition timing, fueling, etc.) are modeled out fairly completely on their own, and those references shared among the different branches of the system are used in order to tell each component what portion of the table to be running.  When you look at the way many of these components were designed, this starts to make a bit more sense.  A single person didn't design the entire physical assembly of the engine and transmission.  A single team didn't design the entire system either, a different group handled each aspect of the engine.  As an example, a team responsible for the engineering of the turbocharger would sit down and model things like the airflow, the exhaust power required to achieve a specific airflow, frictional losses, etc.  Instead of getting printed out to collect dust as it likely does at some manufacturers, these models got worked into the engine control system.  As such the vehicle's computer knows to a fairly exact level, how to achieve a specific torque, as far as the airflow required, how much exhaust power is needed to create the boost desired for the torque, and how much ignition timing it should specify to achieve this, all while ingesting an amount of fuel to keep the various environmental agencies at bay.  This brings us to an important point with this ECU.  If you change a component of the vehicle (be it a turbocharger, intake, etc.) You need to update the associated models.  This ensures that the entire system that depends on those models continues to work smoothly.  Generally, there is a target for just about everything, and you should probably use it.

Introduction

Throughout the development of the platform, we've done our best to properly sort maps in a clear and concise manner.  This gets especially important on the B58 because there are 1000's of OEM tables that exist in the ECU.  As such we've taken a few steps to pull out the most important items.

Usually, in the root of each folder tree, you'll find the most important tables without needing to expand any additional sections.  That's not to say that some tables you'll want or need won't be in those spaces, but if you're looking for a good place to start those are usually going to be the maps you want to try.

User levels were also set up so that most of what you'll need for a "Stage 1" tune will be found in the Beginner user level.

Table of Contents

Summary of Software

ProECU software has been introduced to allow reprogramming of the factory ECU in order to tune the necessary components of the calibration in order to allow for modifications and increases in power.  This is not a standalone replacement ECU so you shouldn't run into the associated issues or disadvantages of setting up a purpose-built ECU and control system from scratch.

The software allows easy control over most factory parameters including:

• Boost Targets and wastegate control

• Target AFR

• Ignition Timing

• Fuel Delivery including fuel pump calibration (using the same style pump as OEM)

• Airflow Measurement and fuel compensation

Programming

For information on how to program as well as flash recovery, check out.

For more software guides check out:

• Software Help and How-To

Tuning Guide

Torque Control

To some degree, the B58 ECU is almost entirely torque-based.  Some level of torque is set (i.e. a driver torque request from the accelerator pedal) that level of torque is then sought after from the engine side.  It then gathers torque requests from the other tables and goes after the lowest torque maximum.

Some tables are measured in Indicated Torque also called combustion torque.  This is an amount of torque achieved assuming there are no losses from friction etc. as if it were running under reference conditions.  Essentially if you were running at Lambda 1 (14.7:1 stoich) and you were at optimal timing this is the torque you would have before losses and is essentially a level completely related to airflow.  All calculations for airflow, ignition timing and boost are one based on Indicated Torque

Other tables are measured in Clutch torque, which is a measure of the torque at the flywheel.  This is the engine's torque after compensations for frictional losses.  Not to be confused with torque input to the gearbox as that comes from the torque converter / Manual transmissions.  This applies to both automatic and manual transmissions.

There are additional tables that establish the torque loss from friction, Air Conditioning, The alternator and other sources.

The Ignition Optimum Timing maps are the amount of ignition timing and RPM at which the reference torque would be achieved.

The maximum torque level for a given state is scaled through the pedal position torque request in order to get the desired output torque.  From there it gets turned into the desired load via the indicated torque to load table (which utilizes RPM as the x-axis and engine load (cylinder fill) as the y-axis)  Keep in mind 100% is sea level air pressure.

There's no additional table handling the conversion from load back to torque for the ECU, it goes through the same torque to load table in the other direction.

If you raise torque numbers and not load, you’ll get less load.  The same torque request then results in a lower load output.  If you want to accommodate higher load, you’ll scale up the load.

Torque Requests

Clutch Torque Max - Full Load
Runs a limit on the Driver Demanded Torque from the Pedal Request maps.

Clutch Torque Max Race Start
Limit for driver demanded torque during launch control

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Clutch Torque Maximum
The base torque limit of the engine, as scaled by driver demand.

In situations where you request a high amount of torque in high RPM that can't be achieved (if it is unable to hit the load level required for the amount of torque), rather than trying to get the torque from somewhere else (advancing ignition etc.) the torque request will get dropped down to what is being achieved.  Similarly if you aren't hitting the boost required to hit your load request, it will reduce your torque request.  If your load is limited due to the load limit or maximum boost pressure, the torque request will become whatever you achieve at the load limit. The relationship between torque request and cylinder fill desired is always trying to be maintained.  This is one of the reasons tuning a vehicle with a manual wastegate can be challenging.

Torque request=Pedal Request x Clutch Torque Max - Full Load (driver demand) as checked by the limit of Clutch Torque Maximum

Indicated Torque To Load (Cylinder Fill)

Two way table that establishes the load request for a given torque request and converting load into torque values.

Calculating Indicated Torque

Indicated torque is calculated from engine speed and cylinder fill. The result is used to further calculate the clutch torque figures used in limitation for all aspects of the driveability of the car such as driver demand and gearbox protection.

Calculating Cylinder Fill

Going the other way a corrected clutch torque request (indicated torque) and RPM value go in and establish the cylinder fill request for the given amount of torque.

Regardless of load limits the Cylinder Fill Desired will be capped at the maximum value in the Y axis of this map (220% by default), making it an important map to edit in almost all cases. When increasing the values in the Y axis you'll want to increase the torque values and typically in a proportional amount in order to request more power and maintain correct torque estimation.

If your potential target Cylinder Fill results in an indicated torque of more than 1000Nm the torque output will be limited, the solution is to further increase the Cylinder Fill values while keeping the indicated torque at or below 1000Nm.  In these cases where cylinder fill is increased more than the requested torque values we refer to it as "Understating the Torque" and can be helpful for big power big turbos where Cylinder Fill can exceed 260%.

It has not been uncommon in the past to only alter the highest value in the Cylinder Fill axis of this map to give increased load and boost. Just remember that this has to do with the torque values sent to the transmission and shown on the gauge as well as other calculations so while it’s a fast and dirty way to do it, and can cause some bad side effects.  The difference in gearbox operation between telling it you’re making 700-800 nm vs 550 is quite noticeable in terms of the way the transmission shifts.  So the best way to do it is to scale both the load and the torque equally, as much as is possible. 

There is a limit on the torque of 1000nm in the cells, so about a 25% increase in load and torque is the most you can make it linear-ish.

Limits on indicated torque

Indicated Torque Limit Factor for Knock Control

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Indicated Torque Limit for Intake Temperature

Indicated Torque Limit for Protection Enrichment

These are limits on the indicated (combustion) torque. In the context that it represents the sort of torque that is created by pressure in the cylinder, (the kind of load that is indicative of the pressure in the cylinder) we realize it is the type of load that can do damage through bending connecting rods, pistons etc.  This means it’s a good idea to establish safe limits to protect the engine components.  You wouldn’t want to set these the same as your clutch torque limits since your reference(indicated) torque is always higher as you aren’t always running MBT.  So even with a 500nm clutch torque limit, for all intake temps up to 65 it’ll be at 800 stock.  Bumping it up some at safe temperatures is a good idea. The intake temperature limit will cap the incoming value going into the indicated torque to load.

One difference between USDM and EDM Roms is when looking at the component protection.  The USDM rom has component protection maxxed out wherewas the UK ROM has actual values input into it. The top axis is component protection limiting factor from .1 to 1

You’ll get the net limit of all these elements as they combine  It’s good to be familiar with these limiters and the type of torque they’re limiting.

Indicated Torque Limit Emissions Reduction
Will apply a torque limit while the vehicle is warming up to avoid damage to catalyst or GPF if equipped.  

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Max Torque Flags

In terms of the Torque Overall category it aggregates all the torque calcuations throughout the drivetrain before it goes to the engine torque, including max wheel and gearbox torques.  There are various flags to remove certain inputs, the common example is a transmission torque limit of 550Nm, which will limit Torque Request regardless of demands and limits in the ECU calibration, and Torque Limitation State will be 1048576.

Max static torque is steady state torque.  I.e. you’re making 600nm at steady speed it will be corrected by this.  Dynamic refers to rapid speed changes so if you’re accelerating at maximum you’ll have less torque at the gearbox due to the inertia effecting the engine.  (why a lightweight flywheel can impact torque at the wheels).  Rapid speed changes due to gear shift can also show up in dynamic torque.  Not all of them are enabled by default.

 

These flags will stop higher torque requests from limiting your torque demand.

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You can see any time we get a significant jump at torque that the throttle closes.  As the torque drops you can see the throttle come back up.  This is alleviated by turning the flags off.

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Getting much more cylinder fill, throttle isn’t closing as much (there are still some for boost control and shifting)

Camshaft Timing

At light load the system utilizes the VVL cam timing to control airflow.  At medium load the throttle is utilized, and at high load boost control is the main way it controls the airflow through the engine.

The commonly used tables are the Normal - Warm - Path 1 / 2 for intake and exhaust cam timing.  The engine swaps between the warm and cold tables based on engine temperature.

Fuelling

If there are any issues in the fuel system there is also an extra load limit which will start ramping down the load limit if the HPFP or available injection is maxed out.  While this typically won't happen on a stage 1 car, ethanol and it's increased fuel demand will likely cause it to start hitting those limits.

Setpoints - base target, lambda enrichment, component protection (with temperature targets/limits) etc

Fuel related Load limits - injection limit triggered, HPFP triggered, low pressure pump triggered

Injection phasing (related to load limitation via injection limit)

Lambda Control

Normal behaviour is to run lambda 1 (Given the stringent emissions requirements these days except for when it's in component protection).  If the engine or exhaust components get very hot then it the component protection system will initially set the lambda using the main fuel map and ramp it progressively richer until the temperature is with normal limits.  

As a base level of operation, the vehicle will either run at lambda 1 until it runs into component protection, or will target your richer fuel target for the duration of the delay time and then go back until lambda 1.  If you demand power you hit power load enrichment SOME times but still likely results in the target of lambda 1.

Generally the map changes you’re looking at surrounding the adjustment of power and load enrichment so that it will run the base lambda target without running in to component protection.  You can set a floor for target lambda minimum and that will stop component protection from targeting that lambda, but that doesn’t stop component protection from being on.  So even though your lambda is where it wants to be, component protection is sill active and ramps down the load limit on other tables.  It’s a good reminder that you need to set appropriate limits and making sure the ECU isn’t hitting those.  I.E. if you were to set component protection at 3000 degrees it will stop component protection from doing much of anything (Albeit at the expense of a working component protection system.)

At the extreme end of component protection when it’s looking at EGT and max cat temp it can make additional changes to the maximum turbine temp.

Fuel Target Bank 1 (or RaceROM Equivalent for additional Resolution)

Lambda Power Enrichment Delay Time

There is a background timer where after the timer expires it will be on that map.  Letting off the throttle will only pause the timer not reset it as there is a delay to the delay being reset.

The longest amount of time your car will run on the leaner Enrichment Setpoint Threshold as long as it doesn't hit any limits or component protection.  If you lower the timer it will hold a target for the duration of the Lambda Power Enrichment Delay Time before returning to lambda 1 unless your temperature exceeds your component protection temperature limit.

Use the screenshot below as an example for changes you'll want to make in instances where you'd like a faster changeover to a richer target, or in some cases instant switching (0).

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Lambda Power Enrichment Delay Switch 

Set to 0 (may already be that way in some cars)

Lambda Power Enrichment Switch

Set to 1 to allow targets richer than lambda 1, otherwise it will always use the timer and never jump on to your actual fuel map Fuel Target Bank 1 unless component protection is triggered.

Lambda Power Enrichment Setpoint Threshold

This is the lean lambda target that gets used before the transition to the rich lambda target based on the lambda enrichment timer.

Set this to the leanest value you want to run out of "lambda 1",  typically Lambda 0.9, do not set this to a rich value.

Fuel Rail Pressure

Target fuel pressure is 35mpa under load set under the Fuel Rail Pressure Target Cold / Warm.  Temperatures for the switching point for map use are set by the Fuel Pressure Cold / Warm Threshold maps.  Slightly dropping the pressure target around peak torque can avoid overloading the pump when demand is high.

If the High Pressure Fuel Pump hits the maximum available angle of 126° designated by BMWinjmon_ag_HppSpMax)M  (maximum physical angle) it will start to lower the load limit to the value found in Load LImit Minimum Injection Monitoring.  Even so most of the time pressure only drops to 260 bar or so.

Injection Phasing

There are around 70 different injection angle maps.


IP1EOI (And Latest EOI for SOI based Pulse

Sets the latest end angle value for a SOI pulse in order to calculate the maximum injection window.  At higher load and RPM you may want to reduce the value to give a large enough injection window to better control the final air fuel ratio.

IP1 SOI Earliest

Sets the earliest point in the engine's rotation for the start of injection.

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IP1 SOI Normal Cold/Warm

Establishes the starting angle for start of injection when the engine is cold/warm.

Ignition

The ignition timing consists of a Normal map and a Safe map that it interpolates between.  After going through those it applies corrections (such as knock), then it goes through torque intervention tables, then down to the minimum limit.

Two sets of maps, Normal and Safe for Path 1

Path 1 = Normal operation with VVT and boost load control active (almost always used)

Path 2 = Throttled mode (almost never used)

Normal maps are mostly used when the car is put in Sport mode, with a warm engine and normal running conditions

Safe maps are mostly used when in non-Sport modes, or with a cold engine, and sub optimal running conditions (high risk of knock, high back pressure, low octane and other factors). The ECU doesn't switch between the two, it blends and is given by the live data parameter Ignition Blend Factor. It is determined by a complex function using many comparisons, maps and values, and adjusting it's behaviour is beyond the scope of tuning with ProECU.

The screenshot below shows the same car running in sport (top graph) and normal mode (lower graph) and the difference can be clearly seen.

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Most tuning of ignition timing is done just by adjusting the values in the Normal and/or Safe ignition maps, and the values in these maps are the knock limited ignition advance when running at normal intake and engine temperatures, using the highest octane fuel the engine is designed to run on (98RON by default). The ECU will not try and use more ignition advance than is calibrated in these base maps, and all corrections are in the form of retard from these base values.

EcuTek RaceROM adds more maps to use with map switching with increased axis points to easily account for increased load and RPM, but they behave in exactly the same way as the OEM maps. Any RaceROM enabled ROM will always use the RaceROM versions of the Path 1 ignition base maps.

Ignition Base Timing Offset - Path 1

This map defines the maximum possible ignition adjustment to the base ignition for temperature correction

Ignition Base Timing Offset Multiplier - Path 1

This map multiplies the result from Ignition Base Timing Offset - Path 1 to introduce a final amount of retard to the base timing from the Normal or Safe maps. This retard is included in part of the RaceRom logging parameter Ignition Retard Total. and can easily reach 5 degrees at the end of a dyno pull or run though the gears on the road.

Knock Control

These cars don't have any big issues with knock control on regular (good quality) fuel, the stock maps keep the engine safely on the edge of knock situations not overreacting engine noise. Like most knock control, detection is looking at a smoothed average of normal values, and subtracting that value from the current live value. The knock thresholds are the main maps used in tuning.

Knock Threshold Cylinder (1-6)

That being said you may run into issues when you begin to run ethanol, our RaceROM FlexFuel strategy adds ethanol specific maps that can be blended between based on ethanol content to avoid reacting to "phantom knock noise"

When tuning the B58 it's normal to experience some knock retard from time to time. When tuning for maximum power you should expect some cylinders to retard as much as 3 degrees when under heavy, sustained load, even though the temperature correction will also be retarding 4-5 degrees at high intake temperatures. Reducing the base timing to avoid any knock retard on all cylinders at all times will normally just cost you power.

If you are new to B58 tuning, it's good practice to log a standard car and pay attention to Ignition Timing Cylinder (1-6) values to appreciate what is "normal".

Load Limit Ign Retard sport/Normal applies a load limit based on Ignition Retard Total and can be used to reduce load and boost in addition to the retard, we recommend not to fill these tables with a maximum value, but instead use them to help save the engine in case of unexpected sub-optimal conditions such as poor fuel.

Limiters

Vehicles from different regions have different component protections enabled for variances in regulations and equipment.  For example European vehicles don't have load limits for component protection, additionally USDM vehicles don't have gas particulate filters and thus don't have the protection tables for those.

For more information on specific load and torque limit flags check out the complete list B58 / Supra Limit Flags & States

Rev Limit

Applies a different limit on RPM under different conditions such as temperatures going over desired, sensor failures, the presence of knock, or issues with the emission system.

Load / Cylinder Fill

As complicated as the engine control system may seem, much like any other car it's all about figuring out how the car will behave at high load at which point it comes down to scaling everything else appropriately (more or less)

Target load gets turned into a manifold pressure target then goes through correction tables in order to become a boost target.  At the same time, the system is monitoring actual torque and airflow to figure out how to adjust things for the next compute cycle.  As an example, you request 500nm of torque at 4000rpm, with 180 load shows 700 max torque.  But with the frictional losses and current ignition angle, it will figure out how much it will need to request and give a load figure for the engine to be aiming for.  If your torque level comes in high or low, the computer will start tweaking things to make sure it gets closer to the next cycle.

There's no specific table where you're setting the target and getting a calculated number output because everything is connected to other things.  Airflow control is about setting limits.  Essentially setting the load limits appropriately for various engine setting conditions within the airflow control section.

Making more power is all about asking for more torque.  Asking for more torque will increase desired load so you'll want to increase your desired load levels.  Overdoing load limits won't set a DTC, however you will need to have enough load set so you can actually hit the torque you're aiming for in your maps.

There's no additional table handling the conversion from load back to torque for the ECU, it goes through the same torque to load table.  simply in the other direction.

Airflow Control

At light load the system utilizes the VVL cam timing to control airflow.  At medium load the throttle is utilized, and at high load boost control is the main way it controls the airflow through the engine.

Fuel Related Load Limits

If there are any issues in the fuel system there is also an extra load limit which will start ramping down the load limit if the HPFP or available injection is maxed out.  While this typically won't happen on a stage 1 car, ethanol and it's increased fuel demand will likely cause it to start hitting those limits.

Indicated Torque to Load

Two way table that establishes the load request for a given torque request.  Also responsible for converting load into torque values.  If you never increase the torque value at the peak you'll never be able to establish a torque value higher than that.  As such you'll want to increase the torque values (and typically the load values as well the proportionately same amount) in order to request more power.  If your car isn't hitting the requested torque amount you may need to lower the torque level in order to bring up load/cylinder fill.  In these cases where cylinder fill is increased more than the requested torque values we refer to it as "Understating the Torque" and can be helpful for big power big turbos.

If load calculation and load limits are all in harmony but you don’t have the right power graph in comparison to what the map is requesting. One way to fix this is to change the torque values in the indicated torque to load map in order to increase the torque for a given load.  Contrary to what you would expect, you’ll need to decrease the numbers in the map.  This is because if you’re below the higher number value it’ll be bumped down to the lower torque value. i.e. if it’s at 600 it’ll bump down to the lower slot.  Just remember that this has to do with the torque values sent to the transmission and shown on the gauge as well as other calculations so while it’s a fast and dirty way to do it, and can cause some bad side effects.  The difference in gearbox operation between telling it you’re making 700-800 nm vs 550 is quite noticeable in terms of the way the transmission shifts.  So the best way to do it is to scale both the load and the torque equally.  There is a limit on the torque of 1000nm in the cells, so about a 25% increase in load and torque is the most you can make it linear-ish.

If you ask for an amount of torque at a reference load you'll hit that request.  You'll never get more load than is on the axis, so if you want to hit more than 200% load (2bar) you'll need to scale things up.  230 should be enough for most people (2.3bar).

If load is under target you don't need to ask for more, you'll need to figure out which portion of the vehicle's operation isn't hitting what it's supposed to hit, and then determine why.

Clutch torque max full load -> Pedal Request for drive mode -> Indicated Torque to load -> cylinder fill value

Load limits will also need to be checked as those can compound and reduce the actual torque output. i.e. the one based on overrun, cat flushing, and retard as well as a second limit for sport mode.  The overall limit is about 2% lower than that of the normal/overrun load limit

So even though you may not have a limitation on the torque, you’ll end up with less due to other limits in the system.

It’s easiest to raise the overall load limit to what you want it to be (slightly higher than what you want your output to be), then apply tweaks to the load limit corrections.  

Turbo / Boost Control

Like many modern ECU boost control strategies the B58 is built around the power required by the compressor wheel to generate a pressure calculated to meet the needs of the airflow that will deliver requested torque value, accounting for the current operating conditions. As the target airflow increases the ECU will already know it needs to increase the drive to the compressor wheel, and will calculate many of the changes required before converting these to a wastegate duty cycle and fine tuning based on the boost error.

All B58 platforms also use an electronic wastegate, and the control loop uses "duty" to mean position where 100% is fully closed and 0% is fully open. It's important to understand that in this case 100% position is not the same as 100% duty on a pneumatically controlled actuator! To appreciate how different this can be, consider a boost solenoid at 0% duty while a turbo is making less boost than required to move the actuator, in this case the wastegate position is effectively 100% or fully closed. This also applies at the other end of the spectrum, a pneumatic actuator being driven by a solenoid valve at 100% may still result in a wastegate that is perhaps 10% open, in this case the duty is 100% but the actual position is still only 90%.

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Boost Targets

The boost target is calculated from the desired airflow using the same maths employed to calculate airflow from pressure, engine speed, cam position etc. There is no target boost map, and in general to increase boost, increases in torque and/or load requests need to happen. However it is possible to limit the maximum requested boost, which can be done for engine protection, turbo protection or control limits.

This can have some interesting side effects.  For example without making changes to the torque limit, the boost target can be significantly reduced when high octane fuel is used and ignition timing significantly advanced, as the ECU will adjust the boost target to deliver the same torque.

If boost target is appropriate, but the boost isn't on the target, this usually means there are boost control maps that need to be tuned.  In many cases it becomes a simply getting the boost to reach the ECU's own calculated target in order to achieve the tuning result. It is important to keep in mind that the limits for boost target must be sufficient to allow for the target power.

Boost Limits

The maximum targetable boost is limited by Boost Target Maximum and in normal circumstances a load limit will also be calculated (with Cylinder Fill limit reason #2) that corresponds to this boost level. Even if using RaceROM boost limits, this will need to be raised to allow sufficient headroom for the anticipated boost levels.

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Compressor Pressure Ratio limits (2d & 3d)

There is also a limit on the compressor pressure ratio that will be converted to an absolute pressure limit, and also a load limit. There are two maps using different input parameters, and both will need raising for significant power increases, especially at altitude.

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