6-Speed ZF - Flash Settings
Flash Settings 6-Speed
xHP has “Flash Settings”, allowing the user to change specific settings before flashing an OTS or Custom Map. This injects these user-defined values into each map before it is flashed.
Use is simple:
adjust the desired settings
save the settings
flash any map to apply the settings.
You must flash your car after changing settings. Being connected to the car is not enough.
You can access the module via the “edit” button. right next to “Flash Settings” at the bottom.
Please note that the module is not available for all vehicles and engine/gearbox combinations.
Due to the different generations of transmission controllers used by BMW during production, some cars may not support all existing custom features.
To see what Flash settings your specific car can support, connect the app to your car and click on it. Then click on “FLASH THIS CAR” and then on “Edit” right next to “Flash Settings”.
This can be done without purchasing a licence.
Launching &
Performance Options
Drag Race Mode
“Drag Race Mode” is designed to squeeze the absolute maximum out of your transmission and improve your 0-60 and 60-120 times! Torque reduction during shifts is entirely disabled, shift pressures are maxed out, and clutch protection thresholds are raised to put your engine's full power to the ground no matter what.
The absence of torque reduction during shifting results in better acceleration times. This is especially true on turbocharged cars, as the engine does not have to reduce boost during the overlap phase of the transmission. Shifts are made with the maximum possible pressure to compensate for the additional load on the clutch packs. The standard safety thresholds for clutch load are increased accordingly.
The 8-speed transmissions use a similar logic in Launch Control mode, but Drag Race mode furthers this idea. Launch Control mode is also internally disabled on some cars after reaching a specific counter. In Drag Race mode, the LC counter is disabled and is permanently available.
Drag Race mode is automatically activated in Launch Control mode and Sport+/DSC OFF mode (8-speed) or Manual mode (6-speed). The increased pressure only becomes noticeable above about 40% throttle. Everyday daily driving in Comfort/D is unaffected.
Please note that this is a real performance feature, causing more wear on your transmission and should not be used permanently.
All our stages are typically developed within the transmission limits to ensure unaffected longevity and stock-like trouble-free operation.
Drag Mode deliberately ignores these limits for maximum performance and should only be used in particular situations, such as drag strip competition! Drag Mode can be applied to any of the stages or even to your stock file.
Custom Launch Control 6-Speed
Launch control on 6-speed cars is achieved by limiting the maximum torque allowed in first gear during brake boosting. RWD cars use 350 ft-lbs/450Nm as a starting point.
For most AWD cars, torque control is unnecessary as they have more than enough traction. If you have traction problems in the upper gears, use the “TQ limit per gear” panel to manage them.
Override Brake Boost Protection
The ZF6HP and ZF8HP use a torque converter to amplify the torque coming from the engine before it enters the rest of the driveline. This amplification must be considered while brake boosting to protect the transmission and the rest of the driveline.
ZF torque converters' typical torque multiplication factor during brake boosting is around 1.75 - 1.9. (Engine speed > 800 rpm and turbine speed: 0 rpm).
This makes torque converters great for launching vehicles, but due to the amplification, the allowable torque from the engine needs to be limited. This limit is independent of any other torque limits and is only applied during the boost phase of the converter.
It is hard-coded per transmission variant (6HP21, 6HP28, 8HP45, 8HP50, 8HP75, etc.) and cannot usually be changed by the calibration engineer. There is a good reason for this: even small changes result in substantial torque jumps after the converter.
The override function in xHP has five settings from 5% to 15% to increase the allowable torque, OR you can turn the protection off completely. If OFF is selected, the engine torque is not limited by this particular function but only by the corresponding gear limiter. (Gear 1 or Gear 2)
Take-Off in 2nd Gear
Particularly on higher-powered cars, staying in second Gear at a standstill adds to the comfort of everyday driving (you save one Gear at each junction) and can even help optimise 0-60 times on high-powered RWD cars with limited traction.
xHP lets you choose whether to activate this function for D, S, or both modes.
There is no downside regarding wear, as torque converters transmit torque through fluid rather than friction plates (as in a manual or dual-clutch transmission).
The transmission reverts to standard behaviour when necessary, for example, in the following situations:
When activated for D mode only, the transmission will revert to 1st Gear when shifting to S and/or setting Sport or Sport+ with the DEC switch.
In D/Comfort mode, the transmission immediately returns to 1st Gear when Kickdown is activated. (emergency function)
On a cold start (some cars)
On a gradient or with a trailer attached
When the transmission is overheated
Stay in 2nd Gear at a standstill
(in M-Mode)
Let's choose whether the transmission shifts to 1st or 2nd Gear when stopped in M mode.
Activate Line Pressure Bump
Line pressure" is the main pressure at which the transmission operates outside of gear changes.
The primary input for calculating the line pressure is the torque value sent by the car's engine controller (ECU, DME).
The pressure is regulated by an electronic valve controlled by the TCU (Transmission Computer).
ZF transmissions typically operate with a maximum oil pressure of 16-20 bar. The higher the pressure, the higher the clamping force of the clutches and the higher the maximum torque that can be transmitted through the clutch pack before it starts to slip and quickly burns out.
This custom option adjusts the transmission mapping to allow about 5 to 15% more peak pressure.
Typically, ZF transmissions can easily handle the typical torque increase of Stage 1 or 2 engine tune when fitted with an xHP OTS map. However, for very high power increases, this option can make the difference between whether your clutch pack can cope.