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M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:06 am
by retro-wheels
Quick question, is buying a chip for my M3 going to be worth the money? super chips or Dinan?
Any info would be seriouly helpfull

Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:18 am
by maxfield
Personally you might as well go all out and go C/F airbox and alpha-n.
Depends on how much you want to spend.
Can't say the question has been asked about a chip TBH.
Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:23 am
by Falkster
maxfield wrote:Personally you might as well go all out and go C/F airbox and alpha-n.
Depends on how much you want to spend.
Can't say the question has been asked about a chip TBH.
Why would you want to go Alpha N and air box as a first stage??
Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:23 am
by retro-wheels
well ive reached the point where the initial wow factor has worn off and i want to start upping the poke a bit more, Links to various bits to try and acheive it would be cool
I asked about the chip because i can pick either up fairly cheap, i was thinking of getting the chip whilst i can then when ive got some more cash get a set of Schrick cams and go from there

Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:26 am
by Falkster
Never get a chip!! Chips are made on a specific model for a specific model so wont always get the potential out of an individual car. Remap is the way to go!
Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:27 am
by retro-wheels
so are we talking custom code rather than a generic remap then? 500-600squid?
Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:28 am
by maxfield
If you did a remap then put a few goodies on then it would need another remap to make full potential of them.
www.e30shop.de
Great site for goodies.
Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 12:23 pm
by retro-wheels
so where do i start?
Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 12:25 pm
by maxfield
Depends how much you want to spend.
Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 12:27 pm
by retro-wheels
well work my way up really lol
Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 12:29 pm
by maxfield
Stick a set of cams in there would be my advice then go to alpha n and then C/F airbox. Maybe even 2.5 conversion and high comp pistons but that requires a lot of cash.
For cams I'd go 284/276. Or even 284/284. Will take away a bit of bottom end torque but at 4k everything comes to life!
Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 12:32 pm
by retro-wheels
where do you get the alpha n and C/F airbox from? any info on these?
Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 12:33 pm
by maxfield
www.e30shop.de
Maybe Sal on here can help you about sourcing them in the UK...
Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 1:18 pm
by Falkster
retro-wheels wrote:where do you get the alpha n and C/F airbox from? any info on these?
Paul Metcalf of Metcalf Motorsport has told me you wouldnt ever need to get rid of the standard aif flow meter because they are good for upto 260bhp (because I was going to get one fitted whilst its there)
He has got carbon airbox and alternate ecu on his race cars but they are kicking out 320bhp and need rebuilding every 3 meets!
Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 1:50 pm
by ShepsEvo3
Often fitting a chip can see small gains and often LOSSES through the rev range on normally asperated engines. Best route is to get the car remapped on a dyno, not just fueling, but ignition too. Most of my gains on my Sport evo and Evo2 came from ignition timing. It more expensive initially, but cheaper in the long run.
Mine is done using the Unichip or Uni-Q. My Evo2 has the AFM removed and is fitted with the Dastek Uni-Q. There was a dramatic difference to how the car performed and there were absolutley no losses. It is much better on fuel too.
My Sport Evo still has the AFM fitted as I wanted that to look original and is fitted with the Unichip.
I agree with Paul Metcalf about the AFM is good for 260BHP, but getting that power out of an S14 which still has it fitted is alot more difficult than one which has it removed.
To keep costs down in the long term, I would suggest making other mods to the car first....Cams, exhaust, high CR pistons, ballancing, etc before having a re-map. Fitting a Dinan or Superchips chip is in my opinion a waste of money at the moment and you will be dissappointed with the results. Although with one of those chips you can have one which raises the rev limiter to something like 7800 RPM? If you are intending on doing further mods later on like cams, exhaust, etc, etc then the Superchips or Dinan chips will not suit your car and to get the best out of it you will need a proper live re-map - where with those mods done, you will see a worthwhile increase.
Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 2:17 pm
by retro-wheels
thanks very much for that, sound advice!!
The car is in the bodyshop at the moment being re-sprayed, it comes out at the end of the week and thats when i'll be looking to start doing bits here and there.
first on my list is a new exhaust as mine has a hole in it

so im prob going to go for a milltek. After that i'll be looking into stripping the engine down and re-building with the new internals ect
Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 2:18 pm
by ShepsEvo3
retro-wheels wrote:thanks very much for that, sound advice!!
The car is in the bodyshop at the moment being re-sprayed, it comes out at the end of the week and thats when i'll be looking to start doing bits here and there.
first on my list is a new exhaust as mine has a hole in it

so im prob going to go for a milltek. After that i'll be looking into stripping the engine down and re-building with the new internals ect
Good choice

Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 2:22 pm
by maxfield
More info on the engine!
Are you going all out with 2.5, high comp, headwork etc...
Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 2:31 pm
by retro-wheels
ShepsEvo3 wrote:retro-wheels wrote:thanks very much for that, sound advice!!
The car is in the bodyshop at the moment being re-sprayed, it comes out at the end of the week and thats when i'll be looking to start doing bits here and there.
first on my list is a new exhaust as mine has a hole in it

so im prob going to go for a milltek. After that i'll be looking into stripping the engine down and re-building with the new internals ect
Good choice

i dont suppose you where in oxford on friday where you? i saw what looked like a sport evo near botley!!
Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 2:32 pm
by ShepsEvo3
No buddy, not me, although I aint far from Oxford, but my Sport is in my workplace right now.
Re: M3 and Chips
Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:52 pm
by DJ-325I
ive seen a sport evo round oxford aswell a couple of times. retro wheels where bouts in oxford do u live?