using a 316 ecu on a 318is engine, anything to worry about?

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
User avatar
turkey
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 215
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Billericay, Essex

Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:18 pm

Hello,

Does anyone know weather running a 318is engine on an 316 ECU will mess the engine up or cause any running problems/emission problems?

Reason i'm asking is i've put a M42 in my sisters E36 but because of the immobliser on the ECU only the original 316i ecu will start ad run the engine. It seems to have 'learned' the m42 idle and starting and now starts and idle's smoothly but just want to know if it will cause any long term damage or problems?

Cheers for any help,

Shaun.
Jon_Bmw
Dangerous when thinking
Dangerous when thinking
Posts: 7606
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Salisbury

Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:59 pm

Hello mate, hope all is well with the m30 beast.

I am quite suprised it even runs to be honest. I know older BMW ecus are pretty thick, but not that thick! I doubt it will be any good when moving. I am quite suprised that it just plugged in and didn't short anything out.

One of the m50 boys who has experience of the BMW ecus after 1995 might be able to help you out with the EWS.
User avatar
turkey
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 215
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Billericay, Essex

Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:06 pm

Hey Mate, not too bad, still smoking but going well! hope the 205 is treating you well, do love them things!

It was a bit funny at first but after i left it running for a bit it smoother itself out and seemed to drive ok, but just a bit worried if leave it like it, it will mess up the engine or be unreliable long term? The EWS is a nightmare!
Bob_S
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5412
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: chester, cheshire

Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:00 am

ews isnt a nightmare only 7 wires i think.. need a key, ews box and ecu.. not a big problem tbh.
Bollocks to this 24v scrap!
Dave_M3
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3428
Joined: Sat Jun 24, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Cork

Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:13 am

Yep, the main problem with it, most people are just scared of it :roll:

Very surprised the M42 actually runs with the 316 ECU though :?
M42 rightness above 6500rpm, nobody can hear you scream
Jon_Bmw
Dangerous when thinking
Dangerous when thinking
Posts: 7606
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Salisbury

Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:29 am

Dave_M3 wrote: Very surprised the M42 actually runs with the 316 ECU though :?
I'm pretty stunned. Fueling and timing must be a frigging mile off. Heck it doesn't even know its got an extra camshaft! 8O :)
User avatar
turkey
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 215
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Billericay, Essex

Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:52 am

lol Thats what i'm worried about, i've got the m42 ecu, is there a way to some how bypass the EWS to work with it, i just thought it was a chip inside the ecu programmed to work with the key, but i'm pretty sure the ECU that came with the M42 didn't have an immobliser so somehow need to trick the system??? Confusing enough for me.
User avatar
TheHeap
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1749
Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: welling

Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:46 pm

surely if its running it will be ok. it cant run now then 6 weeks later realise it's not suppose to be there and decide to ruin your engine.
Dave_M3
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3428
Joined: Sat Jun 24, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Cork

Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:40 pm

If an engine was under or over-fueling by a large amount, it would ruin an engine over time :wink:



Jon_Bmw wrote:
Dave_M3 wrote: Very surprised the M42 actually runs with the 316 ECU though :?
I'm pretty stunned. Fueling and timing must be a frigging mile off. Heck it doesn't even know its got an extra camshaft! 8O :)
Yep, tis a strange one.

Would be interesting to put it on a rolling road and see how it's managing it :D
M42 rightness above 6500rpm, nobody can hear you scream
User avatar
turkey
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 215
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Billericay, Essex

Thu Apr 02, 2009 4:12 pm

lol, it seems ok when warm, but hesitant when slow, if i use a ecu from an E30 without EWS will this be able to start and run the engine. Just looked at the one i got and it looks like it is EWS so need another ECU either way unless they can be programmed?
Post Reply