E30 Zone

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.

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.

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!

ews isnt a nightmare only 7 wires i think.. need a key, ews box and ecu.. not a big problem tbh.

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

Very surprised the M42 actually runs with the 316 ECU though

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!

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.

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.

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

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!

Yep, tis a strange one.

Would be interesting to put it on a rolling road and see how it's managing it

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?