chipping that ecu!

Post Thu Jan 20, 2005 1:41 pm

does anybody know anything about chippeduk.com?

I have a beautiful '85 320i auto with 64K on the clock but I'd like it ot have a little more go.

These folks have a range of chips for about Ãƒ”šÃ‚£60 that are supposed to just plug in to the ecu with no extra modifications. I'm no mechanic but I find it difficult to believe its that simple.

Also due to the age of the car, I'm concerned about tampering with the ecu...

Anyone got any advice?

Ta

Post Thu Jan 20, 2005 1:47 pm

My advice, buy the Zone chip instead.

I bought a ChippedUK chip (at the time the Zone didn't cater for my 318iS), it was a good chip but I've recently been told that this same chip I bought has doubled in price!!

Zone chips are less than that, and yes - plug it into the ecu and your off!

Post Thu Jan 20, 2005 1:52 pm

Like Jim says, support the zone. Chipping one of these cars really is that simple as long as you buy a decent chip. Make sure you research the seller fully before deciding.

If you fancy a zone chip, drop Ant an email on chips@e30zone.co.uk

Post Thu Jan 20, 2005 1:53 pm

I'm sure we can do an exchange ECU service for you too mate. Zero risk for yourself and literally plug and play swop of the complete unit.

Hell if you're Kent area and local to me I'll do it for ya M8

Whichever you choose it will be better than stock without a shadow of doubt.

Post Thu Jan 20, 2005 3:14 pm

If it's a 1985 chrome bumper model it will probably have Kjetronic management system and I don't think you can chip them...but I may be wrong.

Post Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:28 am

yes it is the chrome bumper model, if it can't be chipped does any one have any other suggestions for giving it a bit more poke, particularly at the top end, it seems to struggle to find any real acceleration after about 90 with the autobox, but I want to try and keep the car as original as possible and have very little in the way of mechnical skills

Post Sun Jan 30, 2005 5:44 pm

If it is the same system as used on Ford Capri 2.8 and Golf MK1 GTI's then there are a few mods you can make.
Increasing the fuel pressure i've heard works, as does adjusting the warm up regulator and boring out the metering head air flap and fitting a bigger flap disc.
There are probably others but you would need to contact either or both owners clubs.
Your auto box could do with being changed for a manual.

Post Sun Jan 30, 2005 6:20 pm

Its not a K jetronic system ,its a first generation L jetronic system . Im not sure if the chip would be compatable with the first generation system, but i'm sure Ant will know, i hope this helps
john

Post Sun Jan 30, 2005 10:21 pm

Hello everyone,

Can anyone explain what chips really do? I have a 89 325i tourer and just being nosy!!

Cheers

Dj

Post Sun Jan 30, 2005 11:14 pm

dj wrote:Hello everyone,

Can anyone explain what chips really do? I have a 89 325i tourer and just being nosy!!

Cheers

Dj

A chip is a pre programmed (in most cases) replacement for the chip or EPROM in your own ECU.It contains a program of information used to make your car's engine run under different loadings, taking readings from various sensors fitted to the engine. Coolant temp, crank angle,airflow into engine etc.
All standard 325's have the same pre-programmed or mapped chip fitted as it is not cost effective for BMW or other car manufacturers to set up each engine they produce individually, it is a case of one chip suits all, except maybe in a cases like automatics.
An aftermarket chip whether it is from Superchips or anywhere else is usually enhanced, slightly more so on the fuelling side of things, again it is based on an average and they are all the same for that particular application.
The best chips are the ones properly mapped to suit your car while on a rolling road dyno, but the cost will run into hundreds.

Post Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:05 pm

Thanks for that Tazmin, Nice to see another tvr man turning to the darkside!! he.he

Dj

Post Mon Jan 31, 2005 7:23 pm

dj wrote:Thanks for that Tazmin, Nice to see another tvr man turning to the darkside!! he.he

Dj

Had TVR's before the BMW and still have a '68 Vixen S2 and a race Tasmin which i am altering.
Love multi cylinder engines especially a straight six and the handling of the BMW.
Took the Touring round Silverstone last year and put a couple of Porsches and an Elise to shame even with crap suspension. :lol:

Post Wed Feb 09, 2005 5:06 pm

Hi all,

No doubt this post will cause much tutting and rolling of eyes

but I recently thought about chipping my 89 320.

Before forking out for a chip, I wanted to see how easy it would be to swap, so I printed out the guide on e30zone and simply removed the ecu, opened the metal case, kept it out of sunlight, looked at where the chip was (DIDN'T remove it) and put it all back in again.

However, because I wasn't actually changing the chip, I didn't let the car idle for 10 mins before driving it again.
Unfortunately now it idles erratically sometimes and when I give it some gas, as the revs drop, they drop too low and the car almost cuts out. In fact it does cut out sometimes.

I tried removing the ECU again, this time I didn't even open it, just removed the plug, in the hope of resetting all the memory on the board or whatever and then fitted it back in. This time I did idle the car for 15 mins and went for a 15 minute drive, but the same problem still exists.

Any ideas or help would be very much appreciated as I have to drive 30 miles to Southampton in it every day!

Cheers

Danny

Post Wed Feb 09, 2005 6:06 pm

ooops forgot all about this post :lol:

Danny clean out your ICV dude, thats the cause of all the grief, it shutles to a different position once the ECU has been pulled and when it tries to settle to its "original" position can drag some crud into the slide.

as for the L jet cars,a chip will gain very little as its a fuel only setup on those, as has been suggested a small increase in fuel pressure and swinging the dizzy timing can yeild a nice gain but be careful of pinking when altering these.

just to add on comments with regard to the original chip in the ECU on our e30s. we are blessed with a chip setup to run the car very lean throughout the rev range( in std form~) good for emissions but hurts power delivery and response bigtime, best advice is to remove and bin it, its not rubbish in any way but we are looking for more than low emissions

FYI a chipped car will better the stock car in terms of MPG, why ? simply because you are not working the car so hard to go the same pace, more fuel @ lower throttle openings = better delivery and zero flatspots.

Post Thu Feb 10, 2005 2:24 pm

Cheers Ant, thtat's just what I was after

Being a newbie, I did a google search for ICV and found a site that described what was happening to a tee!

All I need to do now is find where the ICV is (I've found location descriptions, but no photos sadly) and either attempt cleaning it myself, or get someone to do it for me. I think a purchase of the Haynes manual is in order...

Unless anyone from the Bournemouth area would be willing to show me how to do it if I bunged them a couple o' quid....