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Chips

Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 4:28 pm
by JAMZ
sup peeps..

is a modified chip a good buy for a 325i? ... would it hinder my MPG and would it make any noticible difference to that flat spot up till about 3000RPM where the car doesnt do much?

I dont know much about these chips...what chip is recomended here?

cheers

Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 4:39 pm
by Zayyan
As chips release more power across the rev range, they should improve the flat spot and in theory they should improve fuel economy as well.

Only chips worth getting are the Zone chips (a 55 quid bargain), email chips@e30zone.co.uk for details :thumb:

Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 4:44 pm
by 320Touring
zone chips are available in two types,

wild and mild

wild changes the engine dramatically and compliments engines that will be heavily tuned or used in a 'sporty' manner

the mild one just improves the general drivability of thecar and also smooths out the flatsposts too

ask ant (send him a PM (private message) for info

Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 5:08 pm
by JAMZ
Sent Email...thks guys

Figure its a great buy for the price involved..

Engine is completly Stock apart from a PiperCross Air-filter...so i got alot of room for inprovement without hurting my already non-existant MPG like a new exaust system etc etc..

body kit is my first buy though.

Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 5:46 pm
by Jhonno
i'd buy the chip 1st personally.. but then im a performance over looks person :cool:

Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 6:14 pm
by twintrack
I take it the 2.5 engines respond better to 'bolt-on' mods than other cars do ?
i.e they're not releasing their full potential as standard, compared to some engines that are pretty much at their limit from the factory, with standard induction that is.

Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 8:05 pm
by Widge
Jhonno wrote:.. but then im a performance over looks person :cool:

It's the only way! :D
I love the looks on peoples faces :eek: when they are overtaken buy a banger covered in bird shit :twisted: when infact the engine and drive train is in tip top condition and it's like a suite at the Ritz in my comfy leathers.

Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 8:10 pm
by A1BMW325iSport
It's the only way! :D
I love the looks on peoples faces :eek: when they are overtaken buy a banger covered in bird sh*t :twisted: when infact the engine and drive train is in tip top condition and it's like a suite at the Ritz in my comfy leathers.
got any pics of your car then 8)




"quote" repaired to function correctly dude.

Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 8:37 pm
by JAMZ
Hmm..well later on i might be modding the engine somewhat but not 100% sure...

Its really that flat spot in the lower RPM range im trying to tweak..if i get better MPG out of it too,ita a bonus but the main thing is not getting LESS..

but as for the chips...im really not sure on which one would suit me better at the moment..

does anyone have one fitted that could shed some light on results,MPG etc etc

cheers

Carl

Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 8:38 pm
by Widge
Here you go then, but this was before the Jackdaws moved in to the tree above where I park it.
Image
And it's got these in it now
Image

Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 8:41 pm
by JAMZ
HEY!!

stop hijacking my thread..get yer own :lol:

nice seats BTW

Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 8:43 pm
by Widge
I've got the zone hairy chip, and it certainly sorts out all the flat spots and makes the whole rev range really sweet. Gives some more go although this is only by butt test. And it does seem to improve the MPG but thats just a general feling of not having to fill up as much rather than actual figures.
Go for it well worth it at Ԛ£55 and you won't loose power.

Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 9:16 pm
by JAMZ
Sup Widge..

so is that the choice they give you which they say comes to life with outher mods,increases yer idle RPM and stuff?

cus they give yer 2 options at Zone for the 325i..

think that would be the one that i choose..as im not sure on what future things i might add to the lump..

Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 1:35 pm
by JAMZ
Another thing i was thinking of too..are the 325's prown to having a lumpy Idle..thought a new set of plugs and a service would of sorted it but its still pretty Lumpy on tick-over..

I know one of those chips adjusts the Idle to 900RPM which would make difference..can anyone concur?

My main concern is having worse Fuel Consumption once chip is installed? .. i know obviouslly by flooring it the answer would be YES but if im driving the same way on stock and new chip would i notice any difference in Fuel..

Cheers

Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 1:39 pm
by A1BMW325iSport
i put a new idle valve on my 325 and it ticks over super smooth now.

the next mod on my list is a zone "wild" chip

Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 2:58 pm
by JAMZ
That Idle valve cost you much..?

does it have to be a BMW part?

cheers

Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 3:05 pm
by E30BeemerLad
Widge, nice leathers mate :drool:

Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 7:08 pm
by Widge
Cheers Bimmerlad, they came off a guy in York whos sport was rustier than the Titanic. And I have a chip which makes the Idle 1000rpm and it's a smooth as a babys bum.

Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 7:09 pm
by E30BeemerLad
when you gonna have that bad ass 2.7 on the road then mate?

Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 9:18 pm
by bebecar
My car has a Sports manifold (think it is called that, my tech English isn't too good) and I am planning on buying the BBTB as well - should I choose the wild chip or the mild one? And how much improvement in HP can I expect... and would an CAI improve things further?

Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 11:24 pm
by Widge
The 2.7 is planned for Christmas - ish, I'd rather take longer and do the job properly.

And bebecar get the wild chip if you are planning a BBTB, it's not really that wild as there is a limit to what can be done with a chip.

Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 11:32 pm
by bebecar
Widge wrote:The 2.7 is planned for Christmas - ish, I'd rather take longer and do the job properly.

And bebecar get the wild chip if you are planning a BBTB, it's not really that wild as there is a limit to what can be done with a chip.
Yeah - I figured as much... but a gain of 7 hp would be quite a bargain - but I would even settle for better driveability and MPG.

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 12:09 am
by Widge
For driveability and mpg go for it, go for the wild one. Then as you add BBTB and cam and 6 branch you'll be taking even more advantage of it :D

Dude the avatar is well........a bit odd :mad:

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 9:06 am
by bebecar
I've already got the "6-branch" but I am interested in a cam, but have always been put off by by the price... but what would you suggest for a cam and what can I expect it to cost?

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 11:38 am
by Widge
Hmmmmmmmm.........yeah the price is a bugger, but it is definetly the one mod that will make the most differance. I was very very lucky to get mine for Ԛ£120, usually for a shrick you're talking Ԛ£350+, and that's not including rebuilding the head which I suppose would be sensible but not vital.

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 11:41 am
by E30BeemerLad
Widge - didn't Dave - Cabrio327i have a head he was selling that was already ported & polished with a 284 cam in it? I'm sure he still had it in his garage when I went over there after the meet last week.

Might be a cheaper way for Ingvar to get the power he wants?

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 11:57 am
by Widge
Dunno mate, but if he does then it's exactly what he wants, if he's in the market for a cam right now. Cabrio327i where are you???????

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 2:03 pm
by bebecar
E30BeemerLad wrote:Widge - didn't Dave - Cabrio327i have a head he was selling that was already ported & polished with a 284 cam in it? I'm sure he still had it in his garage when I went over there after the meet last week.

Might be a cheaper way for Ingvar to get the power he wants?
Nope... I'm not in the market for anything (except a wild chip) right now since I first have to sell my VR6, and I can't do that until after my exams (end of June), so late summer - August I presume things will start to happen.

But maybe the cam should be done before the BBTB - similar price right? And the head was rebuilt two years ago (only 10k miles) sooooo :) The car might even have a hot cam already after the rebuild, I've just emailed the former owner to ask...

But what about the cost of putting it in? How much does that set you back?

Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 2:22 pm
by E30BeemerLad
Think Widge picked himself up a BBTB for Ԛ£50 a few weeks back

Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 2:39 pm
by bebecar
E30BeemerLad wrote:Think Widge picked himself up a BBTB for Ԛ£50 a few weeks back
That is really cheap 8O

Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 3:32 pm
by Widge
Yeah BBTB was Ԛ£50 for me but that was lucky. The Zone ones are Ԛ£120 (I think?) and probably the thing to do before the cam. If you can stretch to it go for the chip and BBTB and get a cam later, although as your head was recently rebuilt I'm not sure I would bother with a cam yet as they are pricy (Ԛ£350+).

Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 5:24 pm
by bebecar
Widge wrote:Yeah BBTB was Ԛ£50 for me but that was lucky. The Zone ones are Ԛ£120 (I think?) and probably the thing to do before the cam. If you can stretch to it go for the chip and BBTB and get a cam later, although as your head was recently rebuilt I'm not sure I would bother with a cam yet as they are pricy (Ԛ£350+).
How much does it cost to put the cam in - I have never opened an engine although I have tried with good help some other stuff.

I will definitely go for wild chip and BBTB - no question about it, might even be in june if I am lucky...

But... I hardly think i will be going for a cam... I like to keep the idle smooth and besides it is very expensive... I think I would rather upgrade the brakes :wink:

Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 6:34 pm
by Widge
I agree, they are expensive and I have no idea how much some one would charge to put it in. The one I have will leave the idle smooth I think as it's not that hairy. Go with the plan man :D

Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 7:53 pm
by bebecar
Widge wrote:I agree, they are expensive and I have no idea how much some one would charge to put it in. The one I have will leave the idle smooth I think as it's not that hairy. Go with the plan man :D
What cam do you have?

Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 7:57 pm
by Widge
It's not in the car, I'm planning on putting it in my 2.7. It's a standard cam that has been reground to the same profile as the C2 2.5/2.7 Alpina cars head. 268 degrees I think, so not extreme but better than the standard BMW 254 deg. Bit more mid range power I think without the lumpy idle.