Which ECU? and m50 conversion question

[naser]

Hi
i am looking at modding an m52 or an m50, and i dont know what the best solution for ECU is. I dont want forced induction but i would like to be able to mapp the timing, fuelling and maybe fiddle the vanos aswell to adapt to wilder cams. Which type of aftermarket ECU do you guys recomend and what has been used. Correct me if i am wrong but it is essesntially imposible to reprogram the original ecus without super expensice equipment right? Anybody now how for example the guys at schnitzer etc do it?

also i know your never meant to count up how much your car has cost you incase any iterested partires happen to find out.... But how much should a complete m50/M52 conversion set me back. And i dotn have acces to a welder so any ideas how much a modified exhaust manifold costs to make,
Cheers

[Andy325i]

Hi, a '403 Ecu will run a non vanos M50, the 413 will run the vanos M50. As regards tuning the ecu the guy to speak to is Jason from chipped uk (I think he is a member here, but more regularly found on the E36 Coupe forum. He is very reasonable on price. As for the M52 the standard setup will include the EWS (anti-theft setup) so you would need to overcome this in one way or another. My M52B28 will be running on OBD I (pre 95) setup very soon I hope. This is a ballache though and deffinatly easier to stick with the OBD II (post 95). Hope this helps


Andy

[naser]

cheers for the info, i am extremely tempted to go the m52 route. So your recomendation is the get a complete engine witht the ecu, key and the ews all from the same car. Am i right in thinking that the ews is some sort of imobiliser, or is it solely obdII related.

I would be tempted to use the m50b25 intake manifold as it seems to make no sense to strangle the engine on purpose . However what size and shape are the ports in the 2.8 litre head? does it make any sense to put the larger manifold on if the ports are way off and create a large step in the flow?
Thanks again

[Andy325i]

M52 is a great route to go:

(rough figures)

M20B25: 170Bhp / 167Lb/Ft
M50B25: 192Bhp / 181Lb/Ft
M52B52: 193Bhp / 207Lb/Ft

If I was doing it again I would definatly get all the EWS stuff and use it.
From what I understand the OBD II ECUs are coded to the Key or transender?

Brain Glenn or Ian know more about this.

OBD = On Board Diagnostics

>95 cars are OBD I
<95 cars are OBDII

OBII cars have the EWS system incorperated with them.

As for the M52 manfolds vs the M50 ones check my "Andy's 328i" link at the bottom of my message and I have shown the size difference of the inlet ports. As for the size of the head ports this I didn't check and my look into when I get five mins, but they do recon it is a worth while mod.


Andy

[naser]

hi
i was looking on e36coupe.co.uk and there they posted that the manifold on the m50 needs modificatin to fit the m52. Anyone know what these mods are?

[Andy325i]

Hi, I think its more the bits around the manifold, i.e. making the obd II icv and wiring harness? fit the obd I inlet manifold. physically the manifold bolts straight on with no mods. For more info:

http://www.e36coupe.com/forum/viewtopic ... c&start=15

and



http://www.e36coupe.com/forum/viewtopic ... 61b97170a6

Alpina527 is the guy to talk to about this


Andy

[naser]

I checked with alpina527 about the port sizes in the 328 head and they are exactly the same shape as the same shape as the intake manifold on the m50. Any ideas where it is best to start looking for a m52 for converting my 325i Touring? Cheers

[Andy325i]

Flea bay

Don't rush and one will come along cheap enough.


Andy

[naser]

About the m52 conversion, can i use a m52 from a 5, or 7 series? or does it have to be a 3? isnt it just a question of changing the engine mounts and sump?

[Andy325i]

Any would work I guess, depending on the engine loom eg where the Ecu loom comes out of the engine loom etc (which side of the car) and the ones in the bigger cars will more likely be with auto box's


Andy