will a chip noticeably improve a 325i switchable auto?

Sat Mar 26, 2011 10:45 am

as the question really.. i have just bought a 1990 325i switchable auto and was wondering if it is worth adding one of the zone chips or another brand.. or if worth it at all..

anyone with any real knowledge of chipping an auto?

thanks,
rich

Sat Mar 26, 2011 1:22 pm

manual conversion FTW

i can see a chip helping it out,but will it raise the rev-limiter on the auto box so it changes gear at higher revs ?

i don't do auto's so i can only guess really.you need a slush box owner with a chip really or just ask speedtouch ?

Sat Mar 26, 2011 1:34 pm

the old manual chestnut jibe, i'm so laughing.. no, i'm really laughing.

i prefer an auto thanks, hence why i bought one - and i did ask for people with experience for their thoughts.

but thanks.

Sat Mar 26, 2011 2:06 pm

As I understand the switchable auto,this has it's own ECU squirrelled away in the boot somewhere,so I would guess that you will need to fiddle with that to change the shift points!

Sat Mar 26, 2011 2:06 pm

forget it

Sat Mar 26, 2011 2:11 pm

you can get more power and torque from a good auto chip see Ant. It won't make a huge difference anymore than it does on the manual but still worth doing once you have extracted all the performance from the standard tune.

Sat Mar 26, 2011 2:18 pm

pnd wrote:you can get more power and torque from a good auto chip see Ant. It won't make a huge difference anymore than it does on the manual but still worth doing once you have extracted all the performance from the standard tune.

thanks mate, this is kind of what i was looking for, info wise.

the car is the best 325 auto i have driven/owned yet so i think it is pretty in tune - i collect it on friday so it will be going through the basic serviceable stuff first before i look at doing this but was just wondering if it would help the car, maybe squeeze another 1 mpg from it too... although, i didn't buy it for fuel economy!

cheers.

Sat Mar 26, 2011 2:45 pm

the key is getting the right chip like i say see Ant.

Sat Mar 26, 2011 4:50 pm

I've had a speedtouch mild chip in my auto sport last year or so. Will make a difference, and adds a couple of MPG too. Definitely worth approx. £30, will pay for itself very quickly.

As for the old Auto v manual debate, had mine now 4 years, love it to bits, just like driving a pint of Guinness

Sport mode is ace, but drop in to 2nd yourself after you've chipped it and see what you think....

Sat Mar 26, 2011 4:56 pm

lowey wrote:I've had a speedtouch mild chip in my auto sport last year or so. Will make a difference, and adds a couple of MPG too. Definitely worth approx. £30, will pay for itself very quickly.

As for the old Auto v manual debate, had mine now 4 years, love it to bits, just like driving a pint of Guinness

Sport mode is ace, but drop in to 2nd yourself after you've chipped it and see what you think....

thanks lowey, just what i need.

quick one, why only a mild chip? is this the best chip option? and is it doable myself? i'm the worst DIY'er ever so don't usually touch things that have the potential in not functioning after!

Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:01 pm

thanks lowey, just what i need.

quick one, why only a mild chip? is this the best chip option? and is it doable myself? i'm the worst DIY'er ever so don't usually touch things that have the potential in not functioning after![/quote]

Yep, easy job, get in touch with Maurice (Speedtouch) on here, he does the mild and the wild chip. I think the wild chip is more for track days etc. He does recommend the mild chip for Auto's.

Enjoy your Auto, they are truly fantastic and versatile too. Happy to offer advice re fitting if you need it, but it id really a doddle

HTH - Steve

Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:03 pm

Have rumage through the zone Wiki,link at the top of the page,there should be a photo guide to chip swapping....then you can decide if you can sort it yourself or not.

Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:04 pm

before you touch the chip make sure you have ground yourself out to remove any static that will kill the chip.

Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:06 pm

daimlerman wrote:Have rumage through the zone Wiki,link at the top of the page,there should be a photo guide to chip swapping....then you can decide if you can sort it yourself or not.

thanks, have looked at the guide and i have still have the potential of breaking something!

Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:15 pm

boxclever1753 wrote:
daimlerman wrote:Have rumage through the zone Wiki,link at the top of the page,there should be a photo guide to chip swapping....then you can decide if you can sort it yourself or not.
thanks, have looked at the guide and i have still have the potential of breaking something!

Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:17 pm

magpie wrote:
boxclever1753 wrote: thanks, have looked at the guide and i have still have the potential of breaking something!

i know my own limits!

Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:17 pm

boxclever1753 wrote:
daimlerman wrote:Have rumage through the zone Wiki,link at the top of the page,there should be a photo guide to chip swapping....then you can decide if you can sort it yourself or not.
thanks, have looked at the guide and i have still have the potential of breaking something!

Guy who knows his limits!

There's bound to be a zoner reasonably local to you who will be able to swap the chip in exchange for a modest beer token.

Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:21 pm

I have Ant's Mrs 325 touring on a standard slush box with his chip fitted. Get in touch with Ant via www.fastbimmer.co.uk and have a natter with the man. The 'Green Meanie' pulls like a train and takes off like a rocket once you approach 4K. It will go off the clock on the flat. Take a dive up and see what it can do first hand. I can say with no reservation you will be glad you did.
Other chips are available and are cheaper, but like most things in life you get what you pay for.
BTW I'm a couple of miles from Brands Hatch in Kent, Ant is a 15min fun filled drive through the lanes

Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:23 pm

boxclever1753 wrote:
magpie wrote:
boxclever1753 wrote: thanks, have looked at the guide and i have still have the potential of breaking something!

i know my own limits!

your easily beat.

take your car with the chip to a local-ish meet and someone will help out

Sun Mar 27, 2011 9:14 am

As far as electronics are concerned, I'm so ham-fisted I've got trotters for finger tips and even I managed change the chip. Just follow the procedure slowly and you'd be surprised how easy it is. Chips in autos? They bring a new meaning to 'kick-down', try it and see what I mean

Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:03 pm

I put a chip in my switchable auto - it just chucked more fuel in and reset the rev limiter. No real notieable improvement in performance, slight reduction in fuel economy, ironed out a couple of flat spots and that's about it.

Not sure it's related to the chip but shortly after the I put the chip in the gearbox gave up - and the car is temporarily living in Low Moor while a nice manual box is being fitted.

@ Daimlerman & Magpie - the Auto ECU is in the boot (left had side behind the lining near the top), and to be honest with the chip in there was no need to do anything to it - just stick the car in sport mode and you're done. Gear changes all happened where you'd want them to.

My advice (for what it's worth) - If you like auto boxes, then I suspect that tuning is fairly low down on the priority list. Just leave it as is and enjoy cuising around.

Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:59 pm

switchable autos are good. My 2.5 auto has a BBR star chip and its much stronger in the low/midrange where a 2.5 can feel a little flat on the facelift cars the higher gears. Its more peppy top end too. BBR are an oldskool chip which work well.

Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:02 pm

Simon13 wrote:switchable autos are good. My 2.5 auto has a BBR star chip and its much stronger in the low/midrange where a 2.5 can feel a little flat on the facelift cars the higher gears. Its more peppy top end too. BBR are an oldskool chip which work well.

Your out then.

What happened there?

Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:13 pm

Who knows? A moderating power trip being exercised on a minion is about the sum of it. No PM sent either so it can't be skipunda for once, must of been my mate Brian "6 foot 4" Moore

Beware folks calling a mod a midget IS a banning offense

Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:14 pm

Simon13 wrote:switchable autos are good. My 2.5 auto has a BBR star chip and its much stronger in the low/midrange where a 2.5 can feel a little flat on the facelift cars the higher gears. Its more peppy top end too. BBR are an oldskool chip which work well.

thanks mate, the star chip is £400 though, so i think i'll speak to ant or maurice for one of theirs.

Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:20 pm

they come up secondhand from time to time. I didn't know you could still get them

Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:21 pm

Simon13 wrote:they come up secondhand from time to time. I didn't know you could still get them

yeah - here: http://www.bbrgti.com/product_details.p ... &model=375

think i may go for Ant's chip.

cheers though,
rich.

Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:25 pm

Several Zoners I've supplied chips to for their autos have been pleased with them. I'd recommend the Mild for an auto.

Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:26 pm

Speedtouch wrote:Several Zoners I've supplied chips to for their autos have been pleased with them. I'd recommend the Mild for an auto.

hi mate

was going to mail you, what's the best deal posted to brighton?

thanks,
rich

Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:29 pm

PM sent.

Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:43 pm

Simon13 wrote:Who knows? A moderating power trip being exercised on a minion is about the sum of it. No PM sent either so it can't be skipunda for once, must of been my mate Brian "6 foot 4" Moore

Beware folks calling a mod a midget IS a banning offense

You should know by now mate, toe the line or do the time.

They are watching us

Mon Mar 28, 2011 12:32 am

chip an Auto ? it's a complete waste of time/cash chipping a manual !

spend your cash on making what you have work properly,
generic chips are shit IMO

Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:14 pm

Simon13 wrote:Who knows? A moderating power trip being exercised on a minion is about the sum of it. No PM sent either so it can't be skipunda for once, must of been my mate Brian "6 foot 4" Moore

Beware folks calling a mod a midget IS a banning offense

no, but it would appear this is:

you can shov the warnings where the sun don't shine.

I think it WAS Skipunda actually, a 24hr "cooldown" ban.

Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:41 pm

e30topless wrote:chip an Auto ? it's a complete waste of time/cash chipping a manual !

spend your cash on making what you have work properly,
generic chips are shit IMO

All these satisfied Zoners must be wrong then!

Mon Mar 28, 2011 7:20 pm

GWB wrote:I have Ant's Mrs 325 touring on a standard slush box with his chip fitted. Get in touch with Ant via www.fastbimmer.co.uk and have a natter with the man. The 'Green Meanie' pulls like a train and takes off like a rocket once you approach 4K. It will go off the clock on the flat. Take a dive up and see what it can do first hand. I can say with no reservation you will be glad you did.
Other chips are available and are cheaper, but like most things in life you get what you pay for.
BTW I'm a couple of miles from Brands

I have Ant's mild chip in my auto. Its great, I also use super unleaded and have run a 16.5 quarter mile which is very respectible for an auto.