ECU Advice "again"

[Staty]

This is my 2nd thread about ECU'S and a chip upgrade. My e30 was registered 01/04/1988 and e30 wiki states the ECU it should have is either the (0261 200 173) I believe. Speedtouch helped me out and we tried one of these ecu's on my car and it wouldn't run properly at all, so kind ended up going back to square one.

My car is pre face-lift, had chrome bumpers etc.

It says chrome bumper e30's should have either 153 or 173? But these are for e30's from 1987.

All I want to do is chip my effing car and it run fine like so many other e30 drivers have done!

The ecu on my car at the moment is 0 261 200 164 and apparently this ecu can't be chipped. I have felt my car lacks power and is holding back, I've got a feeling its this!

Any help is always greatly appreciated

Thanks

[Grrrmachine]

After 25 years, there's no proof that a car has the same engine it left the factory with, so build date is essentially useless. What you need to do is read the engine number off the block (small machined surface just above the sump, below the starter motor), and identify exactly what engine you have. This can then be compared to your existing management system to ascertain what Engine Management system you should be running, compared to what your current ECU is.

You do seem confused about what you need, since you mention the 173 ECU which the Wiki states is for plastic-bumpered cars, which yours isn't. This probably means your car is a Cabriolet (you haven't said), and therefore it's impossible to help further.

[Staty]

After 25 years, there's no proof that a car has the same engine it left the factory with, so build date is essentially useless. What you need to do is read the engine number off the block (small machined surface just above the sump, below the starter motor), and identify exactly what engine you have. This can then be compared to your existing management system to ascertain what Engine Management system you should be running, compared to what your current ECU is.

You do seem confused about what you need, since you mention the 173 ECU which the Wiki states is for plastic-bumpered cars, which yours isn't. This probably means your car is a Cabriolet (you haven't said), and therefore it's impossible to help further.

Cheers mate, I'am confused, because it says 1987 chrome bumpers, mine is 1988 and yes you're right its a cabby too!

[Grrrmachine]

Wiki clearly states 173 is for plastic bumper 325i from 9/87 ONWARDS, although even the chrome cabbies should be using that ECU.

The fact that your car has a 164, and is therefore an auto, may well be the key here. Speedtouch knows far more about ECUs than I do, but there must be a reason autos received a completely different ECU. And the lack of power may well be caused by your (lack of) gearbox and not an ECU fault at all.

Finally, I know Speedtouch's chips are good, but a chip will only make a good one run better, not make a poor one run good. If your car really is down on power then chipping it is the last thing you want to do. Fix the other problems (injectors, spark plugs, air leaks) first before you try upping the power elsewhere. And don't forget an 80s slushbox will rob quite a bit of power from the already heavy cabriolet.

[Staty]

I think getting the engine number is the first thing I'm going to do! I'm pretty sure I tried looking for this the last time but will have a butchers! Cheers again! Also injectors are going to be done very soon, plugs were done recently and as far as I'm aware no air leaks, it was checked.

As far as the weight goes, perhaps I'm being hard on my cabby, its the first one I've had, my other e30's have been hard top 3 doors!