Has my ECU been modified?

[JazzMan]

I had a look at my ECU today as I was looking for a good place to install it and noticed that it has been opened up before - there were scratches all round the the flaps holding the lid and one broken off. Its for a F plate 325i touring.

See anything out of place in these pictures? (click for high res 3-4Mb versions)







I've got a Zone wild chip to go in there just wanted to make sure everything else looks good! Any help much appreciated

[bigdek]

peobably been chipped before in a previous life

[JazzMan]

Your probably right, I couldnt see any diy solder jobs anywhere - thanks

[dazleeds]

i have a standard chip in front of me and the only difference is the last 3 digits on mine are 472

[Gt6s]

She has def been chipped at some time. The removeable eprom with the sticker on it should have a plastic cover over it. Obvioulsly not put back on again, not that it really matters.

[EndaW]

The code on the chip relates too the board code so looks original.
The ecu may well have been opened for various reasons and the last 3 digits relate to the software code on the chip itself, this is in fact a south african car which isnt uncommon.

[Demlotcrew]

The code on the chip relates too the board code so looks original.
The ecu may well have been opened for various reasons and the last 3 digits relate to the software code on the chip itself, this is in fact a south african car which isnt uncommon.

I dont think it is, its got a European Chassis number.

Andrew

[EndaW]

I am sorry but there is no doubt about it, this dme controller is without any doubt from a South African car, the software number confirms this.
This doesnt however mean that the car ever went to SA as many cars meant for this market came direct to the UK due to popular sales.
705 was never releases as a direct UK software code.
The split was like so.

1267355509 Asia
1267355705 002 S/A
1267355705 003 S/A
1267355705 006 S/A
1267355794 Europe
1267356203 Europe
1267356288 Europe

There were some other types but they were derivatives from batch stock at the end of production runs.

[Demlotcrew]

I dont know what the above codes stand for, it may have been for the SA market but the VIn number of that car (which the ECU came from) is from Europe.

Andrew

[EndaW]

Sorry to have been a nuisance.

[jonb]

where is the engine from jazz??

i notice you have the lhd manifolds.

[JazzMan]

where is the engine from jazz??

i notice you have the lhd manifolds.

It's from a RHD F plate 1988 325i Touring. I didnt get any service history with it as I bought it on the cheap for my kit car project.

I'm going to get a birth sheet from BMW as I'm rather intrigued by this confusion. F330 KGY if anyone recognises the car - sourced from the Portsmouth area.

[Brianmoooore]

Sorry to have been a nuisance.

On the contrary, you could be usefull to have around the zone.
How come you've got such detailed knowledge of something most of us didn't know existed.

[EndaW]

I work at a tuning company as a rolling road operator and have been stripping and fixing BMW`s for years.
The DME information is something we have on file for every BMW ever made as well as all other cars as well.

[Templ8e30]

I have a spare 325i chip from a uk spec motor here an it has the same numbers ending in 705

Cheers,

Iain T

[EndaW]

As above really, it was very common practice to ship cars directly to the UK due to massive sales as apposed to being left on a forecourt of a BMW dealer in Capetown.

[Brianmoooore]

Does the SA software cause any running percularities when used in UK conditions then?

[Ant]

minor Offtopic, enda, you have codes for Mini Cooper? mines got that awful early driveabilty glitch and my local stealers still claim its the best on offer, dont want more power, just better delivery dude.

Answer via Pm if you want mate, keeps this thread back on topic.

BTW, totally agree with Brian's sentiment, everyones welcome to pitch in info, its what a forum is all about

[EndaW]

The SA DME will not cause any problems in the UK whatsoever so no need to worry on that score.
Ant, you should have a pm now.

[Ant]

PM, recieved/replied to

[JazzMan]

I got a birth sheet from BMW today - it all looks good proper UK car

On a rather interesting note the car was originally order with Crimson leather in a Zinnorbar red car. Someone liked red!! By the time I bought the car it had cloth seats.

[EndaW]

As I pointed out earlier, the car will have full UK information throughout as it would have never been issues anywhere else, its only the original route that guides the software but that doesnt mean it finalised the route.

[chief]

if i may rudely butt in on this thread so late. just taken my chip out and its last 3 digits are 740. does this i have a modded or original chip. seemed to be the original has its code on the chip itself is copyright 1983 AMD

Enda wrote these as possibles
1267355509 Asia
1267355705 002 S/A
1267355705 003 S/A
1267355705 006 S/A
1267355794 Europe
1267356203 Europe
1267356288 Europe

[EndaW]

740 would be a derivative DME if the controller i.d matches the main 0261 number.
In this case they were end of line dme`s.

[Chris-W]

As above really, it was very common practice to ship cars directly to the UK due to massive sales as apposed to being left on a forecourt of a BMW dealer in Capetown.

Which is why you sometimes see cars with carbon canisters fitted or different brake calipers etc. even thought they are UK cars. It depends how far through the build the car was before it was diverted to a different territory.

[EndaW]

As above really, it was very common practice to ship cars directly to the UK due to massive sales as apposed to being left on a forecourt of a BMW dealer in Capetown.

Which is why you sometimes see cars with carbon canisters fitted or different brake calipers etc. even thought they are UK cars. It depends how far through the build the car was before it was diverted to a different territory.

Exactly.