Differences between the UK and USA spec E34 535i???

[Nay]

Mainly engine differences (M30B35). Picking mine up today hopefully.

I'm after an ECU chip for this car but all other bimmer forums are seemingly American orientated. They all recommend the Jim Conforti chip (which I've heard of many, many times... believed to be the creme de la creme of plug and play remaps). The J'C chip offers some really nice figures too. Apparently 48bhp and a lot of torque too! This is alot, but also they dont state figures like this for any other model I've seen or looked at... average is 15-20 which is realistic. They do say on the site that BMW didn't do the best ECU map to begin with in this car.


I'm just curious as I wouldn't mind trying this chip and not sure if the americans have a slightly different engine or anything. I'm sure it should be perfectly compatible...

[Rav335uk]

Just looked at the figures for the gains, don't add up.

http://www.bimmerworld.com/html/confort ... -chips.htm

No way can a chip release 43 bhp.

[raj1980]

this dont sound right at all.

[Nay]

Just looked at the figures for the gains, don't add up.

http://www.bimmerworld.com/html/confort ... -chips.htm

No way can a chip release 43 bhp.

Agreed. Another site said 48bhp.

But, its only for the 3.5L engines and M5 that have such a gain. The rest are definately reasonable results. Makes me think that this might not be as much BS as I originally thought. Jim Conforti is also a really reputable company with many happy customers.

Even if its not quite so high, would be a nice chip to try

Rav, maybe you should consider one too! Could make your 335i a bit more fun

[Rav335uk]

Nay, i've got one of Speedtouch's chips in.

[Nay]

Nay, i've got one of Speedtouch's chips in.

Are they good?

[Nay]

this dont sound right at all.

As I said, I thought this as well, but a lot of sites state the same sort of numbers.

They state 15bhp for a 325i. Which is perfectly normal for a more wild type chip. The 325e (american engine, ETA?) can get 24bhp which again is legitimet.

I still think I'll try this chip and I'll let you lot know how it goes!

[Rav335uk]

Nay, i've got one of Speedtouch's chips in.

Are they good?

I've no real problems apart from the fact my rev limiter is still the same and this chip does not go beyond.

[Nay]

Fair doo's. Might be going for that Jim Conforti chip and i'll keep you posted on how it goes when I get round to getting it!

[ImysE30]

Will it work with UK car's too?

[Andyboy]

Mainly engine differences (M30B35). Picking mine up today hopefully.

I'm after an ECU chip for this car but all other bimmer forums are seemingly American orientated. They all recommend the Jim Conforti chip (which I've heard of many, many times... believed to be the creme de la creme of plug and play remaps). The J'C chip offers some really nice figures too. Apparently 48bhp and a lot of torque too! This is alot, but also they dont state figures like this for any other model I've seen or looked at... average is 15-20 which is realistic. They do say on the site that BMW didn't do the best ECU map to begin with in this car.


I'm just curious as I wouldn't mind trying this chip and not sure if the americans have a slightly different engine or anything. I'm sure it should be perfectly compatible...

Jim Conforti must be related to Paul Daniels, and 43/48 bhp is ludicrous. The most you will get from an E34 535i engine with a good, dyno mapped rechip is 10-15 bhp. 20 bhp is really pushing it - that'll be an engine that was way down on power anyway.
The US engines are the same as everyone elses on these, 208 bhp on 87 octane fuel.

[Nay]

Thats what I'm hoping Imy! I dont think (but I'm not sure) that there is a difference between the M30B35 in the UK and USA. so hopefully the chip will be fine and even if it adds a noticable difference (for the better) be it 10bhp to 30bhp or even this mad 40bhp+, then I'll be very happy!

[ImysE30]

How much is it?

[Nay]

Mainly engine differences (M30B35). Picking mine up today hopefully.

I'm after an ECU chip for this car but all other bimmer forums are seemingly American orientated. They all recommend the Jim Conforti chip (which I've heard of many, many times... believed to be the creme de la creme of plug and play remaps). The J'C chip offers some really nice figures too. Apparently 48bhp and a lot of torque too! This is alot, but also they dont state figures like this for any other model I've seen or looked at... average is 15-20 which is realistic. They do say on the site that BMW didn't do the best ECU map to begin with in this car.


I'm just curious as I wouldn't mind trying this chip and not sure if the americans have a slightly different engine or anything. I'm sure it should be perfectly compatible...

Jim Conforti must be related to Paul Daniels and he's clearly a bullshit artist. The most you will get from an E34 535i engine with a good, dyno mapped rechip is 10-15 bhp. 20 bhp is really pushing it - that'll be an engine that was way down on power anyway.

I've looked into it, but every other forum (all the americans) never actually give any real information other than "Had it for a few months, love it, never go back". No technical info... no +/- sides or anything. So I wouldn't know.

Thing is... all the other chips show a reasonable increase that is easily believable. 15-22 for a 325i (24 for the older USA 325e), around that again for most models. The E34 M5 and other 3.5L engines all seem to be the only ones that get such interesting figures. The 540i still only gets about 22bhp more.

If the rest are believable, why lie for just a few models (and only the 3.5/3.8L engines?). They do state that bmw did an expectionally bad mapping on this car.

Looking at other chips... many others are claiming the same thing. Normal, believable results but the M30 has a mad increase.

Now i'm not expecting 40+. But as long as its noticably better I'll be happy!

[Nay]

How much is it?

£150 with the current exchange. All JC chips are this price. Same with all american companies. Usually $200-$250 for chips from the USA.

[djk]

20+bhp from an off the shelf chip on a 325i? BSS325i's 20bhp gain from a BTB2 was impressive, if you could get the same from an off the shelf chip then we'd all have them! 40bhp from just a chip on any NA engine just sounds like absolute BS. I'd fork out for a proper remap, and expect the sort of gains Andy mentions.

[Nay]

20+bhp from an off the shelf chip on a 325i? BSS325i's 20bhp gain from a BTB2 was impressive, if you could get the same from an off the shelf chip then we'd all have them! 40bhp from just a chip on any NA engine just sounds like absolute BS. I'd fork out for a proper remap, and expect the sort of gains Andy mentions.

Still can't find anywhere locally that would do a remap. And going to the UK or france would cost about £400 to just get the car over there.... so for now a chip will have to do!

[leeparkes]

What gains would you get from a re-map on a M30,and how much does a re-map cost?

[Andyboy]

Thing is... all the other chips show a reasonable increase that is easily believable. 15-22 for a 325i (24 for the older USA 325e), around that again for most models.

No - they're even LESS believable. The norm for a 325i remap is 10 bhp. Maybe 8, maybe 12, but not 15....not if you start with the full 171 bhp.
The 325e is even less responsive and 24 bhp is an outright lie. Those things ran 2 litre valves, throttle body and injectors plus a cam with very little duration. Add much more timing and it'll pink its tits off, add much more fuel and it will just bore wash. They don't rev over 4500 because it simply can't get any more air in. Remapping it will do nothing much over 5-7 bhp although you can make them a bit more snappy.

As for the power gain claims - well, bullshit baffled brains. Take them with a pinch of salt.

[Nay]

Thing is... all the other chips show a reasonable increase that is easily believable. 15-22 for a 325i (24 for the older USA 325e), around that again for most models.

No - they're even LESS believable. The norm for a 325i remap is 10 bhp. Maybe 8, maybe 12, but not 15....not if you start with the full 171 bhp.
The 325e is even less responsive and 24 bhp is an outright lie. Those things ran 2 litre valves, throttle body and injectors plus a cam with very little duration. Add much more timing and it'll pink its tits off, add much more fuel and it will just bore wash. They don't rev over 4500 because it simply can't get any more air in. Remapping it will do nothing much over 5-7 bhp although you can make them a bit more snappy.

As for the power gain claims - well, bullshit baffled brains. Take them with a pinch of salt.

Will do! But I'm still looking for an ECU for my 535i.

Need to liven her up a bit

[ross_jsy]

spoken to the guys up near trinity tyres with the dyno if they can map your car for you?

there is a thread about it on cics. i dont know how good they are but its worth a shot

[djk]

20+bhp from an off the shelf chip on a 325i? BSS325i's 20bhp gain from a BTB2 was impressive, if you could get the same from an off the shelf chip then we'd all have them! 40bhp from just a chip on any NA engine just sounds like absolute BS. I'd fork out for a proper remap, and expect the sort of gains Andy mentions.

Still can't find anywhere locally that would do a remap. And going to the UK or france would cost about £400 to just get the car over there.... so for now a chip will have to do!

Fair point! Speedtouch does an M30 chip - I don't endorse the power gains he claims, but at least they're only £30 with a money back guarantee if you're not satisfied. If you paid £150 for a chip that turns out to be no better, or even makes your car run worse, you'd be bloody furious - well, I would be!

[Nay]

@ross_jsy - Cheers mate. Will have to go see them. Will be useful for the 325i when its rebuilt.

@djk - Ok, I'll drop him a p.m. See if we can get an improvement. Also the cars getting booking in for a good overhaul so the extra £100 (before shipping from the usa ) could be better spent