MadaboutKitcars

My ECU programmer rang today to say he is almost ready to run his BMW M54 engine with my MS43 ECU, and should be able to post a video on Youtube by the end of September - fingers crossed.
If all goes to plan I hope to collect a Plug n Play ECU plus loom after my holidays later in October.

Maybe, just maybe, an M54 powered Marlin is moving a step closer?

That's what I'm being told!!!

The guy is ultra confident and says they have done it before.

I sent my MS43 ECU and engine harness, and he says he will drop his M54B30 into an E30 chassis just to act as a support frame, pipe fuel from a gerry can, and stand a battery along side. He will have to add an EWS, key and antenna, so will use his own matched ECU and will run it with fly by wire, operating on the standard BMW MS43 ECU tune running Dual Variable Vanos and DISA.
IF this works as suggested I will simply collect the complete and matched ECU, EWS, key, antenna and loom as a plug'n'play kit.
He promised to post a video on Youtube to show it running.

He will build an engine loom with an X20 socket on it, wired up to connect to the female X20 I have in my chassis which I added to connect to the X20 on the M50 engine harness.
It should quite literally be a Plug'nplay engine swap electronically - which is perfect for me.

It sounds almost too good to be true - Having trawled the www. for 12 months now I have not found anyone anywhere offering this service who can back up their claims with a working engine, so I have to remain cautious: but he is catagoric in his ability to have it running by the end of this month - so we will not have to wait much longer!

I know Timbo is watching this with interest as this guy is equally confident he can run the M52TUB28 in exactlythe same way.

As you said Peter, this is my engine 'Holy Grail'.

The torque 'curve' is fabulous - almost flat line and close to its maximum of 300Nm (220lbsft) from 1800rpm - 5500rpm: its maximum torque is achieved at only 3500rpm.
Top end power is rated at 228HP at only 5900rpm. For me, this is a much better road engine than the M50TUB25 which lacks quite a lot of torque below 4,000rpm.

I looked longingly at the S50B30, and B32, as their torque and HP are really impressive (286/316BHP and 320/350Nm) , but they make a lot of the power higher up the rpm range, and sell for a lot of money (£2k+ just for the engine, if you can find one), and they are likely to be thrashed (trashed?) engines, requiring money to be spent to refresh them.
They also require a lot of service attention to the heads, and are heavy on fuel (which has to be 5 star, due to their high compression ) so I decided the M54B30 is the best cheap (to buy in good order, and run) engine currently around.......... providing the ECU can be reprogrammed to give standard BMW tune performance????!

The difference between the M52B28, and the M54B30 is not great, (around 40BHP extra, and +20Nm torque at 500rpm less) but since both engines are now commonly available, I would like to go with the M54 for its bigger torque at lower rpm if it is a possibility?

Ah, so not really a 'EWS delete' service, more a transplant of a matched set of DME, EWS and key. Which is what Tim(bo) did in his installation in his Sportster.
Not sure if you were following all the discussion at the time but Tim could run and drive his car fine but after about 50 starts the DME decides to lockout the EWS start function. I came up with a theory that adding an Instrument binnacle would possibly fool the DME it was in a complete car. Tim tried it out but it didn't solve the problem so he had to resort to buying new matched sets of DME, EWS and keys.

I suggest you have a chat your guy about this issue to see if has a way of bypassing this issues. Hopefully he is aware and has a solution.

...peter

But then after a bit of googling I found this company.....
http://www.rmsonlinestore.com/BMW-Unlocked-ECU-DME-EWS-Bypass_c7.htm
but check out those prices!!

RMS are only offering a "Virginised ECU" - its not really unlocking the ECU, but allows it to be resynced with the EWS.
I have found no one else offering to alter the software to allow it to run totally normally outside the mother chassis, and prepared to show a running engine demonstration, so I will only be convinced when I see it working.

This guy reckons EWS delete is a bit of a myth.
It is the CAN communication to the binnacle and the rest of the car loom, the ABS, and a few other issues which cause the need to re-programme the ECU.
He says the EWS can readily be retained, which strikes me as a positive.


From what this guy also says Tim's set up was doomed to fail because the ECU has not had the right parts of the software removed. But I'm only repeating what I've been told. But if he can run an M54 I'm sure he will be able to run an M52TU.

The proof will be when we see the video - or not!

Only 3 working days to wait............

Mike, sounds like your guy knows what he is doing so good news!

....peter

M54 Running on stand alone MS43 ECU



As promised Adem Ergen has posted a video of him starting up his M54B30 using a re-programmed MS43 ECU in a stand alone E30 shell, proving that it is at least possible to start it..................

http://youtu.be/Kzn-_JtlnIY



I know Tim had problems with his M52Tu after a number of starts, so this is not conclusive, but it is a big step in the right direction.

Quite exciting........!

A quick update to share here a few things I have learnt from the guy on ebay that is offering EWS delete on MS41.0 DME's (single VANOS M52 engines).

Some versions of MS41.0 are what he calls OTP (one time programmable) and these cannot be reprogrammed with the EWS deleted and/or ABS limiter delete fixed. This is what was fitted to my donor car. He also tells me that not all of these DME's had the ABS 'safe mode' limit so other builders who transplanted their EWS and key may not have experienced any issue with the missing ABS signal. I can run my engine with the ABS disconnected without any effect on the max. rpm.
I sourced another MS41.0 DME that can be re-programmed and he has confirmed that the one I bought does have the ABS signal requirement.
This DME is currently with him for a EWS delete and ABS signal fix.
I plan to test this in my car before I remove the engine so that I am sure it will run when re-installed in the Sabre.

The 'proof of the pudding' will be to run the car without the EWS module installed or the ABS connected.

Running My M54 : Looking Good

Just a quick follow up:

Tim Brierley and I went down to see Ergen Motorsport to see the M54B30 running on a standard MS43 ECU, but modified to run outside the normal E46 chassis. We had a very useful discussion about what Adem does, how he achieves it, and how he could help with Tim's M52TUB28?

Adem is clearly very knowledgable about BMW ECU programming and wiring, where he has obviously found a niche. He had several very sporty BMWs with engine transplants in his workshop, and clearly knew what he was doing.

As agreed, he had modified my M54 wiring loom and ECU, to make it literally 'plug and play' in my Cabrio. Interestingly he had retained the EWS for added security, removing only the CAN bus requirement to communicate with items such as instrument binnacle, ABS and a few other items that do not appear in my Cabrio: everything else remains totally standard.


This is the business end:

With modified MS43 ECU (to run the M54 without CAN bus, instrument binacle, ABS and various other items not on my Marlin chassis), but includes syncronised EWS, Key/Antenna, Drive by wire throttle and X20 connection to match my existing M50 X20 connector.




The X20 connector grafted onto the M54 wiring loom to make it Plug and Play.

The top part of the loom is standard with all the necessary connections to the engine sensors etc.



The whole loom does not look too bad when laid out like this - the top section all goes to engine connectors - just a case working out which is which! - and the bottom half requires the X20 connection, the BMW key to be close to the Antenna, plus a live and Earth, so even I can manage that!




My plan is to test my M54 engine alongside my Cabrio before installing it, by plugging the new X20 into my Cabrio's socket, then add a few strategic Earths and a mains supply to the starter motor, and divert the fuel hose across from my Cabrio chassis, and should then be able to start the M54 from the ignition in my Cabrio!

It sounds almost too simple to be true, but provided I get my wiring connections right, it should work.

Tim had a good chat with Adem about his M52TU, and it appears that the same wiring loom for mine will provide Tim with a loom which works.
Tim left with arrangements to take his Sportster along to Adem to make a proper assessment.

A very worthwhile day out - quite exciting for both of us

This is going to be the most amazing Marlin Cabrio! The Holy Grail is within reach!

You'll be able to do doughnuts with that amount of power and torque

Good luck with the 'bench' testing.....

Well my Sportster was safely delivered to Adem at Ergen Motorsports today. He has had a look at it, including the rather rough hacking at the wiring by myself and a previous 'expert' and seems very confident he can get it going.

As Mike said, he seems very knowledgeable and I am optimistic that after 5 years being off the road, perhaps next year will see its return, including a paint job.

Tim

Excellent news. Your car deserves a new beginning

Hi Mike,

what do you intend doing about the great big exhaust air pump unit on the M54? I know it's to do with emissions control by pushing exhaust gases back to the intake for a second burn but I've never really looked into how necessary it is as my M50B25 engine doesn't have one for some reason (2001 reg). The M54B30 I've just pulled does have one but it's a big lump of kit to try and find a home for in the sportster/cabrio engine bay.

Do you know if the system can just be removed and blanked off without either the DME getting upset or the emissions failing at MOT?

Hi Ian

I intend to just blank the airway off. Adem at Ergen has dealt with this in the MS43 ECU he has reprogrammed.
Good question about the emission and MOT though - don't know the answer, so I'll chase Adem to see what he knows.

Mike

Quick update:

Adem at Ergen motorsport sent me a video today of him starting my M52 engine. He is a genius.

Yippee

Tim

Good news Tim. Adem certainly seems to know his BMW ECUs.

Excellent news Tim, major milestone reached, well done!

A productive visit down to Adem at Ergen Motorsport today. He has done an excellent job with the engine wiring (it was brilliant to hear the engine running!!) but was rightly concerned about the rest of the loom, which wasn't a great job by myself to start with, and subsequent tinkering and hacking has rendered it impossible to decipher and in a potentially dangerous state.

Given further that my original dash and gauges have deteriorated significantly whilst in 'storage' for the last 5 years, Adem has agreed to source an E36 loom and clocks which he should be able to install, just leaving me with the lights etc to wire up and an original E36 instrument cluster to fit into a new dash.

Although this will mean much extra work and expense, it must be justified in order to ensure a safe and tidy final job.

Tim

Well I collected the Sportster from Adem at the beginning of October. He had done a superb job, exactly as expected.



He left me a bit of wiring to do...


And rebuilding the dash:


(apologies for poor quality pics)

This week I connected up the fuel pumps and (after realising the battery needed charging and the earth connection was loose) it started!! Very satisfying!!

The front wiring is more or less complete (just a rad fan controller to put in) although there is more to do on the rear, as I will have to strip out my previous rear loom and wire up the E30 loom. Then a bit of tidying up and I can start putting the bodywork back on (panels now a nicely painted BMW chilli red colour!).

Tim

Full marks for perseverance!!
It must be great feeling to know that you will finally be on the road after all this time. Well done for not giving up.
cheers,
Peter

Tim,

That's great news. Well done. You must be 'bustin' to get it moving and keep it moving again and again and again and under it's own steam....................

You were part of the inspiration that made me start mine 5 years ago so it's been a long road for you. I hope 2016 sees it on the road for real

Nigel

Well the 'tidying up' took longer than expected, but I now have the dash and scuttle back on.

All working (except I got the side repeaters the wrong way round, oops! Fortunately a simple fix).



All the aluminium panels have been powder coated and look really good. Hoping for some fine weather next week to get the car out of the garage and fit the remaining panels!!

Tim

Hi Tim,
Great to see your progress. I am dwelling behind but hope to have my car back with an exhaust fitted in the next couple of weeks. I am glad to see I am not the only one going for aero screens - they look great. Also, nice work on the wiring for the battery - you have given me an idea!
Cheers
Cammy

Thanks Cammy.

Trying to do several more jobs, including preparing the boot:



Yes, it's warmer to do it in the lounge I intend to mount all the lights and fix the wiring inside, leaving one multi-connector on each side to plug together once the boot is back on.

Unfortunately discovered that I should have put the small side panels in before tightening those ridiculously difficult to get to bolts which hold the scuttle down. Oops.

Also found some excessive play in the steering column so have decided to replace that as well. Just when I thought the jobs list was getting shorter!

Tim

Today I drove the almost-reassembled Sportster for the first time in over 6 years! Admittedly it was only from inside the garage to just outside the garage but I'm counting it!







The only problem I encountered was that when I put the side lights on, the RH indicators came on (without flashing, just continuous). Without the side lights on, all the indicators and hazards worked correctly. Is this an earthing problem??

Hopefully the rear tub and RH exhaust tomorrow!

Cheers
Tim

PS Tip for anyone else rebuilding their Sportster. Doors, then A-panels, then scuttle. Unless you enjoy taking very fiddly nuts off lots of times.

Got there





Had a little worrying moment on a short test drive when the speedo wasn't working, but fortunately turned out to be just a loose connection.

MOT booked for next week.....

Tim

Looks very smart, well done!

Good luck with the MOT.....