MadaboutKitcars

Has anyone had their E30 or E36 chipped to get more power out of the engine ?
When you first try the car out you are pleased with its performance, but it does not take long to get used to it and was wondering if it is a viable option.

I have a zone chip programmed by Ant @ A-Tech http://www.fastbimmer.co.uk/ - a pre-programmed chip is always a compromise, but the cost is low. I now use a 2.8 map from Ant.

With E36 ECU's you don't chip them, you flash them (bit like the BIOS on your computer). You just stick an alternative map into the ECU.

In both cases the best solution is a live map were the car is placed on a rolling road and the mapping is done specifically for your own engine. Saw excellent results on Richard M52B28 in his Compact (http://328compact.co.uk/)

I got a 'chipped' ECU for my 2 litre M20.
It made a small improvement but not very noticeable, which is why I'm (slowly) building a 2.8 conversion similar to Patrick's engine.(Progress has ground to a halt due to too many other things going on at the mo.)
It's an easy upgrade and doesn't cost too much, but don't expect much difference

Patrick and Peter. thanks for your input. I think I will go for this later on after I have solved a a problem somewhere on the rear nearside wheel ( a grinding type noise ) only heard when doing very low speed, 2/3mph.

that noise might be a stone caught between your brake disk and the splash plate, I get those sometimes

Interesting Patrick and thanks, I had it jacked up on friday and turning the wheel round did not produce the noise, it felt and sounded very normal, so I think I will have to remove the disc to see if a stone has got lodged behind it.
But your idea sounds very possible.

Thank you Patrick, a tiny stone it was, shiny and worn on one side and rough on the other.

glad you got it sorted, noises almost always sound worse than they actually are

This could be an interesting upgrade?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130533999120&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123#ht_4119wt_1139

It would certainly be swift with 490 BHP although its not clear what they mean by " with "supporting modifications" fitted."

the stock internals wouldn't take that so supporting mods will be pistons, rods, solid gasket etc.... you'd probably end up spending a lot more to get it to work without blowing up regularly. Still 490 is a hell of a target!

Sure to make you and anyone in the passenger seat poo their pants! It's funny enough with 200 at times