3-Series (E36)Chat relating to the BMW 3-Series from 1992-1999. Autodoodad
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hey guys, i just need something cleared up for me. i have alot of honda friends and all i ever hear them talking about it ecu's stuff, you know, performance computers. well what i'm wondering is............would it help my 95 325is any if i upgrade my ecu? or can you even upgrade? i read once where a guy put an m3 ecu in his ride but not sure if it helped or anything, and if you can upgrade them on e36's then what are some good ones to look into? thanx!
Yes, bavauto, turnermotorsport, Active Autowerkes, and several other BMW outfitters offer aftermarket software upgrades for your car. Keep in mind it won't transform your car, it'll just maximize what your currently running.
Expect 10-15hp incrcease and roughly the same for tq.
Well... since your using a 95 obd 1 ecu any ways... there are complete programs you can run... its often called main stand alone engine managment... this software enables you to tweek and run off the ecu more programs... and software to let her be changed... obd 2 software cannot do this due to many restrictions with the exhaust and what not.. thats why there are ecu changes between obd 2 back to an obd1... for a great ability to tune fuel curves... fuel managment... ect ect... With your existing obd 1 ecu you can install a hard chip... which is different from the obd 2 systems in the place of an actual chip.. our 96 and later cars require a flash program to work through the diagnotic port in those cars... since there is no provision allowed for a "hard" chip to be placed in a obd 2 system. So... this leaves you with a few options... go all out and run stand alone engine managment through the ecu with hooked up diagnostics through a separate computer... which with many stock systems.. mainly fuel, air and exhaust... wont gather you much hp or tq... but with a hard chip from one of the above places.. you'll be fine..
I have Dinan Chip.... i am very satisfied!!!
its amazing!
go with the Dinan if u have the money, its a lil more than most of the other options, but it outperforms...
you can always count on dinan for the best stuff.... (also the highest prices!)
ok........ ..........i'm confused........so i CAN upgrade the ecu by using the "main stand alone engine managment" thing OR i can just get a conforti chip? Basically the chip does everything that the computer stuff would do too? or can you do both at the same time or would they conflict with one another?
A stand alone computer system costs thousands... its what competitive race cars use to tune their engines and systems to the T for they want out of the engine...
A chip... in your case a 'hard' chip from Conforti or Dinan.. or who ever you like... is what you want... you buy it... open it up.. and install.. easy as pie... nothing more.. nothing less...
No a chip will not do what a stand a lone engine managment system will do... you can not change options with chips.. unless you get a custom chip from a tuner... though a few hours on a dyno... ect ect.. AA does stuff like that... and a few other places... but a chip off the internet from one of these places.. ( I prefer Conforti.. and wont ever buy anything from Dinan... not worth the money IMO) will do you just fine...
in almost all comparisons n tests.... the dinan chip is better for the track, and the conforti chip is better for hte street. so if your doing races forinstant a quatermile, the dinan is better.
do some research...
i know many members have been choosing conforti, but if u know someone who has it, drive both, ull feel a diffence, and see which one you are more comfortable with.
i know what you are saying, but just look at the performance gains! Conforti's gains are much greater than Dinan. Everyone knows Dinan is top knotch quality and excellent performance, but the figures show the difference and conforti seems to have larger figures. Anyways, even this guys switched from dinan to conforti.......
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..........i'm confused........so i CAN upgrade the ecu by using the "main stand alone engine managment" thing OR i can just get a conforti chip? Basically the chip does everything that the computer stuff would do too? or can you do both at the same time or would they conflict with one another? 
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