Retro-fit 318i for Dinan chip?

[evan161]

I've got a '95 318ic. Recently I got a great deal on an aftermarket Dinan chip for a '94 318i. Unfortunately, my car has the security chip implanted in the ignition key. With the new chip, the fuel injection refuses to fire since it's not getting the key code. Motor turns over, no gas.

Can you replace the fuel injection control unit with a older one in order to bypass the security feature? Anybody know how to dodge the security lock-out?

Thanks.

[El Presidente]

Did you check to make sure the ECU numbers matched? Its more than likely you did not put the propper chip in your car.

[Andrewsd1985]

You'd be better off buying the correct chip after you get around the problem, if that even is the problem.

[evan161]

The ECU numbers match. And I double-checked it on Dinan's own Web site. That's why I risked buying it knowing I'd probably run into problems -- $50 instead of $250 seemed like a resonable gamble.

Someone told me the chip might be reprogrammable to insert the VIN code it's wanting.Apparently, race cars have to have them reprogrammed all the time.

Thoughts, experience?

[Autotechnica]

I didn't even know E36's had chips in the keys. Anyways, does Dinan even make a chip that bypasses the chip in the key? On their website, they only have 3 different DME's for the ECU. If you have the right DME it should work. I think maybe the problem doesn't lie in the Dinan chip, but somewhere else.

Bry

[evan161]

Dinan says I have to send the entire DME to them to be reprogrammed. I didn't want to do that because I'd be without a driveable car while they upgraded it. I bought the chip off eBay. It's probably a counterfeit.

[Autotechnica]

Originally posted by evan161@Apr 6 2004, 07:15 PM
Dinan says I have to send the entire DME to them to be reprogrammed. I didn't want to do that because I'd be without a driveable car while they upgraded it. I bought the chip off eBay. It's probably a counterfeit.

Are you sure when they require you to send in the entire computer for reprogramming that they are referring to the key's chip?

From what I understand the repogramming is either because the car is an OBDII (not in your case obviously) or because many of the OBDI 318's (92-95) had the entire chip soldered onto the board with no socket (the IC chip was not removable). I asked Dinan about this before and they said they would not provide warranty if you decided to have someone solder the chip and/or socket onto the board. So they required you to send it in for them to do the soldering and install so warranty would not be voided.

I had my stock chip removed by removing the solder. I had another socket soldered back into it's place just incase I wanted to swap chips in the future. I then popped in my Dinan chip with no problems.

What's your DME? I'll try to find out more for you.

Bryan

[evan161]

That's interesting. My chip isn't soldered in place. I was able to switch them with no problem. But everywhere I check, I find problems or confusing answers regarding a chip for a 318 with my production date (8/95).

I'm sure the 6-cylinders have a similar security feature, but there are plenty of chips out there and nobody seems to have the problem I have.

My DME is the one that ends in the numbers 357. Thanks for checking around

-- Mike

[Autotechnica]

Originally posted by evan161@Apr 7 2004, 06:16 PM
That's interesting. My chip isn't soldered in place. I was able to switch them with no problem. But everywhere I check, I find problems or confusing answers regarding a chip for a 318 with my production date (8/95).

I'm sure the 6-cylinders have a similar security feature, but there are plenty of chips out there and nobody seems to have the problem I have.

My DME is the one that ends in the numbers 357. Thanks for checking around

-- Mike

Here are the 318 DME's all '92-'95

0 261 200 990 (both my '92 and '94 318 had this DME, no key chip)
0 261 203 282
0 261 203 357

I've asked my friend who is a Dinan dealer and according to him there is no "special" chip that they sell which deals with the key chip. Infact, I wasn't even aware that any E36's had key chips. Even my friend's '98 M3 does not have a key chip. He said he has sold chips for each one of thoes DME's and no one has ever had the problem that you have. Could this possibly be only on the convertable models?

Sorry I can't help,

Bryan

[evan161]

Thanks for checking. Maybe that isn't the problem.

The site I bought the chip from said it was for the 1994 model. I see a lot of sites drawing a line right at that 12/94 production date. I was hoping since the ECU numbers matched, it would work on my 1995.

My cabrio does have the chip in the key. For some reason, my spare key has gone bad and won't start the car. Someone told me it'll cost $100 or more for another key. I was hoping I could switch out the fuel injection and gain more performance from a chip and get to use my spare key as well.