Standalone ecu options M88/3

GazM3 · Post by **GazM3** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 6:16 am

Hey guys.
My 055 ecu has pretty well shat itself.
The ecu doctor in Florida can supply but due to my location it will cost around $600 and I'll still be left with a airflow meter based setup.
I really would like a map based setup giving me freedom to have a larger plenum or open trumpets with sock filters and heat shield.

Discuss.

Pod · Post by **Pod** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:56 am

I'm going to follow this thread with interest

GazM3 · Post by **GazM3** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 10:23 am

Pod wrote:I'm going to follow this thread with interest

So am I LOL

I guess down the track it makes sence as I won't have do do it all again when I add big cams and go bananas with the head.

I've watched too many YouTube videos of the M1 with open trumpets not to get the job done. At least this way it will b 100% reversable. Who wants to totally bastardize a classic. I just want to enhance it.

winfred · Post by **winfred** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 2:13 am

going to get to tuning mine soon, i have the ostrich II for the ECU and the wideband o2 sensor/logger is on the way, been driving it the last week or so on the stock m50tu e34 525 computer, it runs around town pretty decent and idles good, its just not at full power

mauser · Post by **mauser** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 3:18 pm

GazM3 wrote:Hey guys.
My 055 ecu has pretty well shat itself.
The ecu doctor in Florida can supply but due to my location it will cost around $600 and I'll still be left with a airflow meter based setup.
I really would like a map based setup giving me freedom to have a larger plenum or open trumpets with sock filters and heat shield.

Discuss.

How do you know its a whole ecu? Maybe its just a chip?

I wonder if anyone here tried MS in e24? I d really like to hear firsthand experience.

VEMS is supposedly good standalone too.

RossDinan6 · Post by **RossDinan6** » Fri Oct 05, 2012 2:15 am

I've been very happy with the Autronic SM 2 I installed on my turbo M30 5 or 6 years ago. Since they are in Oz the support is likely better than here in the US.

Ross

GazM3 · Post by **GazM3** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 8:03 am

I'm using a link g4 extreme in my e36 but this has dual vanos e85 boost and a few other issues to deal with.

A few others like the autronic also and I've heard nothing bad about them. Also the haltech has been mentioned and is very easy to live tune apparently and it can do both 2 and 3 wire idle control valves and is happy with high impedance injectors.

I don't want a very exPensive setup like the Motec but are unsure about the vems. I Definetly don't want an an intercepter type as it never runs right on BMW engines.

I even though hard about going the miler war chip/maf but the lure of an unrestricted intake is just too much.

duracel79 · Post by **duracel79** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 11:33 am

No sure on availability in Aus but I'm using Emerald on my S54 now, originally had it running an M20 on throttle Bodies.

But in the UK there are other options such as Omex, Vems, DTA.
Prices vary etc but most will require a new engine loom to be made and spliced into the car loom.

the Emerald in mine is running the S54 vanos with full alpha-N with open trumpets.

This pic is before the wiring was finished (see the wires near the fusebox)

Hope this helps

Ben

GazM3 · Post by **GazM3** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 12:10 pm

Hey there.
I've heard a little about the vems.
Do you know more

Btw that looks a great setup. Did it make good power with the open trumpets.

duracel79 · Post by **duracel79** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 12:27 pm

GazM3 wrote:Hey there.
I've heard a little about the vems.
Do you know more

Btw that looks a great setup. Did it make good power with the open trumpets.

I only really know the Emerald system, There is a chap called Gunni on the www.E30zone.net forum who seems to know Vems really well. At least for fitting to an E30 325i (with or without turbo).

As for power with open trumpets. I didn't have any comparison curves to see the differences. I had no original ecu or plenum for the engine so went straight for the trumpets and standalone.

I did get a comparison power run between mine and an E36 MCoupe race car. This had an S50B32 with locked vanos, schrick racing cams, exhaust, ARP bolts, cold intake, remap etc.

The actual figures may seem low (330bhp @ flywheel) but remember not all Rolling Roads are equal and factory figures are not always accurate.

Cheers

Ben

GazM3 · Post by **GazM3** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 8:13 pm

Thank you again. Yes I've heard of gunni as he has also done some work on s50b32 turbo which he used the vems. As I already had my link g4 extreme I isn't pay much attention.

Yes noted about the dyno. We use rwhp here and not a flywheel estimate and even then there are dumps that read high am some that read low.

When I was developing my s50b32 I used the same dyno place for comparison over 4yrs.
Development went like this
Stage1: standard as bought, 218rwhp
Stage2: fresh plugs oil heat shield with k&n reflash, 241rwhp
Stage3: upgraded exhaust replaced rear section , 252rwhp
Stage4: uuc rsc36 exhaust with redesign of middle section incl X pipe merge, 260rwhp
Stage5: schrick 284 cams uuc clutch with LW M5 flywheel 8.5lb, 285rwhp
Stage6: standalone engine management with either open trumpet or carbon plenum - sadly aborted due to engine blow up at racetrack - I'm confident I would have made around 310rwhp

Stage6A: low 8.5:1 comp build with forged internals, twin 044 fuel pumps, Amg c32 twin screw supercharger. Made 380rwhp at 4800 rpm at 14lb boost but aborted due to poor supercharger bracketing at rear. Small aluminium paste was developing in the channels I the intercooler and the blower lobes have bad score marks on the sides. New Amg blower required. Bracketing being sorted as we speak.

Haha unfortunate the GFC has finally caught up with tue building industry and funds are scarce to complete especially since I bought the m635csi. Hope I'll have E36 on road Easter next year.

Not sure what power I'm going I make out of the M88/3 yet. Base line dyno was 222rwhp uncannily near the m3 and the fuel pump was stuffed. I think she will make somewhere between 260-275 rwhp whih will make it fun with a fantastic intake scream at middle to high rpm.

Your car must sound insane also. Any links anywhere for more pics/details of it?

duracel79 · Post by **duracel79** » Wed Oct 10, 2012 11:32 am

My build thread can be found here:

http://www.bmwe21.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=5116

Yes it sounds awesome. Its just the engine and drivetrain are all solid mounted which transmits a lot of noise into the cabin. I'm told it sounds good from the outside though.

Ben

GazM3 · Post by **GazM3** » Wed Oct 10, 2012 7:54 pm

Thanks for sharing Ben. That's 15pages if nice reading.
In the e36 I have solid mounts on diff and gearbox and rubber on the engine. Yes u get gear whine but as I have full interior (with sound deadening removed) the noise is bearable. Not the nicest car for rush hour traffic though.

Hopefully I can get started in a few weeks when the $$$ have been accumilated. Hope to have it on the road in November. I'm going to run some sock filters and I'll need I fab the heat shield as separating the hot engine bay heat away from the intake will make the performance consistent

GazM3 · Post by **GazM3** » Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:21 pm

Looks like I'm going a haltech. I'll have cash to purchase by end of week so let the fun begin.

What color filters should I go red blue or green?

uniflow.com.au/contents/en-us/p5460.html

GazM3 · Post by **GazM3** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:53 pm

Geez. Fortunately "or unfortunately someay say" basically a day or 2 before committing to tue haltech I picked up another 055 ecu. It plugged straight in no problems and the black beast is mobile again.

Thank you to all that contributed. Ill do the standalone one day as I want to get the best out of this engine without going crazy. This has freed up the cash to progress further with my m3 supercharged project.

winfred · Post by **winfred** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 1:39 am

wish we were close to one another so we could try one anothers m88s, my donor car was so rusty i didn't drive it so i don't know what it was like stock, it's humming along nicely on the 413 ecu but i haven't received my replacement wideband o2 sensor yet so tuning has been on hold, i got enough out of it for a ok street tune, this thing likes timing like nothing else i have played with, a degree felt like 30hp, another degree felt like another 30hp, need dyno time

GazM3 wrote:Geez. Fortunately "or unfortunately someay say" basically a day or 2 before committing to tue haltech I picked up another 055 ecu. It plugged straight in no problems and the black beast is mobile again.

Thank you to all that contributed. Ill do the standalone one day as I want to get the best out of this engine without going crazy. This has freed up the cash to progress further with my m3 supercharged project.

GazM3 · Post by **GazM3** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 6:18 am

Nice to see its running good.
These engines are in such a conservative state of tune in factory trim its not funny. The magic starts to happen when the air flap is replaced with a maf or deleted altogether.

I'll do the haltech in the next 12 months

goodm3 · Post by **goodm3** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 3:52 pm

I'll be going Haltech on my M635. Anyone here have one folly operational?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgoodman/s ... 304652518/

bigcoupe.com

Standalone ecu options M88/3

Standalone ecu options M88/3

Re: Standalone ecu options M88/3

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