» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 05-02-2024 08:18 PM 6 Replies, 401,259 Views | | | | | | 08-06-2009, 03:25 AM | #1 | Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 68 | Tuning Chip?...I need Feedback I Have been seeing different tuning chips and what not on the internet for the ti's. Some of them seem pretty crappy but others seem alright, I don't want to spend 200 bucks on tuning chip but I see these chips that people that get the tuning chips off ebay and from reading their feedback they seem legit. Basically, I'm wandering what people think about ebay tuning chips for a little extra power? Let me know your thoughts. | | | 08-06-2009, 05:14 AM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Charlotte / Thomasville NC Posts: 240 | No experience with M42 chips but I've seen the cheap Ebay chips work well on M50 applications. Usually they're cheap enough to try one and if you don't like it. pull it out. | | | 08-06-2009, 05:19 AM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: asdfasdf Posts: 10,002 | I wouldn't, save your money for a reputable company also, I don't know what year your car is but if it's a 96 or newer you can't just stick a chip in it, you have to have it reprogrammed | | | 08-06-2009, 11:39 PM | #4 | Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 68 | Quote: Usually they're cheap enough to try one and if you don't like it. pull it out. | Thats what I was thinking, but can these cheap ones do anything to mess up the computer system? Yeah Mine is a 96 ti. But thats fine I was jut wondering if anyone had got a cheap one to see what or if it does anything to give the car a little more power. | | | 08-07-2009, 05:28 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Charlotte / Thomasville NC Posts: 240 | Quote: Originally Posted by tbake504 Thats what I was thinking, but can these cheap ones do anything to mess up the computer system? Yeah Mine is a 96 ti. But thats fine I was jut wondering if anyone had got a cheap one to see what or if it does anything to give the car a little more power. | I wouldn't think the chip itself could fubar anything; however, installation most defiantly could. | | | 08-07-2009, 10:12 AM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: LA, Bellflower, CA Posts: 3,613 | i wouldnt try the ebay software or chips. i've read that it only makes the ECU think its running constantly on cold air. would make your car run lean. that's what i've read before. __________________ -Theta Chi- Float like a cadilac, sting like a BIMMER .... my socket is just too thick and won't fit in the hole! damnit! Marv's 332ti is in the werks. Stay tuned ya'll ... Check list: S52 swap, manual transmission swap, 3.25 LSD with M Coupe diff cover, SuperSprint muffler, M3 style mirrors, AFE intake, ASC delete, M50 Manifold swap, UUC strut bar, ZHP lighted knob, Vaders, M-tech interior, OEM armrest, AC Schintzer front lip, AC Schnitzer rear spoiler, Roof spoiler, 18'' rims, M3 front drilled brakes, LED interior lights, 3 spoke Euro style steering wheel, OEM roof spoiler and bike holder, Thule fairing, Euro tail lights, oil pressure guage, carbon fiber hood painted to original paint (still showing CF weaving), what's next to do...? | | | 08-07-2009, 02:06 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Raleigh/Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,233 | Quote: Originally Posted by Marv17 i wouldnt try the ebay software or chips. i've read that it only makes the ECU think its running constantly on cold air. would make your car run lean. that's what i've read before. | no thats a resistor mod. I would recommend ebay chips. They are just dinan copies, if you are really paranoid, just do a dyno run after you install it to make sure your A/F ratios are all OK and your motor is happy. __________________ -Jeff | | | 08-07-2009, 04:47 PM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gulfport, Florida Posts: 3,208 | If his car is a 1996 he is OBDII right? If OBDII then it would only be a resister mod which is not favorable in my book. You want some power save $2,000 and come to Florida for a turbo install Yoda is still in the lead | | | 08-07-2009, 07:28 PM | #9 | Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 68 | Quote: I wouldn't think the chip itself could fubar anything; however, installation most defiantly could. | Most of the ebay chips I have seen just plug in and all you have to do is turn a nob for it to be stock or modded. which seems pretty harmless. Thanks for all the feedback its giving me good ideas about what to do, keep em coming if you got them. Quote: You want some power save $2,000 and come to Florida for a turbo install | And I would like to do that but the car is on its way to become a track with an s52 soon to be dropped in. | | | 08-07-2009, 07:42 PM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 2,525 | Again, for your car, the plug in type of "upgrades" are simply resistors that trick the ECU into running a little bit richer. You might feel a little more pep on your butt dyno, but over time it will damage the car. The only type of upgrades you should be looking at are ECU reflashes. You'll have to remove the ECU and send it off, or go to a dinan dealer and have them do the flash for you. | | | 08-07-2009, 08:18 PM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 678 | 2 notable options Technique Dinan Both increase rev limiter and drop the governor. __________________ BostonGreen 97' w/ DASC & Technique Stage 1 software M3 front bumper. BavAuto Springs. Bilstein Sport Shocks. Xbrace. BA Short Shifter. Angel Eyes Headlights, doubled brake lights 225/50/16's Yokohama Advan S4's Panasonic 70Wx4 CD/MP3 player + 4x Alpine 6x9's rear | | | 08-07-2009, 08:59 PM | #12 | Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 68 | Alright cool thanks guys, I guess you can really only get the good stuff with spending some money. I'll wait see how long it will be before the s52 is dropped in there and see if I want to spend the money on it. Thanks again for yall's help. | | | 08-09-2009, 06:50 AM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Long Beach, SoCal Posts: 373 | Quote: Originally Posted by tbake504 I Have been seeing different tuning chips and what not on the internet for the ti's. Some of them seem pretty crappy but others seem alright, I don't want to spend 200 bucks on tuning chip but I see these chips that people that get the tuning chips off ebay and from reading their feedback they seem legit. Basically, I'm wandering what people think about ebay tuning chips for a little extra power? Let me know your thoughts. | Im not too sure on the quality of chips that are seen on ebay. But with this sort of mod, I would agree that you get what you pay for. And these prob. wouldnt be a good idea to mess with when it comes to your ECM. If you have an OBDII....the electrical complications can drive you up the wall. If something goes wrong. I would def. have a professional or an experienced individual install this type of performance mod. and tune the system to have any type of significant difference. And BTW, my motor is chipped with a Dinan chip and I love it! I can take it all the way up past 7 with full power at every gear! If def makes a very noticable difference in performance in my opinion. I'll prob. get a tomato thrown at my dome, but I've heard it can increase HP by as much as 20. I would say get one, but get one that has a trusted name. Or just have Johnboy drop a turbo in. good luck! __________________ 1998'SportR.I.P. 1995 Sport AlpineIII | | | 08-10-2009, 04:25 AM | #14 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: asdfasdf Posts: 10,002 | Quote: Originally Posted by Mr. Crow I'll prob. get a tomato thrown at my dome, but I've heard it can increase HP by as much as 20. | I'd say that's possible, from what I've heard the 318s didn't get a very performance-oriented tune from the factory | | | 08-10-2009, 09:54 PM | #15 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gulfport, Florida Posts: 3,208 | There are performance gains to be had by flashing a OBDII DME. Dinan is good, Mark D is good, there are others too. The factory needs to tune for emmissions and mass production (Same firmware code) that can be tweaked for more spark advance and trim the fuel curve to make the engine run better then flashed back on the DME. I would think 15-20hp is possible or even more if you degree the cams correctly which are degreed for a smooth idle not all out performance... Smith | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |