Need a tune, where is good in Sydney?

Touge Hack · #1 (**permalink**) 05-07-2008, 04:04 AM

Hi guys,

I need a decent tune for my 1983 E30 323i in Sydney. It is running absurdly rich at the moment and getting about 220kms to a 55L tank...

I'm thinking that it probably needs an ECU remap as the engine has had a fair bit of work done to it...are E30 ECUs remappable or not?

Lastly, which is the best workshop for a tune in Sydney? Price, experiences, recommendations would all be good!

Cheers,
Pete

DCR62 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-07-2008, 04:08 AM

Bavariacars will sort your issues for you. What do you consider a fair bit of work done to it?

www.bavariacars.com.au

DVS318 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-07-2008, 04:41 PM

Jems at Moorebank, Micks performance at Bankstown.

digger · #4 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 03:59 AM

Contact ALS (Andrew) he will sort you out he does custom motronic chips (very few have the facilities) etc and may have something for the L-jet ECU.

BMR_PWR · #5 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 05:31 AM

i had the same problem with my car it was running really rich with with black smoke outa the exhaust and i was only getting bout 180kms to a tank lol. so i took it in and got it checked out they just said it looks like some1 had fiddled with the airflow meter control/air fuel ratio :S not really sure but it was something along those lines. They just reset it back to the factory setting and the black smoke stopped (unless u were at 5000+ RPM lol) and i started getting about 350klm to a tank. hope this helps, Brad

DCR62 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digger

Contact ALS (Andrew) he will sort you out he does custom motronic chips (very few have the facilities) etc and may have something for the L-jet ECU.

I think very few people have the facilities because no-one believes that they actually work. I always like to ask whether or not they offer a 100% money back offer if the car doesnt reach their claimed figures after they have chipped it. They always become a bit sheepish then. Seriously, chips are near on useless for anything other than a factory turbo car.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

digger · #7 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCR62

I think very few people have the facilities because no-one believes that they actually work. I always like to ask whether or not they offer a 100% money back offer if the car doesnt reach their claimed figures after they have chipped it. They always become a bit sheepish then. Seriously, chips are near on useless for anything other than a factory turbo car.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Off the shelf chips are hit and miss but custom ones like he does is definately better and can be worthwhile especially when you've deviated from standard setup.

BMWBOY · #8 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCR62

I think very few people have the facilities because no-one believes that they actually work. I always like to ask whether or not they offer a 100% money back offer if the car doesnt reach their claimed figures after they have chipped it. They always become a bit sheepish then. Seriously, chips are near on useless for anything other than a factory turbo car.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

x 2

The only chips worth anything are the ones you eat. Unless you are running F/I.

Etez · #9 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 01:18 AM

So those are just two opinions on software chips. Anyone actually have hard date to back up their opinions?

1q2w3e4r · #10 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Etez

So those are just two opinions on software chips. Anyone actually have hard date to back up their opinions?

Yes.

They are rubbish on a Euro if you don't have FI or a large capacity V8. It's been discussed by people numerous times, although maybe not on this forum. They don't actually run the car on a dyno and do before and after figures. And I doubt they keep a stock map of the DME to reflash or replace the chip with.

The "chips" for E46 M3's as a case in point available locally do nothing more than adjust the DBW input so the car feels faster. It's too highly strung in stock form to get major gains out of. It'd be a waste of $1200 or whatever they cost. On an E55, 996/7 TT or M5 etc it'd be a totally different kettle of fish.

DCR62 · #11 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Etez

So those are just two opinions on software chips. Anyone actually have hard date to back up their opinions?

Do a search under 'Chip' on this on any other forum. Enough evidence out there, from people who have actually used/tried and tried again, to prove them a waste of money. You'll even find a couple of posts you posted about there uselessness.

IanS tried one in his 328i and this is taken form another forum....

Quote:

Their website originally claimed 16kW for a BMW 328i. I got it installed in my car and lost 5 kW. I wouldn't call that good.

......and that is from a well known Australian Chip Manufacturer. He used the same dyno and it was one day apart. I emailed the same company about one for the M5 and they offered some ridiculous increase but would not guarantee me the increase with a 100% money back refund.

Its funny how not one company will offer a 100% money back guarantee of there claimed power increases if they don't occur. Ask ALS for the same refund and see what there answer is.

digger · #12 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 06:09 AM

the OP is not after an off the shelf chip which most of you are discussing, i've seen good and bad on this front. He is after a customised tune (though it sounds like there are more than tuning problems likely a dodgy FPR) and if he wants to retain the factory ECU his choices are limited given there are no off the shelf chips available for l-jetronic and the market for tuning the said ECU is small.

Ironhead · #13 (**permalink**) 05-18-2008, 08:05 AM

I have a chip in the 325 from Enhanced Automotive Technology. I am not as savvy tech wise as you guys but I did notice a nice difference in the cars performance, there's no way Id put the stock one back in.

babbo · #14 (**permalink**) 06-06-2008, 12:56 AM

Late model cars don't make power from a remap as the factory systems are sophisticated enough to allow the tune to be as close to the limits as possible. With resistor style spark plugs very precise knock detection is achieved to take into account for an aggressive tune and/or poor quality fuels. That with proper coding to suit makes the current day (euro) cars quite hard to kill!

Something earlier (e30, e36 and early e46's) can all make a notable gain from a good tune locally. Aside from the engine tune (ign timing and fueling) there are also many things controlled by the factory DME's that some find annoying (such as the aggressive fly-by-wire configuration in some late model e46 units) which we can re-calibrate to suit.

For what its worth, the few people locally who have the gear and knowledge to tune the older cars that still run factory ecu's are few and far between. Also, how do you properly tune a car without having a dyno?

As for your L-Jet car, it runs a very simple fueler only computer not really worth playing with but give us a call (9680 0773) on Tues morning and we can discuss your options.

Have a nice long weekend!

babbo · #15 (**permalink**) 06-06-2008, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCR62

I think very few people have the facilities because no-one believes that they actually work. I always like to ask whether or not they offer a 100% money back offer if the car doesnt reach their claimed figures after they have chipped it. They always become a bit sheepish then. Seriously, chips are near on useless for anything other than a factory turbo car.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Will your tuner of choice settle the bill for your toasted modified s14 if it all goes wrong?