Coil on plug or DIS setup?

[Conrad311]

So ive been looking around the forums for a while and ive seen a few e30s running a coil on plug setup, just wondering what the donor car was for the parts and how much of a pain in the ass/ wallet friendly is it to convert. or if there were any other forms of DIS setups being used?

Ive been contemplating running a turbo setup, but if i did i would want to run an MSD 6BTM to fine tune my ingintion under boost, im doubting that the stock ignition could handle it, and love the adjustability of a stand alone unit.

In not new to turbos ive built a 3000gt vr-4 and a 240sx with an sr20 but being turbo from the factory i pretty much left the ignition controls alone.

What do you guys think about upgrading the ignition for a m20 turbo application, what has anyone else done?

[E30Nova]

Never seen M20's running coil on plug. It's usually M42's. I could be wrong, though.

Matt

[nando]

you're going to need standalone for that. there are a few COP M20s though, but not that many. most run wasted spark with 3 coils.

[Conrad311]

do you know what they are using for a waste spark/ contoller set-up? I want to go with a programable igniton but im not sure the best way to go about it. I know some guys had to weld an exciter ring to the crank for a signal, is there anyway to use the stock one on the balancer? I know they were running some version of megasquirt that controlled ignition, but i was thinking more along the lines of the MSD box. Ill have to do some research on it but any input from you guys would be appreciated.
thanks

[nando]

megasquirt is common. it's a full engine management, you get fuel control as well. There's way more out there than that, it's just the most common. VEMS, autronic, haltech, etc. etc.

the 60-2 crank wheel on the M20B25 can be used with almost any aftermarket ECU, the guys welding on a crank wheel are usually running M10s

[gforce323i]

COP may be a bit tricky with a turbo set-up due to the space constraints. Here's what I did on an NA M20....coils are from an S52 and their driven in wasted spark mode with megasquirt.

[Mike]

^^^i like that^^^

[1mz]

m20 pron

[SpecM]

holy crap that is...

... words do not express the level that m20 had obtained. Any more info on it?

[Conrad311]

COP may be a bit tricky with a turbo set-up due to the space constraints. Here's what I did on an NA M20....coils are from an S52 and their driven in wasted spark mode with megasquirt.

that is beyond awesome man, what kind of numbers is that putting down?

thanks for the info too, i see what you mean about the space, im thinking of using 3 waste spark coils and custom wires and mega squirt

[E34DIYer]

Old post, but I'm chasing the same thing. I'd like to run six individual coils, driven in wasted spark mode by Megasquirt. Also would like to see any existing setups for a coil bracket on the M20. Somewhere I saw a valve cover-mounted bracket...

[abit]

U can use m50, m52 or m54 etc coils with boots, put them straight on, custom plate, and woalaa ;D

[raudonis]

A lot of local turbo BMW guys run Audi coils. Supposedly they handle extreme heat much better.

[abit]

A lot of local turbo BMW guys run Audi coils. Supposedly they handle extreme heat much better.

thats true, know some turbo m20's with pretty hight boost+ vems, and they use audi v6 coilpacks, something like this. For turbo setup m50 type coils will be no good :)

[IronFreak]

thats true, know some turbo m20's with pretty hight boost+ vems, and they use audi v6 coilpacks, something like this. For turbo setup m50 type coils will be no good :)

I was about to say, with a turbo car, I wouldn't want to screw with a coil on plug, already fighting for room with a manifold/turbo/WG....I wouldn't want to add 6 coils and a bracket.