So since the topic of date determining EWS or not,how do you find the build date? 413

[LINUS]

5/95 is after 2/95. His ECU has no EWS because it's an uncoded replacement from BMW. Just like your ECU has no EWS because you have a non-EWS AA chip.

I had in this post explained Barry's wrong theory in detail.

[matt]

You and Barry both have it all backwards.

The EWS module senses the chip in the key and signals the ECU that it's OK to let the motor run.

The non-EWS chip means that the ECU doesn't care if it gets that signal or not... the motor starts anyway.

I've had it happen... a motor that has an EWS ECU in an e30 won't run until you swap the chip.

And another thing... EWS is all in the chip. When you put a non-EWS chip in an EWS ECU, you have a non-EWS ECU. The chips don't defeat anything, it's just a section of programming that's missing.

[LINUS]

By the time I made this post I pretty much figured Matt & all the original information was true, not what Barry had told me.

Thanks Matt.

[LINUS]

Sounds like the best thing to do then is for me to edit out all that Barry told me, since it sounds like it's all pretty wrong. It all was new info to me too, but I was trusting that the AA guys knew their stuff.

[matt]

^^^ Ok, so my 'no EWS' chip means that it won't ask for the signal from the key? What is the deal with Barry (I don't know him at all) speaking on behalf of AA telling me the request comes from the car-side of the harness? If he's that wrong, how is it they are still in business?

Well, the guys "behind" AA are Mike and Karl, from what I've heard. I don't know Barry, but he sounds like a typical sales guy who just doesn't know things 100% backwards and forwards. I wouldn't hold it against him. The other problem is that BMW is pretty inconsistent also. Some EWS ECUs don't actually have it. Sometimes they've already been chipped or whatever. I think the GT1 or Modic may be able to realign or remove EWS from ECUS also.

Anyway, it's better to err on the side of caution... if you have a silver label ECU, assume you need a new chip unless you've found out otherwise.

BTW, I have an AA chip in my car, and I'm very happy with their service. AA products are top notch as far as I am concerned.

[dude8383]

God damn...I'm still a bit confused here.

I have a 10/94 ECU and its a silver label. Now you've guys mentioned that some came with EWS and some did not.

HOW do I know if my ECU has EWS? Is there a visual clue, or must I wait and install everything to find out?

Also...I opened up the ECU and here's a pic below the chip in there now:



Is this an authentic Active Autowerk chip?

[94is]

God damn...I'm still a bit confused here.

I have a 10/94 ECU and its a silver label. Now you've guys mentioned that some came with EWS and some did not.

HOW do I know if my ECU has EWS? Is there a visual clue, or must I wait and install everything to find out?

Also...I opened up the ECU and here's a pic below the chip in there now:



Is this an authentic Active Autowerk chip?

10/94 should be a 506 (non ews) dme. The other option is a 413. There are 2 types of 413's. The ones found in 93-94 325's (w/o ews), and those found in 12/94+ M3's.

As far as the chip goes, I couldn't tell you if that is authentic or not.

[matt]

Call AA. That looks nothing like the AA chip I had, but who knows.

Kim... they are still all the same ECU underneath.

[dude8383]

Oh this is a 413 DME.

I'll give em a call, it doesn't look like an AA chip though..looks like some cheap ebay copy.

[94is]

Call AA. That looks nothing like the AA chip I had, but who knows.

Kim... they are still all the same ECU underneath.

Yeah I know. I'm running my 325 ecu with my S50.

[94is]

Btw, here's a pic of an AA chip I recently sold.

[matt]

Yeah, that's what my active chip looks like.

[dude8383]

Haha yeh...cheap ebay copy!

thanks guys