Review of my MarkD chip

[Mystikal]

Dear God, no one gave me the memo that everyone from E3S was in here! In any case, this is a copy of my bfc post. Just wanted to share it here.

Last Tuesday I met up with Mark D'Sylva, of BMW performance chip fame. He just finished a new mapping for the M20B25, and I'm the first to get it.

In short, the throttle response and torque delivery are much improved. There was a HUGE difference in feel as I crept up through the city, I rarely downshifted on the busy highway at all. So far so good.

When I got a clear space, I ran it from about 70-200km/h. Incredible feeling, I was still getting pushed into the seat at the top of 4th.

The idle is *slightly* (I'm talking like 50RPM) higher, and it makes it much smoother. Some of the lumpy idle is gone, and my dash lights don't pulse. Overall, everything throughout the rev band just feels "smoother". Even rev-matching downshifts feels better.

So, to sum it all up, I'm more than satisfied with the chip. It felt like restarting a Windows PC that had been on for a week, everything seemed to wakeup and suddenly respond a lot faster. To boot, my average fuel comsumption at 140km/h on the highway improved by about 2-3mpg. Great stuff.

All of his E30 chips are $179US. He makes them for the M20B27 and M20B25 (173 only there). Ask about other applications though, he is always busy. If it is not listed on the site, just shoot him an email.

http://www.dsylva-tech.ca/

[bmwguru007]

I emailed him a month or two ago about a chip for my 92 325ic (525). He hasn't responded, but maybe since you live close you can find something out about it. It seems like you and others have good things to say about his chips, and the price is right. Hopefully I'll be able to get one, I want a chip! :twisted:

[Mystikal]

That's your ECU number? 525? I'll see, but I think the 173 for my car is the first one he's done for the M20B25.

I'll talk to him about it. BTW guys, we were chatting today for a while, the 173 chip is now officially $189US shipped across Canada/US48.

[chesster6969]

Does the -$20 to the total (according to the site) still apply if I send in my old chip?
Ive got an 89 325i (auto) with a 173 DME. Sent I'm an E-Mail about a week and a half ago. I guess I shouldnt be expecting a response anytime soon.
Hows your idle and gas mileage with that chip? DO you still have a power gap around 2k rpm's? Are there any rough edges that Mark D. hasnt finished straightening out, since you mention you have a newbie chip?
Any other concerns/comments you have with this chip?

[fabianyee]

I have sent a mail to MarkD too after reading about his chip in MaxBimmer forum.

However, still waiting for his reply.
FYI, I have a E30 318i with the newer E36 M42B18 from the E36 318ti...

[Rob]

let us know what you hear, i need a chip for my m42...

[Mystikal]

Does the -$20 to the total (according to the site) still apply if I send in my old chip?
Ive got an 89 325i (auto) with a 173 DME. Sent I'm an E-Mail about a week and a half ago. I guess I shouldnt be expecting a response anytime soon.
Hows your idle and gas mileage with that chip? DO you still have a power gap around 2k rpm's? Are there any rough edges that Mark D. hasnt finished straightening out, since you mention you have a newbie chip?
Any other concerns/comments you have with this chip?

I'm not sure about the $20 refund, you'd have to ask him. He is usually VERY quick with responding, but I seem to have caused an influx of response with my reviews on various boards. Still, a week and a half is quite long. Try him again, and tell him Jason Chang sent you.

My idle is smoother than before. The idle is not as lumpy, and feels much better. My mileage is actually measurably better. Resetting the OBC on the highway, I'm gaining about 2mpg compared to before, at any speed. There is no sort of power gap at all, that's my favourite part of the chip. The power delivery and smoothness is the single most noticeable change.

I should note that although the chip in my car was to be the standard, he wants to upgrade it even more. The story goes that he made 2 main chips for me to test out, and we spent a morning driving around with each chip. With the first one, I felt nothing as a crept through the city, everything felt stock. Once I got to the highway, I ran it up to the redline for a few gears, and the power gains were HUGE up there. Above 5000, there was a wonderful feeling of getting pushed back even further. This was fun, but not something I'd want to live with everyday. Now, the 2nd chip was an experience to remember. As I pulled out of the parking lot, I had to literally laugh out loud at the power. Under any type of throttle the car responded much better than stock. As I launched down the highway, it felt great, smooth, even delivery, and a nice change in time to reach the redzone. This was all well and great, but Mark being the OCD nut he is (lol), he wanted to give me that VTEC-like push with the same midrange I have now. So as we speak, he is brewing yet another configuration, which will have the same mapping as mine and substitute the top end of the first chip. It should be great. It will likely be done, installed, and tested in my car within the next week or so, I will keep you guys updated.

[bmwguru007]

According to the dsylva-tech website, IE is a dealer of his "Ultrachip". I checked out IE's site and they claim to have "Ultrachips" for both the 173 and 525 ecu. If that is in fact true then he must be doing chips for the 525 ecu as well. Still, I can't see buying a chip from IE not knowing what map it has. There was also another dealer in Highland Park, IL which is 20 minutes from my house. Maybe when I go home for Christmas break I'll go there and see what they can tell me. But that won't be for another 2 weeks so if anyone finds something out earlier, I'm sure quite a few people would be interested to hear.

[Digitalwave]

I should note that although the chip in my car was to be the standard, he wants to upgrade it even more. The story goes that he made 2 main chips for me to test out, and we spent a morning driving around with each chip. With the first one, I felt nothing as a crept through the city, everything felt stock. Once I got to the highway, I ran it up to the redline for a few gears, and the power gains were HUGE up there. Above 5000, there was a wonderful feeling of getting pushed back even further. This was fun, but not something I'd want to live with everyday. Now, the 2nd chip was an experience to remember. As I pulled out of the parking lot, I had to literally laugh out loud at the power. Under any type of throttle the car responded much better than stock. As I launched down the highway, it felt great, smooth, even delivery, and a nice change in time to reach the redzone. This was all well and great, but Mark being the OCD nut he is (lol), he wanted to give me that VTEC-like push with the same midrange I have now. So as we speak, he is brewing yet another configuration, which will have the same mapping as mine and substitute the top end of the first chip. It should be great. It will likely be done, installed, and tested in my car within the next week or so, I will keep you guys updated.

Interesting....

[natorious]

any updates on this? the third gen chip specifically

[Mystikal]

He has since updated the one I reviewed, but they are mostly minor changes. Let's call that one a V2.1. The holidays have pushed back our progress on the next big change, but I'll definately keep the board updated.

[Rob]

let us know what you hear, i need a chip for my m42...

:P

[Mystikal]

Heh, alright Rob, I'll bug him a bit next time he calls. :D

[randomtask37]

ok so heres the question everyone has been wondering...

Jim C. v D'Sylva

who is the champion???

[Mystikal]

The only review I have ever seen, back to back, was with an E28 ETA. He had the Dinan, JC, and MarkD all on him, and did a full review a while back. Overall, the Dinan was just terrible, the JC a huge step up from there, and the MarkD a noticeable improvement over the JC. Do a search on Bimmerforums, that's where I found it. It was that review that pushed me to get in touch with Mark.

I just wish I could find someone with a 173 JC chip in Toronto, no one seems to have one.