Modded eta engine with JimC chip?

[Jand3rson]

One of the most effective ways to get a significant boost in power with an eta engine is to put a JimC chip in. Since I planned to do this, should I buy an eta, I have a question.

I plan to install dual valve springs in the head (already have them), and once again use an i intake manifold and throttle body, as well as port-match the intake openings of the eta head to match those of the i intake manifold, as well as a few other undecided mods to the motor itself.

My question is this. Since the chip essentially delivers more fuel and a higher redline, would it still be possible to use the standard JimC eta chip with such a modified top end? The dual valve springs as well as the increased air flow from the i intake parts will create a decent hp gain, so would the chip just increase the effectiveness of these mods even more?

(PS: I hate that I have to do this, but can everyone please refrain from the usual "why modify an eta, why do you want an eta" comments and flaming. I started this thread strictly for info, and am well aware of the community's general idea of etas.)

[Erick]

Re: Modded eta engine with JimC chip?

One of the most effective ways to get a significant boost in power with an eta engine is to put a JimC chip in. Since I planned to do this, should I buy an eta, I have a question.

Right there you answered your own question: SHOULD you buy an eta. Smart decision would be not to.

I plan to install dual valve springs in the head (already have them), and once again use an i intake manifold and throttle body, as well as port-match the intake openings of the eta head to match those of the i intake manifold, as well as a few other undecided mods to the motor itself.

You're better off putting an M20B25 engine instead of going through all that hassle

My question is this. Since the chip essentially delivers more fuel and a higher redline, would it still be possible to use the standard JimC eta chip with such a modified top end? The dual valve springs as well as the increased air flow from the i intake parts will create a decent hp gain, so would the chip just increase the effectiveness of these mods even more?

No chip is designed specifically for your car, unless you do it at a dyno. These chips will get a good amount of performance calculating it is a stock car. Adding more mods to confuse the ECU wont help it at all. Most of the mods you are listing anyways are purely psychological gain.

(PS: I hate that I have to do this, but can everyone please refrain from the usual "why modify an eta, why do you want an eta" comments and flaming. I started this thread strictly for info, and am well aware of the community's general idea of etas.)

Why post it then?

[Jand3rson]

Most of the mods you are listing anyways are purely psychological gain.

Actually, they aren't. A large increase in airflow is going to be anything but psychological. The i intake manifold and throttle body on my last car created a significant power difference, even noticed by Jordan while driving the car. The dual valve springs will also allow me to safely raise the redline without compromising valve float.

You're better off putting an M20B25 engine instead of going through all that hassle.

My eventual plan is to stroke the engine to a 2.8, so putting an M20B25 in would be an even bigger hassle. While I get all the parts and funds together for a succesful build, I thought it might be fun to see how much power I could get out of the eta motor, for very little money, since I already have the valve springs, and can get the intake manifold and throttle body very cheap.

Right there you answered your own question: SHOULD you buy an eta. Smart decision would be not to.

The biggest reason I intend to is because I found damn near the exact E30 I want, a schwarz 86 325eS, enthusiast owned and maintained, with several goodies, and perfect body and interior for a price I can't pass up.

[Brew]

The biggest reason I intend to is because I found damn near the exact E30 I want, a schwarz 86 325eS, enthusiast owned and maintained, with several goodies, and perfect body and interior for a price I can't pass up.

Sounds like a perfect M50 swap candidate to me.

[Jand3rson]

The biggest reason I intend to is because I found damn near the exact E30 I want, a schwarz 86 325eS, enthusiast owned and maintained, with several goodies, and perfect body and interior for a price I can't pass up.

Sounds like a perfect M50 swap candidate to me.

Who knows, maybe later it could be. Anything is possible.

[bmwannabe]

Go for it man, i miss my eta, i dont give a fuck what people on here say. Itll work out for you man.

Edit* I think your go-to man would be none other than Fred Kim. The man has a 2.8 eta, and hes had it for a while.

[bkelsey86]

the chip would be better then the stock thing but it would nto necesarily be programed for the increase in airflow. The best route would be to do standaloen managment or soem sort of piggyback system to tuen it for all that stuff. That all depends on how much you want to spend of course. I'd just make the head out to 323i spec or find a 323i big port head and make a cheap sweet ass stroker motor that is a good performer.. The eta isn't as shitty as everyone makes it out to be but the way people act about 325i's would make you assume they are so easy to find, in nice condition, and the way you want em that they must come in cracker jack boxes or something.

[Digitalwave]

Go for it man, i miss my eta, i dont give a fuck what people on here say. Itll work out for you man.

Edit* I think your go-to man would be none other than Fred Kim. The man has a 2.8 eta, and hes had it for a while.

And Fred hates that eta....

Best thing to do would either call BMP and have them custom burn you a chip if you want to be cheap, or get on a dyno and have a custom chip burned by a shop thats actually tuning your car. Thats the best way to get the most gains out of those mods. I think Active Autowerkes will do custom chips as well.

I don't think realisitically that Josh would do a piggyback or standalone computer.

[Fred]

Wow, there is a lot of misinformation in this thread.

Josh, there are no adverse affects of using the 325i manifold, throttle body, and valve springs on a chipped eta except that the 5200 RPM redline is slightly low since you can rev higher. Is it a big deal? Not really, especially if you're using the 325e cam.

rwdrift, there was absolutely nothing useful in your post. Adding those kinds of modifications doesn't "confuse" the ECU any more than adding an intake and an exhaust on a stock Motronic ECU. No chip is 100% perfect for the mods that people have on their cars, that's what custom engine management is for. But for this scenario, it's not worth the time, money, and gains to install an SMT6 or TEC3 . And drilling holes in your airbox is a psychological-gain modification, the mods Josh listed are not.

For what it is, the 325e is a good car. It's obviously not as fast or rev happy as an "i", but it wasn't meant to be and people shouldn't look down upon it because of that fact. I have an '04 E55 AMG at work that does 0-60 in 4 seconds flat. Does that make your 325i a piece of shit? Obviously not. The fun thing about etas is that they are cheap, reliable, easy to work on, and can get a lot of gains with relatively small amount of mods. And isn't that what we're all after?

Oh, and for the record, the only two eta-specific parts I have on my car are the airbox and connecting rods. It's pretty much a 325i at this point.

[Jand3rson]

Thank you, Fred. You answered my question perfectly.

[Erick]

rwdrift, there was absolutely nothing useful in your post. Adding those kinds of modifications doesn't "confuse" the ECU any more than adding an intake and an exhaust on a stock Motronic ECU. No chip is 100% perfect for the mods that people have on their cars, that's what custom engine management is for. But for this scenario, it's not worth the time, money, and gains to install an SMT6 or TEC3 . And drilling holes in your airbox is a psychological-gain modification, the mods Josh listed are not.

Maybe I cant express myself right, but half of what I said is exatcly what you just did.

The other half, I wont argue with you.... you know a lot more than I do.

[Jand3rson]

If and when I end up building the 2.8, I will indeed use a standalone management system. But until then, the configuration I've described should prodruce some interesting results.

[hotghias]

mark d makes a chip for an eta with "i" valvesprings, cam, intake mani & TB, and exhaust, that raises the rev limit to 6500 or so. talk to him about it. i may go that route with my eta, and if i do, i'll post the results, but it could be a (long) while.

also, the user c///m (i think that's his username) on bimmerforums has done the above mods. track him down and ask him about it. look at the link in his sig to his website.

[Jand3rson]

mark d makes a chip for an eta with "i" valvesprings, cam, intake mani & TB, and exhaust, that raises the rev limit to 6500 or so. talk to him about it. i may go that route with my eta, and if i do, i'll post the results, but it could be a (long) while.

Really...

Well shit, I just might have to talk to this man.

C ///M is a meber here too, I talk to him all the time.

[C ///M]

mark d makes a chip for an eta with "i" valvesprings, cam, intake mani & TB, and exhaust, that raises the rev limit to 6500 or so. talk to him about it. i may go that route with my eta, and if i do, i'll post the results, but it could be a (long) while.

Really...

Well shit, I just might have to talk to this man.

Sorry, a little late to the thread, but that is exactly what I recommend. I actually was goin to do it, and have all the parts except for the chip and cam, but the 3.2 arrived much faster than i anticipated. I even contacted MarkD a while ago for one of his chips, but didn't buy one since the engine swap was getting close and it would have been a waste of money.

The last guy i talked to a while ago that had the following parts: 'i' intake manifold and throttle body, dual valve springs, 'i' cam with additional oil journals drilled, head port matched to intake manifold, m30 afm, complete 'i' exhaust, and custom chip had almost 150hp to the WHEELS. Depending on what percentage of driveline loss you assume, it comes out to about 180hp crank. Combine that with a 3.73 rear end and you have one hell of an eta.