So why all the Motronic part numbers for the "same" car

[cdsmith_2002]

Does anybody know or have a good link to shed some insight into why cars with the same motor have different Motronic units?

I wonder if a 173 and 153 are interchangable and it's a just an EPA deal from year to year??

[Mystikal]

The 173 has a newer software layout, it's more capable than the 153. Not sure when exactly the change was made, but it seems somewhere in 1987-build cars. The ECUs are interchangable.

[cdsmith_2002]

I bought a used Dinan chip for a 153. I'm a 3 week old E30 Nube and I just assumed that's what my '89 had. I'll check my '87 project car and maybe I can install that, with the chip into the '89.

After buying the chip I found one post that said the Dinan chip was crap. What do you know? The chip was cheap enough and it is not a pirate copy so I thought it was a good deal.

[Mystikal]

It's better than stock, just not nearly as good as the JimC, and especially not the leader, MarkD. Dinan only has programming changes at WOT, so for most of your driving you never notice a difference. The part-throttle changes JC and MarkD make add to the driving experience 24/7.

[rwh11385]

It's better than stock, just not nearly as good as the JimC, and especially not the leader, MarkD. Dinan only has programming changes at WOT, so for most of your driving you never notice a difference. The part-throttle changes JC and MarkD make add to the driving experience 24/7.

Man speaks the truth.

I've had all three. Dinan was the worst, Mark's the best. JC/Mark D chips feel a whole lot "fuller" of an engine......like night and day from stock, while Dinan is just a little bit more at WOT and near the top.

If you can find a JC used, it's a good deal and if you are in Cali, Mark D 91 and JC are probably similar.....but the 93 Octane blows JC's very top end away...... And if we are talking new, Mark has a great deal and would be silly to go for Jim's old stuff, even if he was the man in the day, when this new guy is burning some tight chips and seems to have a similar if not better gift at motronic.

[cdsmith_2002]

This is the info I hope you guys would share! If there is more, fire away.

For $65 (no, it's not an Ebay pirate chip!), I'll settle for the Dinan until I get a few other maintenance items behind me. I don't mind buying the 93 octane if the power is there. I checked out Mark's page. It gets good press here on the forum overall but how about some charts or reasonable claims. I don't doubt the product but I need more info. I sent Mark an email.

[rwh11385]

No, that's a good deal and will do for now. But once you go JC or Mark D, you won't want to go back. Meet up sometime and you can feel what Mark D is about, or check out one of Jay or my videos. The needle racing to redline is clear in either.

And charts or numbers aren't as significant as feel and experience. The numbers might not be earth shaking, but driving the car is clearly different.

[Jordan]

For what its worth I had a Dinan chip (was free) in my old 2.5 M20.

Aside from the increased revlimiter I could feel no difference what so ever.

MarkD provided me with his 93 octane chip to test out after he read about my disappointment with the Dinan chip.

MarkD's chip made a substantial improvement throughout the rev range, and was without a doubt worlds better then the Dinan chip.

I have since given away the Dinan chip.

[rwh11385]

btw, I sold my Dinan for like $125 shipped or maybe it was $100. I forget and am too lazy to look it up. Did it on Roachfly. :P

[cdsmith_2002]

Ahhhh Crap. Both my 1989 and 1987 (or is it an 88?) are 173 Motronics. If anybody wants a Dinian 153 let me know. I'll sell it for $60. I'm bummed out.

[Mystikal]

Ahhhh Crap. Both my 1989 and 1987 (or is it an 88?) are 173 Motronics. If anybody wants a Dinian 153 let me know. I'll sell it for $60. I'm bummed out.

Don't sell it here, most people here know it's limitations. Bimmerforums.com or Roadfly.com, bet you'll get closer to $100 on either.

[reelizmpro]

87-88 325i/iS is supposed to have the 153 unit Motronic 1.1

89-on 325i had Motronic 1.3 380/173/525/526/etc

All of the units are interchangeable though. It's not uncommon for a previous owner of a 87-88 car to swap to one of the later DME's. The later ones have a single circuit board so their easier to chip and they idle better as well.