Changing ECUs

[MrK]

I posted this question on my intro thread, but nobody replied, so I figured maybe it needed an exclusive post to get noticed.

What's the difference between the 153, 173, and 380 ECUs? And does changing from 380 to 173 have any adverse effects on the car?


Cheers

[RobertK]

I think you can only change from a 153 to a 173 ECU but I don't think you can jump from a 153 to a 380.

The 153 ECU was a flakier ECU and the 173 was an updated version of the 153 ECU that was much more reliable.

[MrK]

ok clarification: I said is it ok to change from "380" BACK to "173"?

[rs4pro3]

yes, 153, 173, 380 are all ecu's for the 325i model cars and interchangable. Each has it's own perks.

[lordofthewaters]

There are several different ecu's, 153, 173, 351, 380, 525, 526, I think maybe a 154 too. Most if not all of these are completely interchangeable (with some 5 series as well).

If I'm not mistaken the 173 was the first to be pdated from firmware version 1.1 to 1.3.

[RobertK]

If the car originally has a 153 ECU can you swap it with a 380 ECU? I used to have a 153 ECU then swapped it with a 173.

If so what are the different perks of each one?

[lordofthewaters]

I think so. I've personally never even seen a 380.

[rs4pro3]

yep 380 will work in a 153 car.
173 had updated idle and is motronic 1.3
380 is also 1.3 not sure about the idle

[lordofthewaters]

Now mine had a 173 in it when I got it. I thought the ecu had went bad and put a 525 in it. It idles worlds better, or course nothing says the 173 was 100% either.

[peterz]

sorry for bringing up a dead post, but what are the differences? My 88 325i has a 380...

[AdamF 88iS]

sorry for bringing up a dead post, but what are the differences? My 88 325i has a 380...

Small, evolutionary changes in software and hardware.

They are all compatible with eachother; none of the hardware on the motor itself changed. 153 to 173, 380, etc are direct plug in upgrades.

I noticed in this thread somebody said 154 is compatible, which it is not. 154 is the 'super eta' ecu. It will plug in and run, but you won't like it very much.

[NC325iC]

what about 526?

[herragge]

Can you plug in a 173 from a US spec car into a Canadian car with a 524 ECU? I know the ecu's are interchangable but will everything work accordingly on the Canadian car since everything is in KPH and the OBC reads in L/100km for mileage? This has been troubling me for a bit.

Mike

[AdamF 88iS]

Can you plug in a 173 from a US spec car into a Canadian car with a 524 ECU? I know the ecu's are interchangable but will everything work accordingly on the Canadian car since everything is in KPH and the OBC reads in L/100km for mileage? This has been troubling me for a bit.

Mike

The speed signals are all the same. The speedo is just a different face, it still reads the same; and the OBC calibration is done internally in the OBC itself.

[herragge]

Thanks for clearing that up, it was bugging me for a bit!

Mike