What are the differences? I figured my 1991 325i parts car would have a 173 ECU like my 1990 325i, but it has a 524. Are these units interchangable? Is the 524 as good as the 173? The 173's pull a lot of money, and I want to be able to sell this for as much as possible.
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Same shit. Motronic 1.3, plugs in the same.Adam Fogg- '88 M3
Common sense- It's the new 'gifted' -
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Greg was saying the 524 was a better ECU, and that people with 153/173's would swap for the 524'sMy mountains are better than yours.Comment
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I don't think they are much if any different. There may be some minor programming updates that BMW did over the years (since 173 is the first 1.3 box) but I doubt it's anything noticable. They are all plug and play compatible with each other too. The 153 is a crappy one with the double circuit board and a lower version of Motronic.Originally posted by bimmerphileAdam Fogg- '88 M3
Common sense- It's the new 'gifted'Comment
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Well, hopefully its true that the ECU works in manual cars as well (pulled from an auto).Comment
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didn't the newest e30 auto cars have electronic help in the automatic trannys? Would that have been handled by an additional computer? or...Michael Spiegle
'01 Ford Escape / Daily Driver
'99 M3 / Track Car
'87 325is bronzit / wtf car
'06 Daytona Triumph 675 / Daily RiderComment
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It was handled by the ecu. There are no additional computers that go to the tranny except for a plug that goes from ecu to left side of trannyOriginally posted by mspiegle
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False. The electronic trannies that came in later models had their own computer. The main engine computer had nothing to do with the transmission.Originally posted by Kondour
More info here: http://www.r3vlimited.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=8355
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You sure? i thought no e30 ever came with an additional computer for just the transmission. Ive looked through various manuals and online resources, and all automatic trannys were controled by the ecu. I know the e36 transmissions have seperate computers, but im skeptical about the e30.Comment
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Originally posted by Kondour
No, the ECU does not control the transmission. The ECU uses information from the A/F meter (among other sensors) to determine ignition timing, idle, and redline.
On a more fundamental note, ECU does mean Engine Control Unit ;)My mountains are better than yours.Comment
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i know what an ecu does. The ecu gets inputs from the engine to control the auto tranny. Refer to "BMW 3 series enthusiast's companion" and haynes/bentley manuals.Comment
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Not on an e30. On older, non-electronic models, there is a cable that goes from the TB to the tranny. On later models (the 'eh' tranny), they have their own ECU. It's mentioned in the Bentley as well. As far as I've learned.Originally posted by KondourComment
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All that cable does is engage the kick down mode. And the e36 92 on minus the convert, had its own computer for the tranny, but all e30's did not have a computer just for the tranny.Comment
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If E30's had their own computer for the trannies, don't you think places like Dinan would sell tranny chips like they do for E36's?Comment
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