What motor?

[ibavarian]

So lately I keep hearing about people having the wrong motor in thier vehicle after they have purchased it. I just got an 90' E30 325i and well, after being told that the previous owner put in a new motor i'm kind of worried. My question is, is there anyway to know by visual inspection that I have a M20b25 and not an ETA motor? If you have pic's to help me out i'd appreciate it. Thanks guys..

[MR 325]

This has been gone over quite a few times. I have decided the easiest way to tell is by checking the Bosch part number on the ECU. There's plenty of other ways to tell aswell though.

[Julien]

um does it pull to redline (6.5k rpm) also what kind of MPG are you getting?

[ibavarian]

My odometer doesn't work. And it seems to pull just fine to redline, I haven't really gotten on it much.

DME# should be 173 right? Are the eta motors not compatible with this DME? Any other tips? I tried searching but for some reason i'm not getting very good results..

[nando]

My odometer doesn't work. And it seems to pull just fine to redline, I haven't really gotten on it much.

DME# should be 173 right? Are the eta motors not compatible with this DME? Any other tips? I tried searching but for some reason i'm not getting very good results..

there are many DMEs other than the 173 for the M20B25. 153, 380, 524, 526, etc.

I say block casting is easiest to check, you just have to remove the airbox/AFM to see it. takes about 5 minutes to remove with a flathead and a 10mm box wrench. getting to the ECU requires messing with your glovebox, and that's never pretty!

[ibavarian]

Hm, just pulled apart the glove box and found last 3 of bosch number to be 525. This is kind of nerve racking.

[Rennsport]

bosch ecu number: 0 261 200 525 is for the i motor.
i just put a conforti chip in last weekend :)

[MR 325]

The 525 is a M20B25 ECU, no worries.

[Rennsport]

there are many DMEs other than the 173 for the M20B25. 153, 380, 524, 526, etc.

I say block casting is easiest to check, you just have to remove the airbox/AFM to see it. takes about 5 minutes to remove with a flathead and a 10mm box wrench. getting to the ECU requires messing with your glovebox, and that's never pretty!

to check the ecu number it is two screws at the top of the glove box and the cover falls off, how is that not easy? takes about 30 seconds. lol

[b*saint]

That and aren't the intake manifold different?

[ibavarian]

:D

Thanks guys.