Are chips worth the $250?

[bimmerphile]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. Since it seems the general consensus is not to pay the $250 retail, I'm assuming I should look at oulets like Ebay, etc. If anyone can point me in the right direction on that (or if you're selling a Conforti chip), I'd appreciate it!

be very very careful on ebay. A lot of people sell fake chips that don't do shit, and can really make your car fubar

[rwh11385]

Chips can be found easily enough on this forums classifieds or other forums like bimmerforums, maxbimmer, baye30.net, or roadfly.org, or turnermotorsport.com. Just hold out for a while, one for your ECU is bound to pop up.

I sold my Dinan one and bought a JC chip from people on Roadfly.

[M3Driver]

I have a JC chip in my M42 and it made a HUGE difference - HUGE!!

I recommend 100% - even at retail (what I paid)

[318driver]

I bought a Viper 2 chip from e30gumball
It hasnt arrived yet, but i am very excited and cant wait for it to get in.
I will write a review of it when i get it.

[natorious]

its Venom and its a huge difference compared to stock.... i want to try out the JC and compare it tho

[///Mtechnik88]

Chips can be found easily enough on this forums classifieds or other forums like bimmerforums, maxbimmer, baye30.net, or roadfly.org, or turnermotorsport.com. Just hold out for a while, one for your ECU is bound to pop up.

I sold my Dinan one and bought a JC chip from people on Roadfly.

Sweet. I'll remain patient and update when I pull the trigger on one. I guess I'll save the $250 towards the I. Engineering headers.

[bimmerphile]

Chips can be found easily enough on this forums classifieds or other forums like bimmerforums, maxbimmer, baye30.net, or roadfly.org, or turnermotorsport.com. Just hold out for a while, one for your ECU is bound to pop up.

I sold my Dinan one and bought a JC chip from people on Roadfly.

Sweet. I'll remain patient and update when I pull the trigger on one. I guess I'll save the $250 towards the I. Engineering headers.

hope you're not expecting gains from those headers

[chesster6969]

JC is the way to go...night and day. I didn't pay $250. I made a trade for old seats and steering wheel.

Old seats to you but newer seats than mine ;)
JC is very good. Just make sure its a 5 speed chip for a 5 speed E30 or an auto chip for an auto E30.
Its better on the idle

[LikeCDoos]

JC is the way to go...night and day. I didn't pay $250. I made a trade for old seats and steering wheel.

Old seats to you but newer seats than mine ;)
JC is very good. Just make sure its a 5 speed chip for a 5 speed E30 or an auto chip for an auto E30.
Its better on the idle

about those seats...what did you ever do with them? did you make rear headrests yet? Did you sell the steering wheel to Josh?

[///Mtechnik88]

Chips can be found easily enough on this forums classifieds or other forums like bimmerforums, maxbimmer, baye30.net, or roadfly.org, or turnermotorsport.com. Just hold out for a while, one for your ECU is bound to pop up.

I sold my Dinan one and bought a JC chip from people on Roadfly.

Sweet. I'll remain patient and update when I pull the trigger on one. I guess I'll save the $250 towards the I. Engineering headers.

hope you're not expecting gains from those headers

Not really, but was hoping for a "little" something. I've had my Scorpion catback exhaust on for about 1600 miles now, and gains are minimal at best. BUT, it does sound sweet now that it has opened up! I thought the headers might be a nice complement to the system, but not a major power addition. I've been around enough to know the real power comes from serious modefications to the engine, gearing, etc. I guess that's why I was curious about the gains of the chip:)

[Mystikal]

I loved my original MarkD chip. He updated it 2 weeks ago with more advanced timing at high RPM and more fuel at WOT. I've been running it for the past week and put 400mi on it, it's a HUGE difference from stock. HUGE. No one up here has a JC, I'd love to compare it.

[Hortos]

Chips

After inadvertantly coming across two "shady" ebay chips 1 went into my 325e it kicked much ass but it was before we had a chip burner and I don't feel like asking my brother to show me the chip just to read it. The 2nd chip went into my 325ic it made the car obviously faster but we put it in the chip burner and it turned out to be a TMS Motorsports chip and there is no mention of JimC so I don't know if there is a difference. All in all I'd have paid $150 for what the chip did for the 325e but for the 325i it wasn't a OMFG look at this difference. I mean 6500 to 6900 was fun but 5000 to 5500 made me feel like I could take on porsches. Damn torque.

[nando]

its Venom and its a huge difference compared to stock.... i want to try out the JC and compare it tho

Mine says "VIPER" in handwriting right on the top :P

I'm sure it's better than stock, but I don't think it'll compare to the JC though.. it might get a higher peak #, but the rest of it felt pretty flat. :(

Maybe I'll see about getting with a local ixer and dynoing my car with both though before i decide for sure which one is better, cause I'm going by the seat of my pants. All I know is that my car definetly had more grunt to it with the bavauto chip. of course for $50, I'm not dissapointed (what can you expect?), so if you're broke and you want a chip, you can't go wrong! personally, I'll probably stick to the one I had before :P

[EVOIIIM3]

First off, if you don't have the money, or can't stomach spending $250 on performance stuff.

DON'T MODIFY YOUR CAR!

HP cost money, and all the go fast parts will cost you! That is just the way it is.

Sure there are other chip out there for a E30, but why chance it? Venom? Come on, do you really think they did a lot of work on their chips? Bav auto? Do they make anything them selves?

Jim C, so far this is the ONLY chip for a NON M E30! It's real honest HP and torque increase, and nothing else you will ever buy for $250 will give you the boost that the chip does! Even a M42!

I don't understand how you can't do $250 for a REAL NON-eBay chip, but then bastardize your car with a E28 AFM and injectors.

[nando]

I don't understand how you can't do $250 for a REAL NON-eBay chip, but then bastardize your car with a E28 AFM and injectors.

who are you talking to?

in any case, I was just experimenting, and though for $50, why not? surely those that can afford to maintain nice M3's would chance $50 just to see? ;)

I'm sure a JC chip is an improvement over a bavauto chip, but it's still an improvement over stock and it's definetly better than the $50 chip except maybe the claimed "peak" power, funky idle and high rev limit (7200rpm? you gotta be kidding!) :P

and FYI, 19# injectors work great on a stock motor. ;)