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      05-31-2011, 06:13 PM   #1
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ATT: all N52 based Z4 I and SI owners!!!

Hello all,

well I need some help here and hopefully someone here can help out


i have been talking to ESS on ECU convertion, basically taking our 3.0I ECU's and making them think their 3.0SI's, they wipe the ECU clean and upload stock or tuned SI programming, this will make it possable to run the 3 stage manifold and have 100% SI power or over SI power with the tuned software.

ESS has told me that they do alot of ECU software swaps between engine models so this wont be any big deal for them, i am planning to front all the R and D money to make this happen, all i need is an SI ecu and my stock ECU to send to ESS for the prototype build.

so i have two choices either someone with an SI that isnt planning to drive their car for a week or so can loan me their ECU for this to happen, or i buy an SI ECU off a wreked car for 200 bucks!

anybody want to work together to make this heppen!

once done we can get an ESS tune for our I's that will performe like an SI with the 3 stage manifold!


IM me for details!!!!


thanks guys!
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      05-31-2011, 06:27 PM   #2
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Didn't the 3-series folks work all this out a year ago? To get the Z4 3.0si (or 330i) power out of a 3.0i (or 328i) you need to 3-stage manifold and a tune. Gintani/OE tune works as do others. Straight tune without the manifold gets you about 10 hp on the 3.0si. I think maybe a bit more on the 3.0i, but to see the full gains you'll need the si manifold. Search around on e90post and you'll find details.
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      05-31-2011, 07:21 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vachss View Post
Didn't the 3-series folks work all this out a year ago? To get the Z4 3.0si (or 330i) power out of a 3.0i (or 328i) you need to 3-stage manifold and a tune. Gintani/OE tune works as do others. Straight tune without the manifold gets you about 10 hp on the 3.0si. I think maybe a bit more on the 3.0i, but to see the full gains you'll need the si manifold. Search around on e90post and you'll find details.
Not so

The guy (e90 pilot) with the gintani tune OE. Tune had bad spark knocking with that tune and went with the AA tune, even AA said they can get close to SI numbers but are still 10 HP or so off due to ecu restrictions....if we go ess route you will have all the SI numbers and more with an advanced SI tune ...so up to 25 HP over where the AA tune or gintani tune will get you.

I have the manifold already but from all my searching not any tuner has been able to do a straight rewrite as this will be more than a tune but a complete rework of the system.

My direction is to get the max and with a complete SI format its possible but even AA said its not possible without a complete format and their not interested. That's the difference between tuners and tru programmers....

i have some other comitments at this time, so no rush. id be looking to do this sometime in july, i may just buy the ECU out of the totaled car and then get the car dynoed and post before and after results.

ill keep you all posted reguardless.

Last edited by -c-; 05-31-2011 at 09:51 PM..
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      06-01-2011, 08:22 AM   #4
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Wouldn't it be easier if someone who has the ESS handheld device emails you their map rather than ship the whole ECU?
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      06-01-2011, 09:32 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Arxangel View Post
Wouldn't it be easier if someone who has the ESS handheld device emails you their map rather than ship the whole ECU?
No, im talking with the programmer at ESS direcly and they have not done this particular car before and they have nothing for it.

what im having done is completley new for them, so they need both ECU's
they need the SI's ecu to copy it then my ecu to write the new code to.


here is a few emails they have sent me to give you an idea of what i need to do.

"It is no problem to port ECU software. Most tuners can not do it because it requires base level programming. They can normally only tweak the maps currently on the ECU.

Can you send me a 30si ECU and your i ecu both with same ECU hardware #? If so I am pretty confident I can crack it quick.

Regards,


Yes, I need a stock Si ECU and your ECU.

Since this is a prototype deal, I will only charge you if we are successful and that includes tuning the Si software.

Regards,

Hi Christian,

It is completely possible to reprogram your ECU to 3.0Si spec. I do alot of ECU software swaps between engine models in all different types of BMW ECU's. However I have not done this particular one yet, but with some R&D time I am sure I can do it.

The problem is that you are in IN, if the car were local to us (AZ) this would be no problem at all.

I will look a little into it on my end and see what can be done remotely.

Regards,"
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      06-01-2011, 01:22 PM   #6
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Well, with the handheld device you do download the whole ECU software so I don't think it could be a problem. You can ask the guy just in case if this would work this way. I think there was someone around here with the handheld.
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      06-01-2011, 11:34 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Arxangel View Post
Well, with the handheld device you do download the whole ECU software so I don't think it could be a problem. You can ask the guy just in case if this would work this way. I think there was someone around here with the handheld.
yea, the problem is i need to get myself a SI ECU, he may need to work with both ECU's not sure how his procedure works but ill just give him what he wants.

afterall if i can get the tune to work like an OEM BMW tune im happy with that.

i found a SI ECU out of a totaled car for $200 so i may just get that here in july sometime. and go from their.
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      06-02-2011, 01:49 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by -c- View Post
yea, the problem is i need to get myself a SI ECU, he may need to work with both ECU's not sure how his procedure works but ill just give him what he wants.

afterall if i can get the tune to work like an OEM BMW tune im happy with that.

i found a SI ECU out of a totaled car for $200 so i may just get that here in july sometime. and go from their.
Nice and good luck. I hope it works.
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      06-03-2011, 09:23 PM   #9
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If my Z wasn't my daily, I would totally help out.

Good luck.
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      06-08-2011, 06:18 AM   #10
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Hope you get it soon C... If ESS can do it, I will be one of the first to get it... I also love what you did with your exhaust.. I know you never gave us a sound byte, but can you decribe it? Good luck,.. I want to max out my 3.0I too.. (even if I decide to get an M Coupe, I won't be getting rid of my 3.0I.. Me and my wife just love our Roadster..

BTW, are these the ONLY parts I need for the manifold switch? (taken from your DIY)

11617559523 Intake Manifold
11617579114 Adjustor Unit
11617560538 Adjustor Unit 2
11617547242 Gasket set

Last edited by MHeavNC; 06-08-2011 at 06:38 AM..
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      06-11-2011, 10:39 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MHeavNC View Post
Hope you get it soon C... If ESS can do it, I will be one of the first to get it... I also love what you did with your exhaust.. I know you never gave us a sound byte, but can you decribe it? Good luck,.. I want to max out my 3.0I too.. (even if I decide to get an M Coupe, I won't be getting rid of my 3.0I.. Me and my wife just love our Roadster..

BTW, are these the ONLY parts I need for the manifold switch? (taken from your DIY)

11617559523 Intake Manifold
11617579114 Adjustor Unit
11617560538 Adjustor Unit 2
11617547242 Gasket set

hey found some cheap ones,

here are manifolds of wrecked cars, its the way cheaper way to go.

the manifolds also come with the ajuster units. all you will need to buy from the dealer is a new gasket set.


General Auto Recycling USA-RI(Tiverton) Request_Quote 401-624-6687 $150

Ralph's Auto Parts USA-IL(Lockport) Request_Quote 815-723-7997 $165

Brickyard Imported Cars USA-IN(Brooklyn) E-mail 1-800-247-9273 $175

Carguts USA-SC(Blacksburg) Request_Quote 1-866-839-2708 $300

REMEMBER YOU CAN ALWAYS NEGOTIATE PRICE!!!!.....well most of the time!

if you want to look yourself, check out www.car-part.com and look up an intake manifold for an SI and a bunch will show up.

im working on a bunch of stuff on the car as of now and hopfully will get it done soon.

I talked to ESS friday about getting a group buy in, and it looks promising.

im talking to them about just getting an SI ECU if if we can get a group buy together, maybe 5 or so. their looking into it. the positives of going this route is it will be a true ECU change and will work with out vin, so we can truley get the true power of the SI z4 and not just a tuned "I" ecu which AA and other tuners say will get close but never be to SI levels due to restrictions placed on the ECU. also ESS has said after the coding swap we can also pute tuned sofware for the SI so we can get over SI stock numbers..... looking good so far

here is the last email i recived from ESS

"I will let you know if I get a Si ECU in. We normally program all of them remotely using our DirectFlash platform, but we can not read/change the operating system this way which is required for what you need to do.

Regards,"



So as you can see once we have an SI ecu the rest is easy and we can get hopfully 50 or more HP for less than 600 bucks including manifold !!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kurumi View Post
If my Z wasn't my daily, I would totally help out.

Good luck.


Thanks man!

yea not having the ecu for a few days would suck, but thats why im trying other options first.

dont want to buy an SI ecu if i dont need to.

Last edited by -c-; 06-11-2011 at 10:49 AM..
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      06-11-2011, 10:45 AM   #12
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hey guys I know this may be pre-mature but im going to start a list so we can get at least 5 people to start. this list does not in any way tie any of you to purchase this reprogram, just an "im interested" so if this looks like a mod you would like to do please put your screen name in. the more people i can get the cheaper we can get the tune. as of right now the tune stands at $500 with more names i can talk to them and hopefully get them to take a little off which would help make this a very very good $ per HP mod......


1: -C-
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      06-12-2011, 10:20 AM   #13
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      06-13-2011, 11:01 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by -c- View Post
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updated list ......only two more to go, .......you'ed think people would jump at the chance to add 50 or more HP for under a grand ...hehehe...

yea i know...... untill its proven without a dought and dyno's its all snake oil!
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      06-21-2011, 10:19 AM   #15
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Hi I am tentatively interested as i am only in the planning stage at this point and need to get a manifold etc.....

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      06-25-2011, 10:25 PM   #16
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Updated all we need is one more.....
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      06-25-2011, 11:53 PM   #17
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Good luck this sounds great for u guys, like hp for cheap, nice
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      07-22-2011, 09:16 PM   #18
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-C-, as we discussed, I'm game
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      07-23-2011, 05:44 PM   #19
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I'm game, as long as my 328i counts
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      08-15-2011, 10:53 AM   #20
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ok six so far any more takers?

the more i can get the more i can talk to the tuners at ESS and get the price down.. as it sits now its $500 without discount.
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      09-14-2011, 10:56 PM   #21
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Any updates? Thinking about doing the manifold swap soon.... You still running stock tune with your conversion -C- ?..
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