350i ECU failure - replacement or upgrade?

350i ECU failure - replacement or upgrade?

Author
Discussion

phatman5000

Original Poster:

89 posts

65 months

Wednesday 9th March 2022
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Hello all,

Just managed to scrape my '89 350i through an MOT, but had to use an ECU from another car - it looks like I've cooked mine during a post-winter jump start somehow. The tacho is also fried (stuck at 7k). Nothing appeared to go wrong with the jump start, but whether I've somehow managed to cross the polarity, or there was moisture in the ECU connectors; whatever the case, I've zapped it.

There are plenty of 2nd hand units available (if someone has a good one they want to shift, here's your opportunity!)

However, I'm not averse to spending money where an upgrade is worth it. Does anyone have any experience of upgrading their ECU (Emerald, Megasquirt etc), how complex was it, and would you say it's worth it? It's not a track day car, but a spirited daily driver that averages 8000/year.

Thank you all!


BlueWedgy

397 posts

112 months

Thursday 10th March 2022
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I have had a look at this a few times....

https://speeduino.com/home/
https://tasteslikepetrol.net/2017/03/speeduino-rov...

Edited by BlueWedgy on Thursday 10th March 20:39

KKson

3,443 posts

135 months

Thursday 10th March 2022
quotequote all
Mark Adams at Tornado Systems (Rover EFi guru) always has a load of ECUs on his shelf. Might be worth giving him a call. https://www.tornadosystems.com/

KelWedge

1,280 posts

195 months

Friday 11th March 2022
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Mine has Emerald, it was on the car when I got it, many years ago, Car had a 4.0 ltr back then, about 8 years ago a new 4.6 RPI engine went in, (Dont ask why!) The Emerald had to be remapped after it had run in a few miles, That was done at Emerald, its always been good.
Taking into account the Emerald unit on my car was the prototype unit, and is still running fine.

I know what which way I would go.

phatman5000

Original Poster:

89 posts

65 months

Thursday 17th March 2022
quotequote all
Thank you all - after a quick chat with Mark Adams, I've gone for a Tornado upgrade ECU.

I'll post the result here - no pressure!

KKson

3,443 posts

135 months

Thursday 17th March 2022
quotequote all
phatman5000 said:
Thank you all - after a quick chat with Mark Adams, I've gone for a Tornado upgrade ECU.

I'll post the result here - no pressure!
Mark fitted a Tornado upgraded ECU to my 390SE as well as a larger Jaguar AFM. I booked in a rolling road session with him to set it up. With standard ECU and Rover AFM power was 219bhp. By the end of the session we were up to 247bhp. He certainly knows his stuff. Cheers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLfCF_1UeX8



rev-erend

21,549 posts

294 months

Thursday 17th March 2022
quotequote all
Good choice.