M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Engine management => Topic started by: bearsbmw on November 26, 2008, 01:29:00 AM

Title: Spark Retard Unit
Post by: bearsbmw on November 26, 2008, 01:29:00 AM

I have the 1994 E36 M42 and Im wondering what spark retarding unit I could use? Apparently MSD Boost retard unit cannot be used on my engine and I don't know why... OBD1 and the coils are one unit not seperate ... Can I convert that unit to seperate coil paks? .. thanks!

Title: Spark Retard Unit
Post by: 1991 E30 M42 on November 26, 2008, 03:13:14 AM

the msd btm is for cars equipped with a distributor, as you already know the ignition on your car is ecu controlled, therefore the only way to retard timing is to adjust it with a chip or go standalone, like megasquirt

Title: Spark Retard Unit
Post by: nuvolarossa on November 26, 2008, 04:32:54 AM

as I wrote on the other forum I would like to know if these will work...
and it works like this:

Quote from: stimpee

They modify the crank trigger signal between the trigger and the DME. Basically intercept and alter...
 
 
Steve

http://www.splitsec.com/products/ftc1/ftc1ds.htm
or this:
http://www.jandssafeguard.com/safeguard.html
both are used on other cars with success... dunno about the price of J&S:confused:

Title: Spark Retard Unit
Post by: bearsbmw on November 27, 2008, 01:02:41 AM

thanks for info

Title: Spark Retard Unit
Post by: bmwman91 on November 28, 2008, 11:53:11 PM

Just FYI, M42 cars use 4 individual coil packs.  They are all just under one cover.  See here  on my site for related details:
http://bmw.e30tuner.com/my318is_pic_copcon.php

Title: Spark Retard Unit
Post by: bearsbmw on November 29, 2008, 12:06:36 AM

some e36 are one solid unit and you cannot take them apart
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=CA53&mospid=47490&btnr=12_0599&hg=12&fg=05

Title: Spark Retard Unit
Post by: bmwman91 on November 29, 2008, 10:19:11 PM

Quote from: bearsbmw;61902

some e36 are one solid unit and you cannot take them apart
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=CA53&mospid=47490&btnr=12_0599&hg=12&fg=05

Interesting.  I have never seen anything like that before.  You have the 4-in-a-row coil pack unit?  Maybe the ferrous cores are just rusted together or something?  I sold a number of the COP conversion brackets to E36 guys a while back & nobody mentioned this.  Got a picture?

Title: Spark Retard Unit
Post by: bearsbmw on November 29, 2008, 11:32:03 PM

(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a224/Bear607/M4204.jpg)

Title: Spark Retard Unit
Post by: bmwman91 on December 01, 2008, 10:02:43 AM

Quote from: bearsbmw;61951

(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a224/Bear607/M4204.jpg)

Wow, that's a first for me!  You tried pulling the plastic cover off?  I cannot remember exactly what the E36 ones I have seen look like, but that seems different.  Perhaps it was a non-US part or something.  From the size of the harness, I would almost guess that this thing runs in wasted-spark mode.

Anyone else here have details on this thing?

Title: Spark Retard Unit
Post by: roundel318 on December 01, 2008, 11:54:40 PM

That coil pack was common on E36 late M42 and M44 units.

Title: Spark Retard Unit
Post by: haledj on December 02, 2008, 08:23:20 AM

It electrically is the same.  There are 4 coils in there (I do not know if they can physically separated though).  The plug has 6 wires:  +12, Ground, and 4 signal wires.

Title: Spark Retard Unit
Post by: bearsbmw on December 02, 2008, 09:55:53 AM

Quote from: haledj;62100

It electrically is the same.  There are 4 coils in there (I do not know if they can physically separated though).  The plug has 6 wires:  +12, Ground, and 4 signal wires.

so does this mean I can use a msd boost retard unit without problems?

Title: Spark Retard Unit
Post by: roundel318 on December 13, 2008, 06:43:12 PM

http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6444

This thread has the 93 318i with the same coilpack you have it looks like :)

Title: Spark Retard Unit
Post by: bearsbmw on December 13, 2008, 07:39:37 PM

nope!

Title: Spark Retard Unit
Post by: roundel318 on December 14, 2008, 09:16:30 AM

Indeed, it IS different :)