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Engine management / DME Interchangeability
« on: September 13, 2021, 12:42:29 PM »
Hello!
I once again ask for your help as my 318is M42 (eurospec, assembly date 06/1994) as decided it's original DME was no longer good after 353k kms... The problem I am having is the DME that was in the car is a red/marroon labelled 0 261 203 590 and noone seems to have one nearby... A friend of mine lent me his car's DME, but it's from an earlier 1992 produced car and it's the silver labelled 0 261 200 950, and, although the car runs decently (AFM is a bit out, for sure, but it drives smoothely and doesn't die out anymore at idle), it's not perfect as it used to be. Now, I know his DME is not the original one from his car, like mine was, and it has been opened and cleaned because his car ran a bit rough - but he seems to think it was something else causing the issue.
Since I've already done all the vaccum lines/pipes, changed the fuel pump (and had the injectors tested), the AFM, the ICV (cleaned, but it's not as old as the car and seems to be in good shape), the alternator (regulator had died on the original Valeo unit, now with a refurbished one) and checked all the sensors - TPS, crank and cams and temperature were all tested, knock sensors are new -, the car should have no real issues that would cause idle problems or missfires during acceleration. Other than some wonkiness at idle (which it very rarely had for the last 153k that I've owned it for), the car seems fine with the borrowed DME.
My question is: is it actually ok to use this DME or do I really need to find one that has the same reference as the original for it to be perfect? (Note: neither car has EWS, the keys are the basic plastic and metal ones with no remote key or alarm! The idea of getting a silver one would be without these things too, of course!).
Thanks in advance!
I once again ask for your help as my 318is M42 (eurospec, assembly date 06/1994) as decided it's original DME was no longer good after 353k kms... The problem I am having is the DME that was in the car is a red/marroon labelled 0 261 203 590 and noone seems to have one nearby... A friend of mine lent me his car's DME, but it's from an earlier 1992 produced car and it's the silver labelled 0 261 200 950, and, although the car runs decently (AFM is a bit out, for sure, but it drives smoothely and doesn't die out anymore at idle), it's not perfect as it used to be. Now, I know his DME is not the original one from his car, like mine was, and it has been opened and cleaned because his car ran a bit rough - but he seems to think it was something else causing the issue.
Since I've already done all the vaccum lines/pipes, changed the fuel pump (and had the injectors tested), the AFM, the ICV (cleaned, but it's not as old as the car and seems to be in good shape), the alternator (regulator had died on the original Valeo unit, now with a refurbished one) and checked all the sensors - TPS, crank and cams and temperature were all tested, knock sensors are new -, the car should have no real issues that would cause idle problems or missfires during acceleration. Other than some wonkiness at idle (which it very rarely had for the last 153k that I've owned it for), the car seems fine with the borrowed DME.
My question is: is it actually ok to use this DME or do I really need to find one that has the same reference as the original for it to be perfect? (Note: neither car has EWS, the keys are the basic plastic and metal ones with no remote key or alarm! The idea of getting a silver one would be without these things too, of course!).
Thanks in advance!
The M44 case solution might be the route I take. I'll talk with my mechanic about the bracket, as he has some experience with machining new parts as well. Thank you! 