Author Topic: Megasquirt in m42/ pics of my build (Read 38140 times)

nobrakese36 · « **on:** June 14, 2007, 11:21:14 PM »

Hello I have built m42 but it is lacking tuning, is anyone running megasquirt in their m42? Is there any difficulty with MS in their m42? All info is welcome
Thanks

The build
THE CAR

THE NEW

E35 M5 VALVE SPRINGS VS M42

VAC MTRSPRTS RETAINERS

CUSTOM VALVE DEPRESSOR

THE OLD

SCHRICK VS STOCK

GETTING ASSEMBLED

IN THE CAR

silverblades181 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 14, 2007, 11:44:46 PM »

what pistons are those? Any idea what power you're making? And..hmm.. E35 M5?

Boyracer · « **Reply #2 on:** June 15, 2007, 03:18:29 AM »

Hi there! Interesting photos:)

Can you give info about E34 M5 springs? How do they compare in weight and stiffness to M42 springs? Are they straigh swap?

tim_s · « **Reply #3 on:** June 15, 2007, 10:56:18 AM »

wow! nice engine. i run MS, just in the process of building a new MS2 for it at the moment.

nobrakese36 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 15, 2007, 11:57:58 AM »

JE 12. 5 to 1, lowered to 11.5 to one with MLS headgasket.
Thanks!!
Hows the megasquirt, was their any difficulties installing it on your car? Did you have problems with the BMW coils, also the did you need a trigger wheel, and also did you assemble it yourself?
Thanks
And as for power i beat my friends 1.8T Jetta pretty hard
his mods
-light weight flywheel/ catback/ short shifter/ diverter valve
his mods

nuvolarossa · « **Reply #5 on:** June 15, 2007, 12:52:37 PM »

yes... explain more about megasquirt on M42/44, nobrakes great build;)

nobrakese36 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 15, 2007, 02:17:08 PM »

For the e34 m5 springs, they are heavier but stiffer same dimensions as e30 m3, so they should be safe to 8000 rpm. I used vacmotorsports.com dual spring retainers, e30 m42 small spring bottom retainers, and a custom made shim/retainer to hold the big spring in place.
Any questions just let me know!

bmwman91 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 15, 2007, 04:40:56 PM »

Megasquirt is very possible to do an on M42. It is a fair bit of work to get it wired and tuned, and I do not know if you could keep the knock sensors or DISA manifold working. A few folks on here are running MS. I did on my first 318iS, then crashed it while testing out the Wide-Band O2 sensor lol. Ouch! I did not feel like dealing with the hassle again on this one, though I still have the unit and am tempted to do it again someday.

95isTurbo · « **Reply #8 on:** June 15, 2007, 04:52:56 PM »

Quote from: nobrakese36;27792

For the e34 m5 springs, they are heavier but stiffer same dimensions as e30 m3, so they should be safe to 8000 rpm. I used vacmotorsports.com dual spring retainers, e30 m42 small spring bottom retainers, and a custom made shim/retainer to hold the big spring in place.
Any questions just let me know!

Hey what kinda valves are those stock ? oversize ?

nobrakese36 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 15, 2007, 07:26:35 PM »

Stock valves.
So what exactly do i need to run megasquirt on my car, i am gonna switch to the e30 m42 manifold.
Was there any complications on your car, did you build it yourself?
Ever consider selling your setup?
thanks

95isTurbo · « **Reply #10 on:** June 16, 2007, 12:14:15 AM »

Quote from: nobrakese36;27811

Stock valves.
So what exactly do i need to run megasquirt on my car, i am gonna switch to the e30 m42 manifold.
Was there any complications on your car, did you build it yourself?
Ever consider selling your setup?
thanks

I dont really know too much about MS but i know some people that are running it and it works preatty good for them . That e30 m42 manifold is alot better for perfomance as far as i herd , but in looking at the one from 666Fab.com they make awesome turbo manifolds but they are kinda pricey. I built the car myself and there are some complications whith the car still but ive go most of them figured out the whole drivetrain is mostly m3 with some custom pieces too like the driveshaft, driveshaft hanger bearing, fidanza lightweight flywheel , UUC Ultrasmooth clutch , good for like 600ft/lb and custom solid motor mount on pass side , but the car still has some problems i cant get the pcv figured out right and the same goes for the IAC motor. but otherwise the car runs hard as hell with about 13.5 1/4 mile time slips and thats with crappy street tires and stock ECU with chip , 255 pump and Rising Rate FPR , plus the turbo spools like 4 grand. and as for selling it i tryed but some of the beemer guys out there dont know a good deal even when its in front of their face so im not sellin this setup to no one , im just trying to squeeze as much as i can out of this 160k motor before i blow it to hell and build up another one.

tim_s · « **Reply #11 on:** June 18, 2007, 03:36:15 AM »

I've installed MS on two e30 318is cars, my own (old setup, gone now!) and dan's. I now have MS2. I did not have any trouble firing the standard coils after I'd built the circuit correctly, I have COPs now. DISA and knock can be accomodated i'd have thought without too many probs, but I currently use neither. There's not a lot to worry about, MS works great with our engines. It is, of course, a very steep learning curve on any car, however. I never got cranking, afterstart or accel enrich as good as factory, I'm hoping MS2 will help in these areas. I drive the car on the lpg ecu quite a lot so the petrol ecu is mainly for warmup and performance, not cruising around. I've not done much work on MS2 yet, and am not driving around on it at the mo.
currently I'm more interested in getting the car nice and quiet which is proving difficult, i've decided m42s are pretty noisy, and mine in particular is pretty bad. prob is brand new cams/carriers etc are well expensive. i may change to an m44 head soon.

nuvolarossa · « **Reply #12 on:** June 18, 2007, 07:27:51 AM »

Quote from: bmwman91;27802

Megasquirt is very possible to do an on M42. It is a fair bit of work to get it wired and tuned, and I do not know if you could keep the knock sensors or DISA manifold working. A few folks on here are running MS. I did on my first 318iS, then crashed it while testing out the Wide-Band O2 sensor lol. Ouch! I did not feel like dealing with the hassle again on this one, though I still have the unit and am tempted to do it again someday.

Hi bmwman, you were using megasquirt for timing too, or only for fuel? Whats parts/ wiring are involved to use it for timing too? I've clear the wirings if used only for fuel, but for timing it need rpms and it can control plugs directly?

nobrakese36 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 18, 2007, 01:17:26 PM »

Do you think megasquirt 1 with version 2.2 software would be alright, it is about 200 bucks cheaper than MS 2? Thanks

bmwman91 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 18, 2007, 03:34:03 PM »

I ran MS1 V2.2 with the +Extra code. It was sweet. Interfacing with out variable reluctance sensor requires another small circuit to be built, but it is not too bad once you get it all put together.

I was working on the fuel control at the time. I ended up wrecking the car while testing out some stuff...not that i was not paying attention, but a friend wanted a ride on a twisty road and my car got in a fight with a tree lol.

Basically, to get the fueling done on the M42 you need to get an RPM signal, have 2 options:
- Interface with the crank speed sensor to get RPM readings. Pain in the rear, but it sets you up to do ignition as well.
- Custom build a little conditioning circuit to pull the signal from the primary ignition coils, while keeping them isolated from oneanother. It requires some know-how, but can be simpler.

To do ignition, you have to pull the signal from the crank sensor, AND the cam sensor. This requires 2 variable reluctance conditioning circuits and more wire cutting...not my favorite activity.

If the goal of going stand-alone is to remove the AFM, then you MUST do the ignition as well. If the motronic loses important engine parameter inputs, it will pull the timing way back, costing you a heap of performance. It is a cruel world lol.