Megasquirt in m42/ pics of my build

[tim_s]

I've run fuel and spark on ms1 and ms2 (just, still not sorted quite yet!) with the m42. there is nothing out of the ordinary required, all the info reqd is on megasquirt forums.

[nobrakese36]

Would you guys recommend that I build the unit myself.

[tim_s]

Would you guys recommend that I build the unit myself.

this entirely depends on you and how confident you are soldering, and how much hassle you want! I'm on my second MS unit, I've bought both assembled and tested, mainly because it didn't cost me much more to do so and is less hassle. The soldering on the first was to a higher standard than I could have achieved myself, on my current one the soldering is to a similar, maybe slightly higher standard, than I could have achieved. I wouldn't have worried too much about soldering it myself, but I don't have a stim and the cost of a diy kit + stim is probably more than I paid for an assembled unit. buying one assembled does protect you against any cock ups you might make too. Either way you'll want to be fairly handy with a soldering iron as you'll need to make some adjustments to get it to the required spec, unless you spend a lot and get one tailored to your needs.

[nobrakese36]

Well hopefully you guys wont mind helping me out to build his unit, I am going to purchase it soon. Just need to buy a resonator for my car,it is just to loud!

[nuvolarossa]

Hi, can't help with MS, but I have a question. When you'll have the time for answer do it, if you don't have time don't answer:
What particular tools was needed for your build, that an average man with mechanical skills (but not in car engines) can don't have (like valve removal tools, special wrenches)?
 Please when you have time tell me them even via private message. thanks

[nobrakese36]

Torque wrenches, large breaker bar, and the rest is all average sockets and alen head sockets. I would recommend that you have some motor building skills before trying this all on your own. No special tools were really needed except for the valve spring compressor, made it on my own. But if you need any help just let me know!!

[nuvolarossa]

Torque wrenches, large breaker bar, and the rest is all average sockets and alen head sockets. I would recommend that you have some motor building skills before trying this all on your own. No special tools were really needed except for the valve spring compressor, made it on my own. But if you need any help just let me know!!

the cam align tool, and flywheel lock tool are necessary too, right?
The tis show too that is needed a tool for retain oil piston rings in position when putting the pistons in the block...
and there is too another tool that fit onto lower part of the rod for help when fitting the piston-rod assembly into the block.
are they really necessary?

[D. Clay]

I get the feeling this is not plug and play. Does anyone have MegaSquirt installed. working and doing what it's supposed to do? It seems that most folks are living with a few shortcomings or less than optimal functions. It also seems that you can't get it working without hacking up the wiring, creating circuits, and some adaptation, to get it to work with the BMW coils and sensors.

[tim_s]

I get the feeling this is not plug and play.

no it's not plug and play

Does anyone have MegaSquirt installed. working and doing what it's supposed to do?

i have and have had megasquirt working and doing what it's supposed to do for years. on a standard engine it gave near to 10hp on the same rollers on the same day (simply by swapping some connectors over I can switch from motronic to MS), though the real gains were in terms of throttle response, pick up etc.

It also seems that you can't get it working without hacking up the wiring, creating circuits, and some adaptation, to get it to work with the BMW coils and sensors.

yes, but this is not unique to the m42 or BMW, it's how the megasquirt platform is designed - to cover all different engine configurations requires hardware and software changes. it's nothing specific about our engine, but of course to cover both GM and bosch sensors requires changes (software), coils requires additional coil drivers etc.
all necessary changes are well documented within the MS community and fully supported by the megasquirt software/hardware.

 It seems that most folks are living with a few shortcomings or less than optimal functions.  

what do you mean by less than optimal functions? like what?
My current MS setup gives me many more 'functions' than motronic. My EGO correction is set with a 12x12 AFR target table off my LC1, ensuring that the fuelling is always exactly where i want it. This is brilliant. I have no AFM, CLT and MAT related ign retard, a complex acceleration enrichment algorithm, extremely precise control over the pulsewidth and timing (down to 0.1 degrees) etc etc.
any shortcomings that my setup has are due to my tuning ability and not the megasquirt software/hardware.
also worth noting that I am extremely picky. I have done mb 20,000 miles on megasquirt on a 318is now, and have built 3 setups, 2 on my car, one on dan's.

[16v of Fury]

If I took my stock 318is to a Megasquirt-experienced tuner shop, handed them the keys and the required Megasquirt stuff, and said "Go for it", what am I looking at?  Thousands of dollars spent on labor?  A quick day or two of tuning?  

It certainly sounds very complicated - I have browsed the various Megasquirt websites and can't seem to figure out what parts I need, or even in concept how to make them work.  Is there an easy DIY link I could read, to get started on learning?

[D. Clay]

"all necessary changes are well documented within the MS community and fully supported by the megasquirt software/hardware."

This is the first sentence from Megasquirt's website. It says everything I need to know.

"If you are new to MegaSquirt, there is a lot of information to digest, and much of it will seem confusing, or even contradictory. Your best bet is to read the FAQ and the manual. In general, MegaSquirt is not designed to be a 'no hassle' solution. Instead it is intended to be an educational process. As a result, a large amount of reading and study is required."

[tim_s]

"all necessary changes are well documented within the MS community and fully supported by the megasquirt software/hardware."

This is the first sentence from Megasquirt's website. It says everything I need to know.

"If you are new to MegaSquirt, there is a lot of information to digest, and much of it will seem confusing, or even contradictory. Your best bet is to read the FAQ and the manual. In general, MegaSquirt is not designed to be a 'no hassle' solution. Instead it is intended to be an educational process. As a result, a large amount of reading and study is required."

yes, agreed - your comment is telling: if that puts you off you're probably the wrong kinda guy for it. Let's face it it's hardly surprising that you will have to read the manual and FAQ and do a fair amount of reading besides. I'm not sure what you were expecting? ANY solution to entirely replace the standard ecu with a standalone solution will require a lot of reading and learning etc, it'd be crazy to think otherwise!
it remains true that all the necessary changes for our engine are well documented within the MS community and fully supported by the megasquirt software/hardware. I know this because I've done it. i've also tried other ecus on my car and come back to megasquirt, which is a pretty strong endorsement of it.

[D. Clay]

I guess I was rather naive thinking that Megasquirt would be a bit less complicated.
A DIY write-up on installing this on the M42 would save some of us in the dark types a bit of reinventing the wheel.

[Alibi]

Hi guys!
   I am running MS1 V2.2 on my E30 318is (stock). My MS was Custom made and it is Plug n Play. A friend of mine made it for me for round 200$. Put the MS in Motronic Box and I use the stock ECU Harness. Stock Coils and everything stock. I needed only Vacuum for the MAP and small modification on the AFM. I can go from Motronic to MS for about 10 min.
  Unfortunately I am noob in those things and I've got alot to learn, but so far everything is normal. The car is driveable, but I need some help with the Ignition Table.
  My opinion about MS ... well .... if I will stay stock .. I would use the Motronic, but I am going to Supercharge it, so I need another ECU ... MS is a good choice. Cheap, there is a lot of Info and It does the job ....

[Alibi]