megasquirt questions

[steve321]

i have MS V3 on my E36 318is and have had nothing but trouble trying to start it, i'm just trying to do fuel at the mo, (but i dont have the AFM on and i heard that will bugger up the sparks on the motronic) and i dont like the fact that i have the bmw ecu doing one thing and the MS trying to do another, so can i just take the bmw ecu out completly. or will i have problems, if so what?

steve

[Master]

To make MS work with stock ECU (piggyback style), you need to share the RPM signal, as well as other signals (coolant temp, intake temp) possibly more. For the stock ECU to fire the sparks correctly, you must trick it, so it thinks it still is controlling the fueling. This is tricky, you can't just wire MS in parallel with the ECU, i think there was a special board for that. As well you must simulate the AFM signal through one of the MS outputs or the ECU will retard the timing, and you car will run like crap.
You should read the megamanual.com, it can explain everything better than me.
My advice would be, to ditch the stock ECU, and wire everything through MS, but be prepared to spend a LOT of time making it work though...
Or you can just wait until I complete my MS II Extra project, and write a complete "How to" manual ;)

[D. Clay]

http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2983&page=2
See last post - #29 - by Alibi. If you're keeping a stock M42 you'll be better off with a chip. Megasquirt or a stand alone system is only necessary for supercharged, turbo charged or modified engines with cams, porting, etc. That's just my opinion. I have a rather unorthodox opinion of street cars. I don't get as excited about spending money to modify them for performance as I do on spending it on purpose built competition cars. A lot of people do. It's a matter of opinion and preference. Motorsports is an irrational activity. It's as meaningless as trying to get a football from one end of a field to the other. I would be the last one to assert that my version of madness is superior to the next guy's. That being said, when my 200,000 mile motor is replalced, I will probably port the head and try to find a used set of cams. And, I'll probably also read that "How to" manual.

[Master]

I have a rather unorthodox opinion of street cars. I don't get as excited about spending money to modify them for performance as I do on spending it on purpose built competition cars. Well maybe it's because not everyone has the chance to drive and tune "purpose built competition cars." ;) That being said, when my 200,000 mile motor is replalced, I will probably port the head and try to find a used set of cams. And, I'll probably also read that "How to" manual.
Will be looking forward to that, as long as everything goes well, It should be ready in a month time (crosses fingers)

[tim_s]

steve, you got ews? i've never looked into running e36 clocks off MS, will undoubtedly be difficult. up to you mate, you know what i'd do!

[m44power]

This Forum Needs A Megasquirt Diy!!!!!!!

[bmwman91]

This Forum Needs A Megasquirt Diy!!!!!!!

Agreed. However, i think everyone has done it differently! There are numerous ways of doing it. I will do mine again in the near future (yes, I am giving in) and plan to use all the stock sensors and whatnot. I want to splice into everything in the engine-harness box at the connectors, so no taps or chopping are needed. Don't hold your breath though.

[Master]

Way to go bmwman, so it's a little friendly race to who finishes his megasquirt and writes diy first ;)
Although I must admit, I will probably fail as always :(

[steve321]

the rest of the wiring is the nightmare at the mo, just tried to get the clocks and lights ect working, and the dash will only light up if the wipers are on full speed, if not nothing works, but i hav'nt touched a single wire from the wipers :S :(

this is what i gota sort out, not looking forward to it lol
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d117/stevemitchell321/wiring1.jpg
all seemed like such a good idea when i was ripping it all out,

and yes i do need an after market ecu cos my engine is far from standard lol
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d117/stevemitchell321/enginetogether2.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d117/stevemitchell321/enginetogether1.jpg

[tim_s]

lol steve you nutter! love it. your engine is looking very cool. you not gonna run a heater/blower? you keeping the motronic?
my new TBs should be here now, dunno whether to fit them...

[m44power]

Agreed. However, i think everyone has done it differently! There are numerous ways of doing it. I will do mine again in the near future (yes, I am giving in) and plan to use all the stock sensors and whatnot. I want to splice into everything in the engine-harness box at the connectors, so no taps or chopping are needed. Don't hold your breath though.

i thinking this forum needs a good Megasquirt DIY with stock sensors stock wirring and megasquirt board into Bmw ECU box something like All stock megasquirt m42 setup thats good for a DIY and if someone needs something more he can do it about himself :)

[bmwman91]

Haha, I am all for an OEM-type install....but no way am I going to run the instrument cluster myself! The Motronic stays in its box, being told LIES so it runs my tach lol.

[m44power]

im gone give you a motronic box for free then :p

[steve321]

i'd like to re wire all the lights ect myself really, just use some of my toggle switches to do all that, maybe the indicators too, the wiring all just seems so over complicated, i really dont want to use the bmw engine loom or ecu, i assume the diff sensor goes straight to the speedo, but then where do the rev gauge bits hook up?

steve

[steve321]

i dont mind using a stack tacho and digital speedo if that makes things easier.

steve

[steve321]

this seems like a nice cost effective way of ditching the standard clocks http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290132749137&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2Fsearch%2F search.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm37%26satitle% 3D290132749137%26fvi%3D1

[bmwman91]

im gone give you a motronic box for free then :p

Thanks for the offer, but I have a pile of parts of my very own! It does not (or rather, cannot) need to get any bigger.

Personally I want to keep the car looking as stock as possible. It is my DD and commuter car, so I want to keep everything stock except the motor electronics.