Hi guys I am new to this forum and am asking for help. I will be picking up a 81 635 with 1989 3.5 motor, electronics, trans ect. I will be picking it up in Phoenix and driving to Boise ID. Is there any place that I can go either on the way or just a little out of the way to have a chip installed and tuned for the upgrades performed on the car? Also their are a few bushings that I would also like to have replaced at the same time.

I am mainly looking for a shop that will not just hand me a chip and say here. Instead I would like one that will tune the chip for the motor. Is there one or should I just buy a chip?

If I should just buy a chip who produces the best?

Is there a best or are they all the same?

Thanks for helping a newbie.

Spank

The Jim Conforti Chip is regaurded as the best. It's $250 can be purchased at www.turnermotorsports.com and they come tuned to what ever ecu you have. If your car has a 89 engine it should be a 059 ecu (last three digits printed on ECU). Chips are easy to install should take about an hour.

In order to custom tune a chip for these engine you'll have to find a motronic specialist. The last one I knew of went out of business. Everyone who wants that much customablity goes with a stand alone engine management system, ex. Tec-3, Haltech etc

Here are some othe chip manufacturers/retailers: Bavarian Autosport - www.bavauto.com, Dinan - www.dinanbmw.com, BMP Design - www.bmpdesign.com there are a few others but I cannot remember right now.

As far as a shop, I can't help you there. Good Luck on your trip. Hope you enjoy the car.

It depends if the engine was from a USA car or a gray marlket Euro car.

Most of the big catalog companies will sell you a chip for the USA models.

The Euro models are close to the limit on tuning and need high octane already.

The 1981 e24 is based on the e12 and the bushings are a lot different from the later bodied e24 based on the e28.

There is a whole other group on the body issues.

First Fives Organization.

http://www.firstfives.org

They also have a lot of articles on the use of the later engines in the early bodies.

The best would be a shop in AZ, that the car could be sent to before you arrive. I would check there.

Here is a link to the local BMW CCA site.

http://www.roadrunnerbmw.org/links.html

Later,