Hey guys. I am planning on buying a EAT chip very soon, but i realised that the premium gas in CA is 91 octane. Do any of you guys that have the EAT chip have problems with pinging?

Rob- I know you have the JC chip, but from what I hear, it is pretty close. Do you have any problems with your chip?


Anyone else with thoughts on this situation, please reply.

Hey guys. I am planning on buying a EAT chip very soon, but i realised that the premium gas in CA is 91 octane. Do any of you guys that have the EAT chip have problems with pinging?

Rob- I know you have the JC chip, but from what I hear, it is pretty close. Do you have any problems with your chip?


Anyone else with thoughts on this situation, please reply.

I do believe there are a few threads on this, but I think the upshot of them were that the EAT was one of the chips to get for the E34. DO IT.

Im just worried about the gas. I know it is a great product and I will try to find a thread regarding the gas situation. =) thank you for your input. Anybody else?

I use an EAT chip with 91 octane and have had zero pinging problems, including in the summer, loaded down, with the A/C pumping. I think it's a great product.

That said, the M30 is much, much less likely to have issues with pinging than the late M50 due to the higher compression of the M50. So it is possible that you would have pinging if you have lots of carbon buildup in your combustion chambers, or a similar issue.

also: armen's M30 is spotless on the inside....


it pulls like E39 540i/6..... seriously.

Um, except for being about 2 seconds slower in the 1/4 mile.... :)

I said "pulls like"

not "runs dead even with"

and I really doubt the difference is that big if traction and driver was equal.... I've driven several 540iAs that you would REALLY embarrass....

any suggestions on cleaning up some carbon? I know there has to be some in there.

take the head off....gasket-match the intake, clean-off piston tops, re-surface head.

that should do it.

It has been in the car for a couple of years and I have only used 91 octane fuel with no problems with pinging. The chip has given the car noticeable improvement in acceleration - even my wife, who couldn't care less about this stuff, noticed the improvement and I never told her I had put the chip in. Her comment was, "did you do a tune-up on the engine or something".

The chip also improved a slightly uneven idle and actually increased my gas mileage a bit. It improved 1 to 2 mpg when driving on the highway. It probably decreased a bit when in town, though, as I tended to drive the car a bit more aggressively.

I used 91 octane fuel in the car prior to installing the chip, so there was no increase in fuel costs.

I use an EAT chip with 91 octane and have had zero pinging problems, including in the summer, loaded down, with the A/C pumping. I think it's a great product.

That said, the M30 is much, much less likely to have issues with pinging than the late M50 due to the higher compression of the M50. So it is possible that you would have pinging if you have lots of carbon buildup in your combustion chambers, or a similar issue.

Well, dasmafia is right, but if you don't feel like pulling the head off..... :D

There are a number of 'cleaning' chemical solutions available. Chevron Techron and Lubri-moly both make pretty strong fuel system cleaners that might help, and Seafoam makes a more aggressive system. With seafoam you actually suck it into the combustion chambers and let it 'soak' for a while, then when you run it it blows the chunks of loosened-up carbon out the tailpipe. There's also an oil additive and a fuel additive, and then you change the oil immediately after the treatment.

There's nothing quite like cleaning it all by hand when the head is off, though....I wish I'd have taken pictures. I could have eaten off of those pistons. :)

hmm, i think i will go with the chemicals. What is the best route? I was going to do the seafoam hotsoak, but i thought it may mess up the o2 sensor and could possibly clog up the cat.


I will try the chevron techron stuff. - you just stick that into the fuel right? Could i just buy a couple of bottles and use them back to back for a couple of tanks, then change the oil?

Yeah, the O2 and the cat are a little concerning with the seafoam. The O2 you could remove and put in a bolt or something, but the cat is not so easy.

Yep, with techron I would just run down to 1/4 tank, pour it in, and go for a while before refilling. Then repeat when you get back down to 1/4 tank. Makes it a little stronger that way.

if you HAVE cats.... that is.....

A less invasive procedure than dumping chemicals in the combustion chambers, or than pulling the head is possible. Add a dose of Tecron to a partially full tank. Then take the car out and drive it until the gas is gone, spending a lot of time above 3000rpm. A route that provides a good assortment of hills and curves with lots of opportunities for WOT will remove an amazing amount of carbon from the heads. And besides, it's a lot of fun.

I love the EAT chip in my 535. Very nice upgrade, plus Mark D is an BMW enthusiast.

no kiddin, mark is a enthusiast ey mike?

haha. my only concern was pinging which would be caused by the gas. apperantly people are doing okay on it and if its pinging its because of the carbon, which i will remedy with the techron stuff. lots of it =).

sorry to bring this back, but after i use the techron stuff, should i change the oil + filter?

91 gas should be fine. no problems with jim c chip. eat chip should work just as well.

PM Greg.He has a 91 M5 with a EAT chip and had hella problems.I was there in person when his car was on the dyno.Yes,there can be problems with 91 Cali gas.Now this is on a (I repeat) a M5.But I heard EAT is very good with customer service if the chip does not work.

Well, I ordered it a couple of days ago and its suppose to come in about a week. We will see what happens. Mark said he will help me if the chip dosnt do well in my car, so I am not too worried.


...so I should change the oil after the Techron Combustion Cleaner yah?