Does anyone else out there feel that changing out the stock chip for a performance upgrade is a major pain in the butt??? I just snapped my old chip in two while removing it and unfortunately left a few of the pins submerged in the socket. I just ordered a new ECU (should be here in a few days) but I'm hesitant to attempt this again. It took me a few trys to figure out that the old pins were still in the socket. Eventually I figured it out after I bent the pins on the new performance chip. What a friggen cluster! Anyone had similar experiences? Can offer any advice? Help sooth my generally ticked off state right now?

Cheers,

I let my mechanic do it because I knew I would break something. I am more than capable of doing the job, but when it comes to a pricey item ($200 for a chip), I let the guy who does it for a living handle it.

i have an adobe document that am unable to copy to this message. if you send me your email perhaps i can attach it that way. it gives detailed step by step instructions on how to swap chips.

I'm willing to bet the first line of those directions reads BE PATIENT WHILE REMOVING THE CHIP. My email is mike@etributaryga.com. Thanks for the directions. My mechanic told me he didn't want the liability of basically doing the same thing I just did...took a 15-min job and turned it into a $400 repair.

Thanks for your help.

To the rest of you out there: Please keep the advice coming as Im trying to build the nerve needed to tackle round 2. This chip better be worth the hassel. I went with a Dinan model.

I just got the new ECU I ordered. When I opened it up I realized why I had so much trouble the first go around. The new ECU came out of an '87 535is. I have a '86 535i. On the board from the '87 535is the chip was seated in a raised bed (this is why my directions told me I could ID the correct chip given that it was more elevated than the other chips.) In my old '86, this wasn't the case. My chip was seated directly into the board. This is why I had so much trouble removing it.

After working on the new board I got the whole thing done in less than 5-minutes. I really feel like a pro now. OH...and because I busted my $200 Dinan chip in the first round I replaced it with a cheap EBAY knockoff.
I'll let you guys know how it goes...if it sucks at least I know how to remove it now.

Cheers,

-Mike

OKAY...so I got the new (cheap Ebay chip installed). In a nutshell...it blew my hair back! Easily 20 more hp, better throttle response, and NO MORE staggering upon acceleraterion. It's like a totally different car!

THERES ONE BIG PROBLEM...now my idle at 1000 rpm revs between 1000-1300. It's not pretty. Since it never did this before I doubt it can be attributed to a vacuum leak...must be the cheap chip.

In my reflection of government spending, I actually bought two ECUs. (Why buy one when you can buy two at twice the price). So I pluged the unmodified ECU in and BINGO...a nice steady idle. It's definitely the cheap chip.

If this is any indication of what a decent chip can do than I'm thinking I'm going to buy another Dinan or EAT or something. I couldn't believe the performance difference from the Ebay chip. (Remember, I broke my quality Dinan chip before I got a chance to evaluate it) However, with these kind of result I just might spend a few more bucks and get it done right.

Hope this thread help some of you looking at for a chip upgrade.

PS...let me know if anyone has had any luck correct the idle surging with these cheap kockoff chips...I'd love to be able to save $200 after going through this fiasco.

Cheers,

-Mike
mike@etributaryga.com

be very careful with the ebay chip, the rough idle may be indicative of more problems such as a lean or rich condition, which could make it feel stronger,but not a good thing for longevity. Noticed that you are in Ga, I am in Thomaston and may be able to help, I do have a EAT chip available as well

Hey mike check your email... i might have exactly what you are looking for.