Impressions after 100 miles on an "ichbinsobose" chip... [Archive] - Bimmerforums

4500 RPM

07-05-2008, 01:04 AM

I bought a custom-burned chip from Nathan (ichbinsobose) on the board.

My main criteria were:
Fuel economy (a little better than stock is good)
89 octane (it's a 525, not trying to put race gas in it)
EWS-II delete

The 1/95+ cars came with EWS-II, which is great. Until you swap the transmission to a manual, that is. EWS-II replaces the jumper plug/starter relay, depending on transmission. Being that my car will have sprouted a third pedal come Wednesday I needed to delete it myself. My mechanic is great with fabrication of brackets, etc. but I don't trust him with software.

So NikosX installed the chip in my 413 DME (No I didn't do it myself :cool). After a phone call to a guy who knows what he's talking about in Scottsdale, AZ we decided to kill pin 66 in the DME, as this is what deletes EWS-II along with the chip.

After buttoning everything up I turned the key. It wanted to die, idling at 300 RPM, and then rose to an unsteady idle. This is normal for any new chip. After a few seconds the idle smoothed down. I honestly feel that the idle is smoother.

We took it out to the southern Indiana backroads (consistently ranked in the top-10 roads of the U.S., I might add...) The car felt great but not different.

I asked Nathan about the chip. I got straightforward answers. He said I wouldn't feel anything on a butt dyno. He's right. Again, I asked him todo this so I'm not complaining.

Fuel economy is similar, possibly marginally higher. Who cares, the idle is smooth and it deleted EWS-II.

But what really set the chip apart was not the chip but Nathan as a seller. Fantastic, in a word. Prompt shipping, well-packaged. Nathan offered me tips on the install and always answered any question I had.

The best part: $80 shipped. Much better deal than the other software makers, plus it's a quasi-custom tune as you can tell him how you want it.

I would recommend Nathan's chips! :buttrock

Analog

07-05-2008, 01:10 AM

Wow that is some deal!

Does he make chips for different e34 series cars or just M50?

4500 RPM

07-05-2008, 01:13 AM

I dunno, good question. Shoot him a PM, he'll tell you. He's been pretty low-key about it (but he's not a supporting vendor so...).

clevertd

07-05-2008, 01:23 AM

Good to hear that he's gotten a grasp on OBD1 tuning, I remember the headaches he had with MS and his frustration with SE.

5mall5nail5

07-05-2008, 01:31 AM

Wait - so we're arbitrarily adding 3 deg of advance...

....oh god....

4500 RPM

07-05-2008, 01:32 AM

Wait - so we're arbitrarily adding 3 deg of advance...

....oh god....

Well, it's a bit more complicated than that. I massively oversimplified there. I edited it for accuracy.

Sam Son

07-05-2008, 01:50 AM

so a full tranny swap ...NICE....man, an M5 body kit, 5spd...now all you need is a nice steering wheel and your all set:D

4500 RPM

07-05-2008, 01:55 AM

so a full tranny swap ...NICE....man, an M5 body kit, 5spd...now all you need is a nice steering wheel and your all set:D

Don't forget the suspension!

I drove it on a nice twisty road tonight...all I could think was how in the hell I could find something worthy to replace this car.

She's looking like a keeper. :redspot

slocar

07-05-2008, 02:02 AM

Don't forget the suspension!

I drove it on a nice twisty road tonight...all I could think was how in the hell I could find something worthy to replace this car.

She's looking like a keeper. :redspot
Sad how these cars suck you in, isn't it?

I was honestly considering getting rid of mine, but I couldn't find anything suitable. And just guess what I'm doing tomorrow? Going to look at another 535im. :help Like I really need another.

Sam Son

07-05-2008, 02:06 AM

Don't forget the suspension!

I drove it on a nice twisty road tonight...all I could think was how in the hell I could find something worthy to replace this car.

She's looking like a keeper. :redspot
yeah I know....when my car was an auto i was thinkin quite often "ooh i gotta get somethin else ...somethin with a stick, maybe another E34 or an E36 or somethin".....after the 5spd went in.....i couldnt even conceive gettin rid of it for anything else
you are gonna be VERY happy with the manual!
what rearend gearing are you goin wif?

4500 RPM

07-05-2008, 02:10 AM

yeah I know....when my car was an auto i was thinkin quite often "ooh i gotta get somethin else ...somethin with a stick, maybe another E34 or an E36 or somethin".....after the 5spd went in.....i couldnt even conceive gettin rid of it for anything else
you are gonna be VERY happy with the manual!
what rearend gearing are you goin wif?

Can't wait to drive it with a manual!

I'm going all factory on the trans swap stuff. Getrag 250, used dual-mass (I was going to buy a UUC lightweight flywheel but bought a vintage Omega Seamaster instead), 3.23 open (I'll get an LSD later...I needed something and this came with the swap kit). I have a new Sachs E34 M5 clutch kit that NikosX had sitting around. I like a stiff clutch pedal so this should do the trick.

I'm still debating about what shift knob and what SSK. I was thinking about getting the OE wood shift knob (it's gorgeous), or better yet, a lighted knob (but want one in Bubinga wood). Maybe a ZHP knob as well.

Then I want an M5 console plate but it would have to be black, while I have a parchment/Bubinga wood interior. I may get a new Bubinga console surround...who knows?

SSK...no idea. I may get a TMS one.

Sam Son

07-05-2008, 02:51 AM

wow....as far as SSk goes Ive had a Z3 shifter and it was pretty good the throws were uber short problem was it was exactly...."right" it was really tough to get it into second and sometimes it wouldnt go in maybe with bette rbushings it wouldve been better....now i have the UUC evo3 and its much better the throws arent as short but its ALOT smoother i havent tried a TMS one but im sure its pretty good as with most of TMS products

attack eagle

07-05-2008, 03:06 AM

I'm still debating about what shift knob and what SSK. I was thinking about getting the OE wood shift knob (it's gorgeous), or better yet, a lighted knob (but want one in Bubinga wood). Maybe a ZHP knob as well.

Then I want an M5 console plate but it would have to be black, while I have a parchment/Bubinga wood interior. I may get a new Bubinga console surround...who knows?

SSK...no idea. I may get a TMS one.
haha... I'm still debating... so I put some tape around the shaft and slapped the auto knob back on it. I call it stealthy, but that is just an excuse for being a cheap bastard.

m5 console inserts are (or were) available in more than just black. Parchment was definately an M5 interior color.

If I ever do an ssk, I'm doing the z8 lever. can't really slap hard with a dual mass anyway. takes just a hint longer for the rpm to drop (imo) than it does to shift stock lever... could be because Im still running automatic DME programming

5mall5nail5

07-05-2008, 10:53 AM

I am still concerned for you - not that Ichbinsobose isn't a great guy, but simply adding 3 degrees of advance in various spots on the map doesn't make it better nor does it make it safer. Good luck to you, but I'd consider dyno'ing with a wideband and seeing exactly whats going on.

The thing that scares me most is that you said "The chip feels the same" - theres a thing referred to as knock threshold when tuning. Its an area where adding timing doesn't add power. So basically you peak at optimal timing and then a couple degrees (usually 3 - 4) do nothing at all or perhaps hurt power, and then a degree after you're knocking. Considering the car requires "premium fuel only" I don't think its a good idea to be adding timing without a dyno or without a proven flash. The car requires 89, so I don't see how you'd feel confident in adding 3 degrees whiles till remaining on 89.

sachmo12345

07-05-2008, 11:01 AM

How far away are the roads in southern Indiana that you speak of from Bloomington. I visit friends out there often.

Stir Fry A Lot

07-05-2008, 01:28 PM

Why not go with a single mass flywheel from an e28? Worldpac actually carries a single mass e34 - e28 flywheel conversion kit now. Congrats on getting a stick.

4500 RPM

07-05-2008, 02:14 PM

Jon: I appreciate the concern. I'm not at all worried about it, plus I can get another tune from Nathan (or if I wanted to buy something else...) I can. Thanks though

wow....as far as SSk goes Ive had a Z3 shifter and it was pretty good the throws were uber short problem was it was exactly...."right" it was really tough to get it into second and sometimes it wouldnt go in maybe with bette rbushings it wouldve been better....now i have the UUC evo3 and its much better the throws arent as short but its ALOT smoother i havent tried a TMS one but im sure its pretty good as with most of TMS products

Thanks for the info. Do you have the stock dual-mass flywheel?

I'll do TMS or UUC SSK then.

haha... I'm still debating... so I put some tape around the shaft and slapped the auto knob back on it. I call it stealthy, but that is just an excuse for being a cheap bastard.

m5 console inserts are (or were) available in more than just black. Parchment was definately an M5 interior color.

If I ever do an ssk, I'm doing the z8 lever. can't really slap hard with a dual mass anyway. takes just a hint longer for the rpm to drop (imo) than it does to shift stock lever... could be because Im still running automatic DME programming

Thanks ae, never looked into a parchment M5 console. I'll go for that first.

I'll look into the Z8 lever as well.

How far away are the roads in southern Indiana that you speak of from Bloomington. I visit friends out there often.

Starting in Bloomington and going south or west. Pretty damn good. I wouldn't drive from OH just for them though. You've got some nice backroads in that state as well.

Why not go with a single mass flywheel from an e28? Worldpac actually carries a single mass e34 - e28 flywheel conversion kit now. Congrats on getting a stick.

I wasn't aware of one for an M50-Getrag combo. I'll look into it but now I'm in money-save mode.

kalevera

07-05-2008, 02:20 PM

Why not go with a single mass flywheel from an e28? Worldpac actually carries a single mass e34 - e28 flywheel conversion kit now. Congrats on getting a stick.

Link for this? I'm not seeing it...

Sam Son

07-05-2008, 03:28 PM

Thanks for the info. Do you have the stock dual-mass flywheel?

I'll do TMS or UUC SSK then.
yup stock 30somethin lbs dual mass

splackavellie

07-05-2008, 03:39 PM

so im guessing no more on the GTI?
you should take me for a spin whenever you get back to atl...

splackavellie

07-05-2008, 03:39 PM

so im guessing no more on the GTI?
you should take me for a spin whenever you get back to atl...

lilxyoshi

07-05-2008, 03:44 PM

hmm, interesting

will look into it

4500 RPM

07-05-2008, 03:49 PM

so im guessing no more on the GTI?
you should take me for a spin whenever you get back to atl...

I'll be back in August for a week or so with the car. On the GTI I decided that I still don't want a car payment. Every six months or so I give things another look.

Older cars are more fun, since you make repairs, not payments. Keeps things interesting.

Shuasha

07-05-2008, 09:39 PM

4500 RPM

07-05-2008, 09:42 PM

You guys realize that this is his first attempt at tuning the 413 ECU. Until about 3 weeks ago he was waiting for the Shark Edit tool. I would rather pay extra and have a good dyno tuned chip from a professional tuner with proper knock testing than taking a chip with timing arbitrarily added.

Nothing against him, but it's not a sorted out tune quite yet.

I know this. I have to have an EWS delete by Monday or else I'm renting a car.

It's not permanently sealed in there or anything. I'm sure he's getting a grasp on it...I wanted a mild tune anyways.

Also, I wouldn't call TMS, etc. a professional tuner. You should also see what a Mark D. chip looks like on a dyno.

Shuasha

07-05-2008, 09:46 PM

I know this. I have to have an EWS delete by Monday or else I'm renting a car.

It's not permanently sealed in there or anything. I'm sure he's getting a grasp on it...I wanted a mild tune anyways.

Also, I wouldn't call TMS, etc. a professional tuner. You should also see what a Mark D. chip looks like on a dyno.
I believe TMS resells Conforti tunes, who I would consider the best tuner in the BMW industry.

4500 RPM

07-05-2008, 09:49 PM

I believe TMS resells Conforti tunes, who I would consider the best tuner in the BMW industry.

I never was able to get an answer from them on EWS. I also didn't want to pay $250 when I may as well get a custom tune from TRM when I'm in Atlanta.

Shuasha

07-05-2008, 09:52 PM

I never was able to get an answer from them on EWS. I also didn't want to pay $250 when I may as well get a custom tune from TRM when I'm in Atlanta.
Ahh, good point.

325icintn

07-09-2008, 05:47 PM

The best part: $80 shipped. $5.00 chip + $5.00 shipping + $70.00 expertise and return to capital? :confused

So what's the best part? You could have bought a burner and copied and burned a stock m50 manual bin for $40.00 plus the cost of a chip. Plus, you would have a burner if you ever want to do a little more.

325icintn

07-09-2008, 05:48 PM

Wait - so we're arbitrarily adding 3 deg of advance...

....oh god....I don't see anything about timing in the OP post.

5mall5nail5

07-09-2008, 06:16 PM

I don't see anything about timing in the OP post.

My post 7/5/08 1:31 AM, his original post edited 7/5/08 1:33 AM. He removed that line ;) I didn't just post all surprised and pick a random number out of the sky.

OP: I know you said its not permanent, but pitting in the head and pistons or banging up the ringlands/breaking rings is. 3 degrees may not seem like much, but you're running junk gas and you added 3 degrees of timing arbitrarily. I've street tuned a few cars and we use 93 octane and I can tell you that arbitrarily adding 3 degrees to a stock map and filling with 89 octane junk gas is something I definitely would not want to do especially considering the 10.5:1 motor requires "premium unleaded fuel" already. The thing that rings alarms to me is the "It felt great but not different". Traditionally a 3 degree advance is a pretty noticeable change NA or FI. The fact that it didn't feel different to me sounds like its within the couple degrees of knock threshold and I'd be concerned. But I don't really know what I am talking about :)

4500 RPM

07-09-2008, 06:21 PM

$5.00 chip + $5.00 shipping + $70.00 expertise and return to capital? :confused

So what's the best part? You could have bought a burner and copied and burned a stock m50 manual bin for $40.00 plus the cost of a chip. Plus, you would have a burner if you ever want to do a little more.

Compared to what? That money was compared to the $250 for a TMS (JimC), etc. I'm planning on a custom tune here in a month or two.

I can hardly burn a CD on my computer, don't talk about burning chips! :rofl

Jon: I'm running Shell 93 only. :)

And you're right, I removed the timing line so as not to create confusion or false info.

325icintn

07-09-2008, 06:34 PM

4500 RPM

07-09-2008, 06:41 PM

Compared to buying a stock m50 chip from someone who purchased an aftermarket performance chip. Maybe $5 plus shipping without worrying that the tune has been messed about. On what did you rely in deciding to pay for this tuner's expertise?

I'm not buying expertise, I'm buying a chip. That's a roundabout response to your valid question. ;)

Since I'm not the expert on tuning that you are I requested a very mild tune. It won't be in there for more than a month. Again, I needed an EWS delete that day and nobody else could answer the question.

Once again, the only reason for a new chip was not for performance but simply EWS delete for a manual swap.

5mall5nail5

07-09-2008, 06:49 PM

I'm not buying expertise, I'm buying a chip. That's a roundabout response to your valid question. ;)

Since I'm not the expert on tuning that you are I requested a very mild tune. It won't be in there for more than a month. Again, I needed an EWS delete that day and nobody else could answer the question.

Once again, the only reason for a new chip was not for performance but simply EWS delete for a manual swap.

You said your requirements were 89 octane. 3 degree timing bump "across the board" I believe it said. You don't seem to understand though - a chip is nothing but an bunch of silicon with some legs. You can buy them at Radio Shack. The expertise or at least proven or experience is supposed to be contained on the chip. I like Ichbinsobose, but I don't think he's qualified at all to plop some timing numbers on a chip and sell you it. You're taking a risk for a month. Its your motor, your car, but if you needed EWS delete I would have said yo give me a chip with EWS disabled but the stock map.

4500 RPM

07-09-2008, 06:52 PM

You said your requirements were 89 octane. 3 degree timing bump "across the board" I believe it said. You don't seem to understand though - a chip is nothing but an bunch of silicon with some legs. You can buy them at Radio Shack. The expertise or at least proven or experience is supposed to be contained on the chip. I like Ichbinsobose, but I don't think he's qualified at all to plop some timing numbers on a chip and sell you it. You're taking a risk for a month. Its your motor, your car, but if you needed EWS delete I would have said yo give me a chip with EWS disabled but the stock map.

In retrospect, I should have done that. I didn't know what I was talking about when I said something about a 3-degree bump in timing, which is why it was removed. The 89 octane is no longer a requirement since that was fickle in the first place.

What I'm trying to figure out now is that now that my EWS-II is disabled (by pulling pin 66) do I order a chip for a pre-1/95 car?

Matt

07-09-2008, 08:16 PM

Hi Denton,

I need to talk to you in person when you get back to Atlanta. Bring your car. I will bring a real chip.

Thanks,
Matt

PS: Cutting the pin in the wiring harness doesn't disable EWS, it just prevents the EWS module from talking to the ECU. Yes, now you need a non-EWS chip.

Analog

07-09-2008, 08:25 PM

Hi Denton,

I need to talk to you in person when you get back to Atlanta. Bring your car. I will bring a real chip.

Thanks,
Matt

PS: Cutting the pin in the wiring harness (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1036976&page=2#) doesn't disable EWS, it just prevents the EWS module from talking to the ECU. Yes, now you need a non-EWS chip.

A bit OT, but don't you live in fairfield?

Matt

07-09-2008, 08:29 PM

I don't even know where fairfield is... I live in Smyr-nings.

5mall5nail5

07-09-2008, 08:32 PM

4500 RPM

07-09-2008, 09:13 PM

I love you Matt! I'm PMing you in a sec...

clevertd

07-09-2008, 10:43 PM

*threadjack*

Matt, did you go to GT and get a BSME? Just wondering what's out there, I'm about 3 semesters away from graduation.

*end*

Denton - WTF are you gonna do once your car has the manual swap and is lowered? It will be 100% perfect then.

Matt

07-09-2008, 10:44 PM

No BSME... yet. Do you go to Tech?

4500 RPM

07-09-2008, 10:47 PM

Denton - WTF are you gonna do once your car has the manual swap and is lowered? It will be 100% perfect then.

Then I'll buy a BSW stereo and three-spoke steering wheel. By then I'll have wasted my meager full-time college student wages so I'll do something stupid like sell it for too little and move onto a '98 540i6.

I wish I was kidding but I'm sure I'll do something I regret. Hopefully since I'm lazy and don't save a dime I'll have no choice but to keep my car, which would be the best decision. It only has 126k anyways...

Sam Son

07-09-2008, 10:55 PM

Then I'll buy a BSW stereo and three-spoke steering wheel. By then I'll have wasted my meager full-time college student wages so I'll do something stupid like sell it for too little and move onto a '98 540i6.

I wish I was kidding but I'm sure I'll do something I regret. Hopefully since I'm lazy and don't save a dime I'll have no choice but to keep my car, which would be the best decision. It only has 126k anyways...
keep it next is an S52 swap and an AA stg2 supercharger