Engine Swap Woes

[camklein]

Hey all, I have a quick question. Here are the details. I bought a 323is (auto) that needed an engine, so I found one out of a 328 with manual trans that I successfully put in there. When I did it, I put the green-top injectors in it thinking that they would match the chip in the ecu. It runs, but it's not right. I know that I need the pink-top injectors (which are on the way) for the bigger engine, but I don't have the chip for the 2.8.

My question is, can I just get an ECU out of a 328 and swap its chip for mine with the new injectors? Or, will I have to jump through some other hoops?

Your help is greatly appreciated,
Cam Klein

[strad]

You cannot get a "chip" for an OBDII E36. Furthermore, the computer has EWSII so you cannot simply switch an ECU from one car to another. I know the dealer can "flash" the computer to match the car. It could be that one of the aftermarket tuners can sell you a flash kit that will flash your ECU to run the larger engine.

Did you change the exhaust to the 328 exhaust? You know that a 328 has 4 02 sensors (2 forward and 2 aft) and a 323is has only 2 (1 forward and 1 aft). So that'll be a difference in harness between the two cars, and the 328 computer is going to be looking for those two extra 02 sensors if you use a 328 computer.

[camklein]

Hoops. I remember why I kept the green tops in there now. I guess I knew that I'd have to get the ecu flashed, but I forgot. I'm not ready to pony up the $350 for the Shark. The nearest dealer is about an hour an a half away and I'm still a little leery of taking it that far.

Am I wrong to believe that without having it flashed, it will run rich with the pink top injectors in there? I guess I need to know if its worse to keep the green tops in there until I get it flashed or if I should put the pink tops in there before I take it?

Thanks for your help.

[PrimeTimeSlime]

You could swap the ecu and send it to trm for them to reflash to delete the EWS. That will also fix any neutral safety switch issues you may have from the old automatic trans.

Just did the same on my 318ti