Discussion
Well I decided to go with carpets and leather Recaro to replace my tired old race seats & harnesses. Obviously it's much quieter in the cabin now but not too quiet. The rear seat back is wrapped up and safely stored away, as they're quite sought after and valuable now. Obviously I would need to remove the cage were I too fit that and I like the added strength the cage gives. I need to lose those nasty mats with the red piping though!
I plan on getting a new seats made by Cobra later this year, so meanwhile have padded the front section, although I take your point. I won't be going on track till the new seat comes though, as you say, the Recaro are no use for track work.
The lesson for today though, is never join 2 multi pin plugs that look like they came apart, just incase they didn't. I did and ended up potentially frying the Alpha N unit, although I'm hoping I just corrupted the map and that reloading the map will cure it? It was weird, as it did seem to sort itself out and would rev cleanly but after turning it off, it simply wouldn't start and run / rev. That'll teach me.
As a result, it went back to Avers Racing and I'm waiting for a call. Mind you, the suspension is due back from KW so it may stay till then anyway.
The lesson for today though, is never join 2 multi pin plugs that look like they came apart, just incase they didn't. I did and ended up potentially frying the Alpha N unit, although I'm hoping I just corrupted the map and that reloading the map will cure it? It was weird, as it did seem to sort itself out and would rev cleanly but after turning it off, it simply wouldn't start and run / rev. That'll teach me.
As a result, it went back to Avers Racing and I'm waiting for a call. Mind you, the suspension is due back from KW so it may stay till then anyway.
Well after a worrying couple of days, it transpired that the part of the wiring loom that splices into the Motronic ECU was frazzled. I contacted Martin at Maxx Automotive and he said it would be a week or so before he could fabricate a replacement, so Joe at ARM made one by copying the damaged section. As a result my car is running once more! A quick run on the dyno to check all is well though and it seems it is running a base / installation map and only making 180 bhp! That's 50 down on what was expected! Initially I assumed that the Alpha N module had switched into some sort of safe mode (I know next to nothing about AN or mapping in general) but closer inspection shows there's no other map within the module. ARM, which is where my car is being worked on, are hoping to be able to map it live tomorrow and get the power to the kind of level I was expecting.
Well the Alpha N module is knackered. I think that's the technical term for it anyway? As a result it needs either repair or replacement and both of those options meant sending it back to Maxx Automotive in Germany. Being an inpatient individual though, I spent a couple of hours trawling the internet and calling any vaguely BMW related contacts in my phone, till I finally found someone who'd upgraded to standalone and had an AN module sat there redundant! Happy days! 😀
e21Mark said:
Well the Alpha N module is knackered. I think that's the technical term for it anyway? As a result it needs either repair or replacement and both of those options meant sending it back to Maxx Automotive in Germany. Being an inpatient individual though, I spent a couple of hours trawling the internet and calling any vaguely BMW related contacts in my phone, till I finally found someone who'd upgraded to standalone and had an AN module sat there redundant! Happy days! ??
That was a stroke of luck.Check that the chip has the correct ignition map for your engine spec, Maxx will be able to sort you out.
Hopefully my car will be back this coming weekend. Joe's Mrs gave birth last weekend, so I guess he had a good excuse for it not being done. 
I managed to trace a previous owner a few days ago. He owned it between 2003 and 2005, when it then went to Ireland .
He bought the car from a guy near Bromley who treated it as a garage queen. I believe he had imported it from Germany (or bought it from a dealer who had imported it). Evidently, when going out for a test drive in it with him, he accelerated quite hard through the gears and was shocked, saying he did not realise it was that fast!
Reputedly the car was the Hamman Motorsport show car at the Cologne motor show, not Munich as I first thought.
He loved the car and wishes he had kept it. He also did the BMW Car Club driver training at the Nurburgring and lapped (gantry to gantry) in 9'24" which wasn't bad for an old car and an old man! (his words not mine!)
Servicing was done by a chap near Birmingham, who was reputedly an ex works BMW mechanic, who emigrated to Australia?
Previous incarnation & owner at the home of M cars.
I managed to trace a previous owner a few days ago. He owned it between 2003 and 2005, when it then went to Ireland .
He bought the car from a guy near Bromley who treated it as a garage queen. I believe he had imported it from Germany (or bought it from a dealer who had imported it). Evidently, when going out for a test drive in it with him, he accelerated quite hard through the gears and was shocked, saying he did not realise it was that fast!
Reputedly the car was the Hamman Motorsport show car at the Cologne motor show, not Munich as I first thought.
He loved the car and wishes he had kept it. He also did the BMW Car Club driver training at the Nurburgring and lapped (gantry to gantry) in 9'24" which wasn't bad for an old car and an old man! (his words not mine!)
Servicing was done by a chap near Birmingham, who was reputedly an ex works BMW mechanic, who emigrated to Australia?
Previous incarnation & owner at the home of M cars.
Well it's been a real pain in the arse getting the ecu mapped and this weekend was wasted down to a failed computer lead. Hopefully it's now fixed but it's a delay I could have done without.
I've also been fitting the KW3 suspension and that has brought its own problems. The fronts went on easily enough but the original strut brace no longer fitted, so a steel version is now fitted. The rears are causing a problem with the 2.5" springs rubbing on the lower inside of the turret. I also had to improve the rigidity of the turret using strengthening plates that were originally used in Z3's. Although there is some adjustment in my rear top mounts it simply isn't enough, so I may have to look around at alternative manufacturers? Gaz sent me some pictures of theirs but whilst they are offset, they don't look at more suitable than the Ground Control ones I have. I did wonder whether I could use a spring with a shorter free length instead? I think KW actually produce a conical spring but I need to speak to them and ask if it's suitable to run them on KW3's?
Another issue is the fuel filler neck, which also fouls the shock. I guess most cars would convert to a fuel cell in the spare wheel well, with the dual fillers in the rear panel. I think it's a great look too, but there a small matter of the rear number plate, so that's a non starter. I may look at having a custom filler neck made instead?
I've also been fitting the KW3 suspension and that has brought its own problems. The fronts went on easily enough but the original strut brace no longer fitted, so a steel version is now fitted. The rears are causing a problem with the 2.5" springs rubbing on the lower inside of the turret. I also had to improve the rigidity of the turret using strengthening plates that were originally used in Z3's. Although there is some adjustment in my rear top mounts it simply isn't enough, so I may have to look around at alternative manufacturers? Gaz sent me some pictures of theirs but whilst they are offset, they don't look at more suitable than the Ground Control ones I have. I did wonder whether I could use a spring with a shorter free length instead? I think KW actually produce a conical spring but I need to speak to them and ask if it's suitable to run them on KW3's?
Another issue is the fuel filler neck, which also fouls the shock. I guess most cars would convert to a fuel cell in the spare wheel well, with the dual fillers in the rear panel. I think it's a great look too, but there a small matter of the rear number plate, so that's a non starter. I may look at having a custom filler neck made instead?
Well thanks to C3 BMW I have managed to get hold of an original lead for the Alpha N. Weirdly though, when we hooked it up, there were more parameters available than had been previously. Odd. Anyway, I have my fingers crossed that we can finally get the mapping sorted this weekend, as I'm missing driving the M3 in all this good weather.
Fitting the true coilovers on the rear should also present less of a problem now that I have some offset top mounts. Rally Prep came through for me, although I have also sourced some from Millway Motorsport in Sweden. I'd never heard of them previously but they appear to do some really nice parts.
It seems running true coilovers brings rubbing issues on all E30, but especially when using 2.5'' springs. *this isn't my car, but an M3 shell being prepared for paint, that we test fitted on*
The fronts are certainly a step up from the old H&R but also meant a change of strut brace.
Anyway, fingers crossed it'll be making good power and back on my drive by tomorrow.
Fitting the true coilovers on the rear should also present less of a problem now that I have some offset top mounts. Rally Prep came through for me, although I have also sourced some from Millway Motorsport in Sweden. I'd never heard of them previously but they appear to do some really nice parts.
It seems running true coilovers brings rubbing issues on all E30, but especially when using 2.5'' springs. *this isn't my car, but an M3 shell being prepared for paint, that we test fitted on*
The fronts are certainly a step up from the old H&R but also meant a change of strut brace.
Anyway, fingers crossed it'll be making good power and back on my drive by tomorrow.
Edited by e21Mark on Saturday 11th July 09:19
No, not yet anyway. I'm waiting on Martin from Maxx Automotive returning my Alpha N module, that I sent him to check and repair. Initially we thought it was damaged but having tested it, he says it's fine. I did source another, from Kirby at C3BMW, but we just couldn't get it mapped properly. This seemed to suggest that the Motronic ECU might have been damaged after all, so Nigel Moseley posted a replacement today. We did fit another ECU (although it was a different Bosch code to my original) and there was a definite improvement.
Just out of interest, is there a big difference between the stock Bosch ECU's?
I've also been looking at upgrading from the Motronic / Alpha N and going with standalone. I was offered a complete VEMS set-up, including harness, trigger wheel etc and an Omex ECU, although I would need to sort a harness for that. That said, when my Alpha N set-up was working I never really had any problems with it. Admittedly it was sensitive to changes of temperature and elevation but it was nowhere near as bad as some people suggest.
Hopefully (dependent on the post and how long it takes for my AN module to arrive from Germany) we should finally be sorted within a few days. My original AN map remains on the module, so it should simply be a case of 'plug and play' to get my car back as it was before this started.
With regard to the rear suspension, I have the rear top mounts that should afford enough clearance to stop the springs rubbing on the inside of the turrets. The fuel tank breather has had to be modified, to afford clearance for the offside shock, plus a roll-over valve was fitted in the remaining breather pipe. I'm really looking forward to driving it with the whole KW V3 set-up installed. I will need to get the geometry done though, so if anyone has any suggestions for a suitable geo set-up, please let me know.
Just out of interest, is there a big difference between the stock Bosch ECU's?
I've also been looking at upgrading from the Motronic / Alpha N and going with standalone. I was offered a complete VEMS set-up, including harness, trigger wheel etc and an Omex ECU, although I would need to sort a harness for that. That said, when my Alpha N set-up was working I never really had any problems with it. Admittedly it was sensitive to changes of temperature and elevation but it was nowhere near as bad as some people suggest.
Hopefully (dependent on the post and how long it takes for my AN module to arrive from Germany) we should finally be sorted within a few days. My original AN map remains on the module, so it should simply be a case of 'plug and play' to get my car back as it was before this started.
With regard to the rear suspension, I have the rear top mounts that should afford enough clearance to stop the springs rubbing on the inside of the turrets. The fuel tank breather has had to be modified, to afford clearance for the offside shock, plus a roll-over valve was fitted in the remaining breather pipe. I'm really looking forward to driving it with the whole KW V3 set-up installed. I will need to get the geometry done though, so if anyone has any suggestions for a suitable geo set-up, please let me know.
If I had much hair I'd have pulled most of it out by now. 
Despite chopping out the burnt section of wiring loom, replacing the DME, the Alpha N module, the lambda sensors, the coolant temp' sensor and both crank position sensors, we are still having problems with over fuelling from idle. Also, when we set the AFR values via the laptop, after a single power run on the dyno, they are all changed and way out again. Added to this, the tacho needle is no longer steady at whatever RPM but seems to shoot up and down at random, as if there is some sort of interference?
We've checked the DME and Alpha N and confirmed they're not at fault but I can't help but think that something must be fooling the DME into thinking more fuel is needed? As far as I can tell, it's the coolant temp' sensor that usually causes such issues? If anyone can suggest alternative reasons though, please say!
We're at a point where replacing the wiring loom seems the only viable next step.
Despite chopping out the burnt section of wiring loom, replacing the DME, the Alpha N module, the lambda sensors, the coolant temp' sensor and both crank position sensors, we are still having problems with over fuelling from idle. Also, when we set the AFR values via the laptop, after a single power run on the dyno, they are all changed and way out again. Added to this, the tacho needle is no longer steady at whatever RPM but seems to shoot up and down at random, as if there is some sort of interference?
We've checked the DME and Alpha N and confirmed they're not at fault but I can't help but think that something must be fooling the DME into thinking more fuel is needed? As far as I can tell, it's the coolant temp' sensor that usually causes such issues? If anyone can suggest alternative reasons though, please say!
We're at a point where replacing the wiring loom seems the only viable next step.
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