Replacement ECU for a 1989 520i

[XJSJohn]

Question gents,

Anyone give me a ballpark cost for a replacement ECU for a 1989 BMW 520i auto.

Also, how complex to install (i.e. how many hours labour?)

Finally, anywhere that sells these parts online that can ship international?

Cheers gents!

[stockhatcher]

i think a new one would be mega money... £500+ you need to get one from a scrappy. easy to fit i would of thought, but expensive to code in,

[phelix]

A breaker or Ebay and if it's meant for an auto 520 of the same vintage/country spec coding is unlikely to be needed - 19 years ago ECUs were simple things.

[sniff petrol]

I've got one off a 1992 E36 320i you're welcome to try it first to se if it works. PM me if you're interested.

[XJSJohn]

sniff petrol said:

I've got one off a 1992 E36 320i you're welcome to try it first to se if it works. PM me if you're interested.

Cheers fella, but i am not exactly local!

Also thanks to others for the info!

Its a mates car and just trying to make sure that he does not get taken for a ride!

Probably going to be easiest to break the car i guess!

[bob1179]

John, which engine is fitted to the 520i? Is it the M20 or M50? Being an '89 model Beemer, I would have thought the former.

The ECU from a 1992 320i will not work with an M20 engined 520i as they had the M50 fitted. Basically two different fuel injection systems. As far as I can recall, the M20 engined cars used a variation of Bosch L-Jetronic while M50 engined cars use a Bosch Motronic which is a fully digital system.

There should be some ECU's on Ebay, and they aren't very complex, they basically just plug in.

Edited by bob1179 on Wednesday 30th April 05:19

[juliann]

bob1179 said:

John, which engine is fitted to the 520i? Is it the M20 or M50? Being an '89 model Beemer, I would have thought the former.

The ECU from a 1992 320i will not work with an M20 engined 520i as they had the M50 fitted. Basically two different fuel injection systems. As far as I can recall, the M20 engined cars used a variation of Bosch L-Jetronic while M50 engined cars use a Bosch Motronic which is a fully digital system.

There should be some ECU's on Ebay, and they aren't very complex, they basically just plug in.

Edited by bob1179 on Wednesday 30th April 05:19

M20 used Jetronic only in early dizzy cars - later (post 86) were motronic albeit v1.3 . Look for the Part No on the ECU (on a sticker approx 4" x 3" ) , then find a scrapper with the same part number. Alternatively, if you let me have the part number, I can let you know what other part numbers are interchangeable.

Given it's an M20, I suspect that the E30 320i ECU will be the same : those part numbers are :

261 200 163
261 200 172
261 200 179
261 200 381
280 001 301
986 261 820
280 001 309
986 261 823

(That list is a mix of Jetronic & Motronic) so make sure which is stamped on the ECU casing

Could you let me have the current part number anyway please (It will help in the policing of our race series)
thanks

Edit to say - I've just seen where you are. If you let me have the part no, I'll look at my stash of ECU's and can get one to an office on Bukit Batok Street if you can pick it up from there.

Edited by juliann on Wednesday 30th April 09:21

[XJSJohn]

Cheers gents,

Yes its an M20 engine! (no plastic cover thingy on engine)

I will have a dig around for a part number on the offending thing and post up!

Suspect it will be fleabay or finding a reputable overseas scrappie to post us the part though ...



again, many thanks!

[sniff petrol]

XJSJohn said:

sniff petrol said:

I've got one off a 1992 E36 320i you're welcome to try it first to se if it works. PM me if you're interested.

Cheers fella, but i am not exactly local!

Also thanks to others for the info!

Its a mates car and just trying to make sure that he does not get taken for a ride!

Probably going to be easiest to break the car i guess!

No worries, it's one of those things I took off it before it went to the scrapper thinking someone may want it one day.