Is the ECU from a 1988 350i

[bhardy]

the same as from a range rover? Or does that one have other specifications which will lead to a power loss if i buy a range rover one?

[wedg1e]

Should be the same as long as you get a 4CU and not a 14CU (hotwire version!).
Even if there were any differences, it would probably be down to a few resistor changes and it would be easy enough to compare your old one with the new one.
The ICs used are not reprogrammable so there can't be any major difference that I know of.

Ian

[19560]

It starts off as a Range Rover one and is modified. I don't know whether the resistors is the only mod. One of the changes is to remove the (114mph?) top speed imposed because RR tyres are not rated above that. Mark Adams or Tim Lamont know more.

[wedg1e]

Not sure that the 4CU has any capability of knowing max speed. It only senses rpm from the coil LT trigger (unless there's an input not used, but as far as I can see, all the circuitry that's missing from my unit is that for the closed-loop Lambda control.)

Ian

[19560]

There was an article in Sprint about five years ago. There are a number of differences.

[2 sheds]

a 1988 350i uses the stock Rover Vitesse SD1 ECU, i'm not sure about the Range Rover one, Mark Adams would give every detail.
Tim

[bhardy]

Thanks for the replies so far! I spoke to a lot of people which are either rover or range rover specialists and only one of them had an ECU with the part number 83986A. My ECU has the same number only a B instead of an A. A friend of mine has the 83986A in his 350i so this is probably the same one. But.....this is an ECU from a Range Rover. According to a rover specialist my ECU cannot be from a SD1 and should be from an range rover, cause the SD1 was only build until 1986 and this doesn't match with the 3988 which is engraved in the ECU and stands for week 39, 1988. Any ideas anyone?

[flasher]

2 sheds said:

a 1988 350i uses the stock Rover Vitesse SD1 ECU, i'm not sure about the Range Rover one, Mark Adams would give every detail. Tim

Could modifying the ECU on said 88 350i increase the BHP significantly?

[wedg1e]

19560 said:

There was an article in Sprint about five years ago. There are a number of differences.

OOoo... anyone got a copy?

Ian

[taz turbo]

wedg1e said:

OOoo... anyone got a copy?

Ian, if you have no success, drop me a mail and I will start digging through my back issues of Sprint. I have had/should still have that one, from memory the article was written by Mark Adams. imho possibly the best article I've read in sprint to date.

Chris.

[2 sheds]

flasher said:

2 sheds said: a 1988 350i uses the stock Rover Vitesse SD1 ECU, i'm not sure about the Range Rover one, Mark Adams would give every detail. Tim Could modifying the ECU on said 88 350i increase the BHP significantly?

Not really because the 350i engine is a stock rover SD1 vitesse unit so the ECU is pretty well matched, you could possibly find a few more bhp, beyond this you would need engine upgrades.
BTW the 350i factory figures of 197 bhp are accurate.
Tim