Upgraded ECU

Mal CSL 3.0

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My E9 now has a new Haltech Engine Management System ECU installed. The performance is significantly improved as it starts first time every time, idles evenly and performs extremely well. I would have thought adding a new ECU to an E9 is a great way to improve the engine and drive and therefore more owners would do this. However wondering why very few E9 owners seem to do this upgrade to their E9? Is it because it comprises originality or something? It is a mistake to have a Haltech on an otherwise stock CSL? Anyone else here running a Haltech?
Thanks for any advice re pros and cons.
 
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sfdon

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You might run into this .....

Mal- there is a world of difference between a "e9" and a csl.
You don't have an e9- you have a csl.
The csl is a rare collectible and the less tampered with the better is a common thought.
No worries if you change to a 5 speed, no worries if you go haltech, no worries if you swap to a s38- make sure you keep the original bits and pieces.
 

Mal CSL 3.0

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You might run into this .....

Mal- there is a world of difference between a "e9" and a csl.
You don't have an e9- you have a csl.
The csl is a rare collectible and the less tampered with the better is a common thought.
No worries if you change to a 5 speed, no worries if you go haltech, no worries if you swap to a s38- make sure you keep the original bits and pieces.

Yes good advice. I kept the origional ECU (basically a little grey box). And actually the Haltech went on without redoing the wiring harness in any signifiant way, as there is an adaptor available. I can't imagine though anyone ever wanting to revert back to the origional set up. A later ECU really is quite an amazing and relatively affordable engine performance improvement that I would recommend.
 

sfdon

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Mal - I'll be in Brisbane in a couple months installing a Megasquirt. Flying in and out of Sydney. Maybe we can meet up.
 

lloyd

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My E9 now has a new Haltech Engine Management System ECU installed. The performance is significantly improved as it starts first time every time, idles evenly and performs extremely well. I would have thought adding a new ECU to an E9 is a great way to improve the engine and drive and therefore more owners would do this. However wondering why very few E9 owners seem to do this upgrade to their E9? Is it because it comprises originality or something? It is a mistake to have a Haltech on an otherwise stock CSL? Anyone else here running a Haltech?
Thanks for any advice re pros and cons.


For those interested: http://www.haltech.com/which-ecu-is-right-for-you/

Many E9 owners tend to be fairly conservative about deviating from what was originally available - and what later became available on newer M30 engines. The Djet may have been primitive, but it did an acceptable job and many of us still use it. The Ljet system that replaced the Djet is also tried and true, and readily avaailable. This potentially makes it a natural upgrade for those thirsting for more than the Djet offered in reliability or adaptability with other engine modifications. It also probably appeals to those who don't care to fix their broken Djet components. Haltech may offer an excellent alternative, but I do not think it is on everyone's radar as an obvious upgrade or substitute engine management system for their M30 engine. I would venture a guess that the same thinking applies to Megasquirt. https://www.diyautotune.com/

Perhaps you can provide more information about your Haltech system? What motivated your move to Haltech? Was your Bosch ECU kaput? Poor running? And, if not, how significant are the improvement/s? (Yes, I read your description of dependable starting and even idle. Yet, I thought that was one of the hallmarks of the Djet, especially when compared to its carburetor-equipped sisters?) Which Haltech unit are you using? What original parts are used in conjunction with your Haltech installation?
Photos?
Did you perform the installation?
Approximate costs?

BuyersGuide-614x330.jpg
 

Mal CSL 3.0

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Actually it was put on the car about 2+ years ago. I am currently doing research into the pros and cons. It was done by the prior owner and we did discuss it together and he said it was recommended to him by his specialist BMW workshop. The car had just had a full engine rebuild at a cost of over $7K. However even with a full rebuild it was still a bit rough and tendered to be jerky under acceleration at lower revs versus what he expected. "The idle didn't purr and starting cold wasn't instant every time" (no surprise to me it is a 70's car but the previous owner had very high standards). So the Haltech was recommended to address shortcomings and make it a much higher performance drive. Haltech cost was an additional $4K on top of engine rebuild. I haven't had a chance to go to meet the Haltech workshop that installed it, but I do plan to visit them and have a chat and learn more about the benefits and how it was all installed. I do notice on my car all the fuel injection components are all origional so I think the Haltech ECU just replaces the previous control unit (item 11 on diagram).
In the meantime was just wondering if any other owners have done a Haltech upgrade. I suspect on race E9s such an upgrade would be done.
Personally on my car I never drove it prior the Haltech but frankly it really seems to run very smoothly and has great acceleration. Temp is alway very low and starting is a dream. The engine really does purr and sounds so smooth.

IMG_37223335.jpg Screen Shot 2017-03-26 at 3.46.42 PM.png
 

sfdon

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Your TPS was replaced with a halltech unit. (14)
Your plastic loom tube is missing on the top of the valve cover along with the standoff hardware and the entire harness is missing its sheath and is now taped up.
Who ever installed left your plenum supports off. You need two of them.
11611256448
 

nashvillecat

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Que bella!

A few observations. You might want to re-position the bellows clamp nearest the air filter box. It looks like it does not cover the rubber bellows properly. I am not a student of right hand drive cars, let alone E9s or much else. However, I wonder if it is a good idea to have your in line fuel filter, so high and near the battery terminals. On most csis, the fuel filter fits below the battery tray. Frankly, I've never been keen to have a fuel source so close to an ignition source, but I can envision even a minor leak and should someone disconnect a battery terminal, - anything can happen. Maybe others will be quick to correct my thinking, but if the filter or line (under pressure) should develop a leak, I would rather have it drip or spray below the battery than on it. Mind you, I am aware that vapor generally rises - and fuel under pressure can spray in any direction, but it is just an observation.

Best of luck and remember to keep the shiny side up. :cool:
 

teahead

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At $4k for this upgrade, I doubt too many people have done this. I think many more people used a Megasquirt for a whole change out.

I'm kinda cheap, so I may just upgrade the 1.3 Motronic on this 3.5L I got w/a Miller WAR chip and MAF.
 

Mal CSL 3.0

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Your TPS was replaced with a halltech unit. (14)
Your plastic loom tube is missing on the top of the valve cover along with the standoff hardware and the entire harness is missing its sheath and is now taped up.
Who ever installed left your plenum supports off. You need two of them.
11611256448

Many thanks yes I agree with all these very helpful observations having checked another csl engine. photo
Not sure why they didn't put the loom tube back (seems a bit lazy or else they felt taping was a bit neater). Re the plenem supports these were not on the engine when car came from UK. Maybe someone in the past forgot to put them back. So question - do they really serve much function. I know they are for support but are they really needed? Also do BMW still sell them as if so I will ask my mechanic to put some on during my next service.
 

inovermyhead

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Hi Mal,
I put a Haltec Platinum Sport 2000 in my csi at the end of last year, massive difference in drivability but not a power upgrade as such.
When I bought my car it was still running the factory ecu but problems with the ignition circuit including cutting out and leaving me stranded a couple of times, led me to a specialist BMW shop that advised replacing the ecu with something more efficient would solve these problems. They fitted a Microtech unit that was wrong for my car, a unit with poor adjustment tables and is used generally for rotaries or drag cars, and failed until later to find the ignition problem, a poor connection at the key end of the circuit, the can ran ok but not great. Having taken the car to various specialists for further tuning it became apparent that the ecu itself was the problem and the advice was to replace it with a Haltech. I was lucky enough to have some contacts with company itself and was able to have them supply and fit the unit along with an electronic coil and now the car runs well, starts on the button and generally feels like an 89 3.5. The next mod will be to have the distributor 'locked' so the ecu will look after the advance as well, although I am going to wait and do that with a cam swap at the same time.

All up the swap cost approximately $2500 although I was lucky to be able to use a second hand unit which saved a fair amount.
Recommended.

Cheers. John
 

Mal CSL 3.0

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Hi Mal,
I put a Haltec Platinum Sport 2000 in my csi at the end of last year, massive difference in drivability but not a power upgrade as such.
When I bought my car it was still running the factory ecu but problems with the ignition circuit including cutting out and leaving me stranded a couple of times, led me to a specialist BMW shop that advised replacing the ecu with something more efficient would solve these problems. They fitted a Microtech unit that was wrong for my car, a unit with poor adjustment tables and is used generally for rotaries or drag cars, and failed until later to find the ignition problem, a poor connection at the key end of the circuit, the can ran ok but not great. Having taken the car to various specialists for further tuning it became apparent that the ecu itself was the problem and the advice was to replace it with a Haltech. I was lucky enough to have some contacts with company itself and was able to have them supply and fit the unit along with an electronic coil and now the car runs well, starts on the button and generally feels like an 89 3.5. The next mod will be to have the distributor 'locked' so the ecu will look after the advance as well, although I am going to wait and do that with a cam swap at the same time.

All up the swap cost approximately $2500 although I was lucky to be able to use a second hand unit which saved a fair amount.
Recommended.

Cheers. John

Thanks John for your reply. Yes I am also happy with my Haltech and I find it makes the car feel much newer than it's 45 years age. Good to hear someone else has done such an upgrade locally. I am hoping to talk to the people who put mine in to find out which model Haltech and other details. (it was all done by prior owner).
 

richn123

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I'm a little confused, does Haltech sell an computer to replace the stock e9 d jet computer"
 

rsporsche

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haltech as i remember is a fuel injection system - looks kind of like weber sidedrafts. the generic ecu they sell manages the system ... not a direct replacement of a d-jet ecu
 

tferrer

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Ecu's only from my knowledge. Lots of race cars (911s mostly) run Haltech as an alternative to Motec. There is a shop in Reno that specializes in tuning an AT Power ITB/ Haltech combo and supposedly get fantastic results. Obviously moving away from originality in a big way...
 
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