Motronic questions

melinda · 06-30-2003, 04:14 PM

I have an 1987 325i... finally discovered that my ECU is almost fried. What involves checking an ECU; and removal/installation? Any help would be great... Also, if I couldn't find the same exact year and model, what would be viable alternatives?

carolinus · 06-30-2003, 06:19 PM

Well, how did you find that out? I might have the same troubles, and finding out what you are experiencing would be good. Maybe I can give you some tips then that would be helpful.

carolinus · 06-30-2003, 06:26 PM

Well, how did you find that out? I might have the same troubles, and finding out what you are experiencing would be good. Maybe I can give you some tips then that would be helpful.

gbradcsi · 07-01-2003, 08:59 AM

The ECU should be located above the glove box. it is on my 1987 325e. simple job to remove. if you need how to please let me know.
what makes you think it's almost fried? is it burning? smoking?

you need to use the same type it has a number on top of the unit and it should start with 280.

Garry

Jared at Pelican Parts · 07-01-2003, 10:18 AM

Exactly. The ECU's are very specific, You ave to use the exact same number ECU if yours in fact fried.

melinda · 07-01-2003, 05:37 PM

ok I may possibly have the wrong ecu in my car. the 2 groups of numbers are: Bosch sticker has this number... 0 261 200 380; the other sticker has this number... 1730576 001 078.
to answer carolinus: I realized after doing an extensive list of work to the car that nothing I did was fixing it. It was proposed to me that it could be electrical. In 2 hours it was discovered that when the Motronic was jiggled while the car was running the problem that I was having (bucking, stalling out, mpg gauge going awry while stalling/bucking out) this very thing that had been plaguing me happened.
I did the following work: new alternator and battery, cap and rotor, o2 sensor, ignition wires, sparkplugs, fuel filter, had the tank drained, cleaned out the throttle body, used fuel injector cleaner, used Jared's article on ignition system tune up (excellent article by the way).
And yes could someone e-mail me info on how to install the Motronic. I just want to make sure it is right. So, what should be the number on a Motronic for a 1987 325i sedan automatic? Thanks guys and I hope my info helps out.
P.S.: carolinus... type in "motronic" on the metacrwlaer.com search engine... you'll get similar testimonies.
P.P.S.: my e-mail is chaos1313@hotmail.com so please send me Motronic info!!! Thanks!!!

carolinus · 07-02-2003, 05:36 AM

From what I have seen, the 380 ECU is probably the correct one. As well, you probably either have a loose solder joint, cracked motronic board, or one of your wires in your motronic harness has cracked and is coming open when you jiggle it. From your symptoms, it sounds like one of your injector banks isn't firing, so what is happening is your car all of the sudden starts running on three cylinders for a cycle or two, and then it runs on all six just enough to keep it going.

I too am going through the rigamorale with my car, and I think it is the ECU at this point. I have: Cleaned the fuel injectors by hand, tested EVERY sensor in the system directly from the ECU harness, replaced the fuel pressure regulator, replaced the plugs, tested the ignition system, and resealed the intake.

This week, I am changing the timing belt, cap, rotor, fuel filter, tbelt tensioner, intake manifold seals, vacuum hoses under the hood, draining the fuel tank, and ....

If that fails, I will go on to the next step of doing the ECU.

I will have my car working the way I want it to.

melinda · 07-02-2003, 03:38 PM

ok... so is there anything special i should know about before installing a new ECU? Also, I am going to check the resistance on the connector before I truly feel it is the ECU...

carolinus · 07-03-2003, 05:33 AM

Not really. An ECU is a really simple job. The only thing to watch is static elecricity. If you rub along your seats, and then touch the connector on your ECU, you could toast it. Always touch a piece of metal on the chassis of the car before the ECU (think inside the glove box).

Also, do you have your bentley manual? One of your ECU grounds could be intermittant. It has a complete section on testing the ECU harness, and you should follow that. Just make sure you use the pigtail they recommend and not just jam a meter probe in there. I made my adaptor by taking a male quick release electrical from Radio Shack and filing it down before attaching a wire. It fits in the ECU conector really well. You should be able to take the picture in the book there and have them hook you up.

Also, make sure you jiggle it when you test it to get the intermittant fault.

melinda · 07-04-2003, 02:31 PM

Thank you carolinus.... I have a sneaking suspicion that the Bentley manual would have what I need and I am in the process of getting my hands on one. Right now I am trying to hit up a junkyard to get my ECU before I drop more dough...

melinda · 07-04-2003, 06:43 PM

In case the junkyard doesn't have what I need, I found one that is oem made by Programa... Any feedback on that brand? Also, I knowthat the wiring harness changed on the 325is in 88... what about an 86 or an 85? In a pinch could I use one from those years? Thanks

Jeff at WallWerks · 07-04-2003, 07:07 PM

Say Melinda

Could you send me a link to that ignition system overhaul?
Was looking but couldnt find it

thanks!

jeff

carolinus · 07-04-2003, 07:19 PM

I could use that, too.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 07-07-2003, 07:49 AM

Sned me all your email addresses, and i'll send the article to you. be sure to say what article you want in the email! Many times people just send me emails with no text.

melinda · 07-07-2003, 06:19 PM

ok I am trying to find my part at the local junkyard and they need the Bosch part number... now the one in my car if I believe might belong to a 90-92 325i (0 261 200 380); could someone check for me? I found these numbers that supposedly correspond to a 1987 325i: a) 0 261 200 081, b) 0 261 200 073, or c) 0 261 200 164. Which one is for a 1987 325i automatic four door? Or is the first one really for my car? I've had a ***** of a time trying to find the right ECU!!! Yeah I'm going a little insane about it...