<SNIP> From: NewtMan_at_aol.com
Date: Sun, 8 Jun 1997 13:37:32 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: ['96-97 328 & M3] DINAN Chip Announcement

Hi Folks:

Just got the announcement in the mail, Dinan (415) 962-9401 has begun selling a $399 software upgrade for the new 6 cylinder cars! As expected, you gotta mail in your EMU box -- 4 days down time.... For those not on the Dinan mailing list, here's some of the announcement's text...

..."We are the first to the market with Performance Engine Management Software for the latest versions of BMW Engine Management Computers [OBD2]...Sharing BMW's objective of unparalleled after-sale customer service, Dinan's product warranty has been extended from our 2 year, unlimited milage warranty to match whatever period remains on the individual BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty up to 4 years or 50,000 miles." They add that the vehicle warranty will NOT be affected or VOIDED by the software upgrade.

Sounds interesting. As for the performance gains... unfortunately, since they still think I own a 328is, I didn't get the dyno figures for the 1997 M3, but here are the 328i's HP figures....

                              Stock           Dinan
_at_ 5300 RPM            190              195            
_at_ 5500 RPM            190              195
_at_ 6000 RPM            185              191 
_at_ 6500 RPM            183              189

Also: Rev limit bumped up 200 RPM and

Top Speed limiter removed, the car goes about 145mph.

Torque figures are similarly bumped at the high end by 5 points. While these increases seem fairly sedate, if proportional gains are realized in the M3, the possitive sign is that at the high end 5500 to 6500 RPM, the car will have a more aggressive character as HP and Torque will increase at an expanding rate compared to stock hp & trq...which addresses the #1 complaint by folks that own and drive '95 M3's, which have always seemed to have more grunt than the 3.2 litre's at the very top of the rev range. Maybe now that will change.

I can't wait to see what competing tuners [AHEMMMM] come out with :)

Tom Newton

<UNSNIP>

Tom,

I hate to disappoint you but,

The intake runners in the 96/97 328/M3's were made longer and 30% smaller in diameter. This was to increase low to midrange torque.

The 95 M3 motor is starved for air with the stock intake to about 255-260 hp. With a bigger HFM, airbox, throttle body, and unrestricting exhaust, the limit is still around 280hp. The plain fact is that the 1995 US M3 cannot breathe well enough, let alone the bigger displacement 1996 motor, with a smaller and more restrictive intake.

The bottom line is you can wait forever, but the chip wizards can only do so much, given the intake handicaps they have to work with. I'll bet you never see more than 250-260 with the 3.2 liter M3. Look at how the hp drops past 5500 rpm on your own motor. It can't reach its potential at high rpm. AND THE M3 HAS THE SAME HFM AND THROTTLE!!!

Until someone can develop a (big dream following:) six throttle intake that will bolt onto the US heads, we will always be hampered. I can only imagine that with proper (free flowing) intakes and exhausts, the 3.0 and 3.2 liter motors should easily pass 300hp and perhaps over 325. Imagine buying a new head for your car which has better valves, intakes, throttles, and headers. This bolt-on masterpiece would make your car a monster. I firmly believe that 320+ normally aspirated hp is better than the equivalent provided by a turbo/supercharger. If it costs 6-7 grand, I will pay it.

(is anyone out there listening?)

For now, we must make do with breathing through a soda straw.

Trigger