Z4 E89 18i ECU remap.

[Lazza]

Extra power isn’t a problem. Even a lot of extra power isn’t a problem.
I come from an MX5 background and for around 10 years had a supercharged 1.8 with all the additional upgrades required (intercooler, injectors, oil cooler, bigger rad etc) which as standard had 145bhp but with the SC had close to 250bhp. I spent a lot of money fitting an Adaptronic ecu and getting it rolling road mapped. I had this redone whenever I changed anything on the car. As a result, I had 10 trouble free years with no reliability issues at all (well other than unrelated issues).
I know others who added very little to their cars, including one that fitted a smaller sc boosting power from around 130 to 160bhp but it suffered blown pistons due to poor tuning.
With perfect tuning, an MX5 can take around 270bhp & 270lb/ft before it starts bending internals, that’s an increase of over 120bhp on a late 1.8 like mine and over 150bhp on an early 1.6 (the limits are the same on all Mk1/2j. And that’s on an old-tech engine.

If the tuning is bad it doesn’t need to have any extra power at all and it will still fail.

 

[Smartbear]

Have to agree with buster on this one, looking back 110BHP is rediculous, maybe if the car was taken to the 200 mark it would be running fault free. I’ve got 2 years left on my contract with the car which is why I was looking for recommendations for better mappers.

Why do you think it’s ridiculous? The 28i runs 245bhp with exactly the same engine.
Rob

 

[Hailsy_95]

I’m more than certain the compression on the 28i is different and also the pistons. Cross referenced some of the components and found some differences. Think it’s time to hand the 18i back and upgrade to the 28i without having to worry about a map.

 

[Smartbear]

I’m more than certain the compression on the 28i is different and also the pistons. Cross referenced some of the components and found some differences. Think it’s time to hand the 18i back and upgrade to the 28i without having to worry about a map.

You’re wrong, all three models share identical engines-check for yourself with real oem.com and report back with any difference you find
Rob

 

[Smartbear]

I doubt that's much consolation to the OP, Rob.

Nor is unsubstantiated scaremongering which you put about Buster
Rob

 

[Busterboo]

I doubt that's much consolation to the OP, Rob.

Nor is unsubstantiated scaremongering which you put about Buster
Rob

Sorry, Rob. I forgot you have a re-mapped 18i.

 

[Smartbear]

I doubt that's much consolation to the OP, Rob.

Nor is unsubstantiated scaremongering which you put about Buster
Rob

Sorry, Rob. I forgot you have a re-mapped 18i.

Close, it was advertised as an 18i but I later found out it was actually a 20i
Rob

 

[Number5]

Its not really a matter of whether or not the engine can take it, but the decision that the OP has made by going to a private remapping company.
Basically if the engine had blown on a 30k car, BMW would surely have replaced it under warranty, whereas now, you can understand BMW refusing to warranty it after someone else has messed with it, and the remapper is never going to admit liabilitiy and stump up the money.

Thats a position I wouldnt want to put myself in and like somebody said, if youve the money to buy a 1.8 plus £14k to fix it, you would have been better spending a bit more in the first place and buying a legit car mapped by BMW and without any warranty queries.

Good luck though. I sincerley hooe you can find an economical solution from the situation.

 

[RustyZ4]

Of course it could be that the failure, has nothing to do with the remap whatsoever, but unfortunately whether or not it has, having something like that done with a car under warranty, is politely putting it, daft. BMW will of course say, its been modified, therefore all warranty null and void,

Got to say £14k did take my breath away

 

[keving1]

The OP hasn't said that he paid for the work to be done, so I'm guessing either BMW Warranty paid or he states that it is still under contract so the contract hire company will have paid?

 

[Hailsy_95]

No I didn’t pay anything at all toward the work. BMW UK covered the costs.

 

[keving1]

No I didn’t pay anything at all toward the work. BMW UK covered the costs.

BMW UK were very good paying the bill for £14k knowing that you had remapped the engine from 156bhp to 270bhp, how did you manage that?

How many miles had the engine done?

 

[Davidcliff]

You did well to get BMW to pay.
I just bought a used car from BMW with the warranty they provide on the approved car scheme they have .
The warranty actually states no engine modifications or tuning procedures including changes to the ECU or the warranty is void .
You must have a great warranty there , good for you .