[Diy_efi] RE: BMW Motronic 1.3 table editing?

Thu Oct 12 20:56:44 UTC 2006

A Motronic 1.3 system from around 1990 will surely have an EPROM (not 
flash prom). It is usually a 27256 or 27C256 part although it will be 
marked with a Bosch designation (for example, B57604). A good way of 
identifying the system is to look at the Bosch part number on the ECU. 
The ML 1.3 systems (also called 1.5 by some car manufacturers) usually 
have numbers in the range 0 261 200 150 to 0 261 200 199.
When searching for tuning resources, remember that this (and similar) 
Motronic systems are used on many european cars, not just BMW. For 
example, Citro?n, Opel and Peugeot.
There is a lot of software revisions in early Motronic ECUs. It is not 
uncommon to find 3 or 4 different softwares in identical ECUs from the 
same model year! There seems to be two different table formats, with the 
change to the newer one made in 1988.
The same two table formats are used in both ML1.3 and the older (!) ML4.1 .
For identification of binary files, the Bosch part number and car 
manufacturer's part number of the ECU  and the bin part number (marked 
on a sticker on the EPROM) are always stored as ascii (backwards!) 
somewhere in the file. For example, if the ECU is marked 0 261 200 158, 
the ascii string 8510021620 will be found somewhere in the bin, with the 
other numbers nearby.

Best regards

Torbj?rn Forsman

Chris wrote:
> Jeff -
> I was waiting for someone who knows better than me speak up, but I'll give
> the fuzzy memory a poke here...
> When I was at the dealership we had a guy in house that did that on the
> older cars with the EPROMS (pull it out and flash it). I'm not sure now as
> to exact model years, but I think the general rule is if you have the big
> screw on diagnostic connector, it is EEPROM, and factory tuning updates are
> flashed through the diagnostic connector. If you have the small push on
> diagnostic connector, it is EPROM and factory updates are done via chip
> replacement. I also remember there being exceptions to that rule. 
> There used to be a very active USENET group specifically for BMW EFI modders
> - it is worth a look. The guys on the USENET group were talking about
> modifying a reset tool to use as a connector for flashing the EEPROM from a
> laptop once upon a time, but it is probably better to just buy a cable, if
> not the software.  
> I seem to remember Dinan being the king of the hill in that department (ECM
> tuning software, connectors, and such), I'm sure a quick Google search will
> get you there. At least you should be able to quickly ID what options are
> for your car based on what they offer. 
> Last, but not least, the source for your camshaft may have a pre-calibrated
> chip or a one-shot flasher for your setup. 
> 
> I know, not the answer you were looking for, but hopefully at least a little
> help.   
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> 
> Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2006 09:51:46 -0700
> From: "JS Nord" <jsnord at hotmail.com>
> Subject: [Diy_efi] BMW Motronic 1.3 table editing?
> To: <diy_efi at diy-efi.org>
> Message-ID: <BAY108-DAV16445BE62F3B6A1EB9E133C1110 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> 	reply-type=response
> 
> Hello,
> 
> New arriver to the list here.  Thanks for having me - great resource.
> 
> My interest is in being able to modify the fuel and timing maps for used in 
> the BMW E34 535i, Bosch motronic version 1.3.  I'd like to be able to do to 
> help tune out a modified engine that includes a displacement increase and 
> cam shaft change (no forced induction)
> 
> I'm curious if anyone on the list has experiance in understanding the 
> mapping structure associated with this version of Motronic.
> 
> I'm also curious if anyone has experiance in using this tool from Atlantis 
> software that seems to have the ability to edit the motronic tables 
> http://www.atlantisconsultingllc.com/atlantis.php?page=Motronic%20Editor 
> Best case would be someone who's used this tool on the BMW 1.3 motronic and 
> has the offsets for all the tables with some real world experiance on how 
> well this tool works.
> 
> Anyone have any thoughts on past discussions or projects in this area that 
> might help me get started?
> 
> Cheers!
> 
> Jeff
> 90 BMW 535i 
> 
> 
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