Is 1985 318i L-Jetronic better than earlier 83-84 system?

[alpinewhite318i]

Does anyone new if the later style L-Jetronic fuel injection system on an 85 318i is better than 83-84? If so what are the benefits?

[tjones02]

The simple answer is YES. The long answer is that it's in the details. The other short answer is to use Mega Squirt instead of the Bosch LU-Jetronic from the E30 318i.....

[josh72ooh2]

Hey Tom, i checked out the Casey motorsports link...

do you guys do the megasquirt conversion? I am looking into either that or the straight 318 conversion... and probably going to do the work myself when i can live without my 02 as a daily driver someday...

But i am curious as to if you guys do the conversion and how much? you can contact me through the board if you'd rather not disclose that info publicly.

-josh

[tjones02]

We have dabbled with Mega Squirt and would rather leave it to do it yourselfers. We do do Electromotive individual throttle body setups. Though those may break your budget.

You will want to see this thread.....

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component/option,com_forum/Itemid,50/page,viewtopic/t,342670/

As much as I do not like working on '83 to '85 E30 318i's the Bosch L-Jetronic not that bad. There was a writeup in the Roundel many years ago and I believe the article is in the BMW Enthusiasts Companion book...

http://www.bentleypublishers.com/isbn/9780837603216/index.html

[josh72ooh2]

Thanks Tom... oddly enough i went to a junk yard today and they had a fresh '85 318i in there. i pulled the entire wiring harness, ECU, and fuel rail ( i already have a manifold and a bunch of other bits at home).

I am going to seek out that book... i'll need all the help i can get.

-josh

[tjones02]

Let me be sure the book has the article I'm thinking of.... let's see here, where is it?

Ah, there it is... page 98. "Electronic Fuel Injection for 2002s"

There's lots of info there and even more in here from members of the FAQ. Many here have done the conversion and have more experience with it than I do. Most of what I have known about the LU-Jetronic in E30 318i's I have tried to forget... :b...

Most BMW shops really do not like working on those cars as making them run right costs money and the cars just aren't worth any. Now a 325i or is or 318i or is I'll work on those all day....

[josh72ooh2]

Thanks Tom, got the book for $6 with shipping on Amazon.

Most of what I have known about the LU-Jetronic in E30 318i's I have tried to forget... :b...

Now a 325i or is or 318i or is I'll work on those all day....

isn't a 318i an E30? or are you referring to the newer 318's and 325's with a different brain then the jetronic?

i want to make sure i remain friends with BMW mechanics...

[tjones02]

'84-85 E30 318i with M10 motor and LU-Jetronic...

Very different animal from '90-91 E30 318i and 318is with M42 motor with Motronic, coil on plug and twin cams, 16 valves etc........... :b...

It's not so much the car or the owners, just that the '84-85 cars are more expensive to repair than they are worth and no one wants to spend what it takes to do it the right way...... Using the L-Jetronic in a 2002 and wanting to actually spend money making it run good is a whole different story.

[AustrianVespaGuy]

+1 for DIY Megasquirt! What I'm running on my car and couldn't be happier. Email me and I'll be glad to answer any questions about it. ceichel02 at gmail.

-Carl

[eurotrash]

I saw somewhere, someone mention that the wire harness he had built for the conversion to EFI had been laid over top the stock harness and could be undone, in his build.. Not sure this applies for everyone. But what are the possibilities that someone could or would be willing to make a drawing from a working unit so the harness could be fab'd and wrapped before installation so as to make for less clean up after the fact?

Is this practical, oh experienced ones? It certainly would make the conversion process less daunting for we electrical numbskulls.. :\

[josh72ooh2]

On that same token, do you guys have a source for colored wire?

All i can find locally is Red, black and occasionally yellow, brown, green and blue.

I don't need 250 foot spools though.

-josh

[Harv]

If your going MegaSquirt then you can't beat one of these.

http://www.diyautotune.com/catalog/1239-megasquirt-wiring-harness-ms1-ms2-ready-p-43.html

John