What advantage/disadvantage adding EFI to a stock 2002?? (nt

[todot62]

(nt)

[slash02]

Well, Just EFI and no spark control? An after market non black box EFI? Or Like an Oem unit?

The advantage is that you can get precise fuel metering, you get

metering accoring to engine load, altitude, temp, air density, you don't have to change jets, if it's aftermarket you can tweak and adjust and tweak. If you upgrade your engine, you can tweak your fuel mapping accordingly on a dyno for max HP/torque

Have a look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_injection and Http://www.megasquirt.info

Basically, you get better running, starting and probably power/fuel mileage, but for some pretty high performance engines you can go right to the razor's edge when tuning with EFI, unlike carbs.

Could you imagine running say a 12:1 compression engine with DCOE's in florida then driving to the rocky mountains and really pressing your car hard? Would the carbs meter correctly etc?, Would you run to lean or too rich right when your engine probably shouldn't? (They might, might not my old 32/36 needed rejetting when i moved from FL to northern alberta, cause of altitude)

An EFI system would just notice change in air pressure/air density and adapt accordingly, keeping your mixture right in line.

That said, even though my 02 is pretty stock, I cant wait to see what changes my EFI system will make.

----- EDIT---

I forgot to mention that of course with EFI, your engine computer calculates all the required mixture, but using an O2 (oxygen) sensor, it actually knows the mixture and can keep mixture tweaked consistently to a correct mixture.

[todot62]

I was looking at the setup that "F4ight" has under parts title "Random Parts". He says it is a direct bolt on for a 2002 and came out of a 318i, price $250. Would this be a hard conversion or is this fairly simple with all the advantages of EFI?

Tod

[ryanOC]

hi, that part he is selling is just the intake manifold.

the only thing that does for EFI conversion is allow you to install some injectors

that's like 1/20th of the job you'll need to do to convert your car to EFI

most of the work being the computer setup (megasquirt) and wiring, etc

[todot62]

Thanks for the clarification. I'll just stick with my 32/36. But if we are on the subject....If one were to convert to EFI could you take the entire system off say an old 320i or a 318i, electronics and everything and put this on your 2002 or is it just easier, if your so inclined, to just pull the engine and put a newer engine in your 2002?

[TimMN]

This can be a good bit of the work too.

DON'T SKIMP ON THIS!

tim

[ryanOC]

you wouldn't have to put a newer engine (block/head) in, but you WOULD need the manifold, harness, electronics, air intake, etc

that's the same thing that people installing the baby 6 m20s are doing, just a different engine- still has all the same requirements for an EFI conversion

in the future i want to convert to EFI with individual throttle bodies, and a megasquirt system, but that will cost me some $$$ i don't have, and also take a lot of time to get running (my 2002 is my daily and only driver...)

[cowlum]

How much did it cost you all up (if you dont mind me asking)

And has anyone on this board simply swapped in a complete 318i engine? easy? recommended?

[JohnN]

About:

$30 for the intake manifold and fuel rail and pressure regulator

$20 for a 733i throttle body

$00 for Volvo 244 injectors--don't know how they got into my toolbox :-)

$15 for a Saab TPS

$20 for a GM air temperature sensor

$30 for the wiring harness

$50 for the late style E30 fuel pump

$25 for the throttle cable

$10 for the hard-line tubing for fuel delivery

$225 for the MegaSquirt

-- already had an O2 sensor--

Very, very happy with the results :-)

John N

[Harv]

Well. How much was it? I converted my carbureted Volvo 145 to Megasquirt. I did most of the plumbing and fabing until the day I switched the intake and just hooked everything up.

Here's a loose price list.

Megasquirt I built with stim and relay box, About 160.

High psi Ford F150 efi fuel pump, 65.

Carter low psi fuel pump 40.

Fabricate and welded surge tank. 60.

Steel fuel line 30.

Used intake manifold 25.

weld in injector bosses 30.? 30 to weld em in (Injected Volvos had the injectors in the head. Mine was carb'd so I had to put them in the intake.)

Injectors 24 ea?

Fuel rail bosses. 30? Welding to make the fuel rail 30.

Datsun 280Z fuel psi regulator.

Throttle position switch 15 (Saturn not Bosch)

K&N air filter 45.

Misc wiring and heat shrink ect. 20?

John

I forgot the o2 sensor. I started out with a Narrow Band and then went to a Wide band Innovate LC1. I wouldn't even bother with a Narrow band in the future. Well worth the cost.

[slash02]

Thanks for the clarification. I'll just stick with my 32/36. But if we are on the subject....If one were to convert to EFI could you take the entire system off say an old 320i or a 318i, electronics and everything and put this on your 2002 or is it just easier, if your so inclined, to just pull the engine and put a newer engine in your 2002?

You could for arguments sake take everything off a 320i or 318i, yes and install on the 2002.

I am going to be using a 318i intake (it has fuel rail and spots for injectors) and will use Megasquirt for my EFI.

[Harv]

Did the 318i have the injectors in the head?

John

[zane]

I think some early ones did.

edit:

Just wanted to let you know, I gave SPEED a piece of my mind.

[todot62]

This is a great discussion! I don't know what happened to the link but I think "ryanOC" had a great link to either his car or someone's car that made the switch to EFI...GREAT article I have learned MUCH about EFI today. It's a whole other world out there!

Anyone with further input or links please post, this stuff is great-->Tod

[ryanOC]

http://www.hbci.com/~tskwiot/2002.html

http://www.zeebuck.com/bimmers/tech/Megasquirt/megasquirt.html