Performance Chip Guide

This guide will help you when ordering a chip from BimmerWorld. The chips work with most 1985-95 BMWs. If your car is a 1996 or later you need a Shark Injector module or custom ECU flash. For cars that we do have chips for please read about the details of your car below. It can be a little confusing because BMW used as many as five different computers on a single model. Production dates, transmissions, and equipment can all be factors as well. You can call us at 877-639-9648 should you have any further questions.

Some helpful hints:

• The computer in a BMW is most commonly referred to as an "ECU" (Electronic Control Unit) or "DME" (Digital Motor Electronics).
• EVERY chipable computer in a BMW uses a Bosch part number that begins "0 261". This is Bosch's designator for a DME. There are other computers in your car so make sure when you are getting this information that the part number begins with "0 261".
• BMWs are most often categorized by the body code, this is the "E" number listed below.
• Many chips are dependent on the production date of the vehicle. This can be found on the driver's door pillar on a BMW Manufacturing label. It will always be in a "MM/YY" format.
• What is EWS? This is an additional security feature that BMW started putting into its cars around 12/94 (December, 1994). The ignition key has a microchip inside that must synch with a signal in the ignition itself and also with a signal from the DME. Only then will the car start. The EWS system can be tricky for Performance Chips but we have managed to make the ordering process as smooth and painless as possible; in most cases you do not have to send us your original chip or ECU!

Now on to the BMW models.

E23 735i

1985-87 735i

• ECU number. The last three digits should be 059 or 150. Note that the ECU is located in the passenger's footwell behind the speaker
  
  If your ECU is a 0 261 200 059 we also need to know the number of pins on the original chip. You will need to remove the ECU and open the cover and count the number of pins. Unfortunately there is no way to tell which chip is in the computer by looking at part numbers or model numbers. The stock chip has either 24 or 28 pins. You will get a Performance Chip with the same number of pins.
  
  For the 0 261 200 150 ECU we also need to know if the car is a manual or automatic transmission. This does not apply to the 059 ECU.

E24 635CSi and E28 535i/is

1985-89 635CSi

• ECU number. The last three digits should be 059, 150, or 179. The ECU can be found in the top of the glove compartment. Undo the plastic panel that makes up the "roof" of your glove box.  With the forward part of the panel/"roof" undone you should be able to lower it enough to see the ECU and read the ten-digit Bosch part number. If you need to take the computer off it’s bracket, a 10mm socket and driver is required.
  
  If your ECU is a 0 261 200 059 we also need to know the number of pins on the original chip. You will need to remove the ECU and open the cover and count the number of pins. Unfortunately there is no way to tell which chip is in the computer by looking at part numbers or model numbers. The stock chip has either 24 or 28 pins. You will get a Performance Chip with the same number of pins.
  
  For the 150 and 179 ECU we also need to know if the car is a manual or automatic transmission. This does not apply to the 059 ECU.
  

1985-88 535i/is

• ECU number. The last three digits should be 059 or 150. The ECU can be found in the top of the glove compartment. Undo the plastic panel that makes up the "roof" of your glove box.  With the forward part of the panel/"roof" undone you should be able to lower it enough to see the ECU and read the ten-digit Bosch part number. If you need to take the computer off it’s bracket, a 10mm socket and driver is required.
  
  If your ECU is a 0 261 200 059 we also need to know the number of pins on the original chip. You will need to remove the ECU and open the cover and count the number of pins. Unfortunately there is no way to tell which chip is in the computer by looking at part numbers or model numbers. The stock chip has either 24 or 28 pins. You will get a Performance Chip with the same number of pins.
  
  For the 150 ECU we also need to know if the car is a manual or automatic transmission. This does not apply to the 059 ECU.

E24 M6, E28 M5

1987-88 M6, 1988 M5

• no information from your car is necessary

E28 528e

9/84-9/87 528e

• no information from your car is necessary
• there is no chip available if your car is a 1988 528e (SuperEta)

E30 3-series

1990-91 318i/is

• no information from your car is necessary

1985-87 325e/es

• no information from your car is necessary
• there is no chip available if your car is a 1988 325 (SuperEta)

1987-92 325i/is/iC/iX

• model year
• transmission type (manual or automatic)
• ECU number. The last three digits should be 153, 173, 380, 524, or 525. The ECU can be found in the top of the glove compartment. Undo the plastic panel that makes up the "roof" of your glove box.  With the forward part of the panel/"roof" undone you should be able to lower it enough to see the ECU and read the ten-digit Bosch part number. If you need to take the computer off it’s bracket, a 10mm socket and driver is required.

1988-91 M3

• we need to know the displacement of your engine: 2.3-liters (stock US) or 2.5-liters (2.5L Sport Evo crank)

E31 8-series

1993-12/94 840i/Ci

• verify that the ECU number is 0 261 200 404. If your ECU ends in 484 see the 1995 840 information below. The ECU can be found in a large black plastic enclosure in the engine compartment. There is usually 2-3 silver boxes in the enclosure (depending on your model and optional equipment). Each silver box has a wiring harness/connector attached to it. It is not necessary at this time to disconnect these wiring harnesses. You may, however, have to remove each silver box and the attached harness until you come to the ECU. The ECU number is 10 digits and begins with 0-261-200. On the "404" ECUs, you also need to verify that the number "1744050" is also printed on a label on the ECU cover.
  
  Click here for chip installation instructions.

1995 840i/Ci (cars produced after 12/94)

• verify that the ECU number is 0 261 203 484. The ECU can be found in a large black plastic enclosure in the engine compartment. There is usually 2-3 silver boxes in the enclosure (depending on your model and optional equipment). Each silver box has a wiring harness/connector attached to it. It is not necessary at this time to disconnect these wiring harnesses. You may, however, have to remove each silver box and the attached harness until you come to the ECU.
  
  Click here for chip installation instructions.
  
• in addition, BimmerWorld needs the original/factory chip from the ECU. This will have to be removed and sent to us so that we can copy the code from the EWS-II software. We only need your chip for 1 day. Both the original and the new Performance Chip will be returned promptly. Note we only need the chip from your car's computer - we do not need the computer itself. If you send us the computer for a chip install an $85 charge will apply for removal of the stock chip and installation of the Performance Chip.

1991-94 850i/Ci

• ECU number. This should end in 352 or 998 and there are 2 ECUs for the V12 engine (one per cylinder bank). The ECUs can be found in a large black plastic enclosure in the engine compartment. There are usually 2-3 silver boxes in the enclosure (depending on your model and optional equipment). Each silver box has a wiring harness/connector attached to it. It is not necessary at this time to disconnect these wiring harnesses. You may, however, have to remove each silver box and the attached harness until you come to the ECU.
• transmission type (manual or automatic)

1995 850CSi (up 12/94 production date)

• no information from your car is necessary
• there is no chip for a car made 12/94 or later

E32 7-series and E34 5-series

1989-92 735i/iL, and 1989-92 535i

• transmission type (manual or automatic)

2/92-4/94 740i/iL, and 1994-12/94 530i/540i

• verify that the ECU number is 0 261 200 404. The ECU is located in a black compartment on the passenger side of the engine bay (between the strut tower and the firewall). Depending on your car there may be as many as three computers located in this compartment. Each computer has a wiring harness/connector attached to it. It is not necessary at this time to disconnect these wiring harnesses. You may, however, have to remove each silver box and the attached harness until you come to the ECU. The ECU number is 10 digits and begins with 0-261-200. On the "404" ECUs, you also need to verify that the number "1744050" is also printed on a label on the ECU cover.
• transmission type (manual or automatic)
• production date of your car (located on the driver's door jam)

  Click here for chip installation instructions.

1995 E34 530i/540i (cars produced after 12/94)

• verify that the ECU number is 0 261 203 484. The ECU can be found in a large black plastic enclosure in the engine compartment. There is usually 2-3 silver boxes in the enclosure (depending on your model and optional equipment). Each silver box has a wiring harness/connector attached to it. It is not necessary at this time to disconnect these wiring harnesses. You may, however, have to remove each silver box and the attached harness until you come to the ECU.
  
  Click here for chip installation instructions.
  
• transmission type (manual or automatic)
  
• in addition, BimmerWorld needs the original/factory chip from the ECU. This will have to be removed and sent to us so that we can copy the code from the EWS-II software. We only need your chip for 1 day. Both the original and the new Performance Chip will be returned promptly. Note we only need the chip from your car's computer - we do not need the computer itself. If you send us the computer for a chip install an $85 charge will apply for removal of the stock chip and installation of the Performance Chip.

1989-90 525i/iT (M20 12-valve engine)

• ECU number. This should end in 173, 380, 524, or 525. The ECU is located in a black compartment on the passenger side of the engine bay (between the strut tower and the firewall). Depending on your car there may be as many as three computers located in this compartment. Each computer has a wiring harness/connector attached to it. It is not necessary at this time to disconnect these wiring harnesses. You may, however, have to remove each computer and the wiring harness until you come to the ECU. The ECU number is 10 digits and begins with 0-261-200.
  
• transmission type (manual or automatic)

1991-92 525i/iT (M50 24-valve non-VANOS engine)

• ECU number. This should end in 402, 403, or 405. The ECU is located in a black compartment on the passenger side of the engine bay (between the strut tower and the firewall). Depending on your car there may be as many as three computers located in this compartment. Each computer has a wiring harness/connector attached to it. It is not necessary at this time to disconnect these wiring harnesses. You may, however, have to remove each computer and the wiring harness until you come to the ECU. The ECU number is 10 digits and begins with 0-261-200.

1993-94 525i/iT (M50TU 24-valve with VANOS)

• no information from your car is necessary

1995 525i/iT (M50TU 24-valve with VANOS)

• production date (located on driver's door jam, MM/YY format)

E36 3-series

1992-12/94 318i/is/iC

• ECU number. This should end in 282, or 990. The ECU is located just forward of the glovebox but inside the engine compartment. On the firewall behind the passenger side shock tower in the engine compartment is foam rubber shielding. Remove that and the black plastic cover behind it. Slide out the ECU and copy down the Bosch part number (a ten digit number that starts with 0-261-200). Click here for ECU removal instructions
  
• transmission type (manual or automatic)
  
• NOTE: on a very small amount of E36 318 computers the stock chip is soldered in place. In this case, BimmerWorld does not have a chip and it's not recommended to attempt de-soldering of the stock chip. This is only in about 5% of the 318s in North America but it is suggested that you check your computer for the soldered chip before ordering.

1995 318i/is/ti/iC

• ECU number. This should end in 282, 357, or 990. The ECU is located just forward of the glovebox but inside the engine compartment. On the firewall behind the passenger side shock tower in the engine compartment is foam rubber shielding. Remove that and the black plastic cover behind it. Slide out the ECU and copy down the Bosch part number (a ten digit number that starts with 0-261-200). Click here for ECU removal instructions
  
• transmission type (manual or automatic)
  
• production date (located on driver's door jam, MM/YY format)
  
• NOTE: on a very small amount of E36 318 computers the stock chip is soldered in place. In this case, BimmerWorld does not have a chip and it's not recommended to attempt de-soldering of the stock chip. This is only in about 5% of the 318s in North America but it is suggested that you check your computer for the soldered chip before ordering.

1992 325i/is

• ECU number. This should end in 402, 403, or 405. The ECU is located just forward of the glovebox but inside the engine compartment. On the firewall behind the passenger side shock tower in the engine compartment is foam rubber shielding. Remove that and the black plastic cover behind it. Slide out the ECU and copy down the Bosch part number (a ten digit number that starts with 0-261-200). Click here for ECU removal instructions

1993-94 325i/is

• no information from your car is necessary

1995 325i/is

• production date (located on the driver's door jam, MM/YY format)
  
• NOTE: there are several versions of this chip based on the modifications done to the car. See the item listing for the list of available chips or call BimmerWorld for more info.

1995 M3

• production date (located on the driver's door jam, MM/YY format)
  
• NOTE: there are several versions of this chip based on the modifications done to the car. See the item listing for the list of available chips or call BimmerWorld for more info.