E28 Megasquirt FAQ

M. Holtmeier · Post by **M. Holtmeier** » Jan 13, 2009 2:56 AM

Brad, I think I'm going to jack your timing map. They look pretty much the same except you run about 5 degrees more. Both you and George are running more timing than me and my engine is ~1.4:1 lower. My dyno operator is fuckin' me in the drive-thru!! Are you pretty satisfied with your timing map?

Post by **Brad D.** » Jan 13, 2009 10:16 AM

Feel free to use my timing map. It makes for pretty smooth power delivery. I am happy with it, but if I were to change anything it would be to bump even more timing back into it after peak torque. Either way, it makes good power and does it without knock so I'm happy with it.

e30-m30_kid89 · Post by **e30-m30_kid89** » Jan 14, 2009 4:13 PM

Hey i have a bucketload of questions regarding some settings.

-Is 5.3ms good or too much for cold starting? motor seems fine and doesn't seem to be running too rich (no black smoke)

-What vaccum are you guys getting at idle? after tweaking i managed to get map reading of 54kpa..looking at my boost gauge it measured to about -20hg which im thinking is good vaccum for idle.

EDIT: Brad i think im gonna use your spark table for a base and make w/e adjustments needed since no 2 motors run the same. Hope you dont mind!

Post by **Brad D.** » Jan 14, 2009 10:54 PM

e30-m30_kid89 wrote:Hey i have a bucketload of questions regarding some settings.

-Is 5.3ms good or too much for cold starting? motor seems fine and doesn't seem to be running too rich (no black smoke)

-What vaccum are you guys getting at idle? after tweaking i managed to get map reading of 54kpa..looking at my boost gauge it measured to about -20hg which im thinking is good vaccum for idle.

EDIT: Brad i think im gonna use your spark table for a base and make w/e adjustments needed since no 2 motors run the same. Hope you dont mind!

That should be perfectly fine for cranking. You can run as much as 10 degrees if you like. My car idles in the mid 40 kpa region. Remember idle vacuum is very dependent on idle speed. What AFR are you tuning to at idle? I'm in the mid 13s. You should be perfectly fine running my timing map, and no I don't mind or I wouldn't have shared it.

Just keep your ear to the ground listening for detonation as you start to tune under boost. Even different turbos and even turbine housings can require retuning of the spark table. If your turbo spools sooner or later you may want to move the "retard slope" up or down accordingly. Some changes I have been planning to make are to add back even more advance after peak torque than what is in the map I posted. That map should easily get you well in the ball park.

SamSpade · Post by **SamSpade** » Jan 15, 2009 2:03 AM

BBR, is idle appreciably smoother at mid 13s AFR than setting it at stoich 14.7? Or is it only the case for turbos but not for NA? What happens if you tune idle to stoich?

Post by **Brad D.** » Jan 15, 2009 10:16 AM

I just found that my car liked to idle best about 13.7ish. It was smoother and would recover and catch better on decel. I recommend just setting it to whatever gives your car the strongest idle.

e30-m30_kid89 · Post by **e30-m30_kid89** » Jan 15, 2009 8:53 PM

Hey Brad.....

All day i was working on getting my m30 idiling good on MS..it wouldnt go below 2k RPM...I though it was because of my VE table so i used yours...same thing. What my problem was i had a huge vac leak! right where the ICV was supposed to be.

So, I plugged that up good and...It idles amazingly, a rock soild 900rpms all the way until it is warm. I loaded back my table to see how it was and yours was much much better! great table!!! Im going to use it and just re-tune above 100kpa since our turbos are different.

Very very nice work! im super happy with both the timing and VE tables. Thanks for sharing.

Im suddenly ready for a street tune! which will come once the snow goes away, and i finish up the odds and ends on the other things.

MS FTW!

Post by **Brad D.** » Jan 16, 2009 12:03 AM

Dude, that's awesome! I'm so glad you got it running. Now get out there and start tuning. Remember to datalog and that MegaLogViewer is your secret weapon.

legendary · Post by **legendary** » Jan 16, 2009 1:25 PM

Thanks for the write-up.
I am looking at doing the TCD S2 kit, and doing my homework. I already received an email from Todd advising that Pete is the MS guru - also looks good to have support from you guys as well.

Cheers!

e30-m30_kid89 · Post by **e30-m30_kid89** » Jan 20, 2009 12:50 AM

Just a question to the MS users...What firmware are most guys here using?

I was until today using a MS2extra 2.1.0 Beta code but it started acting werid and I would keep losing sync in MT .

So i went back to the "stable code" code 2.0.1 and made a fresh MSQ. Runs okay and idles even lower 750-800 VS. 900-950 so i guess thats cool.

FirstFives Dictator · Post by **FirstFives Dictator** » Jan 20, 2009 8:22 AM

e30-m30_kid89 wrote:Just a question to the MS users...What firmware are most guys here using?

I was until today using a MS2extra 2.1.0 Beta code but it started acting werid and I would keep losing sync in MT .

So i went back to the "stable code" code 2.0.1 and made a fresh MSQ. Runs okay and idles even lower 750-800 VS. 900-950 so i guess thats cool.

2.1.0h 01/13/09 release. Non-turbo car, but MS2Extra.

bornagain · Post by **bornagain** » Feb 02, 2009 11:26 PM

okay so im trying to find out what the "F" im supposed to do if i have a 2 wire idle control valve for my 533i and if anyone has run in to that. wether or not i should use a 535 or if i can use that valve with or with out the glens garage pwm idle board or what. i appreciate the quick responces.

Post by **Brad D.** » Feb 03, 2009 1:04 AM

bornagain wrote:okay so im trying to find out what the "F" im supposed to do if i have a 2 wire idle control valve for my 533i and if anyone has run in to that. wether or not i should use a 535 or if i can use that valve with or with out the glens garage pwm idle board or what. i appreciate the quick responces.

I know you got my PM but I'm going to post my response so others will have the answer.
On step 22 you don't need to use any jumpers as that is only if you are using a stepper motor IAC, which the Bosch unit is not. Between steps 62 and 63 you will see a box for "PWM idle valve users only" - ignore it and build the circuits as outlined in the step. The Fidle output will go to the glens garage board and it does all the work.

FirstFives Dictator · Post by **FirstFives Dictator** » Feb 03, 2009 7:30 AM

bornagain wrote:okay so im trying to find out what the "F" im supposed to do if i have a 2 wire idle control valve for my 533i and if anyone has run in to that. wether or not i should use a 535 or if i can use that valve with or with out the glens garage pwm idle board or what. i appreciate the quick responces.

Probably can use it in warm-up mode, not sure about closed loop. IIRC, the valve is normally open and is closed by the controller. VDO valve, right?

bornagain · Post by **bornagain** » Feb 03, 2009 3:24 PM

thanks brad. i'm sure i will have more questions but well get to them when i get to them haha,.

bornagain · Post by **bornagain** » Feb 11, 2009 8:43 PM

yeah its a vdo valve if i remember correctly and if im at all correct in the next thing, im pretty sure i can use the pwm idle mod to wire it instead of the glens garage. but i am really looking for some confirmation of that. these are the instructions to it. and i was only going to use it in warm-up mode ass swell.

http://www.megamanual.com/ms2/IAC.htm#fidle

its almost at the bottom of the page.

the other question is: i know brad is using a 60-2 toothed wheel but i was thinking i would use the factory vr sensor on the bellhousing has anyone else done this, and what are the settings?

ohh hurdles be affraid

FirstFives Dictator · Post by **FirstFives Dictator** » Feb 11, 2009 9:46 PM

flywheel sensor will not work with Megasquirt unless there's some new development I don't know about.

Post by **Brad D.** » Feb 11, 2009 10:41 PM

I am not aware of anyone using the flywheel sensors. You would have to use both which would require dual trigger inputs, if you could even get it to work. 60-2 would be much easier.

bornagain · Post by **bornagain** » Feb 12, 2009 6:15 PM

okay so i am mistaken.... 60-2 it is.... um who's got one for me?

George · Post by **George** » Feb 12, 2009 6:27 PM

bornagain wrote:okay so i am mistaken.... 60-2 it is.... um who's got one for me?

The Mx/Sx motors use them as well as the M30b35

bornagain · Post by **bornagain** » Feb 12, 2009 6:29 PM

yes but i have a m30b32......

George · Post by **George** » Feb 12, 2009 6:30 PM

So pull one of a b35 and call it a day.

bornagain · Post by **bornagain** » Feb 12, 2009 6:33 PM

yes. but these cars are alot harder to find where i live,,, my best chance would be to buy all new or have someone with the parts that wants to sell

George · Post by **George** » Feb 12, 2009 6:35 PM

bornagain wrote:yes. but these cars are alot harder to find where i live,,, my best chance would be to buy all new or have someone with the parts that wants to sell

Start a thread the for sale/wanted section. Should be able to find one for pretty cheap.

bornagain · Post by **bornagain** » Feb 12, 2009 6:39 PM

right okay thanks... duh

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E28 Megasquirt FAQ