Mark D./Jim C. chips

[Mark D.]

Well since car is coming next week i have been researching chips. I had a JC chip in my last 318is and was quite happy. I e mailed Mark Dsylva (sp) at Enhanced Automotive Technology with a few questions about his product versus the JC one and why its listed as requiring 92 octane fuel etc etc.
He never bothered to e mail back, guess he's making too much money. Pisses me off.
Last time I installed a chip, I had a question so I called Turner Motorsport and guess who answered? Jim C himself to help me with the install as the instructions were poor. I guess he gets my order again.
Any comments from M42 owners on the Mark D. chips? Anyone tried them both out?

[VitaminJ]

I am a Mark D consumer and found his chip to be amazing. While I have no personal experience with Jim C, I've heard that Mark's chip performs better... Just what i've heard through the grape vine on some E30 forums. I chose his because it was cheaper and he is Canadian based out of Ontairo, so it was cheaper shipping. I think its newer as well? However, the installation is EXTREMELY simple, it was the first mod I did and have had no problems.

Lemme know if you need any help, and which chip you decide on...

p.s. Im sorry to hear you had a poor customer service experience with Mark, he was prompt with my service, when I talked to him.

[Mark D.]

I am a Mark D consumer and found his chip to be amazing. While I have no personal experience with Jim C, I've heard that Mark's chip performs better... Just what i've heard through the grape vine on some E30 forums. I chose his because it was cheaper and he is Canadian based out of Ontairo, so it was cheaper shipping. I think its newer as well? However, the installation is EXTREMELY simple, it was the first mod I did and have had no problems.

Lemme know if you need any help, and which chip you decide on...

p.s. Im sorry to hear you had a poor customer service experience with Mark, he was prompt with my service, when I talked to him.
Ok well thats good to know. On his website it says 92 octane, I am sure 91 will be fine. Any other M42 owners have a Mark D. or JC chip? Comments please, much appreciated before I buy one this week.

[FrustratedMunky]

I have the Mark D 92 octane chip, I love it. Slightly better throttle response at low end, power band widened and the pull within the power band was better than stock.

I just saw a dyno graph comparing the two chips somewhere, I just looked quickly at the other forums and couldn't find it. MarkD chip was proven to be the better chip? I don't know how reliable the source was (bais or not), but that's what the graph said.

I ran 91 on my 92 octane when I was down in the states or something and was low on gas, it ran fine on that one tank of gas. Other than that, 92 at Chevron always :)

If they're both the same price, I'd say to go for the MarkD chip, but if you get a good deal on a used JC chip, I'd say heck why not, probably just about the same shit anyways. I got mine used, so I jumped on it. I told myself I wouldn't buy one unless I found one used to save a couple bucks. Coincidentally, it was a MarkD that someone had for sale, I would have done the same for a JC.

[royalflush313]

I have the MarkD chip.

In all honesty, I don't think it made much of a difference. If anything, it was a placebo effect.
I have no experience with the JC chip, but I would assume that it's more or less the same.

If I had to start my car over again, I would probably not buy one. There's a lot that I would do different though :confused:

[FrustratedMunky]

http://www.maxbimmer.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=55515&stc=1&d=1133151588
Link to the graph

And yeah, it could be just my imagination that's messing with me. But with the M42, it's probably the only "engine" mod I'd do, so depends on your goals for your car. Personally, I could justify it for $150 shipped, but that's because I felt some change atleast? Better than spending on a brand new $500+ free flowing exhaust + labour for installation IMO, for my car anyways.

[CGDoig]

I just bought a 93 octance Mark D for 19lb injectors for the m20, so we'll see if theres much of a difference. It was probably worth the money when it gets here.

[Mark D.]

I have the MarkD chip.

In all honesty, I don't think it made much of a difference. If anything, it was a placebo effect.
I have no experience with the JC chip, but I would assume that it's more or less the same.

If I had to start my car over again, I would probably not buy one. There's a lot that I would do different though :confused:

Wow, thats hard to believe. I drove my first 318is in 1999 and installed the JC chip with K & N panel filter. What a difference! I couldnt get myself out of the car. I know for a fact the JC chip made a big difference. Something is wrong if you installed a chip from a reputable maker and there is no difference. You should feel the increase of 8-9 hp right away.

[VitaminJ]

I definitely noticed more jump in the higher revs... annnnd the fact that my rev limiter was gone... hehe...

[go4carter]

Can someone back me up here..? Not too confident on reading these.

Stock chip run is Orange, with a good breathing engine (bored, exhaust, etc)

JimC is Blue & Dark Green... Blue run had modest gains, the Dark Green run had the hightest HP but lots of variance (is that bad?).

MarkD is Light Green... it made the most twist, but lots of HP variance.

Why the wild differences between runs on the JimC?
Can you infer anything from these charts on how well their M42s chips work?

If I could add anything to my car it would be torque... so I'd choose MarkD, but that's me, and my driving style.

[Mike 91 318ic]

That dyno chart is for the M20, correct me if I'm wrong but we're talking about the M42. Most people that buy the EAT chip buys the 93 octane chip which is more aggressive than the 91 JC chip and shouldn't be compared. Persoanlly I wouldn't want to pay for 94 octane fuel all the time just for 1-2 more hp that you can't feel anyways. The benefits of these chips are "slightly" more tq, usually smoother idle, raised rev limiter, and "slightly" more pull over 4500 rpm. Is the chip worth $200-$300??? that depends on how much money you have. 8-10 hp isn't a lot and it's hard to feel a difference but it is there. If $300 is a lot of money to you I.E. half your rent or food for a month then I'd say it's not. But if $300 is what you spend on lap dances and beers at the #5 on a Friday night then it is worth it. :boobies:

M

Can someone back me up here..? Not too confident on reading these.

Stock chip run is Orange, with a good breathing engine (bored, exhaust, etc)

JimC is Blue & Dark Green... Blue run had modest gains, the Dark Green run had the hightest HP but lots of variance (is that bad?).

MarkD is Light Green... it made the most twist, but lots of HP variance.

Why the wild differences between runs on the JimC?
Can you infer anything from these charts on how well their M42s chips work?

If I could add anything to my car it would be torque... so I'd choose MarkD, but that's me, and my driving style.

[Mark D.]

That dyno chart is for the M20, correct me if I'm wrong but we're talking about the M42. Most people that buy the EAT chip buys the 93 octane chip which is more aggressive than the 91 JC chip and shouldn't be compared. Persoanlly I wouldn't want to pay for 94 octane fuel all the time just for 1-2 more hp that you can't feel anyways. The benefits of these chips are "slightly" more tq, usually smoother idle, raised rev limiter, and "slightly" more pull over 4500 rpm. Is the chip worth $200-$300??? that depends on how much money you have. 8-10 hp isn't a lot and it's hard to feel a difference but it is there. If $300 is a lot of money to you I.E. half your rent or food for a month then I'd say it's not. But if $300 is what you spend on lap dances and beers at the #5 on a Friday night then it is worth it. :boobies:

M
Well Turner Motorsport advertises the JC chip as having an increase of 14hp. I am ordering one today for my M42. I plan on taking my car to a dyno shop (anybody know of one?) Then back again for dyno after the chip is installed. In my last car it felt like 10 hp no more so it will be interesting to find out.

[Mike 91 318ic]

I think 14 is a little optimistic according to my butt dyno but 14 could be right, at least I hope it is. There's a few dyno shops around, I tried to organise a E30 dyno but no one was really interested. I'd still like to try it tho.

M

http://www.bimmerclassics.net/forum/showthread.php?t=462&highlight=dyno

[Mark D.]

I think 14 is a little optimistic according to my butt dyno but 14 could be right, at least I hope it is. There's a few dyno shops around, I tried to organise a E30 dyno but no one was really interested. I'd still like to try it tho.

M

http://www.bimmerclassics.net/forum/showthread.php?t=462&highlight=dyno

Mike,

Give me a couple of weeks as my car isnt here till next Wed., then its tires and exhaust. We should renew this thread and see if kinetic or whoever can give us a Saturday afternoon of their time to dyno all those who are interested. Looking forward to contacting Jim Conforti regarding the results. Would be great to have at least 3 stock M42's and then 3 tests with his chip installed.

[Mike 91 318ic]

I'm in, just let me know when and where. Saturdays and Sundays are best.

M

Mike,

Give me a couple of weeks as my car isnt here till next Wed., then its tires and exhaust. We should renew this thread and see if kinetic or whoever can give us a Saturday afternoon of their time to dyno all those who are interested. Looking forward to contacting Jim Conforti regarding the results. Would be great to have at least 3 stock M42's and then 3 tests with his chip installed.