Did any one try to install this computer chip, what is the feedback?

http://www.gforcechips.com/bmw530i.aspx

 

Sounds too good to be true...

 

From $399 down to $69 and up to 60 HP, I'd say it is too good to be true.

 

Found this on a Lotus forum, seems like its crap.



If this is a device which plugs in line with the air mass flow sensor, then it is basically a resistor to trick the ECU into changing the air-fuel ratio. I have seen these discussed in depth on bike forums, where they seem to be popular, although they only claim increased smoothness, economy and small power gains, not what is shown above.

Generally, they add a resistor to make the ECU think that the temperature is cooler, so the air is more dense, so more fuel is added. This is to combat the supposed idea that modern engines with leaner mixtures do not run as smoothly and have poor throttle response. With a closed loop, the ECU will correct at steady state, but when accelerating in open loop mode, the mixture will be richer. Like an accelerator pump in a Weber carb. Many state they add 6% to 8% more fuel than standard during acceleration.

Advantages? People report better running, but it could be the placebo effect at work. More power is unlikely.

Disadvantages? Messing up the emissions control is likely. The result will be non linear, since the mass flow sensor is non linear, so the % fuel added will vary with ambient temperature. This could make the mixture much richer in extreme temperatures, which is not very desirable. Some have a thermistor to compensate for ambient, but unless this is remotely mounted in clean fresh air, it is hardly going to be accurate.

The above version is certainly extreme in its claims, although other types also claim to adapt to the engine or read other parameters from frequency variations when they are plugged into a single signal line. The ones that make simple claims are more believable, but then with such simple claims there doesn't seem to be a lot of point.