Where to start?!

[BustedBoat]

Alright so as I soon hope to be a future "true" member of the famiglia, I'd like to get started on learning everything there is to know on the zhp. I know there is a thread on what you guys know about the car, which I do plan on taking full advantage of. Yet there is just one problem. I am a hands on learner to the max. So my question is based on two levels. First can i get a basic understanding of the workings of a bimmer by working with another car? Maybe another bmw or another completely different car? Secondly in relation to the title where do I start? I've attempted to read books in a slight attempt to overcome my deficiency, but i just get lost in a jumble of words and without a true place to start. Any suggestions? Sorry for the long read

[danewilson77]

Read this.....

http://www.bimmerfest.com/wiki/index.php?title=BMW_E46

Look at pics....

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showt...arity-pictures

and understand...these are easiest cars ever to work on. You got this.

[az3579]

and understand...these are easiest cars ever to work on.

With the exception of this.

[mimalmo]

I'll agree with Dane. Much easier to work on than other cars I've owned.

[BustedBoat]

Once again everyone to the rescue, thanks knights of the wheeled table. Thanks for the links Mr. Wilson

[danewilson77]

Youi just give us specific questions, anytime, and we will do our best to deliver.

[BustedBoat]

Okay on my way to school today i came up with a question about chipped cars. What exactly is a chipped car. Is a chip actually inserted into the car or is the cpu(?) just reprogrammed. Does it have to be re-chipped after every new piece is added. Like does a chipped car need to be re-chipped after a supercharger installation?

[danewilson77]

Okay on my way to school today i came up with a question about chipped cars. What exactly is a chipped car. Is a chip actually inserted into the car or is the cpu(?) just reprogrammed. Does it have to be re-chipped after every new piece is added. Like does a chipped car need to be re-chipped after a supercharger installation?

This may help.

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showt...ctor-Installed

[az3579]

Okay on my way to school today i came up with a question about chipped cars. What exactly is a chipped car. Is a chip actually inserted into the car or is the cpu(?) just reprogrammed. Does it have to be re-chipped after every new piece is added. Like does a chipped car need to be re-chipped after a supercharger installation?

For those of us that don't really feel like clicking a link and adding yet another tab to our browsers:

A chipped car is a car that has an aftermarket performance chip installed to the ECU box. It replaces the factory unit. Older Bimmers, mainly pre-OBDII cars, use chips instead of software flashes.
Post-OBDII cars usually have performance software flashed onto the existing programmable chips, and the existing chips I don't believe are replaceable. This is more electronic, and therefore means less work to actually install the software (just plug into the OBDII connector and press a button or two).

And yes, you should reflash/rechip your car when you add a supercharger or other performance-oriented mods. This will allow software that is optimized for the mods that you have.
For example, when I got my Shark Injector, it asked me what mods I had so they could put the corresponding software on the module that flashes the car.


Cars that either have a chip or performance tune via software flash are both sometimes referred to as "chipped".

[BustedBoat]

is there a better term for chipped?