Dinan Homepage Performance Engine Software

The Dinan software basically retunes the engine for better than stock performance. In and of itself, the performance increase is noticable, but not as good as when accompanied by an intake and exhaust upgrade (what I like to refer as the trilogy upgrade). With the chip, you will also need to use higher than the recommended 89 octane gas (which you should be doing anyways).

If you are lucky enough to have, close by, a BMW dealer who is one of those through which Dinan now distributes their products, you will not need the instructions in this page as they can upload the software through the access port. However, if you are one of those who must remove their ECU and send it in to Dinan, these instruction will tell you how to remove the ECU.

Although it may seem a rather easy procedure once done, its surprising how many times the question of how to remove the ECU comes up (along with just where it is). So here is the answer to all your ECU removal questions.

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The ECU is housed in this little compartment, well protected from the elements.

First remove the 3 screws holding the cover on. The screws are captured (they cannot be pulled out...or accidentally lost in the bowels of the engine compartment).

Remove the cover slowly as there is some sealer goop that you don't want to rip up too much.

ECU Home

A peek inside

 With the cover removed, there are 3 separate wire bundles connected to the ECU. Note how each of the grommets (2 identical in the rear and one in front) sit in the ECU compartment openings. Carefully lift each of the grommets to loosen them from the openings.

Carefully lift the entire ECU straight up. Do not strain the wire bundles. If the bundles do not lift easily, find out what is holding them in place before lifting the ECU out.

Surgical removal

Doin the swing

 Once the bottom of the ECU has cleared the compartment, swing the bottom of the ECU out.

Pull out on the locking clip to separate the one end of the connector. The other end is hinged (red circle). When the connector has swung out enough, the hinged end will separate. Make sure you have a hold on the ECU when it separates so as not to drop the ECU.

Prepare for extraction