Hatge Engine Update (archive)

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OK, I have a 1987 535is with a Hartge engine kit (H 5sp) and this is what I have learned recently. My goal is to get the most out of the engine, I am a teacher so my budget does have a limit. I have owned this car for 9 months, I am the third owner, it came with very complete records.

-The car had a �split second� system installed, you had to reset it every other day, the calibration of these units needs to be more refined (my opinion) for street use. Took it off and sold it.

-Presently the engine has a European grind cam installed. The Hartge cam produced power way up in the rpm�s, below 4000 rpm it had no �grunt�.

-I installed mustang injectors (the 24# ones, not the 18# ones) and they made a big difference. I would like to thank one of the board�s posters Rob Anderson for this idea. The injector change was easy and straight forward. Just follow the information from previous posts on this board.

-My car has the American ECU (in fact it came with a spare!). The Hartge engine kit was designed for use with the European ECU (as the Europe cars ran higher compression pistons than the American (Green) cars). So I am still searching for that particular ECU (0 261 200 061). My thinking is that this is going to be the best �bang for the buck� I can do.

-My other option is to find a shop in Florida (or even the South East) that will put this car on a dyno and burn a chip. The shops I have contacted don�t want to bother, it has been a long time since they have worked on a car of this age.

-I have tried a performance chip (AutoAthority, came with the car still in the bag!), big difference but the engine will ping if pushed hard. Yes, I run high octane gas, yes I have tried the little adjustments in the ECU itself (that did help some). The new injectors helped a lot, but still some slight pinging when floored and above 4500 rpm, so I don�t floor it!

My mechanic has never seen another engine like mine i.e., american engine with a Hartge engine kit installed. They are strictly a Porsche and BMW shop.

Car came with a Hartge upper sway bar, Hartge wheels, Hartge badges (yea, I have left them on), and hand painted pinstripes running the length of the vehicle (Hartge Colors).

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