AFM MAF conversion. Anyone done this?

Specific conversations and info for the BMW E28 M5 and M535i.
Post Reply
M5BB
Posts: 1567
Joined: Jun 13, 2007
Location: Peachtree Corners, Georgia

AFM MAF conversion. Anyone done this?

Post by M5BB »

I found some posts about this conversion but would like to hear from some real users.
This Miller Performance unit seems to be the way to go.
http://www.millerperformancecars.com/m88maf.html
Opinions :?
A bunch of bucks too.
I had a guy that works at the parts dept at a stealer that told me these conversions were worth 20 HP and better throttle response.
Give me some feedback?
Gary
M5 Black on Black
Mark 88/M5 Houston
Posts: 8548
Joined: Feb 12, 2006
Location: Far North Houston

Post by Mark 88/M5 Houston »

shifty
Posts: 2552
Joined: Feb 12, 2006
Location: Greenville, SC
Contact:

Post by shifty »

El Duke-o did it on his NA M535i a few years back. The Roadfly archives may have all of the threads from that. You might try searching "duke maf conversion" or something like that.
Lacomba
Posts: 25
Joined: Feb 12, 2006
Location: Saint Augustine FL

Post by Lacomba »

I have been thinking about doing this for a while too. I can't really find any info about how this compares to the turner chip hp wise. BTW Shifty man you really smoked that creeper at the fest! :rofl:
Tammer in Philly
Posts: 10719
Joined: Feb 12, 2006
Location: CHI, IL

Post by Tammer in Philly »

Lacomba wrote:I have been thinking about doing this for a while too. I can't really find any info about how this compares to the turner chip hp wise. BTW Shifty man you really smoked that creeper at the fest! :rofl:
I let him win. An eta driver has to feel like he can outrun something! ;-)

-tammer
rs4pro3
Posts: 489
Joined: Feb 12, 2006
Location: Chattanooga, TN

Post by rs4pro3 »

I did a self put together MAF conversion on my m20 stroker motor, used an apexi SAFC pigyback, and E36 m50 maf, variable TPS, and LC-1 wideband. It was the best mod I have ever done to the engine. The throttle response was just amazing. But I pulled it out to go with megasquirt(in the scheme of things megasquirt costs about the same) As I spent about $600 doing the MAF swap.
shifty
Posts: 2552
Joined: Feb 12, 2006
Location: Greenville, SC
Contact:

Post by shifty »

Lacomba wrote:I have been thinking about doing this for a while too. I can't really find any info about how this compares to the turner chip hp wise. BTW Shifty man you really smoked that creeper at the fest! :rofl:

Yeah, Tammer had it coming. ;)

Actually, when I got halfway down the parking garage, I realized that that was kind of a crappy thing to do. A lot of the guys wanted to see what would happen, and that was their last memory of Shifty at 5er Fest 2007.

There's always next year. :lol:
M5BB
Posts: 1567
Joined: Jun 13, 2007
Location: Peachtree Corners, Georgia

Maf conversion

Post by M5BB »

After reading many articles I have found that the Miller Performance unit has the highest rate of success.
There are a few others like it but none have the whole unit ready to go.
You can basically program your own chip with this system as well as get a much better MAF/AFM intake with better throttle response as well as the HP from a chip.
I like this because I have cams and headers and the chips are a compromise unless you want to pay for a custom chip and then you are over half way $$ towards a new MAF.
Not something I'm going to do tomorrow but by summers end I should have this system.
Does anyone have this same set-up?
Gary
Martin in BellevueWA
Posts: 593
Joined: Feb 12, 2006
Location: Bellevue,WA

Post by Martin in BellevueWA »

I just replaced a split second kit with the miller maf. It is pretty good. It replaced a split second map box, which replaced a modern performance piggyback maf kit. The modern performance signal box failed on the board at the tuning pot solder joints. Joe Shaw had the same failure on his modern perf. maf. Modern performance went out of business a couple years ago.
The split second psc-001 with internal map sensor was good around town, after too much tuning on my part. It used a tach input to vary the same map signal for different rev ranges. It wouldn't have been worth a crap without the tach signal. I was trying to get some info from split second on adding another signal, from a throttle position sensor to correct a problem with lean running when climbing hills on the highway; the map signal didn't change quickly enough to tell there was higher load at speed. The incoming air at highway speeds masked the vacuum loads with a partially open throttle. On my 535, partial throttle & wot both showed -2"Hg in this situation. Split second denied the manual's instruction that 4 additional inputs could be used to further tune the signal. I could have used the split second box in another mode with a maf sensor, but split second wouldn't send me a base curve to start with, & I wasn't interested in starting over with the split second stuff.
I like that the miller kit uses a remapped dme chip without a piggyback, especially after the failure(s) I've had with previous piggybacks. It runs well with my somewhat modified m30b35.
My lc-1 wideband indicates that the miller maf runs just a smidge fat under 2,500rpm; I may be able to correct that with the adjustable fuel pressure regulator & the lc-1's adjustable output signal to the dme. The miller aluminum maf housing is heavier & bulkier than the plastic ford maf that modern performance used. Also, the miller maf isn't the usual ford maf; it works with other ford mafs, but the signal ends up lean with the modern performance maf. The plug & sensor fitting are different. I like the Miller maf & anticipate no problems like I've had with the other stuff, because it isn't a piggyback, but a sensor & replacement chip.
Image

I ended up down blinging the maf housing a bit.
Image

I've just replaced the miller maf housing for a 3" tube. It is better, more like the performance of the modern perf maf with the less restrictive tube. I did have to raise the fuel pressure to normalize the tune, per the wideband lc-1. Also, this maf tube doesn't act like the heat sink that the miller maf aluminum chunk is. That heavy thing stayed hot for hours.
Image

Image
Last edited by Martin in BellevueWA on Jun 27, 2007 5:35 PM, edited 2 times in total.
Rich Euro M5
Posts: 6098
Joined: Mar 10, 2006
Location: Klein, Texas

Re: Maf conversion

Post by Rich Euro M5 »

Gary 533 wrote:After reading many articles I have found that the Miller Performance unit has the highest rate of success.
There are a few others like it but none have the whole unit ready to go.
You can basically program your own chip with this system as well as get a much better MAF/AFM intake with better throttle response as well as the HP from a chip.
I like this because I have cams and headers and the chips are a compromise unless you want to pay for a custom chip and then you are over half way $$ towards a new MAF.
Not something I'm going to do tomorrow but by summers end I should have this system.
Does anyone have this same set-up?
Gary
Gary, Did you miss Mark's post right below your opening post of this thread ? Scottie Sharpe is the guy that helped Miller Performance develop the kit for the MAF conversion on the S38/M88. Check out this link S38/M88 MAF Conversion Ver.2.0 to Scottie's website, it highlights some improvements. You can also contact Scottie directly for more info via his website.

Rich
M5BB
Posts: 1567
Joined: Jun 13, 2007
Location: Peachtree Corners, Georgia

Maf conversion

Post by M5BB »

Rich and Martin,

Yes, I've read most of what I could find about what Sharpe did and there is the newer version 2 that has solved some of those problems he has talked about.
He has quite a bit of experience with developing the unit with Miller. That's one reason I think this is the way to go.
Martin, Sounds like you've had some experience with the less than satisfactory units made by others.
I appreciate you taking the time to write about your adventures.
I've also got a lot to learn about the mapping.
The Miller unit is sounding better all the time.
Thanks,
Gary
M5BB
Posts: 1567
Joined: Jun 13, 2007
Location: Peachtree Corners, Georgia

Miller MAF possible group purchase.

Post by M5BB »

Guys I have a new board name.
M5BB. M5 Black on Black. Old login was Gary 533.
I got this information from Scottie Sharp the guy who worked with Miller Performance to perfect the MAF unit.

This is what he said. Below
If your interested in a unit I will call Scottie and see what he can offer. Just the unit and the unit with the programmable Chip.
Yes, this works with the 079.

No the chip is not programmed with your laptop. To do that you need the optional "Tuner's Kit". The Tuners Kit comes with software and serial cable.

Yes, I will gladly negotiate a group deal. Email me and I'll send you my phone #.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scottie Sharpe
San Jose CA
Discussion Board SYSOP
Lee
Posts: 73
Joined: Feb 12, 2006

Post by Lee »

Miller Performance's kit seems indeed quite promising. For a couple of years, the e30 M3 crowd has been using an Alpha-N system that relies on throttle angle to determine load. A system from Maxx Automotive in Germany has been favoured as it is simple to install and fuel curves are programable while ignition is whatever is in your current chip. Supposedly that Alpha-N is quicker to react than MAF, which is why the M3 crowd went for it. Their kit works on all Motronic-equipped engines.

http://www.maxx-automotive.com/pp.html
SeattleGuy
Posts: 737
Joined: Jun 25, 2018

Re: History Lesson

Post by SeattleGuy »

Tammer in Philly wrote:
Lacomba wrote:I have been thinking about doing this for a while too. I can't really find any info about how this compares to the turner chip hp wise. BTW Shifty man you really smoked that creeper at the fest! :rofl:
I let him win. An eta driver has to feel like he can outrun something! ;-)

-tammer
Flash forward 11 years and a damn Chevy Volt hits 60 in 6.5-7 seconds LOL.... but it took the World a long time to catch up to BMW that's for sure and the feel is still not comparable.
Post Reply