Dinan camsprocket: Any feedback? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Nene · 15th October 2001, 08:17

Hey, guys (and girls)

I was just wondering if anyone has any feedback on the Dinan cam sprocket for the U.S. E34 M5? Big difference? hardly niticable? Any feedback would be much appreciated as I am considering purchasing this setup (Dinan chip + sprocket).

Please advise,
Nene

JPK//E28M5 · 15th October 2001, 18:29

Nene,

I purchased the chip and sprocket for my e28 M5 and was very disapointed. Dinan claims 42 horsepower for the chip alone, this is total bull@#%#. At most I might have gained 10-12 horsepower and did notice some improved throttle response. I then put a Schrick 280 cam in and that was money better spent as suddenly it felt like I gained about 25-30 horsepower.

A friend of mine works for a local BMW tuner shop and he has a similar setup except he uses the Jim C. chip. We both dynoed our cars. His came out with 217 rear wheel horsepower, mine came out with 247 rear wheel horsepower. I am convinced tha the Schrick cam is responsibel for most of that gain.

The cam is expensive but in my case it was even more expensive to waste $500 purchasing the chip and cam sprocket.

I know some guys swear about all these chips on the market but I have seen first hand information when someone else I know had his engine rebuilt at the Power Plant in NC (they do most of Kormans work). The engine was put on an engine dyno (not a chasis dyno) and in most cases the chips they used (Jim C. DInan etc..) gained only a few horsepower and no where near the 42 that Dinan claims.

Hope this helps!

Regards,

Jon P. Kofod
BMWCCA National Capital Chapter
1995 F355 Challenge
1996 750iL
2000 A6 Avant
1988 M5

IvanDias · 15th October 2001, 19:40

I cannot vouch for the perfomance increase, I know Dinan are very well respected...

but,

If you add up all the claimed HP and torque increase for all the individual different parts you can buy, it seems a bit to good to be true.

more importantly,

Dinan themselves quote 8 time units to fit the chip and 60 time units to fit the sprocket.

Dinan quote a time unit as 1/10 of a hour, therefore 10 units equals 1 hour, therefore the 60 time units to fir the sprocket is SIX HOURS LABOUR AT A DINAN RECOMMENDED FITTER.

Therefore the price you will pay is $249 for chip plus $561 for the sprocket plus 6 hours expert fitting.

This could be an expensive upgrade.

My two pence therefore is ;

Please investigate further. What else could you get for the money?

Ivan

Nene · 16th October 2001, 06:19

I really appreciate you guys getting back to me on this. As pointed out, it is an expensive thing to just try, especially if it doesn't work as well as claimed. But now my question to you guys is this: What other options do I have if I don't want to crack open the block?

To be honest I haven't even looked to see if Schrick makes a cam for that model year. I suppose they would if they made it for the E28 M5. But besides the chip and sprocket, the only things I can think of would be exhaust and intake modifications. The exhaust I have already done (sounds great, by the way), but from what I hear you don't want to mess with the intake in any way. I guess those German engineers spent those long nights for something. Please correct me on any of this if you guys now otherwise. I guess I shouldn't complain about the stock power too much, but you must understand.....my brother has a 2000 540 sport (automatic, luckily) that is fairly modified.....and brothers will always be brothers. Therefore, I must not only dominate the left lane (U.S.), but also be able to keep my cool from light to light. I'm sure a few of you guys know what I'm talking about. Any info. would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Nene

KKelly · 16th October 2001, 18:14

The cam sprocket merely shifts your torque curve. I also heard it is just an E30 M3 exhaust sprocket and can be bought at a dealer for $150. Join bmwe34m5 at yahoogroups.com and ask the question.

There is a dyno at that site that has 283+ to the rear wheels with a Dinan chip, so it does do something. I just removed my Dinan and put in a chip designed by Mark D'Sylva. Great improvement througout the powerband and he is selling them for $150 to our email group. Better lowend power for sure and I wrote a detailed review to the email group. The Dinan chip doesn't do much until 5000rpm. To buy and install the sprocket at Dinan is $1000. I think Korman also sells one.

I do know a guy with cams and 3.8 throttle bodies and that will give you great high rpm power but really bad gas mileage.

KKelly · 16th October 2001, 18:19

Nene,

One last thing, what is the build date of your car? Do you have the 3.91 or 3.73 rearend?

WylM5 · 17th October 2001, 03:12

How can you tell what differential you are using 3.91 vs 3.73? My car had the transmition replaced by the previous owner at 50K miles back in 94 under his extended warranty when the car wouldn't shift parts that were changed
23 00 1 221 632 at-gearbo
99 99 9 000 812 core dep
25 11 1 220 198 joint
23 41 1 466 134 pin
26 11 2 226 527 univ. joint

could i tell which diff I am running by the RPM at a given speed? Say I should be running XXXX RPM at 70MPH in 4th gear w/3.91 diff?

WylM5