A bit of TLC with Turtle Wax Black in a Flash

[Cromp85]

I did some research, there are different ECU P/Ns for high and low peformance. I assume it was just a different ECU map.
If you use 84PS cable on a 103PS TB, there is too much slack so it still wont open fully.

Yes it does open fully, you've my word!
Wheel being located on opposite side from a RHD, my LHD cable hasn't at all the same length as a RHD. It's not the same.
I was myself amazed because I'd previously read all the posts regarding that swap and ordered RHD cable & TB which were absolutely useless in my LHD 25: they are still on the shelf!
Unlike the RHD conversion, it's as simple as that: cut the plastic bit end that prevents the full opening and job done!
Tested & verified. It does works.

Regarding the ECU, the spare one that Steve Abbott sent me remapped was coming from a 103PS 25 and it works a treat on mine.

Any chance you can post some pics of your spare RHD TB compared to the LHD one you are using?
Im curious to see where the difference is now!

[Dorchester]

Any chance you can post some pics of your spare RHD TB compared to the LHD one you are using?
Im curious to see where the difference is now!

I'll try. But I assume you know very well how a RHD TB looks like, don't you?
Not that easy to take a clear & informative picture of a LHD TB already in place.
But you've my word.
BTW the only difference I've found regarding a 214 cab, a 84PS 25 & a 103PS 25 is the compression ratio (respectively 9.5, 10 & 10.5).
https://www.auto-data.net/en/compare?ca ... rId3=11582
I assume that it's written in the ECU. Am I wrong?
Every other technical data looks similar.
I don't forget your wish.

[Cromp85]

I'll try. But I assume you know very well how a RHD TB looks like, don't you?
Not that easy to take a clear & informative picture of a LHD TB already in place.
But you've my word.
BTW the only difference I've found regarding a 214 cab, a 84PS 25 & a 103PS 25 is the compression ratio (respectively 9.5, 10 & 10.5).
https://www.auto-data.net/en/compare?ca ... rId3=11582
I assume that it's written in the ECU. Am I wrong?
Every other technical data looks similar.
I don't forget your wish.

Im not sure why the compression ratio would be different (Can anyone explain?)
I have do have a RHD TB for reference, i just wanted a pic of yours to check its the same.

[Dorchester]

I fear you don't trust me very much...
Anyway here are 3 pictures of... not one but two RHD TB I'd bought on Ebay from a British seller plus one RHD cable, but I do not remind why the other end had been cut.







Then 3 pictures of my own original LHD TB in place.
Unfortunately due to the strut brace and a lack of room, I can't show you precisely the more interesting bit, the plastic arm which I'd cut 5 years ago or nearly.
Neither can I show you (that big clamp on the rubber hose is a PITA job to take off & put back in place) the inside, but I've some hopes I might be trusted in that matter: it does open fully now when it was restricted in the first place.



In standstill position, i.e. closed:



In full opening position (see my left hand):



Anyway I know that the best way to give evidence to myself and to anybody else would be to have a test on a roller bench. It would be mentally & scientifically satisfying but I'm not keen to waste money when I know by experience that when I bought the car in March 2015 & after both mods (TB & ECU), it was night & day! That's the very point, isn't it?

EDIT: I don't remember very neatly, but I tried the RHD TB and noticing that it didn't do better than my mod, I decided to keep my genuine but derestricted TB.

[Dorchester]

BTW in the link I've given above I was very surprised to noticed that my 1994 214i cabby has a 55L tank when the other 25 obviously including mine have only got 50L.
Hence a better autonomy.
Can anybody confirm? Thanks.

[montegoman]

The rear suspension and consequently the fuel tank, spare wheel well and exhaust are all different on an R3. (25). The suspension was simplified to accommodate everything within the shorter rear overhang and shorter wheelbase. (The simpler suspension was also cheaper to build, had less to go wrong and in my opinion it handles better!

[Dorchester]

I should have thought of that for the cabby length is 4.22m when the 25 is only 3.99m.