MK60 ECU retrofit into MK20?

[01M3Fan]

Has anyone upgraded to later ECU? Is it ECU + wiring harness or much more involved? Love my car, and typically drive with DSC disabled because system is so heavy handed in corrections... would love track mode available on later cars.

[Obioban]

Has anyone upgraded to later ECU? Is it ECU + wiring harness or much more involved? Love my car, and typically drive with DSC disabled because system is so heavy handed in corrections... would love track mode available on later cars.

I have very little insight to provide other than it's going to be more than module swap and rewiring-- the brake lines need to be rerouted as well, at minimum.

[George Hill]

The MK60 can be mounted in the drug bin and the MK20 lines modified to connect to the MK60 hydraulic unit. Not how I would do it, but I've seen it done.

[TropicalM3]

Wheel Speed Sensors are different too.

[Obioban]

The MK60 can be mounted in the drug bin and the MK20 lines modified to connect to the MK60 hydraulic unit. Not how I would do it, but I've seen it done.

I was under the impression the mk60 required the shorter runs from the driver side bin to function correctly.

[George Hill]

I was under the impression the mk60 required the shorter runs from the driver side bin to function correctly.

That's what I thought too, but I've seen it in a car and a well known shop (not mine) does it regularly I'm told.

[ATB88]

Back in old forums, in the beforetimes, there was a forum member, whose handle I can't recall, saying something along the lines of that he'd worked it out all the parts of the process, and was doing and documenting it in order to post a full-on DIY. I had been very eagerly awaiting it but then the forum went kaput and the rona kicked in.

This is still my number 1 most wanted DIY. If it's well documented and doesn't appear to be any harder than a 6MT swap, I'd do it for sure. Re-routing the brake lines seems like a bear, though.

[01M3Fan]

Thx guys - my chassis and car is pretty sorted, if this is DIYable, would be great winter project.

[pawa_k2001]

Also in the boat of wanting to do this. Actually have a complete MK60 system with brake lines laying around. I am looking into wiring the MK60 in by itself(DIYableish) or sourcing a complete wiring from 2003.5+ slickstop 6 speed manual and just putting in a new wiring(definitely not DIYable).

[terra]

That's what I thought too, but I've seen it in a car and a well known shop (not mine) does it regularly I'm told.

Does it work well though? I could probably get the system to run by mounting the module above my sunroof with some long ass lines. But I would not expect DSC behavior to work right.

[George Hill]

Does it work well though? I could probably get the system to run by mounting the module above my sunroof with some long ass lines. But I would not expect DSC behavior to work right.

I don't know. For ABS it looks like it doesn't matter. For DSC functions, maybe? Obviously BMW thought it did, but are we talking about a significant large or small and would those be noticeable by the average user driving on the street? For the track how many guys who would be at this level of wanting the MK60 vs the MK20 and still drive with DSC on? I don't know.

I would not convert a MK20 car and leave the MK60 in the same location, just not how I build street cars. BUT for a race car, look up all the people who have MK60 swaps on other chassis and look were they mount it, I have a S54/E30 here that has it in the passenger floor board.

And this from the BMW chassis dynamics workbook dated 1-1-03
"The charge pump is installed between the master cylinder and the brake fluid reservoir.

Depending upon model, pump is located below the master cylinder in the left side of the engine compartment.

During DSC controlled regulations that involve brake intervention, the charge pump ensures the the required volume of fluid is available for the hydraulic unit.

When activated, the pump delivers brake fluid at a pressure of 10 to 15 Bar to the front axle circuit of the master cylinder. The pressurized fluid also acts on the rear brake circuit of the master cylinder as well.

The charge pump is not used on all DSC systems. The Teves MK60 system does not use a charge pump. This is due to the proximity of the hydraulic unit to the master cylinder. The hydraulic unit is located under the master cylinder, this allows sufficient pressure to be built up quickly, this eliminates the need for the charge pump."

[S54B32]

Anyone done this? Mk60 in the mk20 Location?

I can‘t understand the point, if the Hydraulic unit is more away from the MC, it needs a preload pump. Per my knowledge in hydraulic systems there is no lag, because hydraulic fluid can not compensated and therefore it shouldn‘t matter if the MC is 20cm or 120cm away from the hydraulic unit to build up pressure.

[heinzboehmer]

Fluids aren't truly incompressible. They're very resistant to compression, which is why you get excellent response times from hydraulic system compared to pneumatic ones, but they do compress very slightly.

On top of that, there's always the possibility that there's some air or water (which can boil and become a highly compressible gas) in the lines

[pawa_k2001]

Complete MK60 swap, doubt to many will try this.

https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/main-forum/member-build-journals/2691-slavik-s-2002-carbon-schwarz-m3-6-speed-build/page4

[terra]

Fluids aren't truly incompressible. They're very resistant to compression, which is why you get excellent response times from hydraulic system compared to pneumatic ones, but they do compress very slightly.

On top of that, there's always the possibility that there's some air or water (which can boil and become a highly compressible gas) in the lines

I think viscosity is probably the biggest issue. With the abs module mounted remotely, that fluid has to go through a lot of tight bends. Pressurizing it helps it keep flowing. With the module mounted right below the master cylinder, there’s less overall resistance to flow. Additionally bmw does recommend using low viscosity brake fluid in MK60 cars on top of that.