By keeping the original DME (ECU) no changes need to be made to the EWS. It remains VIN coded and paired to the DME, which is why reflashing is the easier solution vs swapping DME. You're only reflashing the parameters that run the engine, not wiping the whole thing. Did it earlier this year using Bali's guide, and it took about 20 minutes.

 

thank you so much for this information!
do you know maybe some topic where can I see how is this process performed?
i'd like to know if I can perform myself too on my car.
I plan to swap my m52tub20 into m52tub28.

 

some topic where can I see how is this process performed

I plan to swap my m52tub20 into m52tub28.

My DME update guide has the steps.

Need a DME or EGS flash update?

What? I have written guides (see links below) to show you how to update the software in your DME (engine control module) or EGS (automatic transmission control module) to the latest BMW factory version for free using WinKFP. Why? I recommend every car be updated to the latest. There are three...

www.e46fanatics.com

What is the model and production date of your E46?

 

What is the model and production date of your E46?

1999 320ci coupe m52tub20 150hp engine.
Probably only was produced in Europe. As far I know it fits everything on the electrical plugs, the injectors, pipes, exhaust manifold, gearbox, intake manifold, etc.
It belongs to the M52TU family, so I bet it is just like in the m54 family and I think it can be seen as a swap from m54b22 to m54b30 to an older generation.

The main diffrence between m52tu and m54 are the way that the intake manifold was build and as worked as functionality, because the throttle body on m52tu intakes are carried by wire and the m54 are electrical. The intake manifolds are convertible from each other to another, but keeping the m52tu it s no reason because it s a more restrective manifold, so the flow of air will be smaller and less agressive. but if you plan to mount an intake from m54 to m52tu engine it fits perfecly but you have to buy an addapter between the intake manifold and throttle body and also get the disa valve of m54 to it.
I could go for in m54 engine as well because it fits everything to be installed but i had to modify the throttle body and i wanted to kept mostly "as stock as possible" and no modification at all, so it's a plug and play work, but as I started to dig in I found more opinions and that it may need a new ecu or ews and i had no idea about that so this topic here brings a lot of easy breath. ^^

 

The M52TUB engines are an easier swap because they all use the same intake parts. The M54 engines use different ones.
So all you need is the long block B28 engine and all your B20 peripheral parts will swap right over. The B28 engine will start and run on the B20 DME and software. After all swap related issues are fixed, you can flash the MS42 DME ro B28 software.

 

Is the B20tub intake the same size as the B28tub?

In the M54, it gets bigger between 2.5 and 3 liters, Cosmjn,
and the larger engines are tuned differently because of this.
So there isn't an easy way to run a b30 with b25 parts.

t

 

Is the B20tub intake the same size as the B28tub?

Yes. All the TUB engines have the same intake parts.

 

Is the B20tub intake the same size as the B28tub?

Yes it is the same part number.

That is why going to the M54B30 intake (and throttle body adapter) for the M52TUB28 is such an improvement in HP.

 

Only thing that is different on a 320i are the smaller brakes, Getrag 250g gearbox (328i has ZF320), driveshaft, differential (320i has a 168mm small case unit with higher gear ratio) and CV shafts (320i uses small 4-cylinder CV shafts). My friend recently swapped a M52TUB25 into a 320i and it was a “plug and play” swap. Everything else remained original from the 2.0i and it works great.