Coding

[KeithE]

Anyone on here tried coding? Only recently discovered this as an option and am seriously thinking of taking it on. I don't have a laptop so bluetooth seems the simplest option and I've been looking at bimmercode which seems easy and idiot proof. Only slight issue is that one of the drivers for doing the coding is to be able to stream music from my phone to the car via bluetooth which looks like it should be available under the Enhanced Bluetooth option but I can't see it listed on the bimmercode page as available.

Can anyone confirm whether (a) enhanced bluetooth will do this, and (b) whether bimmercode should be able to turn this on. Car is a 2014 428 cab (F33).

Other coding I'm looking to do, observations welcome:
Digital speed
Auto fold mirrors on locking/unlocking
Tyre pressures/temps
Rear DRLs
Door lights on when reversing
M logos on dash and screen

[BFleming]

I've done one of the enhanced bluetooths for a guy. I was fitting and coding cruise control for him, and noticed he had a combox, but enhanced bluetooth wasn't coded. 2 mins later it was! He needed to re-pair his phone, then it was all good.
I used ESys & and ENet cable for this coding. As far as I know the dongles & apps won't do it as it's VO coding - but they'll do the other things on your list. I use Carly for those. I could also use ESys for them, but Carly is simple for simple coding.

[Court_S]

Can’t comment re the enhanced Bluetooth but I’ve done some coding to my car using Carly and my car hasn’t exploded.

There are rumours of BMW supposedly killing the entire electronic warranty if they spot some coding (someone on another forum supposedly had a warranty claim rejected because he’d changed the logo on his idrive).

[KeithE]

Thanks BF. If I need to go ESys & and ENet cable to get the enhanced bluetooth (and all the other stuff), how difficult is that for a newbie to coding? Do you think I am likely to screw everything up?

[julian64]

VO coding on Esys has a few pitfalls compared with the diagnositics and carly type programs, and has much more chance of doing harm
So far I've broken two cars which turned into costly repairs of buying matching ECU/KWS bits.

If I could encourage you not to make the same mistakes I did, I would say never use an esys cable on a BMW without a stabilised voltage supply.
They are a bit pricey but I have never had a problem since using one.

[BFleming]

KeithE said:

Thanks BF. If I need to go ESys & and ENet cable to get the enhanced bluetooth (and all the other stuff), how difficult is that for a newbie to coding? Do you think I am likely to screw everything up?

I have a guide I can share if you want to mail me, I'll send it on. Not a lot to mess up.

[Mattt]

BFleming said:

KeithE said:

Thanks BF. If I need to go ESys & and ENet cable to get the enhanced bluetooth (and all the other stuff), how difficult is that for a newbie to coding? Do you think I am likely to screw everything up?

I have a guide I can share if you want to mail me, I'll send it on. Not a lot to mess up.

Not really true, it’s very easy to mess your car up using E-Sys if you don’t know what you’re doing.

[Knoxville2410]

I've done the Enhanced Bluetooth on my F30, as well as digital speed display and stop/start off by default.

I used ESYS and the OBD cable that plugs in the ethernet port on laptop (bought from eBay). It's actually really easy providing you follow the instructions exactly. Wouldn't really call it coding, moreso just tweaking the settings.

[anonymous-user]

OP. Don’t want to put a damper on things. If you’re under warranty tread carefully. BMW are invalidating warranty based on coding. Although apps like Carly or BimmerLink mean well it’s the way they go about the coding that can cause issues according to BMW.

[popeofmick]

I have coded a few cars now, my old E90 330i was basic and I only coded it to have a digital speedo and 5 flash indicators

My current F20 M140i has a fair number of options on Bimmercode, most are novelty but some are worth while. I have so far coded out Start Stop it is now deactivated in all driving modes and turned on door handle lights when selecting reverse at night, to illuminate around the car.

As for warranty I have no idea as my car's have never been under a New or AUC warranty. What I do know is I won't be plugging in the the OH 330e Company Car just in case.

[KeithE]

Thanks for the warning SuperG. I've read that myself but my car is long out of warranty now so not an issue for me

[B'stard Child]

popeofmick said:

I have coded a few cars now, my old E90 330i was basic and I only coded it to have a digital speedo and 5 flash indicators

How do you do that - the max 3 flashes is not enough in my book but under the options it's 1 or 3 that's it

[Court_S]

B'stard Child said:

How do you do that - the max 3 flashes is not enough in my book but under the options it's 1 or 3 that's it

You can do it through Carly.

I’ll do it for you when you’ve mastered the exhaust mods!

[Court_S]

Super_G said:

OP. Don’t want to put a damper on things. If you’re under warranty tread carefully. BMW are invalidating warranty based on coding. Although apps like Carly or BimmerLink mean well it’s the way they go about the coding that can cause issues according to BMW.

My warranty will be toast because I’ve coded a few things on mine (admittedly prior to BMW clamping down). Luckily it’s not been an issue so far.

The interesting thing is that there is a thread on BabyBMW about BMW now being happy to sell previously mapped cars as an AUC (chap inadvertently bought an M2 that was once upon a time mapped, it was mentioned as part of a warranty claim which lead to him rejecting the car and getting a replacement).

[B'stard Child]

Court_S said:

B'stard Child said:

How do you do that - the max 3 flashes is not enough in my book but under the options it's 1 or 3 that's it

You can do it through Carly.

I’ll do it for you when you’ve mastered the exhaust mods!

That sounds like a very fair trade

[1210m5g]

Slightly off topic but with regards to insurance is coding classed as a modification?

[BFleming]

1210m5g said:

Slightly off topic but with regards to insurance is coding classed as a modification?

No.

[popeofmick]

B'stard Child said:

popeofmick said:

I have coded a few cars now, my old E90 330i was basic and I only coded it to have a digital speedo and 5 flash indicators

How do you do that - the max 3 flashes is not enough in my book but under the options it's 1 or 3 that's it

I used NCS Expert when I coded the E90 it's a proper pain in the arse to use.

[ben5575]

There's a very big difference between mapping a car and making your wing mirrors close when you lock it.

Out of the thousands of BMW's sold and coded, how many reports about BMW chucking their toys out of the pram have people actually read and/or posted? One? Ten? Perspective.

Start/stop, door mirrors on lock, changing brightness of the drls, switching rear drls on are a few of the easy safe ones on Bimmercode.

[KeithE]

I'd also be interested in how to make the indicators 5 flash rather than 3. I've always thought 3 is not enough but don't recall seeing that on the list of options