Coding - DIY or get an expert in?

[Ranger 6]

Looking at getting some settings changed - things like the start-stop and other day to day features.

If you search, there are so many on forums, shall we say - not in the UK, who will tell you how easy it is and spit out a whole load of gobbledy gook about what to do.

I'm looking for a reasonably priced solution to get it done. I'm not going to be fiddling with it and changing stuff every 10 minutes, so the solution could be just to pay one of these coding companies to come and do it for me. That could be cheaper than a Carly dongle for example.

So - real life experiences and suggestions please - it would help if you're over 50 and can relate to a less than technically capable operator....

[_Hoppers]

Have a look at Bimmercode https://bimmercode.app/ IIRC Carly is a subscription based model whereas Bimmercode (and Bimmerlink) is a one off purchase

[Ranger 6]

Thanks - dongle required?

If yes - which one?

[_Hoppers]

I have a Vgate iCar Pro Wifi dongle (for iOS)

[craig1912]

Just done some on mine using bimmercode and Vgate iCar Pro. Very easy.

[cherie171]

Ranger 6 said:

Thanks - dongle required?

If yes - which one?

The bimmerlink website has a list of the compatible dongles. We've got the Veepeak one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Veepeak-Bluetooth-Diagnos... , which is one of the cheaper options on their list.

Edited by cherie171 on Tuesday 6th October 13:25

[Ranger 6]

That's great - many thanks folks

I did a search on Bimmerpost and all they say is 'use enet'

[Ranger 6]

_Hoppers said:

I have a Vgate iCar Pro Wifi dongle (for iOS)

This one?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vgate-ELM327-OBD2-OBDII-D...

[Ranger 6]

cherie171 said:

The bimmerlink website has a list of the compatible dongles. We've got the Veepeak one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Veepeak-Bluetooth-Diagnos... which is one of the cheaper options on their list.

Your link doesn't work for me

Is it this one?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Veepeak-Bluetooth-Diagnos...

[Ranger 6]

Being old and the brain isn't working that fast - if I have one for my BMW - can I just add my wife's Mini and use it for that as well?

[_Hoppers]

Ranger 6 said:

_Hoppers said:

I have a Vgate iCar Pro Wifi dongle (for iOS)

This one?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vgate-ELM327-OBD2-OBDII-D...

Yep, but they're cheaper on Ebay

[bodhi]

Ranger 6 said:

Being old and the brain isn't working that fast - if I have one for my BMW - can I just add my wife's Mini and use it for that as well?

That is the one benefit of Carly, is it can talk to more than one manufacturer - I used to use it on my Honda Civic as well as my 1 Series with no issues.

Personally I quite like Carly - OK the subscription isn't great (and has currently expired in my case), but it was really powerful and easy to use at the same time. I did loads of little bits with it - digital speedo in the cluster, beep on lock, remove suggested gear indicator etc etc.

It also saved me a fortune when it caught the N52 Water Pump message of doom, meaning I could replace it before it overheated the engine.

[danb79]

BimmerCode and BimmerLink (makes sense to have both) and VGate dongle via Amazon as others have said:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vgate-BLE-iPhone-iPad-And...

This is what I use on my E63 635d and F31 touring - does all I need and I’ve used it for:

- Coding start/stop off on the F31
- rear light DRLs on both cards
- wing mirrored to auto fold on locking, unfold on unlocking
- adjusted the brightness of the angel eyes
- indicators to blink x5 with the flick of the stalk rather than just x3
- register and code batteries

They’re both very useful tools and BimmerLink is a good code reader; plus provides live data etc

[cherie171]

Ranger 6 said:

Your link doesn't work for me

Is it this one?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Veepeak-Bluetooth-Diagnos...

That's the one. I didn't notice that I'd included punctuation that the forum software automatically assumed was part of the URL.

I've not got Bimmercode yet, but I've used it on both of our Minis with Bimmerlink, and had no problems with connectivity etc. I'll be getting Bimmercode soon, as I want to adjust the sport/normal mode and the stop/start on startup on mine.

[Ranger 6]

Are the Alpina dial colours worth doing?

Seems a bit of a youngsters mod to me

[AB]

Veepeak and Carly worked for me and I'm in no way IT literate.

Folding mirrors and beep on lock and unlock and stop/start off by default was all I wanted.

[bigdom]

Ranger 6 said:

Are the Alpina dial colours worth doing?

Seems a bit of a youngsters mod to me

Of course. But make a note of the settings, its not straight forward to reverse if you dont like it.

[21TonyK]

Just to clarify... bimmercode will work with more than one car, ie. a mini and a 3 series or does it tie itself to one car once used?

[Shaoxter]

21TonyK said:

Just to clarify... bimmercode will work with more than one car, ie. a mini and a 3 series or does it tie itself to one car once used?

Yes it will work with multiple cars. The app purchase is tied to the account on your phone, not the car.

[danb79]

21TonyK said:

Just to clarify... bimmercode will work with more than one car, ie. a mini and a 3 series or does it tie itself to one car once used?

Nope; simply works on any car (BMW) that you connect it to; you buy the license and use it on whichever relevant car you want