An introduction to coding your vehicle: BMW E9x chassis

"AM3R" (AM3R) 06/27/2014 at 18:51 • Filed to: E90

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Coding is a great and FREE way to upgrade your car.

Here's what I've done to my car so far: I've coded it so I can close my windows and sunroof with my key fob, I coded my mirrors to fold when locked and unfold on unlock, I coded those obnoxious chimes that we E9x owners know far too well (chime when fob is inserted and door is open), and probably the most useful: I registered my new battery to avoid spending hundreds at the dealer.

Coding is an extremely useful thing to know how to do. Although it seems intimidating at first, it just requires a little bit of reading and patience. It's a really simple process once you get the hang of it. I'm lucky because I have my brother helping me out. He just finished his accelerated masters in Computer engineering, so this stuff is nothing to him.

Step one: secure an Adapter cable. I know I said coding was a free, but if you don't want to purchase the cable you can use the regional section of E90post and find someone in your area willing to lend you one. Many people loan these out for nothing but a beer. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Step two: Download NCS expert, INPA, or any other program you prefer. I find NCSexpert to be the most reliable/simple. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

You know have everything needed to code. If enough of you show interest, I'll gladly go further into detail on how exactly to code your E9x. I just wanted to write a brief intro to show how accessible and easy coding is.

Hat tip to Rusto for the idea!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > AM3R 06/27/2014 at 18:58

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Is this a beemer thing, or is there a way for me to code my 2000s GM vehicles?

Big Bubba Ray > AM3R 06/27/2014 at 18:59

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I figured out how to disable the no-seatbelt chime in my Outback....

That's as much coding as I'm going to do.

AM3R > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/27/2014 at 19:01

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Not just a bimmer thing, it's huge amongst VAG owners. I'll look that up for you, gimme a minute.

AM3R > Big Bubba Ray 06/27/2014 at 19:04

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The amount of chimes in my car were ridiculous. Whole first week I had my car I kept thinking that something was malfunctioning everytime I heard a chime.

Manuél Ferrari > AM3R 06/27/2014 at 19:13

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Awesome, thanks for sharing! I just bookmarked this post.

Is that pic of your car or a generic photo?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > AM3R 06/27/2014 at 19:17

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It would be great to do some recoding of my dad's 2005 VAG to remove things like the annoying freeze warning.

AM3R > Manuél Ferrari 06/27/2014 at 19:17

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Just a photo I pulled from an EAS post about coding on a forum. I wish I had an estoril blue E90 M3 :(

Manuél Ferrari > AM3R 06/27/2014 at 19:21

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Me too! Mine is white. But everyday I wake up and wish it magically turned Estoril Blue.

When I was buying mine used there was another used one that was Estoril Blue. It had a little bit less miles but was nearly $8K more. Now I think it would have been worth it.

AM3R > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/27/2014 at 19:23

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doesn't look like you'll be able to code the Buick, but the VAG should be really easy. Probably the most commonly coded car.

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthr…

http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/vag-co…

BKRM3 > AM3R 06/27/2014 at 19:24

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good post! Handful of coding items I'd like to do to my e90 but haven't been motivated enough to pay someone to do. That idrive "accept" screen is obnoxious and I'd like to be able to put my windows up. Also, DVD in motion. Def not confident enough to attempt this myself, even though it sounds simple enough. Would hate to screw it up!

AM3R > Manuél Ferrari 06/27/2014 at 19:25

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A friend of mine wants to wrap his E92 335is estoril blue. That'll be cool!

I'd imagine that the estoril probably would've held it's value better too, a lot of alpine whites out there but not many estoril blues!

AM3R > BKRM3 06/27/2014 at 19:27

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Theres a way to set everything back to OEM in case you screw up.

I can help you out with the idrive screen, windows up, and DVD in motion.

Manuél Ferrari > AM3R 06/27/2014 at 19:29

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I wonder how the wrap would turn out.

I'm not a huge fan of wraps but I'd imagine the really cool thing is that they protect your paint. So once the wrap gets old you take it off and have fresh paint underneath!

True it probably would have held it's value better if I had gone with the blue.

AM3R > Manuél Ferrari 06/27/2014 at 19:37

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It's got a coral red interior so it'll be a hot combination. That's actually why he's wrapping it, he's going on a "tour" of tracks across the US and he's gonna be driving the whole way, not towing. Starting at VIR, ending at Laguna seca! He wants to make sure the paint stays nice AND his car looks good.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/27/2014 at 19:41

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You can code GM cars with a gm tech 2 scanner. A real gm tech 2 scanner is pricey, but you can get a clone tech 2 for a fraction of the price.

Textured Soy Protein > AM3R 06/27/2014 at 20:04

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VAG is also the perfect name for owners of VAG vehicles.

AM3R > Textured Soy Protein 06/27/2014 at 20:54

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+100000 hahaha

E92M3 > AM3R 06/27/2014 at 20:56

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Can you code it to roll down the windows by holding down the unlock button on the key FOB? Nice to have if your car has been sitting in the sun, and you're about to drive it.

Arben72 > AM3R 06/27/2014 at 21:03

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I'm ok at basic coding but I remember reading something about adaptive headlights 2 where the headlights raise the faster you go, and about it being only available in Europe. I never found out the values I needed to change, have you ever heard about it?

AM3R > E92M3 06/27/2014 at 21:04

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They already do that stock! Just hold the unlock button down for a couple seconds and the windows will open, hold it a little longer and the sunroof will too. Definitely comes in handy.

AM3R > Arben72 06/27/2014 at 21:09

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I've heard something about that, but I always assumed they were just part of Euro xenons (non M E90). I was gonna retrofit euro adaptive xenons on my pre LCI E90 but decided not to as id rather spend the few thousand on something else.

Here's a small list, this isn't everything that can be coded but it's a good start.

Manuél Ferrari > AM3R 06/27/2014 at 21:22

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Oh wow what a cool vacation!

That's a good idea to have the wrap when doing that many miles on the open road.

Arben72 > AM3R 06/27/2014 at 21:33

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I'll keep looking once I get ncsexpert reinstalled because it seems like a very useful feature. That and I need to recode it due to a dealer update.

E92M3 > AM3R 06/27/2014 at 22:33

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Really? Can you turn on XM with the coding? That would be nice for when they have the free weeks of Sirus/XM.

AM3R > Manuél Ferrari 06/27/2014 at 22:59

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Yeah, originally it was just gonna be front bumper and part of the hood, but after finding estoril blue vinyl he decided to go all out.

I'll be joining him at VIR and a few other east coast tracks. I might fly out and meet him in Cali!

Manuél Ferrari > AM3R 06/27/2014 at 23:04

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That sounds awesome!

I need to get on a track soon.

AM3R > Arben72 06/27/2014 at 23:05

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Been scouring multiple forums for the past few hours, nothing on the adaptive headlights. Sorry!

Lemme know if you find anything. I'm writing up a post on how to actually code right now. Hoping to have it done by tomorrow night.

AM3R > E92M3 06/27/2014 at 23:07

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Not sure about the E46, but I think putting the key into the keyhole and holding it as you unlock will open the windows. Not 100% sure. FOB definitely works for E90.

Not sure about XM. I'll look into that!

AM3R > Manuél Ferrari 06/27/2014 at 23:17

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Yeah, right now I'm deciding whether I should caravan out to COTA with him and visit family I have in Texas or if I should fly out and spend a weekend at Laguna seca with him then just hang around SoCal for the rest of the week.

This is a great problem to have LOL.

Arben72 > AM3R 06/27/2014 at 23:17

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Just found out it's called variable light distribution.

This says that it's possible to code it. Now to find out what value to change, this would be easier if I wasn't banned on bimmerpost.

Manuél Ferrari > AM3R 06/27/2014 at 23:21

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Let me know if you come to So Cal! We can take the toys out. I have two M3s to make you feel at home and one P car if you don't mind the engine hanging out back.

AM3R > Arben72 06/27/2014 at 23:40

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Wanna use my account on bimmerpost?

Just looked that up, it's all in German.... Well, my German is rusty but I'll read through as much of it as I can.

AM3R > Manuél Ferrari 06/27/2014 at 23:45

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Thanks! Really kind of you! I'll be sure to take you up on that if I come out! Lemme know if you ever need a guide around the DC area haha!

Manuél Ferrari > AM3R 06/27/2014 at 23:54

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Sounds good!

AM3R > Arben72 06/27/2014 at 23:58

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I'm finding a lot more stuff on this. My broken German lead me to read this: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthr…

I can't find anything for E9x's though! Just F10's and F30's.

Arben72 > AM3R 06/28/2014 at 01:15

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Well if it's possible for the e8x 1 series it should be possible for the e9x as they're almost the same software wise. Thanks for the offer though, I'll just check the bmw coding forums. I'll keep looking.

Arben72 > AM3R 06/28/2014 at 01:47

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FOUND IT #34 https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/lv…

E92M3 > AM3R 06/28/2014 at 09:54

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I have an E92 now.

AM3R > E92M3 06/28/2014 at 13:20

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so the key fob should work for opening the windows and sunroof. Haven't found anything on XM yet.

AM3R > Arben72 06/28/2014 at 13:26

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YES! I'll add it into the DIY I'm writing up. I'll try to have it done by tonight. Anything else your interested in?

Arben72 > AM3R 06/28/2014 at 17:22

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That's all I needed to find, I'm recoding my car right now. Can't wait to see all these changes, and test euro mdm.

AM3R > Arben72 06/28/2014 at 17:36

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Awesome. Lemme know how it goes.