Extra ECU??

Rock Sweden · 02-23-2019, 08:13 PM

I have a BM3 license but am hesitant to flash my car due to warranty. Is it possible to buy another ECU, remove original stock ECU and flash replacement ECU? Thereby keeping dealer clueless to flashed tune.

Rock Sweden · 02-25-2019, 09:32 AM

was the question that bad? Does NO one on this forum have an answer??

Anthony1s · 02-25-2019, 12:40 PM

What your asking is so complex that it's not worth the hassle to anyone to go down that path.

You would have to track down a spare ECU for your car, which my guess would cost thousands of dollars, and you would probably need the dealer to mate it to your car anyway, cause I believe ECUs only work with the VIN they are programmed to. Or you can figure out how to get the software to mate the ECU to your car yourself, I'm not sure if anything we have available can do that, so you'd have to get the software and tools from BMW or a bootleg third party.

Then you have to take apart half your motor to swap it.
https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1180947

Pretty sure BM3 lets you flash completely back to stock, with no trace of it existing.

Anthony1s · 02-25-2019, 12:43 PM

Actually, just found this response by PTF that might be more helpful to you.

nioh_lbbm2 · 02-25-2019, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony1s

Actually, just found this response by PTF that might be more helpful to you.

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View post on imgur.com

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This statement is true. If BMW goes digging for a major warranty claim, they'll find something and if you go so far as to try and cover every possible source of data then you would have probably spent so much money that it wouldn't have been worth it in the first place.

If you're wanting a flash tune with warranty, Carbahn Autoworks (where Steve Dinan now works) is working on one for the M2. They already have one out for the M3/M4 platform. I was offered to use my car as a test mule but I had moved out of town already.

Otherwise the Dinan piggyback tune maintains warranty as well.

Rock Sweden · 02-25-2019, 01:28 PM

Thanks for answering my question. It was suggested to me this weekend and I figured if it was feasible it would be on this forum. thanks again.

02-23-2019, 08:13 PM	#1
Rock Sweden First Lieutenant 268 Rep 361 Posts Drives: 2016 M2 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: The ALB iTrader: (0)	Extra ECU?? I have a BM3 license but am hesitant to flash my car due to warranty. Is it possible to buy another ECU, remove original stock ECU and flash replacement ECU? Thereby keeping dealer clueless to flashed tune.
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02-25-2019, 09:32 AM	#2
Rock Sweden First Lieutenant 268 Rep 361 Posts Drives: 2016 M2 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: The ALB iTrader: (0)	was the question that bad? Does NO one on this forum have an answer??
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02-25-2019, 12:40 PM	#3
Anthony1s Banned 756 Rep 2,149 Posts Drives: 2018 Mineral Grey M2 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Pennsylvania iTrader: (0)	What your asking is so complex that it's not worth the hassle to anyone to go down that path. You would have to track down a spare ECU for your car, which my guess would cost thousands of dollars, and you would probably need the dealer to mate it to your car anyway, cause I believe ECUs only work with the VIN they are programmed to. Or you can figure out how to get the software to mate the ECU to your car yourself, I'm not sure if anything we have available can do that, so you'd have to get the software and tools from BMW or a bootleg third party. Then you have to take apart half your motor to swap it. https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1180947 Pretty sure BM3 lets you flash completely back to stock, with no trace of it existing.
	Appreciate 1 Rock Sweden268.00 Quote

02-25-2019, 12:43 PM	#4
Anthony1s Banned 756 Rep 2,149 Posts Drives: 2018 Mineral Grey M2 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Pennsylvania iTrader: (0)	Actually, just found this response by PTF that might be more helpful to you.
	Appreciate 1 nioh_lbbm21716.50 Quote

02-25-2019, 01:28 PM	#6
Rock Sweden First Lieutenant 268 Rep 361 Posts Drives: 2016 M2 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: The ALB iTrader: (0)	Thanks for answering my question. It was suggested to me this weekend and I figured if it was feasible it would be on this forum. thanks again.
	Appreciate 0 Quote