F30POST
F30POST
2012-2015 BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > Technical Forums > F30 DIYs and Coding Discussions > Coding and Bricking
ARMA SPEED
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      08-21-2013, 05:55 PM   #1
Stillhart
Private First Class
United_States
9
Rep
159
Posts

Drives: 2012 335i
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: NV

iTrader: (0)

Coding and Bricking

So how many people on this forum have actually bricked their car from trying to code it? I'm sure this has been asked before but, yeah.

I understand that they have to put big scary disclaimers, but I've never bricked a phone from rooting and modding it. I can't imagine I'd do it to my car, assuming I follow all the directions to the letter.

That said, losing a $300 phone isn't even close to losing a $56k car.

If you brick it, is it recoverable at all?
Appreciate 0
      08-21-2013, 06:50 PM   #2
steve@codemybimmer
BimmerPost Supporting Vendor
steve@codemybimmer's Avatar
Hong Kong
663
Rep
1,975
Posts


Drives: 2020 G20 320i M Sport
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Canada & HK

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
Yes it is possible to potentially brick your car but keep in mind that you car is made up of many ECU's which reports via Canbus so if you're coding one specific module and say that module loses power, it will be that specific module that you will have to worry about. Let's say you were making some changes to the instrument cluster and for some reason, something goes wrong while coding, it would only be the instrument cluster that needs to be recovered.

In most cases, you can either push the cafd back down via E-sys and if that doesn't work, you will probably need the dealer to reprogram the car with their software. In extreme cases, you will probably need to replace that specific module if it is beyond repair and no longer responds.

If you're careful and know what you're doing, I'd say the risks are minimal but it wouldn't necessarily mess up your entire car if something goes wrong.

Last edited by steve@codemybimmer; 08-21-2013 at 07:06 PM..
Appreciate 1
sspade2460.00
      08-21-2013, 07:09 PM   #3
Stillhart
Private First Class
United_States
9
Rep
159
Posts

Drives: 2012 335i
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: NV

iTrader: (0)

Okay, I see now. That makes perfect sense. I think I'll probably invest in a cable and start messing around because things like unlocking the door when you turn off the power or changing the measurement units on the sport display are totally worth 20-30$!
Appreciate 0
      08-21-2013, 08:15 PM   #4
dinonz
Banned
United_States
3214
Rep
2,385
Posts

Drives: 2016 M3 MWM ZCP
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Austin

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stillhart View Post
Okay, I see now. That makes perfect sense. I think I'll probably invest in a cable and start messing around because things like unlocking the door when you turn off the power or changing the measurement units on the sport display are totally worth 20-30$!
Yeah - you'll be fine. I've never rooted nor modded a phone, but I've coded my BMW without bricking it.

View it like the Windows Registry. Do it wrong and you might screw things up, but it's very hard to do wrong. It's pretty simple if you're careful.
Appreciate 0
      08-21-2013, 08:33 PM   #5
shawnsheridan
General
shawnsheridan's Avatar
United_States
10340
Rep
40,303
Posts

Drives: 2018 Alpina B6 650ix GC
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Houston, TX

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Bricking can occur during Programmimg (flashing), as new firmware is being written to an ECU.

Bricking can not happen from Coding an ECU.
__________________

2018 F06 Alpina B6 650ix GC; Space Grey; Vermillion Red Nappa Leather; Executive; B&O; Driving Assistant
2017 F15 X5 xDrive50i MSport; Glacier Silver Metallic; Black Dakota Leather; Executive; B&O; Driving Assistant; RSE
Appreciate 0
      08-22-2013, 12:10 AM   #6
steve@codemybimmer
BimmerPost Supporting Vendor
steve@codemybimmer's Avatar
Hong Kong
663
Rep
1,975
Posts


Drives: 2020 G20 320i M Sport
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Canada & HK

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by shawnsheridan View Post
Bricking can occur during Programmimg (flashing), as new firmware is being written to an ECU.

Bricking can not happen from Coding an ECU.
What if you hit the code default values button by accident or hit delete after reading a cafd file?
Appreciate 0
      08-22-2013, 05:09 AM   #7
shawnsheridan
General
shawnsheridan's Avatar
United_States
10340
Rep
40,303
Posts

Drives: 2018 Alpina B6 650ix GC
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Houston, TX

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aritaurus View Post
What if you hit the code default values button by accident or hit delete after reading a cafd file?
The ECU can be recovered, usually with VO Coding, and if not with Programming. It it does not become bricked. A bricked ECU is completely dead, and needs replacement.
__________________

2018 F06 Alpina B6 650ix GC; Space Grey; Vermillion Red Nappa Leather; Executive; B&O; Driving Assistant
2017 F15 X5 xDrive50i MSport; Glacier Silver Metallic; Black Dakota Leather; Executive; B&O; Driving Assistant; RSE
Appreciate 0
      03-13-2019, 11:22 AM   #8
kelddamsbo
Enlisted Member
5
Rep
46
Posts

Drives: BMW F30 LCI 2016
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Denmark

iTrader: (0)

Hi Shawn
I have a F30 where I flashed the bkombi, and I lost connection to the car (my fault).
New in E-Sys I cant find the bkombi any more, so I cant just reflash it.
Do you think its completly dead, or can I do an emergency flash with nfs ?
Appreciate 0
      03-13-2019, 12:36 PM   #9
shawnsheridan
General
shawnsheridan's Avatar
United_States
10340
Rep
40,303
Posts

Drives: 2018 Alpina B6 650ix GC
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Houston, TX

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by kelddamsbo View Post
Hi Shawn
I have a F30 where I flashed the bkombi, and I lost connection to the car (my fault).
New in E-Sys I cant find the bkombi any more, so I cant just reflash it.
Do you think its completly dead, or can I do an emergency flash with nfs ?
I have no way of knowing really. Maybe it is bricked or maybe not. When you use Read ECU with motor running, not Read SVT, do you see bkombi?
__________________

2018 F06 Alpina B6 650ix GC; Space Grey; Vermillion Red Nappa Leather; Executive; B&O; Driving Assistant
2017 F15 X5 xDrive50i MSport; Glacier Silver Metallic; Black Dakota Leather; Executive; B&O; Driving Assistant; RSE
Appreciate 0
      03-13-2019, 01:18 PM   #10
sspade
Major General
sspade's Avatar
United_States
2460
Rep
5,451
Posts

Drives: F30
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Stevenson, WA

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
2016 BMW 320i  [7.87]
2014 BMW 328i  [6.83]
I would highly recommend BimmerCode. Very easy to use, yet effective.

Price is right as well.
Appreciate 0
      03-13-2019, 01:37 PM   #11
kelddamsbo
Enlisted Member
5
Rep
46
Posts

Drives: BMW F30 LCI 2016
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Denmark

iTrader: (0)

Hi Shawn,

No I dont see bkombi with Read ECU
Appreciate 0
      03-15-2019, 08:10 PM   #12
xpro
Lieutenant
170
Rep
468
Posts

Drives: 335XD
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Emerald

iTrader: (0)

I lost FEM while coding. Voltage dropped below 11.5v and the FEM bricked. All lights came on..Lesson learned. Had to get a new FEM, as I didnt know anyone to reflash the eprom for me with original files
Keep the engine running or connect a stable power supply.
Appreciate 0
      03-15-2019, 08:12 PM   #13
shawnsheridan
General
shawnsheridan's Avatar
United_States
10340
Rep
40,303
Posts

Drives: 2018 Alpina B6 650ix GC
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Houston, TX

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by kelddamsbo View Post
Hi Shawn,

No I dont see bkombi with Read ECU
Sorry, I have no idea.
__________________

2018 F06 Alpina B6 650ix GC; Space Grey; Vermillion Red Nappa Leather; Executive; B&O; Driving Assistant
2017 F15 X5 xDrive50i MSport; Glacier Silver Metallic; Black Dakota Leather; Executive; B&O; Driving Assistant; RSE
Appreciate 0
      03-20-2019, 07:57 AM   #14
88tuning.id
Private First Class
88tuning.id's Avatar
Indonesia
39
Rep
134
Posts

Drives: E39 520i Msport
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Indonesia

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by xpro View Post
I lost FEM while coding. Voltage dropped below 11.5v and the FEM bricked. All lights came on..Lesson learned. Had to get a new FEM, as I didnt know anyone to reflash the eprom for me with original files
Keep the engine running or connect a stable power supply.
what kind of coding tools you used? esys?
__________________
Instagram: @tafikhulafaa & @88tuning.id
Appreciate 0
      03-20-2019, 08:10 AM   #15
xpro
Lieutenant
170
Rep
468
Posts

Drives: 335XD
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Emerald

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by 88tuning.id View Post
what kind of coding tools you used? esys?
Yes Esys. But I guess regardless of a tool this can happen with any other coding/programming device.

I remeber back in the day this was a common issue with NCS expert and FRM modules bricking due to voltage fluctuations. I think F30 batteries are much stronger gel batteries and this even is not as often, but yeah can still happen.

FEM then shows as red in ista, no communication.

There a similar thread on here about those issues.
Appreciate 0
      03-20-2019, 08:16 AM   #16
88tuning.id
Private First Class
88tuning.id's Avatar
Indonesia
39
Rep
134
Posts

Drives: E39 520i Msport
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Indonesia

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by xpro View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by 88tuning.id View Post
what kind of coding tools you used? esys?
Yes Esys. But I guess regardless of a tool this can happen with any other coding/programming device.

I remeber back in the day this was a common issue with NCS expert and FRM modules bricking due to voltage fluctuations. I think F30 batteries are much stronger gel batteries and this even is not as often, but yeah can still happen.

FEM then shows as red in ista, no communication.

There a similar thread on here about those issues.
ouch, sorry to hear that man.

but that's extreme though, i thought it's gonna be blue one in ISTA (programming abort). if it's blue, there's still hope to revive those module lol.

hope all can be solved.
__________________
Instagram: @tafikhulafaa & @88tuning.id
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:43 PM.




f30post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST