[eriktufa]

Anyone in Oz willing to try to flash their TCU with Alpina Flash? Risky job.

DIY

Alpina B3 Flash DIY using WinKFP

DIY Guide to Flash Alpina B3 Flash:



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WARNING...If you dont know what your doing, dont be brave and blindly go into this advanced flashing of software into the TCU module.. If you mess up you can easily brick your tranny module and you will find yourself towing the car to the dealer and looking like a fool. If your not too confident in doing this, either pay someone or just do without it.....WinKFP is a very dangerous tool but yet its awesome and in terms of coding its pretty advanced.. Proceed after reading this warning if you choose to do so...

************************************************** **********************************




This Alpina TCU flash works for model years 3/07 till present. If your production date is before 3/07, your out of luck and cant flash your car! Before you attempt this you should have some knowledge in coding and setting software. You need to confirm INPA software is working and communicating with car. If you dont have INPA communicating, dont move beyond this point and go back and do some more research on getting it to work.. There are plenty of DIY guides for setting up INPA, Ediabas, NCSexpert and WinKFP.


You can purchase a proven cable that works...Please dont ask will this one work as it is cheaper if so...Buy one that is proven!
http://www.one-stop-electronics.com/...&product_id=16

ONE NOTE::: Please no PMs on how to set it up. You have to do some work yourself..

Once you have configured your laptop properly, you need to download Spdaten 48.1 the full version for E89 chassis. Dont download the lite versions as it doesnt have the necessary files needed for flashing modules. There are torrent links around...Look for them! The E89 Spdaten needs to be imported to WinKFP. There are PDFs showing how to get this done, do a search! Once it correctly imported, then you may start the flash using Winkpf.


Here we go:

-Make sure your battery is good if not get a battery charger

-Open drivers door and turn ignition ON (cluster guage on)

-connect cable to obd connector of car

-Load Winkpf software

-Press (F1) comfort mode

-Press (F3) Update ZUSB

-Choose ECU GKE215

-Press (F2) Choose ZUSB

-Choose ECU GKE215 and next to it there will be ZB-Numbers..Find 7615835

-Click ok

-If you have done it correctly so far you will see at the top Assembly Identification number 7615835 and it will automatically reference the magical Alpina B3 TCU flash software 7591971

-Press (F4) Enter VIN ( make sure you double check you have entered the correct VIN numbers)

-click ok

-Press DONE (F8)

-Press (F3) Program

-Pop up window will say you can code the ECU 63 more times, click ok

-Flashing begins and you will have to wait till it reaches 100%

-once it reaches 100% it will pop up again saying you have 62 more times to program the ECU, click ok

-Programming again starts, wait until this reaches 100%

-If everything is done correctly, then you will get a pop up screen saying programming done, click ok

-Shut off car by taking key out. Lock car with key, wait 5 minutes and start the car..If everything works correctly you will not
have any warning signs or check engine lights...Enjoy your newly transformed AT Alpina B3 software




This Alpina B3 TCU flash is a game changer folks, and you would be stupid not to have it flashed onto your car!!

Taken from post by @Cn555ic

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

Looks interesting

[eriktufa]

more info for DIY people

http://www.german**********/showthre...page9&p=401652

waiting for my cable to tackle this job. This should benefit most 6AT 335i, at least the shift will be closer to DCT after this reflash.

[_ink]

Originally Posted by eriktufa

more info for DIY people

http://www.german**********/showthre...page9&p=401652

waiting for my cable to tackle this job. This should benefit most 6AT 335i, at least the shift will be closer to DCT after this reflash.

Link broken..

So this is only for AT's and not DCT's?

[eriktufa]

This sucks... the forum banned that word and it will always censor it.

I'm not sure how to copy paste the link now.

Just to clarify, it will only work for 6AT not 7DCT and it will only work post 03/07 build as the old transmission has different hardware and TCU.

DIY is posted on first post.

[JB4-335]

Originally Posted by eriktufa

This should benefit most 6AT 335i, at least the shift will be closer to DCT after this reflash.

Don't think so although it sounds promising.

[eriktufa]

Originally Posted by JB4135

Don't think so although it sounds promising.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=zD0gdEbipog

[_ink]

not sure what that youtube clip is meant to show?

[eriktufa]

It's to show how quick the shift is after Alpina D3 TCU Flash.

Can you sort of compare it with yours since you have 7DCT?

[JB4-335]

Originally Posted by eriktufa

It's to show how quick the shift is after Alpina D3 TCU Flash.

Can you sort of compare it with yours since you have 7DCT?

I watched that video but couldn't tell the difference. I had a 6 speed ZF 135i for 3 years and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a real workhorse. I've had my DCT for about 3 weeks now and there is no comparison between the two when it comes to up shifting however downshifts definitely favour the 6 speed unless you downshift manually with the DCT. Both have pros and cons.
I'll be interested to see more data as time goes on with the TCU reflash.

[eriktufa]

For comparison sake,

I drove my 08 335i and friend's 09 135i back to back (both are equipped with ZF 6AT).
I found out that 135i shifts like the video that I posted above (nice, quick and crispy but not as quick as DCT nor DSG) and 335i steptronic is very very very very lazy in comparison that's why I want to do this flash.

I am talking about both upshift and downshift (downshift is worse!)

At this stage, I manage to speak with someone who has done few TCU flash in US and will get him to do remote coding for my car.

I'll post my impression when I get it done (still setting up my laptop for coding again waiting for my cable to arrive atm).

[BMW86]

Anyone done this yet? I'm keen but no idea what I'm doing

[eriktufa]

I'm waiting for my cable and attempt to do it.

[cn555ic]

This is a no brainer if you guys think I am kidding then your not realizing the potential of this flash...Good luck

[eriktufa]

Wedney is kind enough to help anyone outside his area to flash their car through remote connection (TeamViewer).

I will probably try to kindly ask him to help and donate cn555ic for all his hardworks and efforts

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by eriktufa

I'm waiting for my cable and attempt to do it.

Sweet, let me know how it goes.

Originally Posted by cn555ic

This is a no brainer if you guys think I am kidding then your not realizing the potential of this flash...Good luck

I believe you, the only thing holding me back is my inexperience in coding. Otherwise I'd be all over this already. I actually sent you a PM on the other forum with no response

Originally Posted by eriktufa

Wedney is kind enough to help anyone outside his area to flash their car through remote connection (TeamViewer).

I will probably try to kindly ask him to help and donate cn555ic for all his hardworks and efforts

That's pretty cool, I would be up for doing that too. More than happy to pay someone $$$ to have this done, especially if it's as good as everyone says. I want to upgrade my 6AT but keen to try this flash out first.

[KimIsAGuy]

Wait I'm a bit confused about

-Press (F3) Update ZUSB

-Choose ECU GKE215

Is there a list of ECU Family and what it means?
Also, has anyone written up a how to restore the car after you flashed it?

[kookie]

I flashed it and got on it right away. Not sure where you heard that you had to give it time to learn from.

Also you can flash it back to stock at any time. I have to pull up the link, but your stock TCU code is stored in read-only memory. Pull this value and follow the same method to flash, but this time pick your stock ecu code.

[kookie]

Revert back to stock just requires you to change the code.

Instructions on how to flash.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=873746