DIY Beginner

djcarbon · 06-19-2018, 09:21 AM

Hello everyone. I’m trying to become more self sufficient with my UK Spec, 2008, 320i E90 and also be able to help others out in my neck of the woods if I can. Mechanically I’m coming along reasonably well and can do the basic, obvious, or well documented repairs or service on my car. I have an ICOM A+B+C and have been able to use ISTA+ to do my diagnosis for some time now. Where I’m looking for direction/help/assistance is with beginning to understand BMW coding and tuning. I have gotten my hands on a Kess V2 (Red) to add to my hardware/software toolbox.

My first entry into DIY is a practical one. I had a major N43B20 issue where I spun a bearing and rebuilt the engine as the block was fine and the head was not warped. The crankshaft and all the bearings were replaced and all was well again. The root cause was discovered to be an oil breakdown issue because of heat which was traced back to the catalytic converter of all things that was clogged. To minimize or remove the chances of a repeat in the short term we removed the cat and surely the heat that was being contained in the engine bay is no more. I can run soft; I can run hard; I can run and actually stand next to the car without melting shoes or clothing lol. So no cat… great (or not but we can debate the merits of a cat in another thread)! BUT the engine light! The infernal oxygen sensor fault. Both oxygen sensors that are after the cat are new sensors so I know that its not the sensors. I’ve put spacers on them. Engine light. I’ve put a spacer on the spacer to move the oxygen sensor further out of the main exhaust stream. Engine light. So I’m thinking that I should be able to delete/kill the sensors with some coding/programming/tuning.

What’s the difference in coding, programming, and tuning? I don’t want to use the terms interchangeably if they’re not the same.
Where do I start?
What can I do? How can I get into my first ‘project’ - removing the engine light after having de-catted the car?

Thanks in advance to the hive.

dsjr2006 · 06-19-2018, 01:27 PM

Step 1: Visit forum section labeled "coding" - http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=368

mecheng77 · 06-19-2018, 01:44 PM

I learned from Youtube videos. Coding is basically unlocking features BMW sets to "neitch aktiv" "not active" and you change it to "aktiv"

djcarbon · 06-19-2018, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsjr2006

Step 1: Visit forum section labeled "coding" - http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=368

Go figure I did that. Anything else? Or just snark? Your comedy is appreciated. Or are you saying I should post there?

desertman123 · 06-19-2018, 08:51 PM

Tuning implies you're changing the engine's fuel/ignition/VANOS/Valvetronic maps

A good start is enabling the digital speedometer with MAN/TRC file coding using NCSExpert. Or just dick around with INPA, try resetting your adaptations.

But yeah really just dive into the coding subforum and YouTube videos. There's way too much to talk about in just a thread

I believe the O2 sensor/catalyst codes can only be dealt with in the DME's tune. Hassmachine can give you guidance but he's a busy guy.

hassmaschine · 06-19-2018, 10:08 PM

Deleting codes is not all that hard - question is, can Kess write to your DME? My experience has been hit or miss - and it tends to be really slow. I may be able to help you if you can read/write your dme, and you can get the BMW error hex codes.

As far as your other questions, coding only involves selecting the pre-made settings of a module. You cant delete error codes or increase power with coding. You need to be able to edit binary data and flash the module - despite what dsjr2006 says, the coding forum can't help you..

06-19-2018, 09:21 AM	#1
djcarbon Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: E90 320i Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Trinidad and Tobago iTrader: (0)	DIY Beginner - ICOM/Kess/Coding Hello everyone. I’m trying to become more self sufficient with my UK Spec, 2008, 320i E90 and also be able to help others out in my neck of the woods if I can. Mechanically I’m coming along reasonably well and can do the basic, obvious, or well documented repairs or service on my car. I have an ICOM A+B+C and have been able to use ISTA+ to do my diagnosis for some time now. Where I’m looking for direction/help/assistance is with beginning to understand BMW coding and tuning. I have gotten my hands on a Kess V2 (Red) to add to my hardware/software toolbox. My first entry into DIY is a practical one. I had a major N43B20 issue where I spun a bearing and rebuilt the engine as the block was fine and the head was not warped. The crankshaft and all the bearings were replaced and all was well again. The root cause was discovered to be an oil breakdown issue because of heat which was traced back to the catalytic converter of all things that was clogged. To minimize or remove the chances of a repeat in the short term we removed the cat and surely the heat that was being contained in the engine bay is no more. I can run soft; I can run hard; I can run and actually stand next to the car without melting shoes or clothing lol. So no cat… great (or not but we can debate the merits of a cat in another thread)! BUT the engine light! The infernal oxygen sensor fault. Both oxygen sensors that are after the cat are new sensors so I know that its not the sensors. I’ve put spacers on them. Engine light. I’ve put a spacer on the spacer to move the oxygen sensor further out of the main exhaust stream. Engine light. So I’m thinking that I should be able to delete/kill the sensors with some coding/programming/tuning. What’s the difference in coding, programming, and tuning? I don’t want to use the terms interchangeably if they’re not the same. Where do I start? What can I do? How can I get into my first ‘project’ - removing the engine light after having de-catted the car? Thanks in advance to the hive.
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06-19-2018, 01:27 PM	#2
dsjr2006 Captain 157 Rep 848 Posts Drives: '01 E39 540iA, '09 E90 M3 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Metro Detroit iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 BMW 335i [0.00] 2001 BMW 540i [0.00]	Step 1: Visit forum section labeled "coding" - http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=368 __________________ E90 M3 DCT LCI \| E90 LCI N54 M-Sport(retired) \| E90 Technical Docs download: http://j.mp/bmwe90docs *good read, very detailed.
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06-19-2018, 01:44 PM	#3
mecheng77 Colonel 1006 Rep 2,243 Posts Drives: 2007 328i / 2014 M235i Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Ontario Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] [0.00]	I learned from Youtube videos. Coding is basically unlocking features BMW sets to "neitch aktiv" "not active" and you change it to "aktiv"
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06-19-2018, 08:51 PM	#5
desertman123 E82 Mudflap Ambassador 2214 Rep 2,219 Posts Drives: '08 128i Join Date: May 2016 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 1992 Honda Beat [9.50] 2008 BMW 128i [10.00] 2014 BMW 528i [10.00]	Tuning implies you're changing the engine's fuel/ignition/VANOS/Valvetronic maps A good start is enabling the digital speedometer with MAN/TRC file coding using NCSExpert. Or just dick around with INPA, try resetting your adaptations. But yeah really just dive into the coding subforum and YouTube videos. There's way too much to talk about in just a thread I believe the O2 sensor/catalyst codes can only be dealt with in the DME's tune. Hassmachine can give you guidance but he's a busy guy.
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06-19-2018, 10:08 PM	#6
hassmaschine Major General 3966 Rep 7,215 Posts Drives: "NBO" 330i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: earth iTrader: (0)	Deleting codes is not all that hard - question is, can Kess write to your DME? My experience has been hit or miss - and it tends to be really slow. I may be able to help you if you can read/write your dme, and you can get the BMW error hex codes. As far as your other questions, coding only involves selecting the pre-made settings of a module. You cant delete error codes or increase power with coding. You need to be able to edit binary data and flash the module - despite what dsjr2006 says, the coding forum can't help you..
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