if you buy/bought a used BMW...

salkin · 08-16-2017, 03:26 PM

how would you know if it already has a tuned ecu? is there anyway to find out?

BEM-S4 · 08-16-2017, 03:30 PM

Not a direct answer to your question, but you should always have a different dealer you are friendly with run the VIN. Their internal system, forget what they call it, is like CarFax on steroids and shows a lot more information. So you can see if the car has been flagged for anything in the BMW system, which could answer your question I suppose.

Eternal · 08-16-2017, 03:50 PM

I have the same exact question

Paz1 · 08-16-2017, 04:03 PM

Buddies 435 was flagged w only a aftermarket exhaust, cp and intake lmao

bavarianride · 08-16-2017, 05:39 PM

My understanding is that no tuner has been able to crack the F-chassis ECUs, so there is no aftermarket flashed ECU product for F3*.

There are piggyback solutions, which can be easily identified.

salkin · 08-16-2017, 07:00 PM

mine is a 2013 328i and seems really fast in sport mode lol if im already tuned i don't want to waste my coin doing it again lol

eluded · 08-16-2017, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bavarianride

My understanding is that no tuner has been able to crack the F-chassis ECUs, so there is no aftermarket flashed ECU product for F3*.

There are piggyback solutions, which can be easily identified.

This and there's nothing to stop somebody from running a ton of boost and then disconnecting the piggyback and you would never know.

Kafkaesque328 · 08-16-2017, 11:04 PM

Yeah, with the piggyback, if its disconnected before service they can't really flag the car. They can run boost logs I suppose if something blows but even then... Prob no way to know.

stormlv · 08-17-2017, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bavarianride

My understanding is that no tuner has been able to crack the F-chassis ECUs, so there is no aftermarket flashed ECU product for F3*.

There are piggyback solutions, which can be easily identified.

That's incorrect, I have flashed my 435d going from 313hp to 360hp.

There are multiple companies that have done this.
BR Performance is one of those companies.

skw · 08-17-2017, 05:46 AM

To "possibly" tell if a piggyback was previously used you and take a close look at the connectors for the t-map and maf sensors. Are there marks that look like they were removed at some point. Wouldn't be a definitive answer but may be a start.

skw · 08-17-2017, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kafkaesque328

Yeah, with the piggyback, if its disconnected before service they can't really flag the car. They can run boost logs I suppose if something blows but even then... Prob no way to know.

Good to see you over on this side!

stormlv · 08-17-2017, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salkin

how would you know if it already has a tuned ecu? is there anyway to find out?

If the tune is still there, the easiest way in my opinion is get that car to a dyno.

If they decide to remove the tune before selling the car...the other option would be to go into a program like ISTA/D (Rheingold) and check the ECU last programming date.
If that doesn't correspond to any service visit, then you can be fairly certain to have a tuned ECU (the only other alternative being that the guy just updated his FW with E-Sys - something that some people might do)

bavarianride · 08-17-2017, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stormlv

That's incorrect, I have flashed my 435d going from 313hp to 360hp.

There are multiple companies that have done this.
BR Performance is one of those companies.

Wow so ECU has been cracked! It is some work to get to ECU though, as it is bolted onto intake manifold, and the chip itself is soldered onto motherboard.

My car also has 15-yr/150k factory emission warranty on the ECU, so probably it will not be a good idea to mod.

SteveinArizona · 08-17-2017, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salkin

mine is a 2013 328i and seems really fast in sport mode lol if im already tuned i don't want to waste my coin doing it again lol

If it seems real fast to you, why consider a flash? You seem happy with the car as it is, don't monkey around with it.

Climb Mode · 08-17-2017, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bavarianride

My understanding is that no tuner has been able to crack the F-chassis ECUs, so there is no aftermarket flashed ECU product for F3*.

There are piggyback solutions, which can be easily identified.

Fake news...

bavarianride · 08-17-2017, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Climb Mode

Fake news...

Old news it is. Hardly fake given how long it has taken to figure it out, plus open/drill, ship ECU to vendors ....

And for my car, faking power and voiding 15-yr/150k emission warranty is not a small price to pay.

stormlv · 08-17-2017, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bavarianride

Wow so ECU has been cracked! It is some work to get to ECU though, as it is bolted onto intake manifold, and the chip itself is soldered onto motherboard.

My car also has 15-yr/150k factory emission warranty on the ECU, so probably it will not be a good idea to mod.

I don't know how easy it is for the other cars, but for mine, they got to the ECU really fast.

Btw, what is an "emission warranty" on the ECU?

bavarianride · 08-17-2017, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stormlv

I don't know how easy it is for the other cars, but for mine, they got to the ECU really fast.

Btw, what is an "emission warranty" on the ECU?

Mine is PZEV N26, which carries emission warranty for 15-yr/150k-mile. BMW has a PZEV part list for my car, and ECU is on that list. In addition, mechatronics, radiator, fuel systems, cat, torque converter, turbo, fuel injector, VCG, misc. sensors, etc, etc, are covered.

BMW PZEV emission warranty is only on US-spec cars bought and registered in PZEV states(e.g. CA).

stormlv · 08-17-2017, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bavarianride

Mine is PZEV N26, which carries emission warranty for 15-yr/150k-mile. BMW has a PZEV part list for my car, and ECU is on that list. In addition, mechatronics, radiator, fuel systems, cat, torque converter, turbo, fuel injector, VCG, misc. sensors, etc, etc, are covered.

BMW PZEV emission warranty is only on US-spec cars bought and registered in PZEV states(e.g. CA).

Interesting stuff! Didn't know there was such a thing.
Thanks for the explanation.

eluded · 08-18-2017, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skw

To "possibly" tell if a piggyback was previously used you and take a close look at the connectors for the t-map and maf sensors. Are there marks that look like they were removed at some point. Wouldn't be a definitive answer but may be a start.

Exactly. I always have these parts removed and examined under an electronic microscope to make sure they have not been altered.

bavarianride · 08-18-2017, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eluded

Exactly. I always have these parts removed and examined under an electronic microscope to make sure they have not been altered.

Good point. The same probably can be done to identify tuned ECU, esp. now the ECU needs to be removed and opened by vendors to flash?

JAhmed · 08-18-2017, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eluded

Exactly. I always have these parts removed and examined under an electronic microscope to make sure they have not been altered.

08-16-2017, 03:26 PM	#1
salkin New Member 2 Rep 11 Posts Drives: BMW 328XI Sportline Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Niagara Falls iTrader: (0)	if you buy/bought a used BMW... how would you know if it already has a tuned ecu? is there anyway to find out?
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08-16-2017, 03:30 PM	#2
BEM-S4 Major General 4516 Rep 8,942 Posts Drives: Dinan M235, Dinan Sport Wagon Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (5)	Not a direct answer to your question, but you should always have a different dealer you are friendly with run the VIN. Their internal system, forget what they call it, is like CarFax on steroids and shows a lot more information. So you can see if the car has been flagged for anything in the BMW system, which could answer your question I suppose. __________________ 2022 Macan S 2016 F31 328i xDrive Sport Wagon 2006 E46 330ci ZHP Convertible
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08-16-2017, 03:50 PM	#3
Eternal Lieutenant 95 Rep 463 Posts Drives: 2015 435i xDrive Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (3)	I have the same exact question
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08-16-2017, 04:03 PM	#4
Paz1 Banned 218 Rep 665 Posts Drives: 2018 m3 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: NY iTrader: (1)	Buddies 435 was flagged w only a aftermarket exhaust, cp and intake lmao
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08-16-2017, 05:39 PM	#5
bavarianride Major General 1505 Rep 5,083 Posts Drives: bimmer Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: northern california iTrader: (0)	My understanding is that no tuner has been able to crack the F-chassis ECUs, so there is no aftermarket flashed ECU product for F3*. There are piggyback solutions, which can be easily identified.
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08-16-2017, 07:00 PM	#6
salkin New Member 2 Rep 11 Posts Drives: BMW 328XI Sportline Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Niagara Falls iTrader: (0)	mine is a 2013 328i and seems really fast in sport mode lol if im already tuned i don't want to waste my coin doing it again lol Attached Images
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08-16-2017, 11:04 PM	#8
Kafkaesque328 Major 483 Rep 1,267 Posts Drives: 2016 328i M Sport Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: El A iTrader: (0)	Yeah, with the piggyback, if its disconnected before service they can't really flag the car. They can run boost logs I suppose if something blows but even then... Prob no way to know. __________________ 2016 Black Sapphire 328i \| M Sport Pkg. \| JB+ \| Premium Pkg. \| Heated Seats \| Driver Assist Pkg. \| Navigation \| Misc. Coding \| 35% Ceramic Tint Past: 2014 Black 320i \| Sport Pkg \| BMS Stage 1
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08-17-2017, 05:46 AM	#10
skw Lieutenant 202 Rep 554 Posts Drives: M340i Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	To "possibly" tell if a piggyback was previously used you and take a close look at the connectors for the t-map and maf sensors. Are there marks that look like they were removed at some point. Wouldn't be a definitive answer but may be a start. __________________ Boston CCA 383036 '20 M340i '18 MB GLS550 '07 4Runner V8 Limited 4WD
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