The Z3 Diagnostics Thread: Instructions, Experiences, Discussions, Experimentation

[luci13]

Hello!

Where did you download the ECU files from? Can you point me to that thread please?

Thanks for your advice. I managed to solve the problem and can connect to DME now. Not sure if all live values are perfectly correct, but I can read and delete errors, which is what I needed.

I solved the issue by doing 2 things:
-I downloaded the modified ECU object files from another thread in this forum for my dme (dme331.ipo, dme331.prg) and copied them to the correct locations.

-I changed receive and transmit buffers of my COM port to 8, instead of default 16.

Not sure which of the two did the job, but it works. Maybe this helps anyone with the same problems.

[dantheman7913]

You can solve this problem when it comes time to change your tires. By going with a little taller tire you can bring it real close to being spot on. Check the threads, it's been discussed before.

I asked in this thread because I wanted to know if it's possible to edit the instrument cluster module on our cars using NCS Expert and NCS Dummy. It wasn't clear from other threads if our cars even have the module, so I figured I'd ask in the megathread.

[328 Power 04]

Yes, the instrument cluster is easily coded, especially in the 1999+ E46 based Z3s.

Getting it to do what you'd want or the exact values is completely something else. You may push the speedo down, but then you may end up influencing how fast the odometer rolls.

[dantheman7913]

Yes, the instrument cluster is easily coded, especially in the 1999+ E46 based Z3s.

Getting it to do what you'd want or the exact values is completely something else. You may push the speedo down, but then you may end up influencing how fast the odometer rolls.

Would that be an MS43 or MS42? I have an MS42 in mine, but my 2000's build date is march 1999 which I know is the bleeding edge of the cut off (lucky me right) so I'm never entirely sure which side I land on

[328 Power 04]

Would that be an MS43 or MS42? I have an MS42 in mine, but my 2000's build date is march 1999 which I know is the bleeding edge of the cut off (lucky me right) so I'm never entirely sure which side I land on

MS42 is the the newer one, so your cluster is the one that is easily accessible with the k-dcan cable + 20-pin adapter. Older cars would require a tool capable of communicating via L-line (ADS), which makes things a lot more complex.

[ptony101]

I asked in this thread because I wanted to know if it's possible to edit the instrument cluster module on our cars using NCS Expert and NCS Dummy. It wasn't clear from other threads if our cars even have the module, so I figured I'd ask in the megathread.

You can solve this problem when it comes time to change your tires. By going with a little taller tire you can bring it real close to being spot on. Check the threads, it's been discussed before.

Yes but the odometer will be off then.

[ptony101]

Yes, the instrument cluster is easily coded, especially in the 1999+ E46 based Z3s.

Getting it to do what you'd want or the exact values is completely something else. You may push the speedo down, but then you may end up influencing how fast the odometer rolls.

You're referring to changing the impulse/km value I guess. Which is pretty much that same thing as changing tire size.

If I only had a way to safely read/write to the eeprom and someway to get a dump of a Japanese market KMB file for the offset value....

[328 Power 04]

You don't need a dump as the NCS Expert program already has all the variables in there for all cars made by BMW. That's the purpose of the daten. NCS Dummy program (included) parses those and makes it slightly easier to see.

[ptony101]

You don't need a dump as the NCS Expert program already has all the variables in there for all cars made by BMW. That's the purpose of the daten. NCS Dummy program (included) parses those and makes it slightly easier to see.

NCSDummy doesn't seem to show a valid value for TACHO_OFFSET, it just shows "FF". (daten file KMB_E36.C03). I've read that NCS masks certain addresses and doesn't allow changes to others so I figured this was one of them. Only way I could see something was using BMW Scanner to directly read the eeprom.

[dantheman7913]

You're referring to changing the impulse/km value I guess. Which is pretty much that same thing as changing tire size.

Yea I downloaded the instrument cluster's data, for the speedo impulses it current says it has 4663 impulses per km, but the actual data is 18,55 (decimal). What do I change it to to get the speedo to come down? It currently reads fast, and idk how the data numbers correlate to the impulses

[ptony101]

Yea I downloaded the instrument cluster's data, for the speedo impulses it current says it has 4663 impulses per km, but the actual data is 18,55 (decimal). What do I change it to to get the speedo to come down? It currently reads fast, and idk how the data numbers correlate to the impulses

I never pursued this path since it would likely cause the odo to read wrong which is a tradeoff I wasn't willing to make. If you want to try it, the first thing will be to figure out what impulse number you need to correct for the speedo error. If my logic is correct, you would need a number less than 4663. Once you figure that out, it's very straight forward to calculate the hex values for this and the complimentary values.

[Keegan e36]

Good day all. Will the INPA software work on the older 1993 BMW E36s. I would like to order the K+DCAN cable and 20PIN adaptor, but im not sure if we're able to read and clear codes on this older model too.

And will the attached cable work? Or does it have to be the one with the switch?

data.PNG

[328 Power 04]

Good day all. Will the INPA software work on the older 1993 BMW E36s. I would like to order the K+DCAN cable and 20PIN adaptor, but im not sure if we're able to read and clear codes on this older model too.

And will the attached cable work? Or does it have to be the one with the switch?

data.PNG

No, unfortunately the cars before 1996 (+-) will require a specific ADS interface or an ICOM to communicate. INPA wouldn't be as useful there.

[Mr Bingley]

So I have been following this thread intermittently but avoiding setting up INPA as I have never actually needed it--I have a couple of reset tools (air bag, service lights, etc.) and an OBDII reader, and these have sufficed over the years--until now. The ABS light came on together with a little triangular exclamation point and I realized that the only way to diagnose it is with INPA. So I bit the bullet and went ahead and set it up (I bought the cable years ago). I have a dedicated Toughbook running XP I use for my Volvo VIDA software, so I loaded it on that. The entire process was easy and flawless--thanks to you Abel--and I want to say thank you very much for your hard work. Of course it diagnosed the problem (right front wheel sensor) and I replaced it today--lights off. Thanks again.

[Dooba]

How do you go about aligning the EWS? In the E36->Body->Electronic vehicle immobilization EWS menu I don't have a shift-6 to do the alignment. Any help would be appreciated.

This is for a 2000 M that hasn't run in a while.

Thanks.

[328 Power 04]

EWS2 based cars like your S52 Z3M don't have rolling codes you align. It's a simple 4 character code that is fixed.
You read the DME ISN in the MS41 profile (it's 3-4 characters there) and then use the EWS menu to write in the ISN, adding a 0 in front as needed).

That being said, the ISN is not simply lost. What makes you think it's an EWS alignment issue?

[Dooba]

So more info: The car was my dads, bought it new, drove it daily until 2008 or so. Fast forward to 2022, wanted me to get it up and running again so my family could now enjoy it. A few weeks back I started looking into what it would take to get it running. I knew the battery was shot so we replaced that. It cranked fairly well but never completely started. I never heard the fuel pump run. A few nights of googling brought me to this thread and EWS being the culprit. Found an old Windows XP laptop, installed all the software, bought the necessary cables, went over to my parents house and started up the INPA software.

Pulled the codes and saw this one:

Then came across this one in the EWS module:



Could it be something else?

[Dooba]

Car was daily driven until about 2008 and has sat in my parents garage ever since. I replaced the battery and now get a solid crank from the starter, but won't start. Can't hear the fuel pump run either. A couple weeks back I started googling and would up with this thread (among others) and got me researching EWS/DME issues since that's what it sounded like to me. So last week I found an old WinXP laptop to run INPA, bought a cable and 20 pin adapter and started reading codes. Pulled this code:

https://imgur.com/VcM42aa

Then looked around the other menus in the EWS module and saw this one:

https://imgur.com/6fyT88n

Figured it had to be EWS alignment, but I guess that's probably not the case. Any ideas? Thanks for the reply.

Oh, one other thing, my dad did have a Dinan chip/software. Not sure if that helps or not, but could be potentially related.

[328 Power 04]

Car was daily driven until about 2008 and has sat in my parents garage ever since. I replaced the battery and now get a solid crank from the starter, but won't start. Can't hear the fuel pump run either. A couple weeks back I started googling and would up with this thread (among others) and got me researching EWS/DME issues since that's what it sounded like to me. So last week I found an old WinXP laptop to run INPA, bought a cable and 20 pin adapter and started reading codes. Pulled this code:



Then looked around the other menus in the EWS module and saw this one:



Figured it had to be EWS alignment, but I guess that's probably not the case. Any ideas? Thanks for the reply.

Oh, one other thing, my dad did have a Dinan chip/software. Not sure if that helps or not, but could be potentially related.

(imgur pictures don't show up correctly on the forums, just leave a straight link)
First picture shows an old stored error that is not currently present. That can often happen when there's low battery. It's not current, it could be years old, so it's not a relevant error.

Second picture shows the ISN code (0DCF) which you can use to check in the DME menus, to see if it matches. The Password ERROR_ECU_REJECTED is completely normal. It's always like that.



I would check to see if you have rpm signal in inpa, DME status (analog) menus.. no rpm while cranking = bad crankshaft position sensor... which is the most common issue for no start on those. Don't use an aftermarket no-name sensor as they have a very very high failure rate. Use OEM or OE supplier brand only.

[Dooba]

No rpm on the tach or in the software, so I guess this is pointing to the crankshaft position sensor being bad. Fairly simple install? I'm not seeing a whole lot of info about it. My googling sadly didn't come up with much.

[Dooba]

Swapped out the crank position sensor today, and still won’t crank over. Any other ideas?

[BimmerBreaker]

I would re-align the DME and EWS and clear all stored codes and try again

I've seen at least one occasion where EWS issues caused the tach to not move when cranking, like how a bad cps usually presents itself

[Dooba]

Hrmm, above, Abel mentioned that my car didn’t have rolling codes that needed to be aligned. Only a fixed code.

[Robs Z3]

Hi

I tried to install the software on a Windows 10 PC and received the following error.

"This setup cannot be installed on this operating system version. Only windows NT and Windows XP are supported."

Any suggestions?
Rob

[328 Power 04]

Hi

I tried to install the software on a Windows 10 PC and received the following error.

"This setup cannot be installed on this operating system version. Only windows NT and Windows XP are supported."

Any suggestions?
Rob

Follow the instructions a bit more carefully

There's an important part in there when you right click and go to properties.