S54 swap, 98 M3 sedan

[Bimmerman535i]

They said I need to remove panels and show that the wiring runs to the trunk.



Yes, INPA showed a knock code and two cylinder misfires. I replaced coils a while back but didn't clear codes. No OBD2 codes. They care about all of them, said I must have zero codes.



I haven't done that yet but am guessing it won't work. The CVN is likely a checksum of the entire calibration section, its purpose is to confirm the flash hasn't been modified. I'm guessing your ref didn't look at the CVN, it seems the BAR ref process is very subjective.

Yea, it unfortunately does seem subjective. I can check with the guy who did my coding whether he updated the CVNs. That's super crappy about the panels and codes though. What station did you go to?

I have an EWS module and the associated key if that'd be helpful...

Also, are you going to the Edge motorworks bmw club meetup on Sunday? I'll be there.

[gpeterson]

I just did some testing and confirmed that minimal EWS delete (not even the associated codes) changes the CVN, so it is likely calculated from the entire data section. I thought about installing functional EWS but I have some other things coded out like DSC and steering angle so I'd have to run all of that stuff as well.

Guess I need to figure out CVN. If it is a CRC32 it can be manipulated by modifying four consecutive (un-used) bytes in the data section, see https://www.nayuki.io/page/forcing-a...c-to-any-value. Another option would be modifying the program section to return a hard-coded CVN.

I went to the ARC ref in Sacramento and would bet your car returns a mismatched CVN that the ref overlooked. Do you have an OBD2 reader or dongle/app that can read calibration ID and CVN?

Another thought - looks like some early MSS54 software revisions didn't support CVN. What version are you running?

[Bimmerman535i]

I just did some testing and confirmed that minimal EWS delete (not even the associated codes) changes the CVN, so it is likely calculated from the entire data section. I thought about installing functional EWS but I have some other things coded out like DSC and steering angle so I'd have to run all of that stuff as well.

Guess I need to figure out CVN. If it is a CRC32 it can be manipulated by modifying four consecutive (un-used) bytes in the data section, see https://www.nayuki.io/page/forcing-a...c-to-any-value. Another option would be modifying the program section to return a hard-coded CVN.

I went to the ARC ref in Sacramento and would bet your car returns a mismatched CVN that the ref overlooked. Do you have an OBD2 reader or dongle/app that can read calibration ID and CVN?

Another thought - looks like some early MSS54 software revisions didn't support CVN. What version are you running?

Good question....I'll ask Kalim and get back to you on that. I don't honestly know so I don't want to mislead you. I have one of the super generic Bluetooth readers and the free version of Torque app....think that would work? It doesn't return any stored codes but sounds like yours didn't either.

He and I are doing some more coding this weekend so I can check the car again. The car's now running an OE CSL flash so I don't know if it will be as applicable any more. I do know we were running an 04 M3 6MT flash on an MSS54HP, with only EWS coded out, so it's as close to stock as it could be. We aligned the DSC/cluster/steering angle/yaw sensor modules so that they were happy with each other. I don't recall any hidden codes aside from the gear position switch by the time we were done, and that's only because the 5mt doesn't have that switch and we didn't bother spoofing it.

It's an assumption on my part, but the ref did plug a pretty sophisticated scanner into the OBD port and ran some diagnostics, which took much more time than just checking if the monitors were set, so I imagine if there were CVN issues they would have cropped up there (or the ref didn't care, which is possible).

[cyberkaa]

A few months ago, I heard about stricter checks being implemented regarding CALID and CVN. We might have missed the cutoff for when they started checking or your particular ref might be more strict. It should be possible to set it back to the expected value, though I didn't need to do it to get any of the S54 swaps through BAR.

[Bjazzy2]

Just want to say thanks for all the valuable information in this thread; my project car is an e36 S54 swap into a 94 convertible chassis. I'm currently running euro headers, a modified e36 M3 front section and Corsa RSC36 muffler, but will change to a setup like GG//M3 but using a Status Gruppe "rasp eliminator" pipe for section 1. Will get some pics once completed. Again Thanks!!

[gpeterson]

Just finished some major retrofitting - EWS3 & MK60 DSC. I needed to flash my DME back to 100% stock to make the smog ref happy.

IMG_4321.png

[kevinwilly]

Sucks that you have to go through all that, man. I just deleted the SAP, post cat o2 sensors, DSC, and a few other items and set the readiness monitors to always show "ready" and I was good to go here in NC.

[gpeterson]

I had another smog ref appointment, the car is now CA legal (see pic in 1st post).

[cyberkaa]

Congrats.

[PITT M3 RR]

Nice Gary - clean up the " suspicious " wiring behind dash? haha

[Bimmerman535i]

I had another smog ref appointment, the car is now CA legal (see pic in 1st post).

Congrats!!

[gpeterson]

Nice Gary - clean up the " suspicious " wiring behind dash? haha

Yeah, turns out the ref process is very subjective. There are two locations in Sacramento - American River College and Cosumnes River College. They will assign you to the nearest one but you can ask for the other.

ARC was awful - the guy was a no-show for one appointment, he seemed suspicious of me, and they drive your car off to who knows where while you wait in a tiny windowless room for 3 hours.

The guys at CRC were super friendly, got things done in <90min, and you sit in their office with a window looking into the garage where they do their work.

[M52 POWER!]

Congrats, very unique achievement with CA and a S54 swapped E36!

I'm super glad I don't have to deal with that in FL!

[PITT M3 RR]

Yeah, turns out the ref process is very subjective. There are two locations in Sacramento - American River College and Cosumnes River College. They will assign you to the nearest one but you can ask for the other.

ARC was awful - the guy was a no-show for one appointment, he seemed suspicious of me, and they drive your car off to who knows where while you wait in a tiny windowless room for 3 hours.

The guys at CRC were super friendly, got things done in <90min, and you sit in their office with a window looking into the garage where they do their work.

feel bad for you guys out there. It's a shame there's such a variation in their methods. It's clear the effort was taken to make the swap as you did, don't know why some of those places are tight asses.

[gpeterson]

Congrats!!

Thanks. Has it been 2yrs since getting yours legal? I'm curious to see how a normal smog station handles testing of a car with the BAR sticker.

[Bimmerman535i]

Thanks. Has it been 2yrs since getting yours legal? I'm curious to see how a normal smog station handles testing of a car with the BAR sticker.

Yuuuup. I got my notice in the mail last week, I have to go to a STAR smog by June. Going to uninstall the fun parts to go back to as-BAR'd-spec, then will report back.

It should be as simple as show up, plug in, go home, but we'll see....

[MParallel]

Cool car!

Nice you were able to retrofit MK60 DSC. Now you can code the E46 M3 CSL's M track mode.

And maybe retrofit the M Z3 guage cluster with warming up lights.

Regarding the S50B32 headers, don't bother. These use rectangular flanges, while the S54 has triangular ones.

[gpeterson]

Cool car!

Thanks!

And maybe retrofit the M Z3 guage cluster with warming up lights.

Z3M cluster doesn't have warm up lights, but I'm working on retrofitting the E46 M3 cluster - https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...E46-M3-clsuter

Regarding the S50B32 headers, don't bother. These use rectangular flanges, while the S54 has triangular ones.

Who mentioned that? I thought everyone knew they were different. A common option here is the S54 non-US headers & catted section 1, I'll probably do that at some point.

[TH3 Shifty]

Sooo glad UT has no rules on engine swaps, as long as there are cats and passes the OBDII plug in test, I'm good to go

[gpeterson]

The M3 auto driveshaft I've been running isn't in the best shape, seems to be causing a bit of vibration, and I don't like the minimal spline engagement. I ordered a custom replacement (shortened M3 manual) from Driveshaft Specialist in Texas, will post an update once it arrives. If it works out well I'll post the measurements so that others can order the same.

Update: Got a call about the driveshaft a few days ago, turns out they didn't have an available core. I couldn't send my driveshaft in first, so they offered another option at a similar price - build from scratch. Turns out they make their own flanges for BMW applications that use off the shelf clipped-in, solid u-joints.

[gpeterson]

Driveshaft arrived, looks great, should be in the car later today. Check out the additional spline engagement (new driveshaft on left, M3 auto on right):



U-joints are clipped in and replaceable. The are solid (no zerks), hopefully they last a long time like the OEM ones.

[PITT M3 RR]

Nice looking piece

[gpeterson]

Just got the driveshaft installed. It fit perfectly and eliminated the vibration. Things are a bit quieter, now I need to work on some interior rattles and I may have some rear wheel bearing noise. It never ends.

[PITT M3 RR]

What's cost of complete build vs a shortened 5speed?

[gpeterson]

What's cost of complete build vs a shortened 5speed?

I paid $585 shipped, no core required. Price was going to be the same for a rebuild but I'd get $80 back for providing a core. I can provide measurements if anyone else wants to order from them.