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Thread: Problem flashing DME after e46 manual swap. Any insight?

  1. #1
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    Problem flashing DME after e46 manual swap. Any insight?

    Hey guys!

    I recently picked up a 2001 330i with a blown automatic for practically nothing (go figure). I already had a manual transmission floating around my garage along with an extra clutch and flywheel (from my old e36 m3) so it was a good opportunity for me.

    After getting some pedals and a driveshaft and a couple nights in the garage, I was in business.

    Hooked up the trusy 'ol DIS and got my SA code, reconfigured it to not have an automatic in it, and recoded the KOMBI, EWS, ZKE, and a couple other modules.

    Unplugged the transmission computer and fired up winkfp to flash the DME. After getting the newest daten files (all 40+ gigs of them), I was able to flash the DME without incident on Saturday.


    But I'm still getting a check engine light for communication between the DME and EGS. Is it because I did not clear adaptations? Is there a certain order I need to do things in? Should I plug it back it, fire up the car, then disconnect the battery for a bit before I unplug the EGS and flash the dme?

    I rechecked all the modules that carry the SA code. They are all correct. I recoded all the modules again just to be sure, then reflashed the DME. Same thing.

    Anyone run into an issue like this before? Anything I might be missing?

  2. #2
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    Assuming you have an MS43, there is no difference between the autos and manuals, the ECU will autodetect.

    If you go into INPA, I believe to fault reading > adaptation (or just find the adaptation page), click the last one on the list for variant adaptation clearing, and it should reset it and it'll work as a manual (unless it talks to an autobox ECU again!)

    Giftschrank Projekt

  3. #3
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    Yes, all you had to do is clear adaptations after coding. No flash required.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  4. #4
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    I was aware that the tunes were the same, I did not know that flashing was not required, though. I figured as part of the flash if it EVER detected a transmission computer it would be set in auto mode. It makes sense that it's just part of the adaptations, though. At least now I know how to flash a DME, though. And I got the latest version of the software now. So not a total waste of time.

    Thanks, guys! I'll reset them tonight and report back.

  5. #5
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    how did you get your new codes? I'm confident I can do this if it was more clearly explained to me, and if I knew where i could get my codes from?

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chanman1029 View Post
    how did you get your new codes? I'm confident I can do this if it was more clearly explained to me, and if I knew where i could get my codes from?
    Depends on if you have a pre 9/01 or a post 9/01 production. If you are talking about your 03 325i, you will have a VO code that you have to translate. Google E46 VO decoder, maybe? Mine was older and used an SA code. So I read that with DIS, put it into a program I downloaded, hit "decode" and it gave me the options on the car. Then I just unclicked "automatic transmission" and left the rest the same and hit "encode". It gave me a new number.

    Then go back into DIS or Progman, depending on version, recode modules. When it asks you if the SA/VO is correct you say NO and enter the new one. Then code it. That's assuming the VO coding works the same as the SA coding. I've got no idea on that.



    BTW, resetting the adaptations worked perfect. Car had no check engine light this morning on the way to work. Thanks, boys!

  7. #7
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    mine is a post 09/01. what type of scan tool do I need to buy?

  8. #8
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    Dude... That's like a whole can of worms. Dis might do it. You'd need to buy a k+d can cable and then install the software, which you can get in various places around the internet. It's a pain. That's literally why this sub forum exists, and I'm very far from an expert in it.

    If you ever need to know anything mechanical hit me up though. I can build one of these cars in my sleep.

  9. #9
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    Gotcha thanks. Mechanically I'm pretty savy myself but when it comes to electronics I just go brain dead

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chanman1029 View Post
    Gotcha thanks. Mechanically I'm pretty savy myself but when it comes to electronics I just go brain dead
    I'm definitely good at the electronics stuff, I just don't have a lot of experience with these cars in particular. At least compared to a LOT of the people in here.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chanman1029 View Post
    Gotcha thanks. Mechanically I'm pretty savy myself but when it comes to electronics I just go brain dead
    You would need a K+DCAN with pins 7&8 bridged.

    Then you can easily remove the auto option from your VO code, and recode. It's even easier than ZCS editing that kevinwilly did.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  12. #12
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    You need reset variants in dme

  13. #13
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    I have an MS43 based e46 that has been swapped to a manual, but none of the coding has been done.
    I have a GT1 with SSS, but I cannot find any info on the coding procedures. I know I saw a thread or video somewhere years ago, but I can't find it anywhere. Some of the swap threads have vague instructions, but I'm hoping to find something more complete so as to not brick this car or spend hours messing around with it.
    Thanks in advance.
    J.

  14. #14
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    what year is the car? If it's an earlier one like mine, you just need DIS. Not SSS.

    You need to find out if has an SA code or a VO code. Then i can link you to the place you need.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by JiXer View Post
    I have an MS43 based e46 that has been swapped to a manual, but none of the coding has been done.
    I have a GT1 with SSS, but I cannot find any info on the coding procedures. I know I saw a thread or video somewhere years ago, but I can't find it anywhere. Some of the swap threads have vague instructions, but I'm hoping to find something more complete so as to not brick this car or spend hours messing around with it.
    Thanks in advance.
    J.

    It can all be done easily with NCSExpert. VO car or ZCS car.
    You are greatly complicating yourself if you try to use DIS.


    It only needs coding. The flash is the same for auto and manual. The dme will switch variants when EWS is coded correctly and adaptations cleared.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  16. #16
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    It's a 2001 330ci

    - - - Updated - - -

    I don't know anything about NCS. What hardware is used to connect to the car?

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by JiXer View Post
    It's a 2001 330ci

    - - - Updated - - -

    I don't know anything about NCS. What hardware is used to connect to the car?
    You can you a few interfaces with NCS, I think. It works fine with the same serial INPA cable I use with DIS, though. It's harder to use, though. If you have DIS/SSS it's easy and only takes a few minutes. Just go into programming and read the SA code for the Kombi and EWS modules. Then decode it with an SA code program and then unselect the auto transmission option and recode it. Then recode the modules with that number. Took ten minutes for that to happen. I just never found the "Manual and auto dme programming is the same on e46" bit of info. but in my defense I'd only been in the e46 game for like 8 days at that point.

  18. #18
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    What is the SA code?
    And what programs can decode it?

  19. #19
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    I have a 330Ci 2004 and put a 328ci 2000 Manual transmission. Now the sacanner says something about transmission control module .. anyone know how to fix that ?

  20. #20
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    Did you leave the trans control module plugged in? You have to unplug the trans module, re-code several of the other modules, and clear the adaptations on the DME to get everything to play nice.

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by enda320 View Post
    Assuming you have an MS43, there is no difference between the autos and manuals, the ECU will autodetect.

    If you go into INPA, I believe to fault reading > adaptation (or just find the adaptation page), click the last one on the list for variant adaptation clearing, and it should reset it and it'll work as a manual (unless it talks to an autobox ECU again!)
    The DME checks for TCM via CANbus only once after clearing adaptation. This is the reason why one needs to reset the Variant (auto or manual in this case) in Adapttaion listing and this forces the DME to check for TCM (tranny control module) and when it can't find one then it defaults to manual tranny. Done.

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sapote View Post
    The DME checks for TCM via CANbus only once after clearing adaptation. This is the reason why one needs to reset the Variant (auto or manual in this case) in Adapttaion listing and this forces the DME to check for TCM (tranny control module) and when it can't find one then it defaults to manual tranny. Done.
    It also checks against EWS settings, so it can be more than that.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

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