[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Hey guys,

As some of you know BMS has done N54 flash tuning from time to time using their Dimsport flashing setup. After some disappointment at the higher power level capability with flash tuning they moved on to JB4 development and the rest is history. But their setup is still very useful for certain things.

There have been rumors that the latest DME version has the new flash protection built in. So BMS updated their 2008 MSD81 ECU for testing and is pleased to report those rumors appear false. They had no issues reading/writing via the OBDII port with the Dimsport setup. So any other flash tune should be unaffected as well. Good news for N54 owners in to flash tuning!

The bad news is they said the N55 already has the protection built in. To read the N55 DME they need to jumper a wire on the ECU itself called enabling a "boot loader". A few photos from Dimsports guide on how to do that. So don't get your hopes up for N55 OBDII flash tuning any time soon.

Likely for every N54 update BMW releases flash owners will just need to hold their breath and hope the flash protection is not included!

Mike

[fisherbln]

I'm pretty comfortable with a soldering iron, but I'm guessing the average N55 driver isn't going to want to open their ECU up and solder on a jumper wire!

[tscdennab]

I definitely sense a smell of a BMS flash tune being release in maximum 6 months.

EDIT: Sorry, didn't realize that this thread was meant to give the N55 owners a push to buy piggybacks instead of waiting for Cobb's or GIAC's flashes

On another note, if BMW dealerships can flash the N55 ECU I think it's a matter of time until tuners can flash it too.

[vasillalov]

The option will be to send your ECU for reflashing to the tuner. I am fairly confident GIAC will offer this service as they have been doing a lot more complicated ECU modifications for customer cars for years. An example would be the B3 and B4 Passat ECUs. In those cases, the ECU chip is desoldered from the ECU main board, a socket board is installed and a new chip is plugged into the socket. This is similar to installing a socket for your CPU on your PC motherboard.

Back in the days, GIAC used to charge $15.00 for this service...

So yeah, no worries, flash tuning will be just as viable on N55... It'll just take longer.

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Originally Posted by tscdennab

I definitely sense a smell of a BMS flash tune being release in maximum 6 months.

EDIT: Sorry, didn't realize that this thread was meant to give the N55 owners a push to buy piggybacks instead of waiting for Cobb's or GIAC's flashes

On another note, if BMW dealerships can flash the N55 ECU I think it's a matter of time until tuners can flash it too.

No plans for a stand alone flash tune for gasoline models. They played around with flash tuning for awhile and found it too limiting. It's great for producing a 13-15psi tune but overall was inferior to their piggyback technology in terms of features, value, performance, etc. In the future they may add some hybrid features though.

Mike

[Clap135]

Great point, if bmw can update the n55 software, so can any flash tuner. Try again. Sounds liek another sorry attempt to push people towards products you support

[Jake@MOTIV]

Originally Posted by Clap135

Great point, if bmw can update the n55 software, so can any flash tuner. Try again. Sounds liek another sorry attempt to push people towards products you support

back in the day it was called yellow journalism (just with a different purpose)

as for the 13-15psi flash talk - i think you should really rephrase that as "we couldn't get over 13-15psi tunes running strong using a flash setup" because i promise you it wasn't the flash tune style limiting you...i don't have a problem with BMW i have a problem with you are using scare tactics (this thread) and misinformation (other threads) to sell products

mike you do realize that using your logic - bmw has to solder that wire every time to update the ecu - if they have a way of doing it without needing to make that jump - SO DOES COBB AND OTHER FLASH TUNERS

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Originally Posted by Clap135

Great point, if bmw can update the n55 software, so can any flash tuner. Try again. Sounds liek another sorry attempt to push people towards products you support

BMW can read/flash the cars directly, they have the keys to the new encryption scheme. The new protection is intended to lock out aftermarket tuners. I thought you flash lovers would be pleased to see it's not locked on the N54 as of the latest update.

Mike

[Clap135]

Originally Posted by Mike@N54Tuning.com

BMW can read/flash the cars directly, they have the keys to the new encryption scheme. The new protection is intended to lock out aftermarket tuners. I thought you flash lovers would be pleased to see it's not locked on the N54 as of the latest update.

Mike

So to put this in simple terms WITHOUT scaring people with bs wording tactits:


This is a new ecu, with new encryptions, just like old ecus, that once were considered new, with new encryptions. btw the n55 is already flashed by the aftermarket. Try again.

[themyst]

Originally Posted by Clap135

So to put this in simple terms WITHOUT scaring people with bs wording tactits:


This is a new ecu, with new encryptions, just like old ecus, that once were considered new, with new encryptions. btw the n55 is already flashed by the aftermarket. Try again.

Who flashed the N55? OE Tuning/Gintani?

[Clap135]

Originally Posted by themyst

Who flashed the N55? OE Tuning/Gintani?

it was posted on 1addicts, I don't pay attention to who did it, cause im set where I am at lol. Ill go dig it up for you


Edit: ESS

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Originally Posted by Clap135

So to put this in simple terms WITHOUT scaring people with bs wording tactits:


This is a new ecu, with new encryptions, just like old ecus, that once were considered new, with new encryptions. btw the n55 is already flashed by the aftermarket. Try again.

I'll break it down for you. To flash the N55 with the new tuner protection using the newest Dimsport setup:

1) Remove DME
2) Install jumper wire as shown in my first post
3) Read the file from the bench loader
4) Modify the file to do the tuning
5) Upload the new file to the ECU from the bench loader
6) Reinstall the ECU

Mike

[Clap135]

Originally Posted by Mike@N54Tuning.com

I'll break it down for you. To flash the N55 with the new tuner protection using the newest Dimsport setup:

1) Remove DME
2) Install jumper wire as shown in my first post
3) Read the file from the bench loader
4) Modify the file to do the tuning
5) Upload the new file to the ECU from the bench loader
6) Reinstall the ECU

Mike

Try again, you think bmw is going to do this everytime a car needs to be updated? Get a clue.

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Originally Posted by Clap135

Try again, you think bmw is going to do this everytime a car needs to be updated? Get a clue.

I replied to that comment in post #8.

Mike

[Clap135]

And i replied to your reply in reply 9, followed by try again

[D.B.S]

Originally Posted by themyst

Who flashed the N55? OE Tuning/Gintani?

So if ESS has successfully done it and OE tuning is about to complete their flash of the N55 in another week, refer to this thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=479756

What's really going on? Now if it requires removal of the ECU, then I guess I see your point Mike, but if they are doing it without removal of the ECU (with their home flash (ez flash) whatever units, this puts your theory out the window... Curious to know the method they are using to flash the ECU's... Maybe they could chime in and let us know what they are doing different... Not that I expect them to release trade secrets

According to OE's site (which by the way lists the N55 tune at $690), say's that it's an "OBD2 Flash"... If this isn't the case, that's false advertisement. If it is the case, then, what are they doing different? (obviously based off that assumption, their is no requirement to take out our ECU/DME for them to flash, but I'm no expert)

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Originally Posted by Army335xi

So if ESS has successfully done it and OE tuning is about to complete their flash of the N55 in another week, refer to this thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=479756

What's really going on? Now if it requires removal of the ECU, then I guess I see your point Mike, but if they are doing it without removal of the ECU (with their home flash (ez flash) whatever units, this puts your theory out the window... Curious to know the method they are using to flash the ECU's... Maybe they could chime in and let us know what they are doing different... Not that I expect them to release trade secrets

According to OE's site (which by the way lists the N55 tune at $690), say's that it's an "OBD2 Flash"... If this isn't the case, that's false advertisement. If it is the case, then, what are they doing different? (obviously based off that assumption, their is no requirement to take out our ECU/DME for them to flash, but I'm no expert)

The information I'm providing is from Dimsport, who sells BMW flashing equipment to hundreds of tuners around the USA and Europe. If they don't have the keys or prospects for getting them yet I would be surprised if anyone else did. But you'll have to contact your respective tuners (OE, ESS, etc) to verify their claims of flashing via the OBDII port.

Mike

[RambleJ]

Originally Posted by Clap135

Great point, if bmw can update the n55 software, so can any flash tuner. Try again. Sounds liek another sorry attempt to push people towards products you support

Wow talk about being thick headed, I didn't see that in his post at all. I saw it as a good thing and that the rumors going around that the new BMW software is keeping people from flashing their cars at this point is false.

[Clap135]

Thick headed.....when it comes to bullshit. Its simply sad to see all the piggy back developers raise all the points, without any form of proof, against flashes right as the flash market is on the rise. Ironic isnt it?

[mithiral67]

Good info mike, thanks.

[D.B.S]

It's very hard to get the complete story though... We have mike providing information about how the Dimsport does it's thing, and nothing from the other Tuners on how they accomplished what they did... So of course conversations get to look very one sided...

[etiliko]

Originally Posted by FlyLow335i

mike you do realize that using your logic - bmw has to solder that wire every time to update the ecu - if they have a way of doing it without needing to make that jump - SO DOES COBB AND OTHER FLASH TUNERS

Ehehhe, clearily NOT. The problem is a key that ONLY BMW has, this key is an algorithm used to encrypt ecu communication. It is a 1024 bits key that neither Cobb nor any other flash tuner has, and at today it is uncrackable.
I don't think that ALL the n55 have this "antituning flash protection" built in ;-)