[iNam]

HI all,

Just bought a used 07 335 coupe from an independent dealer. I am new to the world of bimmers having built honda motors most my life. it has less then 23k miles. i wanted to take it to the dealer to get some service done but i also want to make sure it doesnt have a flashed ecu installed or some type of tuning done to it from the previous owner. I am afraid that they may find something I might not know about and void my warranty. So before I take it in i want to check . Is there anything in particular I need to look for? and how do i tell if my vehicle currently has some type of ecu mod done to it?

thanks..

[335fourdoor]

Originally Posted by iNam

HI all,

Just bought a used 07 335 coupe from an independent dealer. I am new to the world of bimmers having built honda motors most my life. it has less then 23k miles. i wanted to take it to the dealer to get some service done but i also want to make sure it doesnt have a flashed ecu installed or some type of tuning done to it from the previous owner. I am afraid that they may find something I might not know about and void my warranty. So before I take it in i want to check . Is there anything in particular I need to look for? and how do i tell if my vehicle currently has some type of ecu mod done to it?

thanks..

check t-map sensor and/or look inside ecu compartment.

[iNam]

what should I look for when I check out the t map sensor and inside the ecu?

[scheherazade]

First, do a visual inspection without touching.

If someone has been in and out of the ECU box, or has been touching connectors, the dirt will be 'wiped off'. Either to remove traces of touching, or by the touching itself.

If anything is unusually clean around the ECU, while everything else is dirty, or there are finger traffic smudges all over it, then you can safely *suspect* that there has been a tune installed.

Other than that, you can check codes or whatever... but anyone with half a brain would have cleared them...

-scheherazade

[SteveMD]

There are basically two kinds of 'non flash' tunes: TMAP based tunes (SSTT, JB+) that are connected into the TMAP sensor and ECU piggy backs (Proceed, JB3) that are connected into the ECU harness wiring and usually stuffed inside the ECU compartment.

If you do not find a tune, I would probably go to an independant BMW shop, explain your case and see if they will scan the car for a few dollars - have them clear any 'tuner codes' if they find them.

[GGreek5]

How fast does it feel?? If you go full throttle in 1st, will the tires chirp at around 5k rpm? If not, then probably not tuned. lol

[cbad335]

A legitimate question. I remember reading here about a member who purchased a used 335 from a private seller and the car was suspiciously fast. It ended up having an early version PROcede still in the ECU.

[Nick@aep]

I wouldnt stress it. Make an appointment at your local BMW dealer and explain you just bought the car from an independent dealer and wanted to bring it in for service/warranty, etc. You won't be held accountable for things you dont know about at all. Theyre usually lenient on that stuff from what I've read in the past about other cars and mods.

[iNam]

Thanks guys.. I got suspicious after i pulled an e92 m3 by a car length 3 time from 3rd to 5th.. So i thought either he didnt know how to drive or i have something i dont know about! Ill probably do a close inspection and take one of the routes mentioned above

[jadeddjay]

yea... youre probably tuned lol

[persian54]

GL but how come you didn't ask the private dealer these questions prior to purchasing?

If you pulled on a M3... then you probably have a tune...

[ak335]

deff tuned if u pulled a M3 no doubt

congrats on the car

[iNam]

Yup its tuned lol! I pulled the ecu compartment and it has an active autowerks xede in it. My friend who is a dealer just picked this car up and he sold it to me at his cost.. He didnt have a chance to inspect it in and out thats why we didnt kno about it..it has low miles and drives great and got a good deal..

[Driver72]

Now dump that old Xede and put an up to date tune on it.
Quite frankly, I'm astonished the AA Xede pulled an M3.
The M3 driver clearly doesn't know how to drive the stick well either.
AA Xede has about 15-20 peak rwhp/rwtq less than a comparable JB3 or PROcede does now. And the Xede has probably 20-25 less rwhp above 6000 rpm than the JB3 or PROcede.

Oh and you better get your codes cleared before you go to the dealer too.
The dealer doesn't give a rats arse if you just bought the car either, that doesn't give you a "get out of jail free" card by using that excuse.
They won't void your warranty because you just bought it, they'll void it because of the tune, period. Then if you use the "but I didn't know I just bought it excuse" they'll promptly say, "well take it up with the dealer you bought it from".

[I335]

^ Certainly could happen, but it depends on the dealer. My dealer wouldn't do that...

[Louie A]

Originally Posted by I335

^ Certainly could happen, but it depends on the dealer. My dealer wouldn't do that...

Hope for the best -- Plan for the worst.
I would totally make certain to clear all codes and would not presume that the dealer would be flexible given the circumstances.

Either purchase a BT Scan tool or visit an independent BMW shop to clear codes for you.