X10116: where to locate in Z4M

[Terraphantm]

Originally Posted by RossBMWZseries

The shop owner used to work at my local BMW dealer, he was there for over 15 years that I know of. He was the only ONE person at the dealer that I actually trusted, which is the reason why I brought my car to his shop. I've talked to a few BMW "savvy" guys and they've stated that this process is not unheard of and the success rate of downloading software into another car of the same chassis is pretty high. Then again, I've never heard of it myself.

I appreciate the kind gesture Vanne! Unfortunately my laptop stopped working and don't have access to one. My understanding is the laptop would be required to use these cables.

He might know the mechanical stuff well, but most techs don't know anything about how the electronics really work. I promise you, another E85 will not help in any way whatsoever. There is nothing to download.

[RossBMWZseries]

Originally Posted by Terraphantm

He might know the mechanical stuff well, but most techs don't know anything about how the electronics really work. I promise you, another E85 will not help in any way whatsoever. There is nothing to download.

Thanks Terraphantm. So they were able to hook up their computer to my car and actually communicate this time. They got a few codes, including the "EWS preventing manipulation" which is the same one I got with my Foxwell scanner. They're saying that at this point, they cannot sync the DME with the EWS module and I'll need to buy a new EWS as it's VIN coded to my car and they'll be able to program it.

[Terraphantm]

Originally Posted by RossBMWZseries

Thanks Terraphantm. So they were able to hook up their computer to my car and actually communicate this time. They got a few codes, including the "EWS preventing manipulation" which is the same one I got with my Foxwell scanner. They're saying that at this point, they cannot sync the DME with the EWS module and I'll need to buy a new EWS as it's VIN coded to my car and they'll be able to program it.

I suspect a couple minutes with inpa would fix it.

[RossBMWZseries]

UPDATE:

After 5 long months of having my car sit at the shop, I finally got it back today. Unfortunately it wasn’t repaired. Why am I not happy? Basically because the shop gave up. After 4 months, they sent my car to the local BMW dealer to a master tech there because apparently the shop I took it to couldn’t sync the EWS to the DME. After one month of being at the dealer, they said they had the same issue where even the new EWS module wasn’t communicating with the DME. They towed the car back to my house today. 5 months wasted, and $215 for the module that probably didn’t even need replacement, plus $95 fee for diagnostics. I’m extremely frustrated. When I got home, I tried the car but battery was completely dead. I also noticed they made a few scratches on the driver’s door, the paint actually came off. What bothers me the most is that the new front bumper I got last year was in showroom condition. These POS mechanics damaged the lower part of the fangs and also chipped off some paint from the center section. I’ve run out of reputable shops in this area so I may have to take my car to bigger shops in San Antonio or Houston.

I do not own a laptop or these other cables you guys have mentioned, and quite honestly dealing with that crap is beyond my understanding

[Steeler]

Go back to the shop Ross and demand reparation.
If no dice, social media shaming is certainly within your right I would say.
That is unacceptable.

[RossBMWZseries]

Originally Posted by dbarton62

Go back to the shop Ross and demand reparation.
If no dice, social media shaming is certainly within your right I would say.
That is unacceptable.

I agree, but I doubt they'll agree to repair it as a proper repair would include doing the whole bumper which is pricey. Currently working on shaming them on social media for sure. Thanks Dave

[Vanne]

Bloody hell what a bunch of turkey's, sorry to hear that mate.
Sadly i could have brung my cable and lappy on my next Houston, but cant see that happening in the near future mate.

keep us posted..

[Terraphantm]

If you can get your hands on a computer and cable, I'm sure there's someone here who could get you sorted in 30 mins or less (assuming you have internet access at said computer to do things remotely). Especially now that many of us are quarantined and bored the fuck out of our minds.

Also does your car crank at all?

[RossBMWZseries]

thanks guys. The car does crank. I had a master mechanic that's worked at BMW and other luxury brand dealerships come to the house yesterday to check the car. He's been a master tech at all these dealers. First thing he said, was exactly what you guys said: we need to make sure that the EWS is synched to the DME. If it's not, that's why there's no juice. Apparently, he told me that the new EWS module that the shop had me order, was not even programmed to my car when taken to the BMW dealership. He said he's going to try and sync the old module. If that doesn't work, he's going to have to program the new module to the DME and sync it. I'll keep you guys up to date on this.

[Terraphantm]

Originally Posted by RossBMWZseries

thanks guys. The car does crank. I had a master mechanic that's worked at BMW and other luxury brand dealerships come to the house yesterday to check the car. He's been a master tech at all these dealers. First thing he said, was exactly what you guys said: we need to make sure that the EWS is synched to the DME. If it's not, that's why there's no juice. Apparently, he told me that the new EWS module that the shop had me order, was not even programmed to my car when taken to the BMW dealership. He said he's going to try and sync the old module. If that doesn't work, he's going to have to program the new module to the DME and sync it. I'll keep you guys up to date on this.

Okay so if the car cranks, that implies the EWS module is at least getting power and authenticating your key (start relay is built into the EWS relay and only triggers if the key is valid).

Best case (and IMO most likely) scenario - you just have to sync the EWS and DME and everything will work.

Other possibilities:
K-bus is being brought down and preventing software from syncing the two modules - I would expect other non-DME modules to not be diagnosable in this situation.
Somehow the communication line between the DME and EWS failed

Absolute worst case, I should have a workable EWS delete.

[Vanne]

Standing by for more info/hopefully resolutions mate.

[RossBMWZseries]

So the mechanic came by my house two days in a row. He did so much more than that shop ever did in 5 months. He did say that the old EWS module was no longer good and had to use the new EWS to sync to the DME. He also mentioned that he had to transfer the data from old EWS to the new one, and then sync the new one to the DME. After several attempts, he concluded that the BMW dealership never actually programmed the new EWS. I did buy it VIN coded to my car, but the mechanic said it still needed to be programmed and because they failed to do so, he couldn’t get it to sync to the DME. He contacted a few of his old buddies to see if they could take in my car to the dealer and do the “side gig” there. I’m on standby right now to see what his contacts say. If for some reason they can’t do it, I’m gonna have no choice but to take it to that damn BMW dealer to get it programmed.

[Terraphantm]

Originally Posted by RossBMWZseries

If for some reason they can’t do it, I’m gonna have no choice but to take it to that damn BMW dealer to get it programmed.

At that point I'd strongly recommend just buying a cheap $50 laptop and a cable and fixing it yourself or having someone here fix it. It's really frustrating seeing people bumble around with it when it's easy to fix. Or if you own a desktop, just drag that into the garage temporarily.

[RossBMWZseries]

Originally Posted by Terraphantm

At that point I'd strongly recommend just buying a cheap $50 laptop and a cable and fixing it yourself or having someone here fix it. It's really frustrating seeing people bumble around with it when it's easy to fix. Or if you own a desktop, just drag that into the garage temporarily.

The mechanic stated he couldn’t get anyone to assist with the job and referred me to the dealership where my car sat for 5 weeks. If I take it back to that dealership, perhaps I can speak to the master tech to do this job on the outside. I don’t know if he’ll agree, but I know that if he doesn’t, then I’m in for a high bill.

Perhaps I can purchase an old $50 laptop and a cable, but trust me when I say I’m not bright at all when it comes to these things. Besides, is this something that can be done on my own? The mechanic did say the dealership had to program it first before being able to sync EWS and DME.

If anyone cares to pinpoint and maybe direct me to the exact links of what would be required to get this done, I’d appreciate it. Thanks for all your help terraphantm. Really wish you were nearby

[Terraphantm]

Originally Posted by RossBMWZseries

The mechanic stated he couldn’t get anyone to assist with the job and referred me to the dealership where my car sat for 5 weeks. If I take it back to that dealership, perhaps I can speak to the master tech to do this job on the outside. I don’t know if he’ll agree, but I know that if he doesn’t, then I’m in for a high bill.

Perhaps I can purchase an old $50 laptop and a cable, but trust me when I say I’m not bright at all when it comes to these things. Besides, is this something that can be done on my own? The mechanic did say the dealership had to program it first before being able to sync EWS and DME.

If anyone cares to pinpoint and maybe direct me to the exact links of what would be required to get this done, I’d appreciate it. Thanks for all your help terraphantm. Really wish you were nearby

Dealerships can't really do any coding/programming that we can't do at home. The individual data for your car would (should) have been written to the module at BMW itself. Once installed in the car, it might need recoding with NCS Expert and it would need to be synchronized with your DME.

[pokeybritches]

You can buy laptops on eBay with BMW Tools already loaded.

[RossBMWZseries]

Thanks Terra and Josh. I contacted the seller on the link below. I'm hoping that software is capable of doing what I need to do to my car;

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-MINI-di...8c8a%7Ciid%3A1

[Terraphantm]

Should work. You don't really need such an old laptop, but it should be fine. I would clarify with the seller about whether the wifi is disabled in software or if it doesn't have a wifi card at all. If you want remote assistance, network access would be beneficial.

[RossBMWZseries]

Originally Posted by Terraphantm

Should work. You don't really need such an old laptop, but it should be fine. I would clarify with the seller about whether the wifi is disabled in software or if it doesn't have a wifi card at all. If you want remote assistance, network access would be beneficial.

I asked him what you mentioned above and this was his response:

It is switched off but can be turned on and connected to the internet using the left side switch.

I use it to load the updates to Windows XP when I first start everything and then turn it off as well as the firewall and of course, I don't recommend web browsing due to the lack of protection.

If you do choose to buy it, I suggest that you take a while to check out the options within the INPA program while connected to your car.

Each car offers different menu options-you can only really see what is available when plugged in to a specific vehicle. I do remember seeing an option to synchronize things similar to what you asked about when trying to get his car started and even reset the counter for starter attempts somewhere within that program. Being an old guy, 65 today, can't be specific since it was a few years ago. I love using it when working on BMW's and Mini's because it can make almost everything work, allowing me to test various items and do maintenance without wasting a lot of money on part replacement for no reason.

Good luck either way. This is my lowest priced unit that isn't cosmetically challenged. I will be offering faster units at a bit higher cost soon.

[RossBMWZseries]

****UPDATE****

I took the Z4M to a shop sometime around October of 2020. Within 12 hours, he started working on it and was able to sync the EWS module and get the car running! I've been working a lot (out of state as well) so since I got the car running for a year now, I've been driving it around the neighborhood at least once or twice a week, unplugging the negative terminal off the battery. I ran the car HARD two days ago and yesterday when I decided to go for another spirited drive, the car didn't start. It cranks just like it did before the EWS was synced. My guess is that somehow it keeps losing connection and it'll need to be programmed once again. I just need to find out why this is happening. I haven't really driven the car much for about 3 years due to these electrical gremlins. There is an unplugged wire down by the clutch pedal, which happens to be near the EWS module but I can't tell where it plugs into. I'm currently at work but will be posting a photo later.

[pokeybritches]

I would consider deleting EWS at this point.

[RossBMWZseries]

Originally Posted by pokeybritches

I would consider deleting EWS at this point.

Any disadvantages if I choose to go this route?

Perhaps the bad guys would have an easier way to steal the car