[Slidewayz]

How does BMW distribute their ECU flashes?

Is it possible/legal for anyone other than a BMW dealer to get them?

I don't know what kind of specialized equipment is needed to flash the ECU...whether something like the Cobb Accessport could be used or if they have some tricky proprietary stuff that forces you to own a $100k machine to do the flash.

[dmurray14]

It used to be done using the GT1 and progman software. It was just part of the package they'd get, the progman would flash all the modules with whatever version it was. Originally it was a component of DIS but then split off to its own thing. Now it's all done with the ISIS system using ISTA/P. And yeah, it's an 100k machine (if not more)

[Slidewayz]

Originally Posted by dmurray14

It used to be done using the GT1 and progman software. It was just part of the package they'd get, the progman would flash all the modules with whatever version it was. Originally it was a component of DIS but then split off to its own thing. Now it's all done with the ISIS system using ISTA/P. And yeah, it's an 100k machine (if not more)

Do you have links explaining the ISIS system and/or ISTA/P. There are a few vendors offering tunes by ECU reprogramming, so they've at least got the protocol & comms. worked out.

If we could legally get the actual BMW update files and correctly update the ECU ourselves, then all the modders would be very happy indeed.

[dmurray14]

Originally Posted by Slidewayz

Do you have links explaining the ISIS system and/or ISTA/P. There are a few vendors offering tunes by ECU reprogramming, so they've at least got the protocol & comms. worked out.

If we could legally get the actual BMW update files and correctly update the ECU ourselves, then all the modders would be very happy indeed.

I don't, sorry. But as I recall Duram of Bavarian Technic has already got the dumping and loading figured out, with his $400 tool. So I'd say we're well on the way....

[Slidewayz]

Maybe someone here will chime in on how we can get our mitts on the official factory flashes.

[dmurray14]

Originally Posted by Slidewayz

Maybe someone here will chime in on how we can get our mitts on the official factory flashes.

It's not incredibly hard. They're floating around the internet. But at the very least you need a GT1 image and DK (diagnostic head). The heads run about $2500 for a chinese clone, and you probably don't want to be flashing your car with something like that.