Spare ECU's for TRUE DEALER Invisibility

joec500 · 01-19-2009, 04:21 PM

To all the Tuning pros out there...I assume on the E92 N54, any ECU from any car are interchangeable?

I know on my Audi's various years/options had difference ECU's

The reason I ask is I was thinking of buying a spare ECU from a salvage yard, and run that and if I needed major engine service, I would just swap out the entire ecu?

Thoughts?

I have seen ECU's from totalled 335's from anywhere from 150 - 550 dollars...

Cheap insurance if you ask me.

P.S. please spare me the "dishonest dealer fraud" comments.

leon · 01-19-2009, 04:22 PM

what about all the info for like maint etc? won't they know something is wrong

joec500 · 01-19-2009, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leon

what about all the info for like maint etc? won't they know something is wrong

Hmmm something to think about...since the data will not match...I guess they could suspect, but it would be tougher to prove as it wouldn't throw any "tune detection" codes

SfValley335i · 01-19-2009, 04:26 PM

No ECU is tied into everything... Even into the gauge cluster and the mileage of the car....

if the ECU and gauge cluster shows a different mileage then it'll give off a code/light.

joec500 · 01-19-2009, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SfValley335i

No ECU is tied into everything... Even into the gauge cluster and the mileage of the car....

if the ECU and gauge cluster shows a different mileage then it'll give off a code/light.

ahh...interesting, I wonder how Shiv was able to install an MSD81 into his car...perhaps he had a connection to re-code it somehow?

OpenFlash · 01-19-2009, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joec500

ahh...interesting, I wonder how Shiv was able to install an MSD81 into his car...perhaps he had a connection to re-code it somehow?

Yeah.. i had to do a little hand shaking

Shiv

joec500 · 01-19-2009, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shiv@vishnu

Yeah.. i had to do a little hand shaking

Shiv

HA...ok...scratch that idea...I was hoping that information was stored in the actual speedo, like in older cars.

roadkillrob · 01-19-2009, 05:45 PM

Great idea but you will need a BMW GT computer to go with it to recode the ECU to the rest of the car, oh and it tells BMW what is going on too!

1clean335i · 01-19-2009, 06:03 PM

Yea, if only it were as simple as swapping ecu's like on Honda's/Toyota's... Everything is VIN specific nowadays

sd390r · 01-19-2009, 06:23 PM

wish i could swap to pre29.2

Mike@N54Tuning.com · 01-19-2009, 08:47 PM

When I had my gauge swapped, as I imported my 335i to Canada, they had to re-program the whole car which took about 4 hours.

Mike

Will@WSTO · 01-20-2009, 03:37 PM

Hay guys its Will from WheelSTO! I used to be a BMW tech and let me tell you guys first hand, no can do lol. When you swap a DME there is a lot of programing, encoding, and recoding done. Even if you have someone on the inside, every time you need a major service it would be a big process, not to mention control modules can only be re-programed a certain amount of times! Hope I was some help!

-Will-

Jason4486 · 01-21-2009, 10:58 AM

You have other options. I bought an sstt, and for "insurance" purposes, bought an extra Tmap sensor to replace the original because it broke. Every time I want to go in for service it takes my no more than 5 minutes to unscrew the old tmap, put the new one in, and hook up the turbo tuner. The ease of this process is not comparable to any other tune. However, I am excited to see what JB+ can do.

Morpheus · 01-21-2009, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason4486

You have other options. I bought an sstt, and for "insurance" purposes, bought an extra Tmap sensor to replace the original because it broke. Every time I want to go in for service it takes my no more than 5 minutes to unscrew the old tmap, put the new one in, and hook up the turbo tuner. The ease of this process is not comparable to any other tune. However, I am excited to see what JB+ can do.

Swapping a tmap sensor preserves diagnostic invisibility? What am I missing?

Jason4486 · 01-22-2009, 12:26 AM

I was implying that going through the ecu is not the only way to tune his car.

01-19-2009, 04:21 PM	#1
joec500 Brigadier General 125 Rep 3,004 Posts Drives: it has 4 wheels Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (10)	Spare ECU's for TRUE DEALER Invisibility To all the Tuning pros out there...I assume on the E92 N54, any ECU from any car are interchangeable? I know on my Audi's various years/options had difference ECU's The reason I ask is I was thinking of buying a spare ECU from a salvage yard, and run that and if I needed major engine service, I would just swap out the entire ecu? Thoughts? I have seen ECU's from totalled 335's from anywhere from 150 - 550 dollars... Cheap insurance if you ask me. P.S. please spare me the "dishonest dealer fraud" comments.
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01-19-2009, 04:22 PM	#2
leon Private 7 Rep 97 Posts Drives: random Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Arlington,Va iTrader: (0)	what about all the info for like maint etc? won't they know something is wrong
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01-19-2009, 04:26 PM	#4
SfValley335i Colonel 164 Rep 2,409 Posts Drives: Current:135i Sold:335i sedan Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: City of Angels iTrader: (8)	No ECU is tied into everything... Even into the gauge cluster and the mileage of the car.... if the ECU and gauge cluster shows a different mileage then it'll give off a code/light.
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01-19-2009, 05:45 PM	#8
roadkillrob Major General 866 Rep 5,452 Posts Drives: 08 335i,22 X3M, 2012 C63 Black Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Boston iTrader: (15)	Great idea but you will need a BMW GT computer to go with it to recode the ECU to the rest of the car, oh and it tells BMW what is going on too! __________________ 2022 X3M Brooklyn Grey 2008 E93 335i FBO 2012 Mercedes C63 Black Series Alanite Grey
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01-19-2009, 06:03 PM	#9
1clean335i Perf BMW mag issue 147, 159 414 Rep 6,803 Posts Drives: Project Estoril Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (31) Garage List 2013 335i M-sport [0.00] 2011 X5 xdrive35i M ... [0.00] 2009 335i M-sport [0.00] 07' 335i Sedan [0.00]	Yea, if only it were as simple as swapping ecu's like on Honda's/Toyota's... Everything is VIN specific nowadays __________________ '13 Estoril Blue 335i M-sport *Don't PM me!* Message me here- http://www.facebook.com/ProjectEstoril
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01-19-2009, 06:23 PM	#10
sd390r Lieutenant Colonel 61 Rep 1,654 Posts Drives: AW M3 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: North Jersey iTrader: (9) Garage List 2008 E90 335i [0.00]	wish i could swap to pre29.2
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01-19-2009, 08:47 PM	#11
Mike@N54Tuning.com Joint Chiefs of Staff 4920 Rep 115,999 Posts Drives: 2007 335i, 2015 M3 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: N54tuning.com iTrader: (89)	When I had my gauge swapped, as I imported my 335i to Canada, they had to re-program the whole car which took about 4 hours. Mike
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01-20-2009, 03:37 PM	#12
Will@WSTO Private 0 Rep 81 Posts Drives: 135I Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Evanston iTrader: (0)	Hay guys its Will from WheelSTO! I used to be a BMW tech and let me tell you guys first hand, no can do lol. When you swap a DME there is a lot of programing, encoding, and recoding done. Even if you have someone on the inside, every time you need a major service it would be a big process, not to mention control modules can only be re-programed a certain amount of times! Hope I was some help! -Will-
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01-21-2009, 10:58 AM	#13
Jason4486 First Lieutenant 37 Rep 390 Posts Drives: 2011 335i M-Sport Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Miami, Fl iTrader: (1)	You have other options. I bought an sstt, and for "insurance" purposes, bought an extra Tmap sensor to replace the original because it broke. Every time I want to go in for service it takes my no more than 5 minutes to unscrew the old tmap, put the new one in, and hook up the turbo tuner. The ease of this process is not comparable to any other tune. However, I am excited to see what JB+ can do.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-22-2009, 12:26 AM	#15
Jason4486 First Lieutenant 37 Rep 390 Posts Drives: 2011 335i M-Sport Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Miami, Fl iTrader: (1)	I was implying that going through the ecu is not the only way to tune his car.
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