Modules, Coding and keys

[Sailorbaz]

Morning guys,

As some may know I'm rebuilding a Z3M Roadster after an interior fire.

I have to install replacement modules (behind the glovebox) and was wondering if the Main one can be recoded to my engine and my key? I've sourced replacement modules from a salvaged Z3M with the same engine.

Item 1 in this link
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=61&fg=25

I have the others two, I think one is the wiper module, what's the other?

I have a lot of reading to do, I know.

Thanks in advance,
Barry

[Daz3]

Surely if they come uncoded they can recode them?

[BladeRunner919]

My understanding is that the ecu will work, but will need aligning with the ews (immobiliser). If you are buying all the modules from one donor, you shouldn't have a problem, but you will need the transponder chip from the ignition keys of the donor, and it should all just work without any coding. The ews can be disabled, but I believe that requires finding a specialist that can hack the ecu - as far as I know that can't be done with INPA or DIS or similar.

The other issue you'll have is that the mileage from the old car will probably be displayed on the dash, plus there's a chance that the mileage tamper dot will appear as well - the mileage is stored in the dash as well as in the ecu and when there is a discrepancy the mileage tamper dot should appear on the dash.

[Sailorbaz]

I could probably get the keys but then that would mean the door locks and boot lock also... Food for thought l. I thought I could 'teach' the new EWS the existing key details... I have found a guy from N Scotland who can remove the immobiliser part for me if need be, but of course I'd rather not.

BMW have of course said this can be done by taking it to them however, at what cost I do not want to even think about. I have INPA/Edibas/GT1 and all that stuff, just need the knowledge how to do it. As I said, more reading and research required.

Regarding the mileage, I'm hoping I can get it all correctly lined up without the tamper dot, not because I'm planning on selling it or trying to hide something, just I don't like having any kind of lights/warning signals on the dash.

What does the EWS part of it all look like? That item 1 in the previous link is the ECU right?

Cheers.

[Sailorbaz]

Maybe I'm being stupid but, is the Engine ECU in the engine bay??? And not behind the glovebox as I originally thought???

[janijoeli]

Yeah ECU is in the engine bay, in a black plastic box on right hand side near firewall. In a box that looks very much like this...

[Sailorbaz]

This is another good result.

This will have the engine details in it such a mileage, service history maybe? If I connect new clocks to this and adjust them to match the ECU, will I still get the 'tamper' dot?

Cheers,
Barry

[BladeRunner919]

I could probably get the keys but then that would mean the door locks and boot lock also

You wouldn't need the locks - what you actually need are the transponder chips from inside the keys to transplant into your own keys.

[Robert T]

To my knowledge you can't program the EWS to recognise foreign keys. As I understand it, it recognises about 8 codes. 4 of these are for the keys that come with the car. The remainder have to come from BMW. You could buy new keys, but that would be expensive. Far cheaper to cannibalise the keys from the donor car for their chips and fit them to your own keys, keeping the blades in tact, so no need for new locks or ignition barrel.

Cheers R.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

[Sailorbaz]

Thanks for that mate, that's very good info.

Not so good news for me though, not sure the guy who has the donor car will be keen on letting me have a key without taking the locks. Maybe a better idea to get the immobiliser part of the EWS removed after all.

So if you need a new EWS, you need to buy keys, door locks, boot lock and ignition barrel all together? Got you.

[Sailorbaz]

DME... ECU...EWS... Starting to drive me a bit mental, lol

I'm trying to get my head round this, which is very difficult in the South Atlantic with no car to look at, other than photos.

ECU - Mine is in the Engine bay right?
DME - Same as ECU? If not, where is it?
EWS - I have the little white module with EWS written on it but from what I understand is this is like an amplifier type thing to boost the signal from the key before sending it to the DME... Or is the horse poo?

The alarm part of the whole thing? Is that different again? I'm not worried about that right now, just want the car running.

Google is getting a bit of a beasting right now, lol

Thanks guys,
Barry

[BladeRunner919]

DME = ECU
EWS is the immobiliser - coded to the key and the DME. The EWS looks for a signal from the transponder in the key and tells the DME that it can run the car.
Alarm systems (which include the remote central locking) are separate and you can worry about that later.

[Sailorbaz]

Thanks for the reply mate, I've managed to find some photos I've taken previously and can see that my ECU/DME should be intact since the plastic box looks perfect.

The small EWS box, the white one - what's its function? Is this the immobiliser part? This is the only part of the circuit it would appear that needs replacing.

[BladeRunner919]

Yes, the EWS is the immobiliser. If you replace it you will need to align it to the DME using INPA or DIS.

[Sailorbaz]

Yes, the EWS is the immobiliser. If you replace it you will need to align it to the DME using INPA or DIS.

This sounds promising. I have both program's, just need to work out how to use them to align the EWS to the DME.

Wish I'd brought that laptop away with me now to have a play.

Never mind,
Cheers.

[Sailorbaz]

Pardon my ignorance but, does this part http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E36-Z3-RO ... 3a8e114179 sit in the engine bay, drivers side in the black box?

Very frustrating not being able to just go and look for myself,

Cheers,
Barry