Help regarding changes to car after 3G Cellular Technology replacement

SanchoDivine · 10-06-2021, 09:59 PM

I recently took my car to the dealership for the 3G Cellular Technology replacement and there were a couple changes to my car that that I'm looking for insight on. One of the changes was that I would get a couple files when reading my ECU using BPM software. One of those files was a text file which I no longer get. This is semi concerning but not that big of a deal since the warranty was practically worthless at my BMW dealership anyway.

The other change is that my car honks twice if I lock my door when leaving the engine running which I occasionally do on purpose (e.g. after pulling car out of garage to take out the trash, etc). I understand why car manufacturers would do this as my wife's along with other cars do so but I liked my car better without the honking. My car is far from silent so the honking is unnecessary.

Anyone have insight on either of these changes?
I have an Enet OBD cable and a USB OBD flash tuning cable but I have never looked into coding due to it seeming complex. Is there a simple tool that I can use to disable just the honking for locking the doors when the engine is on? I like everything else as it and don't want to change anything else.

kubax86 · 10-07-2021, 08:14 AM

Yes, you can disable horn lock (VAM_HORN_AT_SECURE) in FEM_BODY module using E-sys.
You can also use Bimmercode to do that but I don't use that software.

horsepower_and_hounds · 10-07-2021, 04:31 PM

I was told 3G was not upgradable and the dealer would not even attempt it due to no hardware upgrades available....... WTF

Silverlining_m2 · 10-07-2021, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horsepower_and_hounds

I was told 3G was not upgradable and the dealer would not even attempt it due to no hardware upgrades available....... WTF

They probably have the first 4g setup, which still needs to be upgraded. The 3g to my knowledge can not be upgraded at all. My 2016 needs the update. My 2015 435i was not eligible

SanchoDivine · 10-08-2021, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horsepower_and_hounds

I was told 3G was not upgradable and the dealer would not even attempt it due to no hardware upgrades available....... WTF

BMW should at least make the hardware available.

arucano · 10-10-2021, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SanchoDivine

BMW should at least make the hardware available.

In speaking to BMW, I was told that there is no way to upgrade the earlier (pre 2015) system. The hardware is not available and what is being installed in the post 2015 units is not compatible in any way. I was trying to see if it would be possible to use a 4G module that is designed for micro controllers and "hook that in in some way. However I cant find sufficient information to try such an approach. Maybe there is someone out there that can dig up that info.

duglask · 10-11-2021, 06:46 PM

so, I went to Braman BMW down here in South Florida. and my car was eligible for a hardware and software update.. so what they change was the tcm which is the telematic communication module. They updated the software so the new hardware is compatible with the idrive system. what i notice now is that the car has a efficiency dynamic graph in the dash board., also, the exhaust on sport mode sounds. before it didn't sound. and also i notice the rev matching works better. anyone with same experience? by the way where i can check which software my car has, by the way my car is an m4 2016 build date was late 15s

SanchoDivine · 10-12-2021, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duglask

so, I went to Braman BMW down here in South Florida. and my car was eligible for a hardware and software update.. so what they change was the tcm which is the telematic communication module. They updated the software so the new hardware is compatible with the idrive system. what i notice now is that the car has a efficiency dynamic graph in the dash board., also, the exhaust on sport mode sounds. before it didn't sound. and also i notice the rev matching works better. anyone with same experience? by the way where i can check which software my car has, by the way my car is an m4 2016 build date was late 15s

I suspect they did do something to the ECU because, as mentioned in my original post, I no longer get the text file that I would get when doing a read on the ECU. I can't attest to the differences to drive or sound due to immediately tuning my car back to the CS tune that I have the flaps left open as well as the rev match for all modes. The definitely did coding changes for the module as well as made my horn go off when locking my car while the engine is off.

kubax86 · 10-12-2021, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SanchoDivine

I suspect they did do something to the ECU because, as mentioned in my original post, I no longer get the text file that I would get when doing a read on the ECU. I can't attest to the differences to drive or sound due to immediately tuning my car back to the CS tune that I have the flaps left open as well as the rev match for all modes. The definitely did coding changes for the module as well as made my horn go off when locking my car while the engine is off.

They reprogrammed the whole car so all settings are set to factory.

SanchoDivine · 10-12-2021, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kubax86

They reprogrammed the whole car so all settings are set to factory.

I bought my 2017 brand new so some of these changes weren't how my car came. Do you think they may have done a full I-step update?

kubax86 · 10-12-2021, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SanchoDivine

I bought my 2017 brand new so some of these changes weren't how my car came. Do you think they may have done a full I-step update?

They can only do full.

BoostinLI · 10-14-2021, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duglask

so, I went to Braman BMW down here in South Florida. and my car was eligible for a hardware and software update.. so what they change was the tcm which is the telematic communication module. They updated the software so the new hardware is compatible with the idrive system. what i notice now is that the car has a efficiency dynamic graph in the dash board., also, the exhaust on sport mode sounds. before it didn't sound. and also i notice the rev matching works better. anyone with same experience? by the way where i can check which software my car has, by the way my car is an m4 2016 build date was late 15s

I upgraded my screen to the 10.5 inch. Do they do anything physically to the screen? Just curious if they would say something or even really care considering the age.

YASBBYM3 · 11-26-2021, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arucano

In speaking to BMW, I was told that there is no way to upgrade the earlier (pre 2015) system. The hardware is not available and what is being installed in the post 2015 units is not compatible in any way. I was trying to see if it would be possible to use a 4G module that is designed for micro controllers and "hook that in in some way. However I cant find sufficient information to try such an approach. Maybe there is someone out there that can dig up that info.

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...2#post28296742

RoundelM240 · 11-26-2021, 11:29 AM

Don't know if this helps, but retrofitmybimmer.com sells EVO head units, and if that would allow updating the TCM (telematics module) to a matching unit, it could be a possible fix. As I have read here, just updating the TCM won't work with the NEXT head unit in my 5/15 M3. The aforementioned head unit is currently priced at $1400 though.

paulo_f80m3 · 11-27-2021, 09:04 AM

When you get the 4G TCM update done the I-Level gets updated to the latest and greatest from BMW. The ECU is re-locked and the car goes back to stock 100%. Any previous coding is wiped out. Just had this done.

Nonopr01 · 12-22-2021, 08:09 AM

My 2017 Was done a few month ago. It was reset to factory settings at that time.

10-06-2021, 09:59 PM	#1
SanchoDivine Captain 566 Rep 911 Posts Drives: 2017 F80 M3 Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: San Antonio iTrader: (0)	Help regarding changes to car after 3G Cellular Technology replacement I recently took my car to the dealership for the 3G Cellular Technology replacement and there were a couple changes to my car that that I'm looking for insight on. One of the changes was that I would get a couple files when reading my ECU using BPM software. One of those files was a text file which I no longer get. This is semi concerning but not that big of a deal since the warranty was practically worthless at my BMW dealership anyway. The other change is that my car honks twice if I lock my door when leaving the engine running which I occasionally do on purpose (e.g. after pulling car out of garage to take out the trash, etc). I understand why car manufacturers would do this as my wife's along with other cars do so but I liked my car better without the honking. My car is far from silent so the honking is unnecessary. Anyone have insight on either of these changes? I have an Enet OBD cable and a USB OBD flash tuning cable but I have never looked into coding due to it seeming complex. Is there a simple tool that I can use to disable just the honking for locking the doors when the engine is on? I like everything else as it and don't want to change anything else. __________________ '17 Alpine White M3, Club 6MT instagram.com/sancho_divine
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10-07-2021, 08:14 AM	#2
kubax86 BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 3271 Rep 4,745 Posts Drives: M2 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: World iTrader: (8)	Yes, you can disable horn lock (VAM_HORN_AT_SECURE) in FEM_BODY module using E-sys. You can also use Bimmercode to do that but I don't use that software. __________________ Apple CarPlay Fullscreen for NBTEVO / ENTRYNAV2 GTS FLASH F8X / CS FLASH G8X / G87 DME CS FLASH / CS Engine FLASH G8X iDrive Firmware Update + CarPlay Fullscreen / NBTEVO iDrive 4 to iDrive 6 + CarPlay Fullscreen Visit BIMMER-REMOTE.com - 10% OFF with a code BIMMERPOST info@bimmer-remote.com or PM
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10-07-2021, 04:31 PM	#3
horsepower_and_hounds Brigadier General 1876 Rep 4,203 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: USA iTrader: (9)	I was told 3G was not upgradable and the dealer would not even attempt it due to no hardware upgrades available....... WTF
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10-11-2021, 06:46 PM	#7
duglask Private First Class 8 Rep 177 Posts Drives: BMW M4 F82 2016 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Miami iTrader: (0)	i had the hardware update and software as well and some things changed so, I went to Braman BMW down here in South Florida. and my car was eligible for a hardware and software update.. so what they change was the tcm which is the telematic communication module. They updated the software so the new hardware is compatible with the idrive system. what i notice now is that the car has a efficiency dynamic graph in the dash board., also, the exhaust on sport mode sounds. before it didn't sound. and also i notice the rev matching works better. anyone with same experience? by the way where i can check which software my car has, by the way my car is an m4 2016 build date was late 15s
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11-26-2021, 11:29 AM	#14
RoundelM240 Major General 2027 Rep 7,144 Posts Drives: 23 G42 M240, 22 G01 X3 30i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clayton, NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2023 BMW M240i [0.00] 2022 BMW X3 [9.87]	Don't know if this helps, but retrofitmybimmer.com sells EVO head units, and if that would allow updating the TCM (telematics module) to a matching unit, it could be a possible fix. As I have read here, just updating the TCM won't work with the NEXT head unit in my 5/15 M3. The aforementioned head unit is currently priced at $1400 though. __________________ 2023 G42 ///M240i Coupe 8AT Portimao Blue, 2022 X3 sDrive30i 8AT Brooklyn Grey
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11-27-2021, 09:04 AM	#15
paulo_f80m3 Lieutenant 567 Rep 449 Posts Drives: 16' F80 M3 / 17' Taco Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Taxachusetts iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 Toyota Tacoma ... [0.00] 2016 BMW M3 [0.00]	When you get the 4G TCM update done the I-Level gets updated to the latest and greatest from BMW. The ECU is re-locked and the car goes back to stock 100%. Any previous coding is wiped out. Just had this done. __________________ mr.paulo.dias
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12-22-2021, 08:09 AM	#16
Nonopr01 Lieutenant 125 Rep 593 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW M3 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: San Juan, PR iTrader: (0)	My 2017 Was done a few month ago. It was reset to factory settings at that time.
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