Forgot to flash back to stock-Now dealer says I need a new DME

[Landjet]

So,
Like a complete dumbass, I forgot to flash back to stock (from stage 1 BM3) before taking my car in for service. Got a call from SA saying that while attempting to troubleshoot/repair the bluetooth issue I reported, the DME failed and must be replaced ($4,000 for parts & labor). They will not cover it because they found the car to have a tune. I know I'm screwed and will have to pay it, but how the hell do they brick the DME troubleshooting a bluetooth problem??? I've asked them this question and the response is basically "It just failed because the tune was on there and the techs didn't know about it"...does this sound plausible?

[rocklobsta1109]

This sounds super fishy, I don't know why they'd be flashing DME for a blue tooth issue in the first place. Did they give you any info around the circumstances that caused the failure? What were they trying to flash when it happened, ISTEP update, HU update etc?

[NickyC]

Good grief, contact the tuner I guess? Worst thing is you've no doubt blown any warranty work related to the motor in the future.

Good luck!

[Landjet]

They've provided little info other than "it's dead" and "you have a tune so BMW won't cover replacement." Obviously, I'm in no position to argue since they have me dead to rights on the tune, but I thought it was fishy too. I'm going to ask for the dead unit to see if it can be repaired. I just got the feeling they weren't trying hard to fix it. I'm going by there after work today. Hope to get a better explanation.

[BzsBimmer]

Id reach out to BPM. Maybe not totally bricked. Worst case, buy new DME and have it recoded for a lot less than $4k I’d think.

[Landjet]

At this point, my primary concern is the warranty voided going forward. This is definitely a lesson learned the hard way..

[LOW4LYF]

Easy...the dealer did a full I Step update DME includet on your car. First thing every dealer does for trouble shooting.

[BzsBimmer]

So if you play their game and buy a new DME, warranty should no longer be voided.

I remember another poster stating that in order to get their warranty reinstated, they had to put things back to stock. Ymmv

[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by BzsBimmer

So if you play their game and buy a new DME, warranty should no longer be voided.

I remember another poster stating that in order to get their warranty reinstated, they had to put things back to stock. Ymmv

Voided is voided ... once flagged it is there forever.

[BzsBimmer]

Hmmm. Well I’m too lazy to look it up but seems can’t trust everything you read or what a dealer tells you anyway.

[Landjet]

Originally Posted by LOW4LYF

Easy...the dealer did a full I Step update DME includet on your car. First thing every dealer does for trouble shooting.

So, this bricked the DME because the BM3 tune was still there? I didn't realize this could happen so easily. I've read plenty of discussions about people doing the same thing (taking car in for service with tune still applied) and the only concern was that the dealership found the tune. I guess I just got unlucky, which is par for the course for me.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by Landjet

So,
Like a complete dumbass, I forgot to flash back to stock (from stage 1 BM3) before taking my car in for service. Got a call from SA saying that while attempting to troubleshoot/repair the bluetooth issue I reported, the DME failed and must be replaced ($4,000 for parts & labor). They will not cover it because they found the car to have a tune. I know I'm screwed and will have to pay it, but how the hell do they brick the DME troubleshooting a bluetooth problem??? I've asked them this question and the response is basically "It just failed because the tune was on there and the techs didn't know about it"...does this sound plausible?

No, tune can be safely overwritten by an i-step update.

However, it was discovered, which doesn't normally happen unless looking for it.

[Poochie]

I'm no boyscout, I do what I got to do, if you know what I mean..

But once you break that seal and flash tune your vehicle, you have to accept that the factory warrant is more than likely voided. The Bosch EPROM is build with a permanent memory to indicate each time the software changes, it's not that difficult to detect, even if you revert back to "stock."

Even the old dude that engineered the new Supra says that they set the motor to be able to flash tuned, for more power but you must accept they can't cover you under their stock powertrain warrant, once you make that leap.. Fair enough

[Fuel-It!]

It doesn't seem right that they broke it and now they are asking you to pay for the repairs. It ran when you dropped it off. They just need to figure out how to properly flash it now to repair it.

[TR930]

Originally Posted by Landjet

So,
Like a complete dumbass, I forgot to flash back to stock (from stage 1 BM3) before taking my car in for service. Got a call from SA saying that while attempting to troubleshoot/repair the bluetooth issue I reported, the DME failed and must be replaced ($4,000 for parts & labor). They will not cover it because they found the car to have a tune. I know I'm screwed and will have to pay it, but how the hell do they brick the DME troubleshooting a bluetooth problem??? I've asked them this question and the response is basically "It just failed because the tune was on there and the techs didn't know about it"...does this sound plausible?

What year is your car?

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by Fuel-It!

It doesn't seem right that they broke it and now they are asking you to pay for the repairs. It ran when you dropped it off. They just need to figure out how to properly flash it now to repair it.

I don't believe his vehicle is "broken" but the new updated software is just not taking. When he gets the car back, a simple reset would probably kickstart everything again.

One thing is for certain, they now verified he tuned his car, so that would come up if he ever has any large engine claim in the future.

[FriedPiston]

The DME can either be bricked or not bricked, there is no in between, like what people mistakenly refer to as soft bricked. A bricked DME will offer zero communication, such as, not being able to get a VIN read out. It sounds like the dealer just need to perform a full software update, which is something they're not willing to do for free. Time is money with any shop.

FYI, cars are now being flagged at the dealership level for software version mismatch. They'll also verify flash count when such situation arises, which at this point, they won't bother opening a PUMA case with BMWNA.

[LOW4LYF]

What do you mean by software version mismatch?

[Gtracer]

Originally Posted by LOW4LYF

Easy...the dealer did a full I Step update DME includet on your car. First thing every dealer does for trouble shooting.

If the DME is relocked, can Bmw do updates to it unhindered?

[MisterF80M3]

Originally Posted by Fuel-It!

It doesn't seem right that they broke it and now they are asking you to pay for the repairs. It ran when you dropped it off. They just need to figure out how to properly flash it now to repair it.

+1. It seems like an easy small claims lawsuit IMO.

[FriedPiston]

Originally Posted by LOW4LYF

What do you mean by software version mismatch?

When the SWFL version that came from the factory no longer matches the version that's currently on the car... even after "flashing back to stock"

[BPMSport]

We can fix it no problem.