Bootmod3 BM3 tune install issues. Anyone else?

[DMW2315]

Any of you guys with the BM3 tune having or had issues uploading the tune to the car? My first problem I ran in to was the license key wasn't being recognized by the BootMod/ProTuningFreaks to match with my VIN. They had to remote connect to my laptop, doing a bunch of coding in the BM3 program just so it could recognize.

Now I am trying to upload the tune and it keeps failing and putting my M4's DME in sleep mode where I can't start the car. They keep trying to remote in to see the issue but can't figure it out.

I am getting restless and annoyed. This car is brand new and I have spent more time on live chat with ProTuningFreaks than I actually have driven the car itself.

Serge and Viktor of ProTuningFreaks have been fantastic with their customer support and I applaud them for helping me but this needs to be straightened out.

Can anyone chime in if you had a problem? I just want this to be resolved so I can enjoy the tune in my M4 and be happy like everyone else...

[Justin.AutoTalent]

Are you following the proper procedures to flash?

- Seat Belt in
- Climate Control Off
- Head Lights Off/ @ 12 O'Clock Position
- Cycle Ignition ON 3x

Battery tender connected?

[DMW2315]

Originally Posted by Justin.AutoTalent

Are you following the proper procedures to flash?

- Seat Belt in
- Climate Control Off
- Head Lights Off/ @ 12 O'Clock Position
- Cycle Ignition ON 3x

Battery tender connected?

Yes to all 5, unfortunately.

[Justin.AutoTalent]

Originally Posted by DMW2315

Yes to all 4, unfortunately.

Downloaded the map (2nd option) and forced flash? (4th option)

[Catania830]

Originally Posted by Justin.AutoTalent

Downloaded the map (2nd option) and forced flash? (4th option)

I am also helping with this endeavor. We've tried everything under the sun. First, we tried a power house upgraded MacBook Pro with all firewall and VPN's turned off. Nada. Then we tried a Dell laptop with all firewall off on a different network! No dice. I've used the same MacBook and same exact OBD II cable on my current F83 and it worked fine. It gets to 0% then immediately fails with a "Connection issue, please make sure all firewalls are turned off" We are up to the point where BootMod3 is trying to download Esys and manually code the vehicle. We pick back up tomorrow 8AM. The car was bricked twice and had to be recoded. It wouldn't even start! (thank god its 6MT) Really frustrating on BootMod3's end. Even though the installation went flawlessly on many vehicles including my own, after this I almost regret referring them to so many people chanting how great it is. I will say their customer service has been phenomenal. Shoutout to Viktor and Serge. I would still want to see some sort of indemnify for this, if we didn't have a way to unbrick the car or have daily drivers we would be f*cked! Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

[FriedPiston]

Had a buddy who tried his hardest flashing his car with MHD for over two weeks. He tried two well proven K+DCAN cables, and I kept providing him remote support through text, but with no luck. Then finally, I told him to bring his car over for a closer look.

From there, it literally took me 30 seconds to figure out the root cause of the issue, which turned out to be a physical blocker, meaning it's not something remote support would be able to identify -- they're simply taking the customer's word at face value.

Have you guys ever considered taking the car to a BM3 authorized shop for professional diagnosis?

[DMW2315]

Originally Posted by nars3000

Had a buddy who tried his hardest flashing his car with MHD for over two weeks. He tried two well proven K+DCAN cables, and I kept providing him remote support through text, but with no luck. Then finally, I told him to bring his car over for a closer look.

From there, it literally took me 30 seconds to figure out the root cause of the issue, which turned out to be a physical blocker, meaning it's not something remote support would be able to identify -- they're simply taking the customer's word at face value.

Have you guys ever considered taking the car to a BM3 authorized shop for professional diagnosis?

Where was this physical blocker that you found? ProTuningFreaks asked me if there was a "controller" on my car that would be blocking the tune from installing.

Car was literally just inspected by a BMW technician just now. He took down the panel by the OBD port to check if there was a device or box or whatever and he did not find anything at all.

[FriedPiston]

Originally Posted by DMW2315

Where was this physical blocker that you found? ProTuneFreaks asked me if there was a "controller" on my car that would be blocking the tune from installing.

Car was literally just inspected by a BMW technician just now. He took down the panel by the OBD port to check if there was a device or box or whatever and he did not find anything at all.

My buddy had one of the original JB4 OBD cable, which had a pass through port to allow a diagnostics reader to plug in without having to remove the JB4 OBD cable itself. He was connecting the K+DCAN cable to the pass through, which interfered with MHD -> DME communication.

Assuming that you have no AWRON gauge or piggyback unit installed. Can you answer the following questions that may help resolve this issue:

1. How many ENET cables have you tried? Which brand(s)?

2. When you plug the ENET cable in to the OBD port, are you able to freely remove the ENET cable without force, or do you have to use a pick or flat head to dislodge?

>> If NO, try inserting the ENET cable all the way up.

>> IF YES, you're plugging it in correctly.

3. Are you using a USB RJ45 network adapter? Which brand?

4. In BM3, are you able to do a DTC readout without errors?

>> If NO, your cable isn't able to establish basic communication with the DME.

[tom @ eas]

Can you see your VIN on the agent window? This will determine whether or not you're communicating with the vehicle during that session.

Exhaust valve controller installed at all or any other devices that use CAN?

[DMW2315]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

Can you see your VIN on the agent window? This will determine whether or not you're communicating with the vehicle during that session.

Exhaust valve controller installed at all or any other devices that use CAN?

Thanks Tom for chiming in.

Yes, we can see the VIN on the agent window. We couldn't at first until ProTuneFreaks remote connected to our laptop and did some coding for the license key and the VIN to accept. That was the first issue we had. The agent and the car are communicating now but the tune uploads still fail despite following all the proper procedures (i.e. - Seat Belt in, Climate Control Off, Head Lights Off/ @ 12 O'Clock Position, Cycle Ignition ON 3x and Battery charger connected).

Nothing was installed on the car. It is a BRAND new car with 40 miles on it. The ONLY thing that I touched was that I unplugged the switch that control the stock exhaust muffler valves so they stay open for good, which ProTuningFreaks said would not cause the tune to fail upload.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by DMW2315

Yes, we can see the VIN on the agent window. The agent and the car are communicating.

Nothing was installed on the car. It is a BRAND new car with 40 miles on it. The ONLY thing that I touched was that I unplugged the switch that control the stock exhaust muffler valves so they stay open for good.

That's good - it means you have communication. What percentage does the agent get to before failing? Is it consistent each time?

[Catania830]

Originally Posted by nars3000

My buddy had one of the original JB4 OBD cable, which had a pass through port to allow a diagnostics reader to plug in without having to remove the JB4 OBD cable itself. He was connecting the K+DCAN cable to the pass through, which interfered with MHD -> DME communication.

Assuming that you have no AWRON gauge or piggyback unit installed. Can you answer the following questions that may help resolve this issue:

1. How many ENET cables have you tried? Which brand(s)?

2. When you plug the ENET cable in to the OBD port, are you able to freely remove the ENET cable without force, or do you have to use a pick or flat head to dislodge?

>> If NO, try inserting the ENET cable all the way up.

>> IF YES, you're plugging it in correctly.

3. Are you using a USB RJ45 network adapter? Which brand?

4. In BM3, are you able to do a DTC readout without errors?

>> If NO, your cable isn't able to establish basic communication with the DME.

1. I've tried 1 Ethernet cable. The same one I've used countless times in the past. Not a brand name one. I've been coding vehicles before the PSdZData was trimmed. Its not the cable.

2. Again, its not the cable. But just for your satisfaction, yes. The ODB II needs a surgeon to surgically remove my cable from the port.

3. No, I am using an Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter.

4. Yes.

To my diagnosis, its not my computer nor the cable. I will program my functioning F83 tonight with the 8.7 BM3 Stage 2 AGG update to prove that my equipment is FINE. Currently my car is on 8.5.

[DMW2315]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

That's good - it means you have communication. What percentage does the agent get to before failing? Is it consistent each time?

0% and does not advance any further. Consistent EVERY time. 0% and fails, which leaves my DME bricked and I cannot start the car.

[Catania830]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

That's good - it means you have communication. What percentage does the agent get to before failing? Is it consistent each time?

0%. Almost if the car recognizes its about to get hijacked and implements a failsafe.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by DMW2315

0% and does not advance any further. Consistent EVERY time. 0% and fails, which leaves my DME bricked and I cannot start the car.

Something is locking up CAN. Any other devices installed in the car?

[DMW2315]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

Something is locking up CAN. Any other devices installed in the car?

Literally nothing installed or modified.

Just the aforementioned unplugged exhaust valves to be open and window tint lol

[FriedPiston]

Originally Posted by Catania830

1. I've tried 1 Ethernet cable. The same one I've used countless times in the past. Not a brand name one. I've been coding vehicles before the PSdZData was trimmed. Its not the cable.

To my diagnosis, its not my computer nor the cable. I will program my functioning F83 tonight with the 8.7 BM3 Stage 2 AGG update to prove that my equipment is FINE. Currently my car is on 8.5.

Just something to think about... does ISTA/P touch the DME bootloader, and does it communicate to the DME using Flex Ray like BM3 does?

I'm no coder or e-tuner, and I did not stay at Holiday Inn last night, but I believe the elemental process of coding is simply replacing FEM values.

With that said, would it be totally unrealistic for a fully working ENET cable (used primarily for coding) to have issues when dealing with a full DME flash?

------

Edit: Misread your response. Disregard since you're able to use the same cable with BM3 on your car.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by DMW2315

Literally nothing installed or modified.

Just the aforementioned unplugged exhaust valves to be open and window tint lol

Disable any firewalls or antivirus software temporarily. Try disconnecting both battery cables (10mm wrench)for about ~15min, reconnect and try flashing again. If this doesn't work, the OBD2 does have a fuse located within the FEM_BODY module - it's a bit tricky to get to.

If you have a multimeter, check pins 4 & 16 on the OBD2 port (ignition on) to see if you have +12V.

[Catania830]

Originally Posted by nars3000

Just something to think about... does ISTA/P touch the DME bootloader, and does it communicate to the DME using Flex Ray like BM3 does?

I'm no coder or e-tuner, and I did not stay at Holiday Inn last night, but I believe the elemental process of coding is simply replacing FEM values.

With that said, would it be totally unrealistic for a fully working ENET cable (used primarily for coding) to have issues when dealing with a full DME flash?

------

Edit: Misread your response. Disregard since you're able to use the same cable with BM3 on your car.

Originally Posted by nars3000

Just something to think about... does ISTA/P touch the DME bootloader, and does it communicate to the DME using Flex Ray like BM3 does?

I'm no coder or e-tuner, and I did not stay at Holiday Inn last night, but I believe the elemental process of coding is simply replacing FEM values.

With that said, would it be totally unrealistic for a fully working ENET cable (used primarily for coding) to have issues when dealing with a full DME flash?

------

Edit: Misread your response. Disregard since you're able to use the same cable with BM3 on your car.

PSA: just updated my car from 8.5 to 8.7 and GOD DOES SHE SOUND INCREDIBLE!! Restored all my faith in bootmod3. I have faith!

[FriedPiston]

Rule of thumb for technical troubleshooting is usually:

Single issue = check client side
Two or more = check server/host/software

I was thinking maybe the BM3 Java applet is somehow getting mixed up with the existing app data stored on the macOS. However, PTF designed the BM3 agent not to lock in on a single VIN -- nonetheless, it may still be worthwhile to navigate to /Applications/Bootmod3 or BM3 -> View Contents, and see what kind of data is sitting around in there.

Are you guys able to paste a screenshot of the verbose log from the BM3 agent at the point where it fails to initialize DME write? Does it mention anything about data mismatch? Or does it not return any exceptions at all?

[melvyn]

Could it possibly be the battery charger, on full boost ,just looking for out of the ordinary things,is your car door shut whislt doing install.Maybe try a different laptop.

Chin up, you will get it sorted.

[DMW2315]

Quick update. ProTuningFreaks had one of their engineers from Denmark remote login to our laptop to try and finally get this resolved. No luck. Tune failed and bricked the DME again but fortunately he was able to reset the DME where I could start the car and drive home.

Conclusion from the engineer: From poking around at all the data in my car and all the tickets that were open on their end, my car came with the LATEST DME software from the factory that ProTuningFreaks has yet to crack. Therefor, my car is non-tunable until they get their top engineer/programmer back from vacation to get this resolved.

So the bad news is that I still have no tune. The good news is that the engineer said they are confident that the top engineer/programmer will solve this within a few weeks as they NEED to in order to obviously keep selling the BM3 tune to the public.

Again - Serge, Viktor and Halim at ProTuningFreaks have been great with the communication and very apologetic and I appreciate that. I have faith they'll get this sorted for me...