Anyone running a flex-fuel system?

MikeeM3 · 05-27-2018, 03:22 PM

Since access to e85 isnt really easy in my area, i was wondering if some of you have installed a flex-fuel system that would allow your tune to adjust with the amount of e85 you have in your tank mixed with pump gas...

I like to drive a lot and travel with my car and running 100% e85 wouldnt be the best solution possible so im curious to see if a flex-fuel would be a good idea !!

domino_z · 05-27-2018, 06:52 PM

A true flex solution isnt available on this platform yet

Im hoping that with the m2c, the demand will finally be there for tuners to tweak their existing e-series flex solution to suit the f-series cars

MikeeM3 · 05-27-2018, 06:58 PM

found this on google and thought it would have maybe be the solution...

http://www.fuel-it.com/s55-f-series-flex-fuel-kits/

BMWcurious · 05-27-2018, 07:53 PM

I have the S55 DME code ready and partly tested. The firmware for the ethanol content analyzer is developing well. It would be released already except F series needs different ethanol content input method that required new hardware.

torn08 · 05-28-2018, 05:12 PM

Awesome!

///Mobbin · 05-31-2018, 12:03 PM

Anxious to see this happen.

prodigymb · 06-06-2018, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWcurious

I have the S55 DME code ready and partly tested. The firmware for the ethanol content analyzer is developing well. It would be released already except F series needs different ethanol content input method that required new hardware.

interesting news. what tuning platform are you using for DME tuning?

BMWcurious · 06-06-2018, 01:22 PM

MHD.

The DME work is finished subject to in car testing (works on bench), but the same build process runs well on earlier DMEs and so far every time something works on the bench it has worked in the car. I do many months of testing.

The OBD flex fuel device works in prototype form, the prototype circuit boards are made and need soldering and testing.

I am writing the OBD device firmware now to handle flashing, logging and realtime tuning. I already have the realtime tuning working on BMW and Audi in car but using third party J2534 cables.

Whilst the flex fuel device has an OBD plug it does not have to be plugged into OBD but could be mounted elsewhere if desired, with wireless comms.

The device has more inputs/outputs to use available pins and as far as I know this is the first time the aftermarket has used CAN bus for extra inputs/outputs which makes it highly expandable.

prodigymb · 06-08-2018, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWcurious

MHD.

The DME work is finished subject to in car testing (works on bench), but the same build process runs well on earlier DMEs and so far every time something works on the bench it has worked in the car. I do many months of testing.

The OBD flex fuel device works in prototype form, the prototype circuit boards are made and need soldering and testing.

I am writing the OBD device firmware now to handle flashing, logging and realtime tuning. I already have the realtime tuning working on BMW and Audi in car but using third party J2534 cables.

Whilst the flex fuel device has an OBD plug it does not have to be plugged into OBD but could be mounted elsewhere if desired, with wireless comms.

The device has more inputs/outputs to use available pins and as far as I know this is the first time the aftermarket has used CAN bus for extra inputs/outputs which makes it highly expandable.

so if i'm understanding correctly you will feed the Ethanol content information to the ECU via CAN using the OBD port?

BMWcurious · 06-08-2018, 08:56 AM

Yes.

It could connect to PT CAN directly by being wired in and hidden away, but putting it in an OBD plug gives the device flexibility to be used as an OBD interface and means that the connection to the ethanol content sensor itself need only be one wire routed from the sensor to the back of the OBD socket. I hope it will turn out to be easy and elegant in use.

The original approach as per earlier BMWs was to use the DMTL analog pin, but that pin doesn't behave the same on later DMEs (in hardware or software) and there is a shortage of alternative analog pins that could be used across all models. I also didn't want to remove emissions equipment and require a pin to be added to a difficult to access DME plug for Euro models that don't have DMTL. Going in through CAN solves all these problems and leaves room for future ideas across many platforms too, so despite the extra development time it will be a good decision in the long run.

An ethanol content device is needed anyway, since on S55 the factory direct input for the ethanol content sensor that would be used in Brazil is occupied by the second MAF sensor. Even a JB4 I believe has a separate ethanol content device rather than reading the sensor directly, although the fewer devices the better.

As far as I know, most/every aftermarket flex fuel solution for OEM ECUs always has a frequency to voltage converter between the ethanol content sensor and a (hopefully) spare analog input to the ECU. Pulse trains are much more difficult to get into a reverse engineered OEM ECU directly as you usually get into some very low level OS code and cannot just deal with the hardware directly according to the chip's hardware manual.

remixaflip · 02-14-2019, 11:55 AM

Any updates on this progress? I'm really interested on a dynamic tune that adjusts given the type of fuel used.

MR8TED · 05-21-2021, 09:50 PM

Question for anybody that can help. I bought the Zeintronix flex fuel reader. Of course the OEM fuel lines are not fitting over it. What are you guys doing to connect the sensor with stock fuel lines?

Any adapters? Have to cut lines?

SEND HELP lol

MJ6 · 05-21-2021, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MR8TED

Question for anybody that can help. I bought the Zeintronix flex fuel reader. Of course the OEM fuel lines are not fitting over it. What are you guys doing to connect the sensor with stock fuel lines?

Any adapters? Have to cut lines?

SEND HELP lol

Check out Bend Calibration for an all in one solution.

https://www.bendcalibration.com/shop/bmw-f8x-flex-fuel

FriedPiston · 05-21-2021, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MR8TED

Question for anybody that can help. I bought the Zeintronix flex fuel reader. Of course the OEM fuel lines are not fitting over it. What are you guys doing to connect the sensor with stock fuel lines?

Any adapters? Have to cut lines?

SEND HELP lol

You'll need to measure the stock fuel line ID and OD, then match them with the correct size fittings (AN or ORB). You can also pick up a pre-made set from Bend Calibration if you want to make things easy: https://www.bendcalibration.com/shop...-flex-fuel-kit

BoostinLI · 05-22-2021, 12:08 AM

I would wait! Bm3 is developing an easier solution.

chewbakam4 · 05-22-2021, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cesarlcase

I would wait! Bm3 is developing an easier solution.

Its already out since March or so

e46m3to335i · 05-22-2021, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewbakam4

Quote:

Originally Posted by cesarlcase

I would wait! Bm3 is developing an easier solution.

Its already out since March or so

Got a link of said BM3 easier solution?

jpy1980 · 05-22-2021, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e46m3to335i

Got a link of said BM3 easier solution?

+1

05-27-2018, 03:22 PM	#1
MikeeM3 Lieutenant Colonel 222 Rep 1,632 Posts Drives: 600whp M4 Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (0)	Anyone running a flex-fuel system? Since access to e85 isnt really easy in my area, i was wondering if some of you have installed a flex-fuel system that would allow your tune to adjust with the amount of e85 you have in your tank mixed with pump gas... I like to drive a lot and travel with my car and running 100% e85 wouldnt be the best solution possible so im curious to see if a flex-fuel would be a good idea !!
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05-27-2018, 06:52 PM	#2
domino_z Lieutenant Colonel 1240 Rep 1,972 Posts Drives: F-Pace SVR Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	A true flex solution isnt available on this platform yet Im hoping that with the m2c, the demand will finally be there for tuners to tweak their existing e-series flex solution to suit the f-series cars
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05-27-2018, 06:58 PM	#3
MikeeM3 Lieutenant Colonel 222 Rep 1,632 Posts Drives: 600whp M4 Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (0)	found this on google and thought it would have maybe be the solution... http://www.fuel-it.com/s55-f-series-flex-fuel-kits/
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05-27-2018, 07:53 PM	#4
BMWcurious Private First Class 227 Rep 182 Posts Drives: Various BMWs Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: St Andrews iTrader: (0)	I have the S55 DME code ready and partly tested. The firmware for the ethanol content analyzer is developing well. It would be released already except F series needs different ethanol content input method that required new hardware.
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05-28-2018, 05:12 PM	#5
torn08 Second Lieutenant 45 Rep 235 Posts Drives: e93 335i Join Date: May 2015 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ iTrader: (0)	Awesome!
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05-31-2018, 12:03 PM	#6
///Mobbin Colonel 1478 Rep 2,672 Posts Drives: m3 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Houston iTrader: (3)	Anxious to see this happen. __________________ 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio \| 2.9L \| Trofeo White Tri-Coat \| 8-spd
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06-06-2018, 01:22 PM	#8
BMWcurious Private First Class 227 Rep 182 Posts Drives: Various BMWs Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: St Andrews iTrader: (0)	MHD. The DME work is finished subject to in car testing (works on bench), but the same build process runs well on earlier DMEs and so far every time something works on the bench it has worked in the car. I do many months of testing. The OBD flex fuel device works in prototype form, the prototype circuit boards are made and need soldering and testing. I am writing the OBD device firmware now to handle flashing, logging and realtime tuning. I already have the realtime tuning working on BMW and Audi in car but using third party J2534 cables. Whilst the flex fuel device has an OBD plug it does not have to be plugged into OBD but could be mounted elsewhere if desired, with wireless comms. The device has more inputs/outputs to use available pins and as far as I know this is the first time the aftermarket has used CAN bus for extra inputs/outputs which makes it highly expandable. Last edited by BMWcurious; 06-06-2018 at 01:29 PM..
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06-08-2018, 08:56 AM	#10
BMWcurious Private First Class 227 Rep 182 Posts Drives: Various BMWs Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: St Andrews iTrader: (0)	Yes. It could connect to PT CAN directly by being wired in and hidden away, but putting it in an OBD plug gives the device flexibility to be used as an OBD interface and means that the connection to the ethanol content sensor itself need only be one wire routed from the sensor to the back of the OBD socket. I hope it will turn out to be easy and elegant in use. The original approach as per earlier BMWs was to use the DMTL analog pin, but that pin doesn't behave the same on later DMEs (in hardware or software) and there is a shortage of alternative analog pins that could be used across all models. I also didn't want to remove emissions equipment and require a pin to be added to a difficult to access DME plug for Euro models that don't have DMTL. Going in through CAN solves all these problems and leaves room for future ideas across many platforms too, so despite the extra development time it will be a good decision in the long run. An ethanol content device is needed anyway, since on S55 the factory direct input for the ethanol content sensor that would be used in Brazil is occupied by the second MAF sensor. Even a JB4 I believe has a separate ethanol content device rather than reading the sensor directly, although the fewer devices the better. As far as I know, most/every aftermarket flex fuel solution for OEM ECUs always has a frequency to voltage converter between the ethanol content sensor and a (hopefully) spare analog input to the ECU. Pulse trains are much more difficult to get into a reverse engineered OEM ECU directly as you usually get into some very low level OS code and cannot just deal with the hardware directly according to the chip's hardware manual.
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02-14-2019, 11:55 AM	#11
remixaflip Private 31 Rep 68 Posts Drives: AW M4 6MT Join Date: May 2013 Location: norcal iTrader: (0)	Any updates on this progress? I'm really interested on a dynamic tune that adjusts given the type of fuel used. __________________ 2015 AW 6MT M4
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05-21-2021, 09:50 PM	#12
MR8TED Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: F82 M4 Join Date: May 2021 Location: Glendale AZ iTrader: (0)	Question for anybody that can help. I bought the Zeintronix flex fuel reader. Of course the OEM fuel lines are not fitting over it. What are you guys doing to connect the sensor with stock fuel lines? Any adapters? Have to cut lines? SEND HELP lol
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05-22-2021, 12:08 AM	#15
BoostinLI Private First Class 29 Rep 128 Posts Drives: BMW m4 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	I would wait! Bm3 is developing an easier solution.
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