Zeitronix Ethanol CAN Bus Sensor Install Video

[c4ss]

Looking to start running Flex-Fuel with Bootmod3 on my F80. Is there a good DIY install video/link available anywhere?

[aBMWfan]

Subbed

[Wanted_M]

Originally Posted by c4ss

Looking to start running Flex-Fuel with Bootmod3 on my F80. Is there a good DIY install video/link available anywhere?

Here's a few videos I've found, good luck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqW_Gy5GVmg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuFgpnQJWnk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDr9GBZwFrU

[stondM3]

Originally Posted by Wanted_M

Here's a few videos I've found, good luck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqW_Gy5GVmg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuFgpnQJWnk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDr9GBZwFrU

I installed the Bend Calibration sensor this weekend; fairly straightforward, took a couple hours. But now it's time to hook up the electronics which makes me nervous. Anyone done this before and have a guide for F80 M3? I also purchased the plug and play harness to connect the Zeitronix eca-2 to the FEM

[heitzke]

Originally Posted by stondM3

I installed the Bend Calibration sensor this weekend; fairly straightforward, took a couple hours. But now it's time to hook up the electronics which makes me nervous. Anyone done this before and have a guide for F80 M3? I also purchased the plug and play harness to connect the Zeitronix eca-2 to the FEM

I'm currently in the same spot and found this thread linked off from the instructions that Bend Cal provides: https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1017936 - I just installed my sensor and looped the wiring into the engine bay last night. I may get into finishing the wiring over the next couple nights.

Found it VERY helpful on a pretty rudimentary level to understand more of what I was getting into. Ultimately I think i'll try to do more of a write up once I finish mine and get it working.

I found the documentation a little... lacking for the average layman going through this install.

[stondM3]

Originally Posted by heitzke

I'm currently in the same spot and found this thread linked off from the instructions that Bend Cal provides: https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1017936

Found it VERY helpful on a pretty rudimentary level to understand more of what I was getting into. Ultimately I think i'll try to do more of a write up once I finish mine and get it working.

I found the documentation a little... lacking for the average layman going through this install.

Ha! Yes, lacking is a good word for the instructions. At least I'm with my limited knowledge.

This is SUPER helpful, thanks! Assuming I install it correctly and it doesn't catch fire I will post about my experience once it's all buttoned up.

[heitzke]

Originally Posted by stondM3

Ha! Yes, lacking is a good word for the instructions. At least I'm with my limited knowledge.

This is SUPER helpful, thanks! Assuming I install it correctly and it doesn't catch fire I will post about my experience once it's all buttoned up.

Ok awesome, looking forward to seeing another writeup. I got the exact same stuff you did so it should be really helpful assuming I don't finish mine soon too.

I feel much more confident in the steps and process after that EAS thread tbh

[c4ss]

Just following up here. I ended up getting Kies to install it. I don't think it's particularly difficult, but I didn't feel confident with the resources available when it was first released.

[stondM3]

Originally Posted by c4ss

Just following up here. I ended up getting Kies to install it. I don't think it's particularly difficult, but I didn't feel confident with the resources available when it was first released.

Thanks for the update. Maybe I’ll reach out to Kies and ask for some tips.

[stondM3]

Originally Posted by heitzke

Ok awesome, looking forward to seeing another writeup. I got the exact same stuff you did so it should be really helpful assuming I don't finish mine soon too.

I feel much more confident in the steps and process after that EAS thread tbh

I installed it this weekend! Definitely a few tips and tricks I can pass along. When I have some time I will upload some pictures and a list of issues I encountered. The system is working great though. Able to measure ethanol content on the fly, rolling anti lag works, currently running BM3 OTS stage 1 multi map. Doesn't pull quite as hard as my custom Jordan E85 tune but it's still damn quick. I'm planning on adding 91 octane once the tank is 3/4 full to see the difference

[hellokitty]

Originally Posted by stondM3

I installed it this weekend! Definitely a few tips and tricks I can pass along. When I have some time I will upload some pictures and a list of issues I encountered. The system is working great though. Able to measure ethanol content on the fly, rolling anti lag works, currently running BM3 OTS stage 1 multi map. Doesn't pull quite as hard as my custom Jordan E85 tune but it's still damn quick. I'm planning on adding 91 octane once the tank is 3/4 full to see the difference

When you are able, I'd get a flex fuel tune from Cary. It's so smooth

With that said, I'm on his flex fuel tune.

E30 is super smooth and refined with a bump in power.

E40 is the same but increased torque is felt but still very controlled

E50-E55 kicks you in the face but manageable

E75 (max in my area) is when you want to keep up with some super cars lol

[stondM3]

Originally Posted by hellokitty

When you are able, I'd get a flex fuel tune from Cary. It's so smooth

With that said, I'm on his flex fuel tune.

E30 is super smooth and refined with a bump in power.

E40 is the same but increased torque is felt but still very controlled

E50-E55 kicks you in the face but manageable

E75 (max in my area) is when you want to keep up with some super cars lol

Definitely on my agenda! I wonder if anyone has dyno numbers to compare OTS flex fuel to custom tune. My custom E85 tune with Cary put down 589hp, 680 torque to the wheels

[hellokitty]

Originally Posted by stondM3

Definitely on my agenda! I wonder if anyone has dyno numbers to compare OTS flex fuel to custom tune. My custom E85 tune with Cary put down 589hp, 680 torque to the wheels

Full E85 OTS CustomROM flex fuel makes around 540 whp if I recall correctly.

[heitzke]

Originally Posted by hellokitty

Full E85 OTS CustomROM flex fuel makes around 540 whp if I recall correctly.

That's roughly the same number i've seen before too. I'm working on getting tuned when my new clutch is fully broken-in and then planning on hitting the dyno to test the custom flex fuel vs OTS.

[stondM3]

Originally Posted by heitzke

That's roughly the same number i've seen before too. I'm working on getting tuned when my new clutch is fully broken-in and then planning on hitting the dyno to test the custom flex fuel vs OTS.

Wow, that's pretty incredible with an OTS tune.

[stondM3]

Originally Posted by c4ss

Just following up here. I ended up getting Kies to install it. I don't think it's particularly difficult, but I didn't feel confident with the resources available when it was first released.

I don’t have the time (or motivation) to do a detailed DIY walkthrough of the electrical but if anyone has questions send me a message. I hope this post will at least give some installation tips and pictures/videos are worth a thousand words so here goes nothing.

Before you proceed with any installation you need to buy this (offered from multiple online sites):

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ICB-WEFLX40-48

The wiring you get from Bend is barely long enough if everything is installed exactly correctly. This extension gives you an extra 4 feet of wire and connects directly to the flex fuel sensor; this will make installation so much easier and, in my opinion, should be recommended for every Bend kit. Do not install the sensor without having this first; if you do you will have to do what I did and go under the car again to hook it up.

To route the wiring from underneath the car to the engine bay I dropped a string from the engine bay down to the flex fuel sensor wiring location, tied it, and pulled it up. It came up here:




Then I routed it under the rubber seal towards the front left side of the engine bay. I have a DCT and there is a port with a grommet which leads directly into the driver side cabin. I pulled the grommet out and pushed the wire through (after installation was finalized I sprayed expanding heat resistant foam in the hole to make it water tight)








Take off the underside of the driver’s side cabin (two 10mm nuts, disconnect a speaker and light) and you will see the wire coming through. Getting it to the passenger compartment was a challenge. I used a metal coat hanger to push through the space under the dash/center console, wrapped the wire to the hanger with electrical tape, and pulled it through. It worked surprisingly well and luckily I didn’t damage any existing wires under there.










Move over to the passenger side: remove the passenger plastic piece under the glove box (two 10mm nuts, disconnect light and cigarette lighter), pull off the trim covering the FEM and the small piece of trim in the footwell (they pop right off). Take off the plastic covering of the FEM (single hex screw, I forget the exact size but maybe 20). Pull back the carpeting and padding to give you a full view of the footwell. It feels tight but there is nothing holding it in place; just pull hard. Follow the instructions from Bend for wiring; let me know if you have any specific questions about this part. The hardest part is prying loose the little rectangular housing from the connectors but it’s doable (I have no electrical experience and was able to get through it).

Initially I did this without the 4 feet of extension above and there was a LOT of tension on the wiring. So much better after I bit the bullet and went back to install the extension.

I used adhesive Velcro to attach the ECA-2 to the firewall.












Before re-installing everything I would recommend making sure the ethanol sensor is communicating with the car. Depending on what tune you are running this will vary. I have BM3 so I turned on the ignition and then held the first down button on the cruise control, tachometer went to 7500 representing 75% ethanol; good to go!



You may notice the emergency call malfunction symbol in the dash. This is just because I tested the ethanol content before hooking the dash speaker back up on the driver's side. Once I did that the error went away.

Push the carpet/padding back into place, reinstall all the plastic and enjoy flex fuel.

[hellokitty]

Originally Posted by stondM3

I don’t have the time (or motivation) to do a detailed DIY walkthrough of the electrical but if anyone has questions send me a message. I hope this post will at least give some installation tips and pictures/videos are worth a thousand words so here goes nothing.

Before you proceed with any installation you need to buy this (offered from multiple online sites):

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ICB-WEFLX40-48

The wiring you get from Bend is barely long enough if everything is installed exactly correctly. This extension gives you an extra 4 feet of wire and connects directly to the flex fuel sensor; this will make installation so much easier and, in my opinion, should be recommended for every Bend kit. Do not install the sensor without having this first; if you do you will have to do what I did and go under the car again to hook it up.

To route the wiring from underneath the car to the engine bay I dropped a string from the engine bay down to the flex fuel sensor wiring location, tied it, and pulled it up. It came up here:

Attachment 2708158


Then I routed it under the rubber seal towards the front left side of the engine bay. I have a DCT and there is a port with a grommet which leads directly into the driver side cabin. I pulled the grommet out and pushed the wire through (after installation was finalized I sprayed expanding heat resistant foam in the hole to make it water tight)

Attachment 2708159

Attachment 2708160

Attachment 2708161


Take off the underside of the driver’s side cabin (two 10mm nuts, disconnect a speaker and light) and you will see the wire coming through. Getting it to the passenger compartment was a challenge. I used a metal coat hanger to push through the space under the dash/center console, wrapped the wire to the hanger with electrical tape, and pulled it through. It worked surprisingly well and luckily I didn’t damage any existing wires under there.

Attachment 2708162

Attachment 2708163

Attachment 2708164

Attachment 2708165


Move over to the passenger side: remove the passenger plastic piece under the glove box (two 10mm nuts, disconnect light and cigarette lighter), pull off the trim covering the FEM and the small piece of trim in the footwell (they pop right off). Take off the plastic covering of the FEM (single hex screw, I forget the exact size but maybe 20). Pull back the carpeting and padding to give you a full view of the footwell. It feels tight but there is nothing holding it in place; just pull hard. Follow the instructions from Bend for wiring; let me know if you have any specific questions about this part. The hardest part is prying loose the little rectangular housing from the connectors but it’s doable (I have no electrical experience and was able to get through it).

Initially I did this without the 4 feet of extension above and there was a LOT of tension on the wiring. So much better after I bit the bullet and went back to install the extension.

I used adhesive Velcro to attach the ECA-2 to the firewall.

Attachment 2708166

Attachment 2708167

Attachment 2708168

Attachment 2708169

Attachment 2708170


Before re-installing everything I would recommend making sure the ethanol sensor is communicating with the car. Depending on what tune you are running this will vary. I have BM3 so I turned on the ignition and then held the first down button on the cruise control, tachometer went to 7500 representing 75% ethanol; good to go!

Attachment 2708174

You may notice the emergency call malfunction symbol in the dash. This is just because I tested the ethanol content before hooking the dash speaker back up on the driver's side. Once I did that the error went away.

Push the carpet/padding back into place, reinstall all the plastic and enjoy flex fuel.

Great guide, I love my flex fuel setup from bend… flawless so far and even more fun with the Jordan flex map

[c4ss]

Great write up. I love my flex fuel and I'm still on OTS. Thinking NGK F8S plugs and custom tune as my next step.

[stondM3]

Originally Posted by hellokitty

Great guide, I love my flex fuel setup from bend… flawless so far and even more fun with the Jordan flex map

Great guide, I love my flex fuel setup from bend… flawless so far and even more fun with the Jordan flex map [/QUOTE]

Originally Posted by c4ss

Great write up. I love my flex fuel and I'm still on OTS. Thinking NGK F8S plugs and custom tune as my next step.

How does the custom tune work with flex fuel? Do you do dyno pulls with various amounts of ethanol while Cary is remotely adjusting things? Is Cary able to put my custom e85 tune in one of the four MAP spots for the on the fly MAP switching?

[c4ss]

Originally Posted by stondM3

How does the custom tune work with flex fuel? Do you do dyno pulls with various amounts of ethanol while Cary is remotely adjusting things? Is Cary able to put my custom e85 tune in one of the four MAP spots for the on the fly MAP switching?

Good question. Definitely need a dyno session...and some ethanol nearby for all those pulls 93 up to full E85.

[wuzhatning]

subbed for future install