M4 won't start after ECU tuning attempt

[pipiolo]

Hello folks! First of all, English is not my first language and I'm new to the tuning scene so please excuse any mistakes.

A couple of weeks ago I bought a Wagner Downpipe with sport cats and an Injen intake for my 2019 M4 Competition, since it has a OPF filter and I wanted to get a better sound. When I bought the parts I was proposed to also make a Stage 2 tune so I accepted.

After installing the new parts, they tried to use Kess v2 to do the tuning, but apparently the car wasn't detecting the car key fob and after 4 attempts the car got locked and now it won't start or turn on.

Is there a reason why the car won't start/turn on? Is there a way to get it unlocked? They are trying to retouch the ECU with AutoTuner but for now they haven't fixed it.

Thank you

[LOW4LYF]

Yes, there is a way to turn the ignition on without the key. Every tuner should know how to!

It's not possible to start the car but it's possible to set ignition on.

Not a topic for a public forum tho.

[pipiolo]

Originally Posted by LOW4LYF

Yes, there is a way to turn the ignition on without the key. Every tuner should know how to!

It's not possible to start the car but it's possible to set ignition on.

Not a topic for a public forum tho.

I will bring this up to them, but out of curiosity, how would setting the ignition on be useful to unlock it and finish the tune?

Thank you for your reply!

[Suds]

For others, I always leave my key fob by the shift lever when flashing my cars.
I usually stand outside the car, laptop on the roof and cable through the open window.
First thing I do.

It’s too easy to get distracted and walk away.

[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by Suds

For others, I always leave my key fob by the shift lever when flashing my cars.
I usually stand outside the car, laptop on the roof and cable through the open window.
First thing I do.

It’s too easy to get distracted and walk away.

Doesn't matter where you have the key or laptop, if the flash fails it fails.

I would keep the trunk open just to be able to disconnect the battery for a reset if needed.

[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by pipiolo

I will bring this up to them, but out of curiosity, how would setting the ignition on be useful to unlock it and finish the tune?

Thank you for your reply!

As long as you have access to the OBD there is a way to set ignition, you won't be able to start the car but finish your flash.

[Suds]

I have to disagree, I’ve had a flash stop because the car no longer saw the key.
Better safe than Fckd.

[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by Suds

I have to disagree, I’ve had a flash stop because the car no longer saw the key.
Better safe than Fckd.

Wrong! Put your Belt on and the car won't shut down ignition till the battery is empty if no charger connected.

The car is in flash mode and not looking for any key anyway. There is no CAN communication during flashing so no ECU would request the Key.


Usally the car turns off because of weak battery.

[pipiolo]

Originally Posted by Suds

I have to disagree, I've had a flash stop because the car no longer saw the key.
Better safe than Fckd.

That's exactly what happened to mine, it was showing an error saying that the key wasn't being detected and after 4 attempts it got blocked. Now they're still trying to unlock it.

[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by pipiolo

That's exactly what happened to mine, it was showing an error saying that the key wasn't being detected and after 4 attempts it got blocked. Now they're still trying to unlock it.

You need to hold the key to the steering column after you opened the door manual.


Guys, if you flash any ECU all ECU's and the whole car goes into a flash mode. No ECU requesting the key because there is no communication on the CAN during flashing.

Put a battery charger on, and the seatbelt so the ignition won't go off.

Is your car currently locked or unlocked? If your car is locked, use the hard key to open the door manual. Open the trunk, disconnect the battery for couple minutes and flash the ECU one more time! You don't need ignition on for flashing as long as the CAN is on.


Btw. OP... Where are you located?

[pipiolo]

Originally Posted by LOW4LYF

You need to hold the key to the steering column after you opened the door manual.


Guys, if you flash any ECU all ECU's and the whole car goes into a flash mode. No ECU requesting the key because there is no communication on the CAN during flashing.

Put a battery charger on, and the seatbelt so the ignition won't go off.

Is your car currently locked or unlocked? If your car is locked, use the hard key to open the door manual. Open the trunk, disconnect the battery for couple minutes and flash the ECU one more time! You don't need ignition on for flashing as long as the CAN is on.


Btw. OP... Where are you located?

Just asked for details and I'm being told that the maps load correctly. But when they try to start the car it starts beeping and throwing errors, the ignition is on but the engine won't start. They have called the local BMW dealer and they're sending it to them so they fix the issue. I have asked them for a video with the errors and they will send it to me in a bit.

[pipiolo]

Originally Posted by LOW4LYF

You need to hold the key to the steering column after you opened the door manual.


Guys, if you flash any ECU all ECU's and the whole car goes into a flash mode. No ECU requesting the key because there is no communication on the CAN during flashing.

Put a battery charger on, and the seatbelt so the ignition won't go off.

Is your car currently locked or unlocked? If your car is locked, use the hard key to open the door manual. Open the trunk, disconnect the battery for couple minutes and flash the ECU one more time! You don't need ignition on for flashing as long as the CAN is on.


Btw. OP... Where are you located?

So, just got the video with the errors that the car shows when they try to turn the engine on. It's in Spanish so I won't post the video but basically everything shows an error, here are some error codes:
- CF1801
- CF1701
- CF1601
- D35586
- D3542F
- 138104

[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by pipiolo

So, just got the video with the errors that the car shows when they try to turn the engine on. It's in Spanish so I won't post the video but basically everything shows an error, here are some error codes:
- CF1801
- CF1701
- CF1601
- D35586
- D3542F
- 138104

Does it crank at all when you try to start it?

[pipiolo]

Originally Posted by LOW4LYF

Does it crank at all when you try to start it?

I haven't asked that and I haven't touched the car since I left it there.

I have an update though, they took the car to the BMW dealer and they will be putting the original maps on it. The BMW technicians told them that the issue was caused by the DME lock and the anti tuning measures, so they will revert everything back to the original settings.

I think that I will do the DME unlock somewhere else and then I will just get a custom bm3 tune rather than having to deal with these guys again.

Thanks again for trying to help me!

[pipiolo]

The issue has been fixed. They took the car to the local BMW dealer, reset the ECU and were able to finally tune it.

[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by pipiolo

The issue has been fixed. They took the car to the local BMW dealer, reset the ECU and were able to finally tune it.

If it was fixed with simple dealer tools as ISTA, stay away from this "tuning" company if they don't know basics.

Congrats!