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      01-03-2013, 02:10 PM   #1
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Exclamation Nearly caught out by the ESS E-FLASH timebomb!

My car was booked at the dealership today for its 30K service. Last night I went to flash the car back to stock in preparation but when I clicked on the E-FLASH application it popped up a dialog box saying:

Quote:
Unregistered Version. Sorry but this version has expired! Please request the latest version from your program vendor. [OK?]
This came as a bit of a shock since I bought the ESS tune believing that I was able to revert to stock at short notice. It never even occurred to me that the software might have a timebomb built in!

To make things worse, I didn't even have an internet connection available.
Once I got back to internet civilization, I emailed ESS customer support and luckily a working version of EFLASH arrived by email at around 4am and I managed to get the car flashed first thing this morning.

Obviously this was partly my own stupid fault for assuming that software I installed on a laptop a few months ago which hasn't been turned on since would still work when I came back to it later!

Thought I would post this so others don't get caught out....
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      01-03-2013, 02:34 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pbar View Post
My car was booked at the dealership today for its 30K service. Last night I went to flash the car back to stock in preparation but when I clicked on the E-FLASH application it popped up a dialog box saying:



This came as a bit of a shock since I bought the ESS tune believing that I was able to revert to stock at short notice. It never even occurred to me that the software might have a timebomb built in!

To make things worse, I didn't even have an internet connection available.
Once I got back to internet civilization, I emailed ESS customer support and luckily a working version of EFLASH arrived by email at around 4am and I managed to get the car flashed first thing this morning.

Obviously this was partly my own stupid fault for assuming that software I installed on a laptop a few months ago which hasn't been turned on since would still work when I came back to it later!

Thought I would post this so others don't get caught out....
The E-Flash interface software is updated from time to time and will give you the message when it needs to be updated. If this happens simply email us and we will provide you with a download link.
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      01-03-2013, 03:05 PM   #3
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ok im a little confused...i was under the imoression that you dont have to flash back whenyou go into get serviced bc they wont be able to track it...is this true or nit? Roman can prolly help bc i have an ESS rune but am waiting to put it on until i order a pulley kit...tha ks for info in advance
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      01-03-2013, 03:35 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3FREAK View Post
ok im a little confused...i was under the imoression that you dont have to flash back whenyou go into get serviced bc they wont be able to track it...is this true or nit? Roman can prolly help bc i have an ESS rune but am waiting to put it on until i order a pulley kit...tha ks for info in advance
Depends on your comfort level with your dealer / service advisor. If you want to have your original software in for dealer visits you can reload it before you go. Many leave the tune in during general visits but that decision is up to you.
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      01-03-2013, 04:21 PM   #5
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ok thanks i appreciate it...is there a way to use my mac for my tune by chance? or should i just link up with a friend and use the comluter?
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      01-03-2013, 04:44 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3FREAK View Post
ok thanks i appreciate it...is there a way to use my mac for my tune by chance? or should i just link up with a friend and use the comluter?
It can be used on a MAC if you have windows emulator software on it.
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      01-03-2013, 06:24 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roman@ESS View Post
Depends on your comfort level with your dealer / service advisor. If you want to have your original software in for dealer visits you can reload it before you go. Many leave the tune in during general visits but that decision is up to you.
I'm confused... you can install the stock software while the Super charger is installed for dealer visits?
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      01-03-2013, 06:33 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by knolow View Post
I'm confused... you can install the stock software while the Super charger is installed for dealer visits?
I was referring to NA software. I guess you could with your supercharger also if you wanted to but the car running bad and the supercharger installed under the hood might give away your secret
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      01-03-2013, 08:35 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roman@ESS View Post
Depends on your comfort level with your dealer / service advisor. If you want to have your original software in for dealer visits you can reload it before you go. Many leave the tune in during general visits but that decision is up to you.
Yes - I was running an ESS tune with the minimal cold-start. I really like not having the car sound like a bag of spanners when I start it up on a cold morning, but it's also somewhat obvious to a BMW service technician.

For the moment, I'd rather not have any warranty arguments! ;-)

Don't get me wrong, ESS were pretty helpful and responsive at getting me the new software, but there's an important difference between 'updated software version available, please upgrade at your convenience' and 'license expired, you can no longer run this program'
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      01-03-2013, 09:34 PM   #10
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Glad everything was handled quickly, we have a FAQ at this link for more info:

ESS E-Flash ECU Performance Software Cable Overview
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=769500

Let me know if you have any questions along the way!
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      01-03-2013, 09:40 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roman@ESS View Post
I was referring to NA software. I guess you could with your supercharger also if you wanted to but the car running bad and the supercharger installed under the hood might give away your secret
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      01-03-2013, 10:27 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3FREAK View Post
ok thanks i appreciate it...is there a way to use my mac for my tune by chance? or should i just link up with a friend and use the comluter?
just buy and download VMWare Fusion for Mac and then load the Winows OS of your choice. You can get it from the App Store or VMWare site.
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      01-03-2013, 10:30 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roman@ESS View Post
I was referring to NA software. I guess you could with your supercharger also if you wanted to but the car running bad and the supercharger installed under the hood might give away your secret
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      01-04-2013, 03:11 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roman@ESS View Post
I was referring to NA software. I guess you could with your supercharger also if you wanted to but the car running bad and the supercharger installed under the hood might give away your secret
dam that was stupid of me. lol. my bad.
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      01-04-2013, 04:05 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by knolow View Post
dam that was stupid of me. lol. my bad.
No worries
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      01-04-2013, 04:21 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tom @ eas View Post
Glad everything was handled quickly, we have a FAQ at this link for more info:

ESS E-Flash ECU Performance Software Cable Overview
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=769500

Let me know if you have any questions along the way!
thanks for posting this. could you pm me the price for the ess unit shipped with 240e software?

thanks
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      01-04-2013, 04:24 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by DevJ View Post
thanks for posting this. could you pm me the price for the ess unit shipped with 240e software?

thanks
PM on the way!
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      01-04-2013, 04:28 PM   #18
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You can if you swap out the fuel injectors to stock and then a stock tune. Have the dealer do their thing and reinstall injectors and new SC tune. Keep out of the boost(tell the dealer).




Quote:
Originally Posted by knolow View Post
I'm confused... you can install the stock software while the Super charger is installed for dealer visits?
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      03-15-2013, 07:14 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by VCMpower View Post
You can if you swap out the fuel injectors to stock and then a stock tune. Have the dealer do their thing and reinstall injectors and new SC tune. Keep out of the boost(tell the dealer).
Thats such a bad idea. Swap out the injectors to OEM and if someone loads up the boost, the car will run extremely lean. Timebomb.
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      03-15-2013, 08:03 PM   #20
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Exactly why I said what I said. I have done this a few times with clients.To each there own. I have a dealer that listens to me. So do this and take the belt off if you are not confident in your shop.



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Originally Posted by Superfly_M3 View Post
Thats such a bad idea. Swap out the injectors to OEM and if someone loads up the boost, the car will run extremely lean. Timebomb.
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      03-15-2013, 09:04 PM   #21
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Why does one eflash version have to be non-functional just because you update it? Would be nice to have a working version regardless and an update as an option if something changes or improves.
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      03-15-2013, 09:09 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3takesNYC View Post
Why does one eflash version have to be non-functional just because you update it? Would be nice to have a working version regardless and an update as an option if something changes or improves.
Good question, was wondering the same thing!
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