New DIY coding/tuning option

[jdamore]

How do I know if my tune is "encrypted or scrambled" ? I'm running an ESS supercharged tune.. probably encrypted ??

How much is the license?

[Iyzmi]

Originally Posted by jdamore

How do I know if my tune is "encrypted or scrambled" ? I'm running an ESS supercharged tune.. probably encrypted ??

How much is the license?

I have the same questions. Hoping to get cold start disabled myself since ESS won't do it for me.

[Obioban]

AFAIK, only Evole did the read lock, and I believe they stopped doing it as well.

At least that was the case on the MSS5X

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Obioban

AFAIK, only Evole did the read lock, and I believe they stopped doing it as well.

At least that was the case on the MSS5X

Read lock always sounded insane until I realized some 'tuners' are simply thieves

[BOOF-M3]

Originally Posted by Iyzmi

I have the same questions. Hoping to get cold start disabled myself since ESS won't do it for me.

Do you have an ESS tune?

[Iyzmi]

Originally Posted by BOOF-M3

Do you have an ESS tune?

Yes.

[azndrunk74]

Originally Posted by Iyzmi

I have the same questions. Hoping to get cold start disabled myself since ESS won't do it for me.

I have the cold start delete. They won’t do it if you live in colder climates. I told him I was in California and then I was able to get the delete. I did get denied the first time though.

[Iyzmi]

Originally Posted by azndrunk74

I have the cold start delete. They won’t do it if you live in colder climates. I told him I was in California and then I was able to get the delete. I did get denied the first time though.

I'll ask again with that in mind and see what AJ says. My car stays parked in a heated underground garage so it shouldn't be an issue.

[jdamore]

Originally Posted by Iyzmi

I have the same questions. Hoping to get cold start disabled myself since ESS won't do it for me.

I got as far as trying to load the ESS tune (emailed to me) into the BM tool. The ESS tune has a .mod file extension type which is not what the BM tool is looking for. Thats as far as my trials have gone until I do more research. Ill plug in and see what type of file e-Flash spits out if I do an ecu read.

More insight on tune files would be really appreciated.

[Obioban]

Originally Posted by jdamore

I got as far as trying to load the ESS tune (emailed to me) into the BM tool. The ESS tune has a .mod file extension type which is not what the BM tool is looking for. Thats as far as my trials have gone until I do more research. Ill plug in and see what type of file iFlash spits out if I do an ecu read.

More insight on tune files would be really appreciated.

Original format doesn't matter once it's flashed onto the ECU, if you then read it back out again with software that is binary modification tool friendly.

[tdott]

Originally Posted by Obioban

Original format doesn't matter once it's flashed onto the ECU, if you then read it back out again with software that is binary modification tool friendly.

Is it possible for a vendor to do something where it wouldn't be readable by a binary tool?

[Iyzmi]

Originally Posted by azndrunk74

I have the cold start delete. They won't do it if you live in colder climates. I told him I was in California and then I was able to get the delete. I did get denied the first time though.

Great tip! I explained that my car sleeps in a heated garage and I don't want my neighbors to hate me. Cold start deleted

[azndrunk74]

Originally Posted by Iyzmi

Great tip! I explained that my car sleeps in a heated garage and I don't want my neighbors to hate me. Cold start deleted

glad to hear it worked out for you!!

[dpaul]

Originally Posted by jdamore

I got as far as trying to load the ESS tune (emailed to me) into the BM tool. The ESS tune has a .mod file extension type which is not what the BM tool is looking for. Thats as far as my trials have gone until I do more research. Ill plug in and see what type of file e-Flash spits out if I do an ecu read.

More insight on tune files would be really appreciated.

Can't speak directly about ESS but VF supercharger tunes are protected three ways. First, the digital file the vendor supplies is encrypted i.e. you can read it with a hex editor but without decryption software and the key you (or your tuner) cannot make sense of it. Second, the tune incorporates programming changes so that once it has been flashed, the DME memory cannot be read out using commonly available OBDII based tools. Third, the supplied hardware (cable) will not allow flashing of the DME unless the VIN matches the VIN specified in the original purchase.

VF uses the Freiling iFlash hardware/software and I'm pretty sure that ESS does, as does BPM and many other tuners.

So I think it is very unlikely that your supercharger tune can be manipulated using Martyn Thomas's ECUworx software package. Of course, the best thing to do is ask him directly.

[jdamore]

Originally Posted by dpaul

Can't speak directly about ESS but VF supercharger tunes are protected three ways. First, the digital file the vendor supplies is encrypted i.e. you can read it with a hex editor but without decryption software and the key you (or your tuner) cannot make sense of it. Second, the tune incorporates programming changes so that once it has been flashed, the DME memory cannot be read out using commonly available OBDII based tools. Third, the supplied hardware (cable) will not allow flashing of the DME unless the VIN matches the VIN specified in the original purchase.

VF uses the Freiling iFlash hardware/software and I'm pretty sure that ESS does, as does BPM and many other tuners.

So I think it is very unlikely that your supercharger tune can be manipulated using Martyn Thomas's ECUworx software package. Of course, the best thing to do is ask him directly.

Thank you dpaul!!

Yeah.. I tried to do a "Read ECU Memory" but it fails: I get to the point where it asks the location to save the file and once it starts to communicate to the ECU, it fails. I wasn't sure if I was having issues with my OBD cable (supplied by ESS) or if reads were blocked somehow.

[BPMSport]

Reading will likely be blocked if tuned by companies using the FR cable.

Dpauls explanation is spot on.

[Obioban]

Sounds like there's a new criteria in selecting what tune to go with-- avoid companies that use the FR cable!

I wouldn't want to be locked out of my own ECU.

[tdott]

Originally Posted by Obioban

I wouldn't want to be locked out of my own ECU.

I wouldn't consider it being locked out, it's just them protecting their intellectual property. Which as much as it's origins are debatable, you are paying for a tune not to be able to read and manipulate it as you wish.

I think if you read between the lines, by not being able to read it via and FR cable, doesn't mean it can't be read at all. It might be something the FR cable is programmed to do to protect the vendors who use it. Otherwise you can read a car and then give the file to someone else to load on their car.

[Patrón]

Originally Posted by Obioban

Sounds like there's a new criteria in selecting what tune to go with-- avoid companies that use the FR cable!

I wouldn't want to be locked out of my own ECU.

sounds like a standalone is your only real option. syvecs?

[Obioban]

Originally Posted by Patrón

sounds like a standalone is your only real option. syvecs?

... not sure I follow. I have an aftermarket tune on my stock ecu, with no read lock. I can read it and tweak it all I want with this tool.

This is the case on my M3 and M5.

There is no technical requirement for a read lock on tunes-- it's something tuners are actively choosing to do.

[Patrón]

Originally Posted by Obioban

... not sure I follow. I have an aftermarket tune on my stock ecu, with no read lock. I can read it and tweak it all I want with this tool.

This is the case on my M3 and M5.

There is no technical requirement for a read lock on tunes-- it's something tuners are actively choosing to do.

I thought your comment was for an s65 car. If I’m not mistaken, all tunes/tuners utilize fr cable .