Transmission flash

Michael__kopp · 06-01-2014, 07:37 AM

Hello everyone. I'm new to the e9x scene but not to car modding in general. I am however not that up to date with all the fancy electornics these things have. I thought my last car was fancy cuz it had fuel injection. Haha I am looking at getting my tranny reflashed with the alpina map. I tried searching but only found bits and pieces of what I want to know. Firstly where can I get this done at? It seems to be a thing people sell as a file that you have to download to your car but do shops usually do this too? If not what do I need to download it to the car? I'm guessing a USB to obd2 cable and some sort of program? I live in the Vegas area does anyone already have the setup that could help me out? Also does the dealer get bitchy about shit like this as far as the warrantee and maintenence coverage go? Thanks for the help guys/gals. Sorry for being a computer retard. Haha

Knobi · 06-01-2014, 08:28 AM

The Alpina B3 transmission flash is a must when you have the 6AT.
I'm sure there're coders in your area who can do this for you. I paid $100 for mine and that included other random coding too.
No problems with the warranty at all. However if the dealership upgrades your DME for any reason your coding will be deleted though.
My advice? Worth every penny.
Car shifts almost like a DCT

Michael__kopp · 06-01-2014, 08:31 AM

Sweet. Yeah I was reading a little more into it. I wouldn't even know where to start with the whole computer program stuff. Anyone know anyone that does this in the Vegas area?

Dconnelly9191 · 06-01-2014, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael__kopp

Sweet. Yeah I was reading a little more into it. I wouldn't even know where to start with the whole computer program stuff. Anyone know anyone that does this in the Vegas area?

Alex@Alpine Did the tune remotely for me. I love it! So glad I did it.

Dark_Knight_335 · 06-02-2014, 03:52 PM

Any hard evidence that this isn't beating your slush boxes to hell? Some of those shifts and revs were pretty unnerving for me, although, truth be told, I kinda miss the feel of mine sometimes...

Knonsense · 06-02-2014, 05:00 PM

Dark_Knight, it's part of the suite of included firmware.

Coding the TCU with the Alpina program is not uploading a new thing to your car. It is disabling the "NA Market TCU program" and enabling "Alpina TCU program."

this is why you can take your Alpina flashed car to the dealer and they don't care. at all. it's part of the car. this is also why some of the older e9X's can't get "flashed" - their specific builds predate the approval of the Alpina TCU program and so do not have it included.

disclaimer about how you drive your car is a much more telling determinant of life of machines, proper maintenance, etc etc etc

Dark_Knight_335 · 06-02-2014, 05:18 PM

Okay well that puts my mind at ease somewhat.

I flashed back to stock because I was going to sell my ride, but now I'm on the fence about re-flashing it back since I think I'm going to keep it.

I wonder if I walk into a BMW dealer, asking if they could flash my TCU with the Alpina program (since I already know it's possible anyway) would they actually do it (even for a price?)

It's a genuine question in my mind, now that you mentioned it.

Michael__kopp · 06-07-2014, 08:39 AM

So for someone to do it remotely do i just need to get a cable? Will their computer just take mine over so i don't need to have the program or set any of it up?

335m · 06-09-2014, 09:54 AM

^^ I am also curious about a remote flash. I swear this 6AT is rougher to drive than a 6MT...

Knonsense · 06-09-2014, 10:29 AM

http://www.bmcoding.com/

Niv is the guy who runs that site. You just buy a cable, plug it into your OBDII port and your computer, and shazzam

Johnny Boost · 06-09-2014, 10:30 AM

You will need the INPA K/D Can cable to do a remote flash. Some of the remote flashing companies will send you the necessary cabling. I made a thread in the regional thread and found a local coder that could flash mine so I never needed the cable.

Michael__kopp · 07-11-2014, 10:17 PM

Got it done today! its awesome. For daily driving I prefer the new D shift points actually, most people complain about it. I started in D and it was smooth and i enjoyed it. nothing too crazy. then went to S and also thought it was a decent improvement over stock but when i went to M the difference was insane. It shifts instantly. Its pretty damn cool. However I do have the tach drop problem. I tried searching for more info on that but can't seem to find much info on it. Do you guys have any tips on getting the dealer to update the DME?

bmx045 · 07-24-2014, 11:56 AM

To do the alpina flash, do you need anything else besides that bmcoding cable? any other software?

335m · 07-24-2014, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmx045

To do the alpina flash, do you need anything else besides that bmcoding cable? any other software?

Here is a DIY thread, the original post may be a little outdated but there are still active comments on the thread.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=874072

Johnny Boost · 07-24-2014, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmx045

To do the alpina flash, do you need anything else besides that bmcoding cable? any other software?

Yes there is a bundle of software that is needed to flash the car but it is available for free. If you contact Wedge in the N54 section, he will send you links for the software and also help you do the flash if you need it.

bmx045 · 07-24-2014, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Boost

Yes there is a bundle of software that is needed to flash the car but it is available for free. If you contact Wedge in the N54 section, he will send you links for the software and also help you do the flash if you need it.

thanks. by the way the bmcoding site made it sound, it sounded like the included software would allow you to do this. knew it wouldnt be that easy.

06-01-2014, 07:37 AM	#1
Michael__kopp New Member 6 Rep 25 Posts Drives: black 2011 335i Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (0)	Transmission flash Hello everyone. I'm new to the e9x scene but not to car modding in general. I am however not that up to date with all the fancy electornics these things have. I thought my last car was fancy cuz it had fuel injection. Haha I am looking at getting my tranny reflashed with the alpina map. I tried searching but only found bits and pieces of what I want to know. Firstly where can I get this done at? It seems to be a thing people sell as a file that you have to download to your car but do shops usually do this too? If not what do I need to download it to the car? I'm guessing a USB to obd2 cable and some sort of program? I live in the Vegas area does anyone already have the setup that could help me out? Also does the dealer get bitchy about shit like this as far as the warrantee and maintenence coverage go? Thanks for the help guys/gals. Sorry for being a computer retard. Haha
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06-01-2014, 08:28 AM	#2
Knobi Captain 93 Rep 716 Posts Drives: 2015 YMB M3 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Weston, FL iTrader: (4) Garage List 2011 BMW E90 335i [9.50]	The Alpina B3 transmission flash is a must when you have the 6AT. I'm sure there're coders in your area who can do this for you. I paid $100 for mine and that included other random coding too. No problems with the warranty at all. However if the dealership upgrades your DME for any reason your coding will be deleted though. My advice? Worth every penny. Car shifts almost like a DCT __________________ 2015 BMW M3 \| DCT \| Yas Marina Blue \| Silverstone \| Executive \| Lightning \| Driver Assistant \| Carbon Ceramic Brakes Instagram: @benrivasplata
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06-01-2014, 08:31 AM	#3
Michael__kopp New Member 6 Rep 25 Posts Drives: black 2011 335i Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (0)	Sweet. Yeah I was reading a little more into it. I wouldn't even know where to start with the whole computer program stuff. Anyone know anyone that does this in the Vegas area?
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06-02-2014, 03:52 PM	#5
Dark_Knight_335 Came to the N55 Darkside 1112 Rep 12,740 Posts Drives: 2011 335 E93 M-Sport Join Date: May 2010 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (28)	Any hard evidence that this isn't beating your slush boxes to hell? Some of those shifts and revs were pretty unnerving for me, although, truth be told, I kinda miss the feel of mine sometimes...
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06-02-2014, 05:00 PM	#6
Knonsense Private First Class 10 Rep 107 Posts Drives: 335xi. Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: NoVa iTrader: (0)	Dark_Knight, it's part of the suite of included firmware. Coding the TCU with the Alpina program is not uploading a new thing to your car. It is disabling the "NA Market TCU program" and enabling "Alpina TCU program." this is why you can take your Alpina flashed car to the dealer and they don't care. at all. it's part of the car. this is also why some of the older e9X's can't get "flashed" - their specific builds predate the approval of the Alpina TCU program and so do not have it included. disclaimer about how you drive your car is a much more telling determinant of life of machines, proper maintenance, etc etc etc
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06-02-2014, 05:18 PM	#7
Dark_Knight_335 Came to the N55 Darkside 1112 Rep 12,740 Posts Drives: 2011 335 E93 M-Sport Join Date: May 2010 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (28)	Okay well that puts my mind at ease somewhat. I flashed back to stock because I was going to sell my ride, but now I'm on the fence about re-flashing it back since I think I'm going to keep it. I wonder if I walk into a BMW dealer, asking if they could flash my TCU with the Alpina program (since I already know it's possible anyway) would they actually do it (even for a price?) It's a genuine question in my mind, now that you mentioned it.
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06-07-2014, 08:39 AM	#8
Michael__kopp New Member 6 Rep 25 Posts Drives: black 2011 335i Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (0)	So for someone to do it remotely do i just need to get a cable? Will their computer just take mine over so i don't need to have the program or set any of it up?
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06-09-2014, 09:54 AM	#9
335m Major 123 Rep 1,166 Posts Drives: 08 e92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Austin Texas iTrader: (1)	^^ I am also curious about a remote flash. I swear this 6AT is rougher to drive than a 6MT...
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06-09-2014, 10:29 AM	#10
Knonsense Private First Class 10 Rep 107 Posts Drives: 335xi. Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: NoVa iTrader: (0)	http://www.bmcoding.com/ Niv is the guy who runs that site. You just buy a cable, plug it into your OBDII port and your computer, and shazzam
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06-09-2014, 10:30 AM	#11
Johnny Boost Colonel 324 Rep 2,014 Posts Drives: '21 M850i GC Join Date: May 2013 Location: TBD iTrader: (0)	You will need the INPA K/D Can cable to do a remote flash. Some of the remote flashing companies will send you the necessary cabling. I made a thread in the regional thread and found a local coder that could flash mine so I never needed the cable. __________________ WedgePerformance E40 MHD \| Performance Exhaust Mod \| BMS DP \| Vibrant 1790 \| BMS Intake \| VRSF CP \| xHP Stage 3 Michelin PSS \| M3 Control Arms LUX v4 LEDs \| Shadowline Grills \| Lip Spoiler
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07-11-2014, 10:17 PM	#12
Michael__kopp New Member 6 Rep 25 Posts Drives: black 2011 335i Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (0)	Got it done today! its awesome. For daily driving I prefer the new D shift points actually, most people complain about it. I started in D and it was smooth and i enjoyed it. nothing too crazy. then went to S and also thought it was a decent improvement over stock but when i went to M the difference was insane. It shifts instantly. Its pretty damn cool. However I do have the tach drop problem. I tried searching for more info on that but can't seem to find much info on it. Do you guys have any tips on getting the dealer to update the DME?
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07-24-2014, 11:56 AM	#13
bmx045 New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: '18 340i xdrive Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0)	To do the alpina flash, do you need anything else besides that bmcoding cable? any other software?
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