Race Seat Coding - Solution

[rocket_science]

I know many of you run race seats and are using the OC3 emulator modules to remove the error codes generated by the removal of the factory seats (airbag and seatbelt/restraint errors). While these modules are an "easy" option, they are also incredibly expensive. Especially when you consider it can be done for free through coding.

The problem it there have been several posts about coding for race seats but these threads are all missing items to watch out for. As I am in the middle of installing some Racetech seats myself, I thought I would take the time to test all typical error causing settings and provide you with what I believe to be the full list of steps to ensure your E9x M3 is coded to remove the factory seats so you do not receive any lingering codes.

Note: I am not going to walk you through the coding process, just the items to update. If you need help learning to code, see here:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451145

I used NCS to do the following:

1. Add +RECA to the car's VO -Recaro Seats
2. Ensure all the following are set to nicht_aktiv in ABG module:

SIDEBAG_LINKS_1 -Side Airbag (left)
SIDEBAG_RECHTS_1 -Side Airbag (right)
AKS_LINKS_1_CD -Active head restraint (left)
AKS_RECHTS_1_CD -Active head restraint (right)
OC3_1 -Seat occupancy mat
GK/OC3/POL -Not sure exactly but related to the occupancy mat
GURTKONTAKT_BEIFAHRER_1 -Seat belt contract/connection (passenger)
GURTKONTAKT_FAHRER_1 -Seat belt contract/connection (driver)
GURTSTRAFFER_BEIFAHRER_1 -Seat belt tensioner, active restraint (passenger)
GURTSTRAFFER_FAHRER_1 -Seat belt tensioner, active restraint (driver)
SPSBF_1 -Seat position sensor (passenger)
SPSF_1_CD -Seat position sensor (driver)

Clear all error codes codes with ISTA/P or software of your choice

That's it! So long as you are familiar with coding, this should not take longer than 10 minutes.

[Ant Man]

Hi - many thanks for the informative thread.

My German is limited, I understand links and recht but do you know what they all the items mean? What are you turning off?

Cheers
Anthony

[rocket_science]

I've updated the above with some descriptions

Originally Posted by Ant Man

Hi - many thanks for the informative thread.

My German is limited, I understand links and recht but do you know what they all the items mean? What are you turning off?

Cheers
Anthony

[Ant Man]

Thanks very much. That is very helpful. I've not seen the Recaro seat option added to the VO before.

I understand what most of the items you list should be set to 'not-active'. The side airbags, are these the airbags in the seats or door frame?

If they are the seat airbags, makes sense to use 'not-active' as airbags are not present in motorsport seats.

Also do you know what happens to the passenger airbag above the glove box? Will that still fire at all times in a suitably fierce accident or is the seat occupancy effectively telling the car that it is unoccupied?

[rocket_science]

Originally Posted by Ant Man

Thanks very much. That is very helpful. I've not seen the Recaro seat option added to the VO before.

I understand what most of the items you list should be set to 'not-active'. The side airbags, are these the airbags in the seats or door frame?

If they are the seat airbags, makes sense to use 'not-active' as airbags are not present in motorsport seats.

Also do you know what happens to the passenger airbag above the glove box? Will that still fire at all times in a suitably fierce accident or is the seat occupancy effectively telling the car that it is unoccupied?

To be honest, I am not 100% certain. I've heard that a hard crash might still make the front bags pop but I don't think they will. Given what has been coded, I believe the air bags can be physically disconnected and not get any errors so I'm thinking they won't pop.

If you are going through the process of removing the factory seats, one can only assume the move to race seats and obviously harnesses (and hans device too). So ultimately, airbag pop or not, it should not be of too much concern. At least that's my opinion

[vm]

Originally Posted by Ant Man

Thanks very much. That is very helpful. I've not seen the Recaro seat option added to the VO before.

I understand what most of the items you list should be set to 'not-active'. The side airbags, are these the airbags in the seats or door frame?

If they are the seat airbags, makes sense to use 'not-active' as airbags are not present in motorsport seats.

Also do you know what happens to the passenger airbag above the glove box? Will that still fire at all times in a suitably fierce accident or is the seat occupancy effectively telling the car that it is unoccupied?

Side airbags are on the seats so you need this unless you are retrofitting the BMW performance seats, which have integrated side airbags. Regarding the front passenger airbag, it "should" fire at all times whether there is a passenger or not. I said should because this is the opinion held at the coding forums but I don't know if it has been tested in an actual crash. Also some things are model year dependent like the active head restraint, which are on 09+ and maybe the seat position sensors.
Thanks to the OP for putting all this in a single post as it takes some fishing to find all the info.

[///M3 Gusta]

Wow, awesome. Thank you very much for posting this

[enycerz]

Do you leave all the connector unplug underneath of the seat?

[rocket_science]

Originally Posted by enycerz

Do you leave all the connector unplug underneath of the seat?

Yes. You must do so prior to clearing the codes as it will continue to throw the codes every time you go to start the car again.

[enycerz]

Originally Posted by rocket_science

Yes. You must do so prior to clearing the codes as it will continue to throw the codes every time you go to start the car again.

Thanks, I left the seat belt connector connected, i think this is the problem that i can not clear the code.

[dozaiya]

just have a quick question
what's the reason for adding +RECA to VO? could i just code out the needed items in ABG?

[rocket_science]

Originally Posted by dozaiya

just have a quick question
what's the reason for adding +RECA to VO? could i just code out the needed items in ABG?

Perhaps. I just know doing all as above ensured everything worked successfully for me.

[rocket_science]

Originally Posted by dozaiya

just have a quick question
what's the reason for adding +RECA to VO? could i just code out the needed items in ABG?

Perhaps. I just know doing all as above ensured everything worked successfully for me.

[kyrix1st]

Great post.

[Bakerboy]

Originally Posted by rocket_science

Perhaps. I just know doing all as above ensured everything worked successfully for me.

Originally Posted by rocket_science

Perhaps. I just know doing all as above ensured everything worked successfully for me.

Old post I know but hopefully someone can help.

I have followed instructions to the letter and done all the coding changes in the ABG module and cleared codes but still getting codes (less than before) and the annoying seat restraint malfunction on the dash.

However the only thing I haven't done is the +RECA to the VO, I can't seem to work out how to do this. I get to the part of the $ values and get quite confused and don't want to do anything that messes my car up.

Can someone shed some light please?

codes I'm getting below:

S0337 no communication with driver seat module
S0338 no communication with passenger seat module
0093C1 MRS: communication fault, seat occupancy detector passenger
00CF41 DKG: signal from drivers seat switch buckle

[christoepurrr]

Originally Posted by Bakerboy

Old post I know but hopefully someone can help.

I have followed instructions to the letter and done all the coding changes in the ABG module and cleared codes but still getting codes (less than before) and the annoying seat restraint malfunction on the dash.

However the only thing I haven't done is the +RECA to the VO, I can't seem to work out how to do this. I get to the part of the $ values and get quite confused and don't want to do anything that messes my car up.

Can someone shed some light please?

codes I'm getting below:

S0337 no communication with driver seat module
S0338 no communication with passenger seat module
0093C1 MRS: communication fault, seat occupancy detector passenger
00CF41 DKG: signal from drivers seat switch buckle

http://blog.obdii365.com/2016/08/31/...by-ncs-expert/

[dozaiya]

Originally Posted by Bakerboy

Old post I know but hopefully someone can help.

I have followed instructions to the letter and done all the coding changes in the ABG module and cleared codes but still getting codes (less than before) and the annoying seat restraint malfunction on the dash.

However the only thing I haven't done is the +RECA to the VO, I can't seem to work out how to do this. I get to the part of the $ values and get quite confused and don't want to do anything that messes my car up.

Can someone shed some light please?

codes I'm getting below:

S0337 no communication with driver seat module
S0338 no communication with passenger seat module
0093C1 MRS: communication fault, seat occupancy detector passenger
00CF41 DKG: signal from drivers seat switch buckle

i believe adding the +RECA VO simply completes those changes automatically without trying to turn off manually one by one
if you can already disable those features then +RECA won't help you much

[Bakerboy]

Originally Posted by dozaiya

i believe adding the +RECA VO simply completes those changes automatically without trying to turn off manually one by one
if you can already disable those features then +RECA won't help you much

I'm left with only 2 errors now, can't seem to work it out.

All instructions are done including the VO change now.

My codes are:

0093C1 MRS: communication fault, seat occupancy detector passenger
00CF41 DKG: signal from drivers seat switch buckle

Obviously tried clearing codes a few times but no good.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[Bakerboy]

Sorted it, case closed! 👍

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by Bakerboy

Sorted it, case closed! 👍

Curious, what was the issue?

[Scrippy]

Originally Posted by dozaiya

just have a quick question
what's the reason for adding +RECA to VO? could i just code out the needed items in ABG?

Because putting things in VO form will change values in other supporting ECU'a as well. Not only does ABG module need changing but so does Kombi, CIC, FRM..... Vo coding will set this up crudely and you can change specifics like OP posted. Other wise you may need to add lines as well as nicht_active or a value.

[christoepurrr]

Originally Posted by Bartledoo

Curious, what was the issue?

Also curious of the solution as I cannot get rid of the 00CF41 error code