DME update free?

[Jlastor]

I just purchased a Shark Injector, but before installing it I would like to know if it is recommended to take the car to the dealer and updated the DME. Should it be free or will the dealer charge me? I know that my car has not visited the dealer in at least 5 years (after last warranty visit my dad performed all maintenance, then I bought from him).


Thanks!

[llll1l1ll]

I would think a dealer would charge you money for the DME update - especially if you are no longer under a warranty. From what I've read, an independent shop may be able to perform the update for you at a similar/cheaper cost. The dealer may have to send your DME to a different location. There are two types of DME updates, apparently: ones that update the 4,000 rpm dip and ones that update the sluggishness in the 2,800 - 3,000 rpm range.

Someone please correct me, though!

[Meric]

I will call my dealer and ask about it today.

[Hornung418]

Both can be done with software. It's recommended that you put out an APB here at ZHPMafia.com or on e46fanatics.com looking for a DME coding expert in your regional section. Probably charge you a six-pack or a small nominal fee. At the dealer it's an hours worth of labor.

4k Dip is a knock sensor issue; DISA opening at 4100 rpm is mistaken for detonation and fuel is retarded. Updated tells the DME to dump extra fuel during the 'detonation period' to avoid the loss of power.

2.8k rpm issue could be many things. Oxygen Sensor related, Coil Pack related (Service Bulletin), simply changing the Spark Plugs may defeat the issue. But I do recall there was an update to cure this. PM TerraPhantm on e46f, bf.c, Bimmerfest or M3forum and he'll clue you in to what's really happening!

Best of luck with the issue!

[danewilson77]

Mute point, but I always thought DISA opened up at 3750 rpms.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[Hornung418]

Opens at 4100 rpm and closes at 3750 rpm.

[danewilson77]

Opens at 4100 rpm and closes at 3750 rpm.

Werd. Got it. Thanks.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[Hornung418]

The DISA opening is where the 4k dip stems from :)

[Meric]

Just asked the dealer that mine has already been updated. But there is no cost for the update because they consider it as a recall.

[az3579]

Just asked the dealer that mine has already been updated. But there is no cost for the update because they consider it as a recall.

That's news to me...

[Jlastor]

Thanks guys!!! Ill visit my dealer tomorrow and let you know what they tell me. Thankfully my dealer is almost walking distance from my house (and Im on vacation) and has a nice Irish Pub next to it, so i can basically leave the car and go for lunch! lol

But i just wanted to know if I could reflash before the update or if it is necessary to update for the Shark Injector to work properly.

[Hornung418]

Shark will work with any US DME tune. Whether or not you have the latest update makes no difference.

[LivesNearCostco]

I suspect if you can find an open recall on your car that requires a DME update, they will do the DME update for free. I paid my indie $150 to update my DME. I'm sure if I'd looked around enough, I would have found a fellow mafioso or fanatic who would have done it for less using a laptop.

[az3579]

I suspect if you can find an open recall on your car that requires a DME update, they will do the DME update for free. I paid my indie $150 to update my DME. I'm sure if I'd looked around enough, I would have found a fellow mafioso or fanatic who would have done it for less using a laptop.

I'm working on trying to figure out how to get that piece working. It's on my to-do list.

[nike001]

I thought that I heard that the Shark chip fixes the dip?

[danewilson77]

^Meric....do you have the recall number. Pump that guy for more info....

[danewilson77]

I thought that I heard that the Shark chip fixes the dip?

Nope. Shark doesn't fix dip, according to Jim Conforti.

[az3579]

I thought that I heard that the Shark chip fixes the dip?

Unfortunately not. I thought it did, as I didn't feel it when I first flashed it, but now I can feel it clear as day. I don't think it's possible for it to "unflash" itself, so it's possible that it just reduced it enough where I first thought it was gone. I have gotten used to it now and still feel the dip. :(

[nike001]

Nope. Shark doesn't fix dip, according to Jim Conforti.


Unfortunately not. I thought it did, as I didn't feel it when I first flashed it, but now I can feel it clear as day. I don't think it's possible for it to "unflash" itself, so it's possible that it just reduced it enough where I first thought it was gone. I have gotten used to it now and still feel the dip. :(

Roger that. Thanks guys. Hopefully you get yours updated then az!

[Meric]

^Meric....do you have the recall number. Pump that guy for more info....

My dealer will start swearing at me (I keep calling them for free stuffs xD ) Sure i will call them tomorrow and ask. :)

[Stu]

Just asked the dealer that mine has already been updated. But there is no cost for the update because they consider it as a recall.

Oh rearry?!!? Totally going to bring mine to Performance Chapel Hill and get this done! I definitely notice it. At 4.1k RPM I'll have a small dip and then sudden surge in power. My low-end power is not very good either: I suspect VANOS.

BTW, Performance BMW rules. Nicest people at that dealership. They even let me talk to the shop foreman to help figure out how to install some parts. One time, they took a part I was having trouble with and said, "We're going to figure out exactly which clip you need for this part." They were having a lot of trouble with finding the right door moulding clip because apparently their system has the wrong part number. But sure enough, they kept their word and figured it out! The part was more expensive than the original one they gave me, but said it was no problem.

[HokieZHP]

Yeah I like performance also! I live nearby and when I worked for a local shop (Digital Chassis) and did parts runs over there all the time and they're really nice people!

May have to contact them about getting my update done!


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[MrMaico]

You guys have to remember Meric lives in Canada, possibly different govt. regulations in regards to things like this. I've never heard of a USA dealer doing it for free.

[das boots]

Pardon the ignorance...but what is the 'dip' that everyone is so familiar with???? Please explain....Thanks.

[llll1l1ll]

Under aggressive acceleration, there is a slight "dip" in power around 4,000 rpm and then a surge of power after the DME corrects itself. The dip is caused by the DME interpreting the opening of the DISA valve as a knock and retards fuel, resulting in a loss of power.

[das boots]

Under aggressive acceleration, there is a slight "dip" in power around 4,000 rpm and then a surge of power after the DME corrects itself. The dip is caused by the DME interpreting the opening of the DISA valve as a knock and retards fuel, resulting in a loss of power.

Thanks. And so, the cure for this is to have the DME updated? Is there a SB announcement for a DME update?

[llll1l1ll]

I think someone is trying to scrounge up this SB announcement; however, I've seen it posted once or twice before in a thread regarding the dip.

[Hornung418]

MS45.1 DME for vehicles with Performance Package:

'03, March — '04, July - 12 147 561 520
'04, July — '05, September - 12 14 7 561 522

Info attained at www.BMWFans.info (http://www.BMWFans.info).

[MrMaico]

Both can be done with software. It's recommended that you put out an APB here at ZHPMafia.com or on e46fanatics.com looking for a DME coding expert in your regional section. Probably charge you a six-pack or a small nominal fee. At the dealer it's an hours worth of labor.

4k Dip is a knock sensor issue; DISA opening at 4100 rpm is mistaken for detonation and fuel is retarded. Updated tells the DME to dump extra fuel during the 'detonation period' to avoid the loss of power.

2.8k rpm issue could be many things. Oxygen Sensor related, Coil Pack related (Service Bulletin), simply changing the Spark Plugs may defeat the issue. But I do recall there was an update to cure this. PM TerraPhantm on e46f, bf.c, Bimmerfest or M3forum and he'll clue you in to what's really happening!

Best of luck with the issue!

I'm still a little skeptical whether this can be done by anyone with the software on a laptop. I'm talking about the 4000 rpm power dip where a dealer has to send your DME to Jersey for updating. I agree, the 2800 rpm miss I had cured at an indy (updated to the latest software version) can be probably be done by anyone with the right program but the other one is the one I'm talking about. A dealer can't do it and Jim Conforti can't do it so I have to wonder. Almost makes me think there is an actual hardware change in your DME that they have to do in Jersey. But if that were true why do some people report that it came back after a while on their car after sending in their DME.

Have you ever read of anyone fixing the 4000 rpm dip by themselves? Like I say, I hope I'm wrong but I'm skeptical.


Thanks. And so, the cure for this is to have the DME updated? Is there a SB announcement for a DME update?

Here's some info on it......

http://www.linquist.net/motorsports/bmw/sib121705.txt

Barry

[Hornung418]

Apparently getting the latest DME update for MS43 and resetting the adaptations has worked for several owners of 330i/ci. I don't see why it wouldn't work for ZHPs as well. If they do have to actually write in code then this wouldn't work.

I think they have to send it to Jersey for documentation purposes. Now that it's common place to have all the stuff that BMW dealers have, you can do it on your own. I'm not saying I'm right, but these cars are dated enough for people to have the "Special Coding Equipment" that can solve the issue.

[das boots]

Thank you Hornung418 & MrMaico. Is this based on build date? I have not experienced any of the dip so far....knock-on-wood. Now, does that mean I have to keep an eyes and ears open when a dip occurs? So, I have to wait for a dip(s) to occur prior to bringing this up to the dealer? Is there be a p.m. and be pro-active instead of being reactive to prevent the dips?

[Hornung418]

Lawrence, the dip occurs at WOT when passing through 4100 rpm. You should really romp on it in 2nd or 3rd gear. You can't prevent it, it's a knock sensor adaptation issue.

[das boots]

If this is the case, then I have to push it on 2nd & 3rd to find out, huh! The ZHP is my DD and I don't push it. Just enjoy the ride. I have my M3 to do the real stomping on 2nd & 3rd.

[Mtnman]

Lawrence, the dip occurs at WOT when passing through 4100 rpm. You should really romp on it in 2nd or 3rd gear. You can't prevent it, it's a knock sensor adaptation issue.

For what its worth, Mine does it more at 2/3 throttle than WOT. WOT i can avoid it somehow. But at 2/3 i can make it buck like a bronco. And, FWIW, i have the most current software according to BMW asheville.

[Jlastor]

Since when has this update been available? I went to the dealer today and they told me that my car has the latest update/software, and the last record they have on my car dates back to summer 2005.

I must admit that I spent the rest of todays afternoon trying to feel the dip and I just can't notice any loss of power at 4000-4500 rpm. I must admit that after having VW's and Audis with the 1.8T engine, I am used to huge amounts of lag / no power before boost. So maybe to my butt dyno its not noticeable.

[danewilson77]

I think last update was in 2008.

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[SoarinZHP]

I don't know if it's in my head or not. When I bought my car in May, the car had the infamous dip. I went to two indy's and they couldn't find a thing wrong with the car - even driving it with some expensive machine hooked up to the OBDII port. Was running perfectly under hard acceleration - never dipped with the technician.

Anyway, it started doing it again a week later. I was having some kind of head unit/bluetooth problem where the head unit wouldn't acknowledge the phone even existed. I disconnected the batter terminals and crossed them overnight. Hooked everything back up and haven't experienced the dip once.

Any ideas?

[das boots]

Since when has this update been available? I went to the dealer today and they told me that my car has the latest update/software, and the last record they have on my car dates back to summer 2005.

I must admit that I spent the rest of todays afternoon trying to feel the dip and I just can't notice any loss of power at 4000-4500 rpm. I must admit that after having VW's and Audis with the 1.8T engine, I am used to huge amounts of lag / no power before boost. So maybe to my butt dyno its not noticeable.

I did the same thing (1st time) to feel for a dip. Best place to do this is the freeway entrance. I went all the way up to power at 4000 - 4700 rpms on both 2nd & 3rd. No loss of power. Performed flawlessly. And I was really waiting for the dip. In fact, it put a smile on my face that this ZHP has so much Umph. Knowing that I have so much kick whenever I would need it. Hoo Yahh!

[Meric]

ZHP :(

Yeah i dont see and dip just performs normally.