Flashing EPS Module - Help

carabuser

Lieutenant
Oct 2, 2019
870
1
765
0
UK
Ride
Z4 35i & 335i
Hi,

I'm messing around with the EPS module in my Z4. I have a 35i and want to see if I can flash the software from the 35is onto my EPS module.

I've checked realoem and both vehicles have the same steering rack and the module share the same ECU type "EPSPL2". The difference is that the 35i comes with the ZB# 6791454 and the 35is comes with ZB# 6855892.

I tried to flash using WinKFP but I get the error

Code:
Error 201:
Check hardware number
Wrong ECU hardware number: 6791454 (BSU not possible)

Should I move forward and try and force the flash by editing the HIS file or something or am doing something really stupid here and about to brick my EPS?
 

carabuser

Lieutenant
Oct 2, 2019
870
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The two flashes have different variant coding options, I pulled these from the 0pa of each:

6791454:
;;Fahrzeugidentifikation
;;K_F1: E89 mit N54 ohne SA2VF mit SA216
;;K_F2: E89 mit N54 und SA2VF mit SA216
;;K_F3: E89 mit N52 ohne SA2VF mit SA216
;;K_F4: E89 mit N52 und SA2VF mit SA216
;;K_F5: E89 ohne SA216

6855892:
;;Fahrzeugidentifikation
;;K_F0: E92
;;K_F1: E93
;;K_F2: E87
;;K_F3: E81
;;K_F4: E90
;;K_F5: E91
;;K_F6: E82
;;K_F7: E88
;;K_F8: E84
;;K_F9: E92_basis
;;K_F10: E93_basis
;;K_F11: E81_basis
;;K_F12: E88_basis
;;K_F13: E90_basis
;;K_F14: E84_basis
;;K_F16: E89_basis_N54
;;K_F17: E89_basis_N54VDC
;;K_F18: E89_basis_N52
;;K_F19: E89_basis_N52VDC
;;K_F20: E89_basis
;;K_F21: E89_basis_N54T
;;K_F24: E89_sport_N54
;;K_F25: E89_sport_N54VDC
;;K_F26: E89_sport_N52
;;K_F27: E89_sport_N52VDC
;;K_F28: E89_sport
;;K_F29: E89_sport_N54T

N54T will be the 35is which is the option I'm after testing.
 

carabuser

Lieutenant
Oct 2, 2019
870
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765
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UK
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I've looked into NCSDummy and it's showing me that 6791454 is module EPS_E89.C01 and 6855892 is EPS_PL2.C03.

Both come under the banner of EPSPL2 in WinKFP. I'm only a novice with module coding so I don't know how meaningful these differences are.
 

RSL

Lieutenant
Aug 11, 2017
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I think all the files are signed, so won't be as simple as adding the ZB to your car's chain, but you could try expert mode WinKFP to force it. No guarantee it won't brick the module or how it would react with other things afterwards (might need to default code several others as 35is as well), but should at least allow you to get the ZB flashed. Is the wiring/pinning all the same between 35i and 35is?

This is for DSC, but a basic rundown how to use expert mode to write ZB from outside the chain (1M DSC ZB to 335 in this case).

 
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carabuser

Lieutenant
Oct 2, 2019
870
1
765
0
UK
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Z4 35i & 335i
I think all the files are signed, so won't be as simple as adding the ZB to your car's chain, but you could try expert mode WinKFP to force it. No guarantee it won't brick the module or how it would react with other things afterwards (might need to default code several others as 35is as well), but should at least allow you to get the ZB flashed. Is the wiring/pinning all the same between 35i and 35is?

This is for DSC, but a basic rundown how to use expert mode to write ZB from outside the chain (1M DSC ZB to 335 in this case).

Thanks for this. I need to research a little more to see if it will cause problems. I'm confident that I can flash it back if the flash doesn't work but I'm worried that the flash might leave it unable to boot.

The 35i and 35is cars are identical with the difference being in the ECU tune and TCU flash. They both come with the same steering rack for the years they were produced together but my car is a 2009 from before the 35is was introduced so it may be that my car has an older EPS.
 

RSL

Lieutenant
Aug 11, 2017
937
501
0
Thanks for this. I need to research a little more to see if it will cause problems. I'm confident that I can flash it back if the flash doesn't work but I'm worried that the flash might leave it unable to boot.

The 35i and 35is cars are identical with the difference being in the ECU tune and TCU flash. They both come with the same steering rack for the years they were produced together but my car is a 2009 from before the 35is was introduced so it may be that my car has an older EPS.
Always some risk trying something like this, but generally seems recoverable if things don't work. Make sure you have list of the current stock ZBs before starting in case you need to go back manually.

If your car was produced before that EPS was used, you'll also need to change the build date to something when it was used in production in the VO (#mmyy) before you default code anything after flashing, in addition to 35is vehicle code and adding/removing any $SA options for old/new if needed. Basically, need to make sure the VO is valid and matches what you want to default code to.
 

tony@codewerx

Corporal
Apr 1, 2017
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Are you saying you know that the EPS is different hardware?

I know you mentioned the realoem numbers are the same. As an example - that’s how some guys got their turbos messed up because on realoem - LHD and RHD turbos have the same part number. But we know it’s different physically.

use inpa and compare the hardware number via ident between your rides. If it’s different - drop the idea.
 

carabuser

Lieutenant
Oct 2, 2019
870
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I know the part number is the same on vehicles after 10/20/2010. All of the E89 Z4 cars share the same steering rack, certainly in the UK.

The thing that's keeping me from flashing is that my car is a 2009 so has a different steering rack part number to the latest revision. This part will have been installed on the 35is model too so if I can find a person with a 35is from 2010 to compare ZB number and HW numbers I'll know for sure.
 

carabuser

Lieutenant
Oct 2, 2019
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May 2010 35is reporting in
That was easy :tearsofjoy:

If you could grab a screenshot of your "Identifikation Lesen" in INPA it would make me a happy man!

This is what mine looked like last time I had INPA open:
INPA Identification.png
 

carabuser

Lieutenant
Oct 2, 2019
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Thanks for that. It shows that you have the 6855892 as I expected and the part number of the steering for your car is just 1 last digit away indicating the RHD/LHD difference.

Everything looks promising.

What EGS flash is that? It's the M3 GTS HW number
 

tony@codewerx

Corporal
Apr 1, 2017
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Thanks for that. It shows that you have the 6855892 as I expected and the part number of the steering for your car is just 1 last digit away indicating the RHD/LHD difference.

Everything looks promising.

What EGS flash is that? It's the M3 GTS HW number

Its a DCT gearbox ....
 

carabuser

Lieutenant
Oct 2, 2019
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Its a DCT gearbox ....

No offence, I know you're trying to help but I'm not a complete moron, I know what the EGS module controls :tearsofjoy:

I already flashed my EGS with the latest 35is EGS flash, that was an easy comfort mode flash in WinKFP. It's a nice little improvement over the standard 35i flash, higher shift point program. I'm just curious to see what his EGS flash is and if it requires a GWS flash to get it to work.
 
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tony@codewerx

Corporal
Apr 1, 2017
172
40
0
Ride
E92
No offence, I know you're trying to help but I'm not a complete moron, I know what the EGS module controls :tearsofjoy:

I already flashed my EGS with the latest 35is EGS flash, that was an easy comfort mode flash in WinKFP. It's a nice little improvement over the standard 35i flash, higher shift point program. I'm just curious to see what his EGS flash is and if it requires a GWS flash to get it to work.

Ooops ...

The hardware number for the DCT in the M3 is similar to the DCT in the non M. Maybe that is what is confusing me in regards your question.

I flashed the GTS software into a 35is 3 years ago. And you are right - the GWS would not work. Not with software.
 

NoQuarter

Major
Nov 24, 2017
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Indiana, USA
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Z4 35is, 535xi, X5 35i
I have the M3 shifter assembly and the GTS flash. It works pretry well but it is not 100% and there are shifting provlems due to the difference in final drive ratios between the cars.

The solution is to change the diff ratio or determine how to do it in software.