ECU fix??

[Raggie]

Hello all,
I am thinking of buying a 1998 Z3 1.9 roadster petrol as an MOT failure due to the ECU....I have since called my local BMW dealership and was told they could be sourced from £900-£1000 new (!) plus VAT. Then there would be £100 to fit and a further £100 to code it (plus VAT).
So, my question is to you lovely people-Does anybody know where I could send the faulty ECU to be refurbed/fixed (I believe sometimes it's just the solder which cracks on them) and approx what sort of cost would this be?
Many thanks for any information.
Cheers!
Nat

 

[Lee]

That's a crazy amount of money, I've a few times sent them to company's on ebay and paid around £145

You could buy yourself another second hand ecu and have the EWS turnt off and it will run your car no issues. We've done this many times.

 

[Zephyr]

From 120€ up to 280€ you can get an M43 ecu and south of 400 a full set with ews and key.
(In Athens Greece).
The M43/M44 is the most popular engine over here and literally parts are dead cheap.

 

[Zephyr]

https://www.car.gr/parts/view/33849716-egkefalos-kit-e36-e34-z3

Even cheaper….

 

[Raggie]

Thank you to Lee and Zephyr.
I have had a look around ebay for refurb and I think that would be the way to go.
My immobioliser doesn't work on my other Z3 (I think this is an EWS..?..)...I will now wait to see if the guy is willing to sell it to me when he retreives it from the garage.
Thanks again guys

 

[Peter12345]

Would be interesting to know how they decided the ECU caused the MOT failure ?

 

[Raggie]

Hi...I believe it is an Airbag ECU.
Part number: 65. 77-8386192
So, guys...anybody know of one for sale with these numbers please..?..I've looked all over but can't find one.
Am I right in thinking: If I get hold of one with this serial number, I just whip out the old one and pop the new 2nd hand one in BUT then have to go and get it coded?
Many thanks.

 

[colb]

The part number you quote is the main airbag module fitted to the centre console. Real OEM search on the part number shows a couple of other modules that can be used on your car retrospctively depending on the year of your car. So if you cannot souce one with your part number then look for one of the other compatable units. Replacement will need coding to your car using NCS Expeert otherwise you will have an airbag code and the light set on the dash. https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/partxref?q=65.+77-8386192

 

[Raggie]

Thanks a lot for the information Colb.
I think I understand....When I search ebay for the 65778386192 part number I do get suggestions but not ones with the correct number when I hover over the image.

I believe I could also search for the number given from the RealOem website:
"65776908896(03/01/2000 — ), Exchangeable retrospectively"
and maybe the other one (?)...or is this one too late?:
65776922954(02/25/2002 — ), Exchangeable retrospectively

I take it that means either would fit my car as the car was 'born' in Oct 1999.

Sorry for being dull but electronics really aren't my thing.

There isn't a way to send it off to get refurbished?

Many thanks for your time-from a fellow Welshman
Nat

 

[Raggie]

There is this one, which I think is correct:

2000 BMW Z3 E36 SRS Airbag Control Module Computer OEM | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2000 BMW Z3 E36 SRS Airbag Control Module Computer OEM at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Raggie]

I've also found this:

BMW Z3 65.77-8386192 Airbag Module Reset and Repair Service

Airbag reset and repair service for BMW Z3 airbag control unit with the part number 65.77-8386192. We remove the stored crash data from your airbag module after your airbags have deployed, which will turn off the airbag lamp on your dashboard enabling you to reuse the SRS module safely as before.

www.crashdata.co.uk

But they say they can only fix certain codes...So I shall have to get the car hooked up to read the fault code once I get it.

 

[colb]

The ones listed as ok retrospectively for your car can be used in place of your current one but will need coding to your car when fitted using NCS Expert software.
Crash Data can remove the crash data on a module if its been locked up following an accident, it has to be done by direct reading of the eeprom chip on the circuit board with different software. What code is your current module setting, if its an internal fault the module is probably unrepirable. Best course of action would be to obtain a replacement from the UK and hope its not from a crashed car thats locked it up.

 

[Raggie]

Thanks for the help.
Once I get the car I will get it down to the local garage to get the code read. I’ll see what that is and go from there…fingers crossed it’s not an internal fault.

 

[Raggie]

Ok…ECU is out. For my Z3 (1999 1.9) I managed to get it out without removing the central console. Instead I went in from the side but did remove stereo and gauges for help with seeing what I was doing.
A 2nd hand ECU is in the post, with the same number but from a 2.8 2000 model which has not had a prang nor airbags going off.
Sooo, I would like to know what INPS leads to buy and where to download the software..?
Out of interest My 800 SRS reset tool read errors of 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and a couple with letters infront (sorry didn’t take any notice by that time). However, I had to refit the same bloody ECU I removed as I’d left the window down and rain on way!! So, after refitting it I firstly got the window up and then thought I’d read it again with the 800..this time it just gave me E10 on initial reading and E11on clearing.
This DOES NOT mean the 800 doesn’t work, as I then plugged it into my other 1.9 Z3 and all was fine and usual.
Hope this helps someone-please do send me an idea of where to get the INPS cables and what I should be looking for.
Thanks in advance

 

[colb]

You need to buy BMW INPA and the interface plus a 20pin to 16pin Cable changer to plug the interface into the round diagnostic socket in the engine bay. INPA from BCables seller on ebay will come with some other software including NCS Expert that you will need to code the module to your car.

BMW Diagnostic Software Cable Ediabas INPA Dis SSS OBD Lead With 20pin Adapter for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for BMW Diagnostic Software Cable Ediabas INPA Dis SSS OBD Lead With 20pin Adapter at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

UK BMW 20 PIN TO 16 PIN OBDII CABLE OBD2 DIAGNOSTIC LEAD CONVERTER ADAPTOR | eBay

For connecting your OBD2 scanner and your vehicle with this 20 pin connector which is specifically for BMW's. 1x BMW 20 Pin to 16 Pin OBD2 Cables. OBDII Female--------BMW(20Pin). Works on all BMW with 20 PIN diagnostic connector.

www.ebay.co.uk

You will of course need a Laptop to load the software on, Windows 7 to Windows 10 usually ok, just make sure your settings are all correct to get INPA and the rest to operate correctly.

Diagnostic Scanner 1.4.0 Interface Code Reader New Scan Tool V 1.4 - For BMW E39 | eBay

BMW 1.4.0 Diagnostic Interface Scanner. BMW Scanner V1.4.0 interface. USB stick with software & guides. Software on a USB drive with full Windows 10 install guide and drivers. Works on all versions of Windows.

www.ebay.co.uk

The B800 airbag scanner is quite a basic scanner INPA is far more powerful for scanning for errors and clearing them. Once your into Laptop diagnostics you might consider BMW Scanner1.4 as an addittion, its far less complicated than INPA for setting up and using it.

As long as your car is post 1998 and OBD2 it should all work for you.

 

[Raggie]

Hey Colb,
Thanks for the info.
If I understand: I buy the first 2 you suggested, upload the software to my computer then attach adapter to the cable and connect the whole lot to the 20 pin connector on the car .
The other BMW scanner 1.4….I don’t see how this connects to the car, or is it useful just for the software it comes with-I then use the other cables to attach to the 20 pin plug?
Sorry-this is a very new area for me (it’s the first time I’ve owned a car with electric windows!!)
Cheers

 

[colb]

Yes for INPA and its sister software (NCS Expert etc) from BCables install the software to your Laptop as per the instructions with it. You then use the plug in interface that comes with the software using the 20pin to 16pin cable changer to the 20 pin socket and the usb from the interface to your laptop, the software always wants to use Com port1 on the Laptop so plug it into that every time.
BMW Scanner 1.4 comes with its own interface and usb cable and software, just install that and again use its cable to com port 1 and the interface via the 20pin to 16pin cable to the round diagnostic socket.

Take a look at this on Youtube for info on the systems

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0HONlW75ZE

 

[Raggie]

Hey Colb,
Thanks again.
I’ve watched the video but was too late buying the INPA cable! On the video it says a K-DECAN cable (?) should I be searching for a BMW OBD2 cable (can’t find one) or an INPA cable…bearing in mind I need it for the installation of the airbag ecu so it needs to be able to clear codes and code the new ECU to the car.
Cheers

 

[colb]

The cable that comes with the BCables kit has no switch but should work with the software included. The other cable type you can buy has a switch for the two types of system on the model range. The Non switch cable should do for your car.

 

[Raggie]

Unfortunately I was too late to buy the BCable...So I am looking for another cable which comes with the same software. I have found this (do you think it will work..In the description it doesn't mention the E36 engine) It also has a switch:

Diagnostic Connector Cable Portable for BMW INPA K+CAN INPA K DCAN Car WU | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Diagnostic Connector Cable Portable for BMW INPA K+CAN INPA K DCAN Car WU at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk