OVER CRANKING

[Southernboy]

Okay, so here's a post from another forum, and not Z3 specific, but is specific to the EWS / DME / KEY coding.
Here is the link to the post.
What is interesting is that the OP ordered a new EWS from BMW which BMW pre-programmed using the VIN number. Please read the post and comment. It seems I will be obliged to go to BMW and fork out for a new EWS unit ??

Link:- https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1167689

 

[Southernboy]

....... and some more confusion into the pot.
Just seen this ad on gumtree...

Ak90 bmw key and ews programmer Allows you to program keys and ews new or used.rewrite vin etc . We supply a variety of diagnostic tools and key programmers. We deliver country wide and neighbouring countries For more information about this product please contact Call SMS or whatsapp 0780563125/0739511509

 

[Southernboy]

..... and here's some good insight... If you have a good EWS and matching key, it seems there isn't any need to worry about the DME / ECU..

Hi all,

Im not putting this topic up to look for any answers but more so it comes up as part of a search function for someone in the future who was in the same predicament as i was over the weekend.

Due to an engine failure i went and changed the engine in my E36 last week, i found a complete rolled 99 E36 M3 Evo for parts and set about the mechanical installation. Come friday evening all was well and ready to start up, i had ignition lights but no starter. After many hours on saturday doing a little rewiring i had diagnosed it as an immobiliser problem. I rang around various different "specialists" to try and get a second opinion on it but with the exception of Eddie at bmwcare (thanks eddie) and Richie at AC they were all talking through their respective ars3s... I was told that an EWS unit has to be coded to the ECU and also to the key. The ECU, EWS, sensing ring and key i was using were all from the donor car and no joy.

I had figures of anything between 80euro for an EWS reprogramming to 2000 for a new ECU and EWS bounced around for a fix and thought this just cant be right, ended up bringing the car to a mate of mine that i had forgotten about to be honest. He plugged it in and diagnosed it as a faulty EWS unit. I brought it home again and found the old and original EWS unit and key and bingo car fired straight into life. Contrary to what i had been told by pretty much everyone the EWS and ECU are not coded together. Once the EWS and the key match then they will work with any ECU.

Just for Reference sake anyone who has this problem in future, on a post 96' E36 you do not need to chance the EWS and the key to avoid immobiliser issues and you do not need to pay any "specialist" 80euro to program it either.

Just hope my 2 days of tearing my hair out can be of help to someone!

Regards,

Ben

 

[mrscalex]

No need to buy a new one.

An AK90 can possibly be used as I already suggested. It’s certainly capable of rewriting a whole EWS. But you would probably need to use a hex editor to hack together a binary file with the new software and your old key details.

Unless the software is in a different part of the module. In which case easy as you just need to get hold of a secondhand EWS and copy across the key details which is what it’s for all day long.

 

[Southernboy]

.....
And finally...

http://www.micro-tronik.com/learnin...eral-information/ews-understanding/ews-iii-d/

 

[Southernboy]

So the option is to get a 2nd hand EWS plus the matching keys with the 2nd hand ews and it should be a straight swap, or go for a new EWS from BMW and have that programmed to match the vin and original keys...
I just called my local BMW stealer - £120 for the EWS module, plus book the car in for re-progamming... probably another £100 plus..

 

[mrscalex]

Done lots of background reading on EWS previously. Something like 40 hours worth to get up and running on making keys.

Only 1 question that needs answering for me to say if you can go the AK90 route.

When the AK90 reads/writes the binary dump it works with. Is it:

1. Operating software (what's giving you the issue) and key/VIN data
2. or just key/VIN data.

If it's (2) you can use the AK90 for sure.

If it's (1) you'd need to look at using a hex editor to hack together the operating software and key/VIN data.

I'm not going to have a chance any time soon to do this checking for you. But armed with the above if you can try and track something down out there that seems to answer this, post the link and will endeavour to verify and advise accordingly.

I'm not saying the AK90 is definitely a better route than DIS. I just don't know DIS. But the AK90 route is one I can support you with and gives the added bonus of setting you up to make your own keys.

 

[mrscalex]

So the option is to get a 2nd hand EWS plus the matching keys with the 2nd hand ews and it should be a straight swap, or go for a new EWS from BMW and have that programmed to match the vin and original keys...
I just called my local BMW stealer - £120 for the EWS module, plus book the car in for re-progamming... probably another £100 plus..

No the keys are not needed with the secondhand option. And if you went that route you'd have to change the lock barrels and I would think almost certainly the DME too. It's much simpler than that (potentially) as per my last message.

However £120 plus 1 or even 2 hours of programming. Is much cheaper than I imagined. So I would give that some serious consideration too.

 

[Southernboy]

Just been out to remove the trim and see which EWS is fitted... It is the "older" version with the purported software problem.
The new part number for replacement from BMW is 61356912145. HW1 SW 06
And it seems I should just bite the bullet and get a new part and have the stealer do the programming...
It is also probably the less stressful route to achieve the result required..
Old part number is:- 61358384678 - HW1 SW 05
Thanks for the help mate.. always good to have someone to bounce off...

 

[mrscalex]

You need a lot of patience and a little bit of computer/electronics knowledge to get the AK90 or for that matter DIS working.

So the BMW route in this instance, as it's fairly modestly priced seems like a reasonable one.

 

[Southernboy]

Yep... and considering I don't have any of the kit required, or the expertise, it's the sensible thing to do.

 

[mrscalex]

Of course you could try and argue that as it's a software error the car was never properly fit for purpose and you don't think you should have to pay

 

[Southernboy]

I think getting Brexit through parliament would be easier than winning that argument with BMW..

 

[Southernboy]

A thought just occurred to me...
Keys can be coded to an EWS module... so if I get an ews module, retain my keys, and have them re-chipped to match the ews module would that not be a cheaper route ?
Since it seems the DME doesn't have any say and follows the instruction from the ews...??

 

[mrscalex]

Well that my friend will be happening tonight

 

[Southernboy]

Do you think it'll get through parliament??

 

[Southernboy]

Read this........
Link:- ttps://www.ecudoctors.com/bmw-ecu-dme-reprogrammed-and-rebuilt.html

 

[Southernboy]

Okay.... don't answer the previous "thought" I had.... the only way past this is to go to the stealers... The EWS has to pair with the DME as well as with the keys... So no practical way around it..

 

[handsomejackuk]

from what i have seen the ews can be programmed through the K line on the 20 pin dignostic plug.. i not sure what software is needed used to read / write the data yet i have got an ak90 on order and when it comes back i will be dissecting a spare ews module to see what its all about i have a lot of programmming and hardware interfacing experience and done this sort of thing before so fairly confident i can find out exactly how it works. i also see no reaosn why if the software in ews the is buggy why that cant be updated too with an appropriate interface..and geting hold of the firmware from a later ews unit, some reverse engineering of the microcontroller used in the ews uinit can be done, all the info is on the internet and if enough time is spent on it can done they use the same ews microcontroller on other models of car so its not just BMW. same as the engine ecu / DMe i beilieve that is used on other vehicles.. also i did notice when running a friends inpa the other day software versions of ecu / dme are shown in inpa, and i think my 1.9 ecu did have some factory updates to make idle better this would have been done at some stage in the cars life at a bmw dealership... be interesting to get the sofware updates... basically you are reflashing the eprom.. or maybe it was done by removing the eprom

food for thought...

 

[handsomejackuk]

Okay.... don't answer the previous "thought" I had.... the only way past this is to go to the stealers... The EWS has to pair with the DME as well as with the keys... So no practical way around it..

when they say the ews has to pair with the ecu i wonder if they are trying to be clever and it just has to be elctrically connected to the ecu... and not through a software handshake... not really looked into this as have no need to at the moment...