BMW detecting erased ECU

[ken1137]

I apologize in advance but did not find anything by searching this morning. This question is for the Cobb Access Port users.

A supplier said the ECU will be erased (history) when you return to stock mode before going to BMW for service.

Question: will an erased ECU provide BMW with an indication that you are using a tuner?

[KinoBoom]

Originally Posted by ken1137

I apologize in advance but did not find anything by searching this morning. This question is for the Cobb Access Port users.

A supplier said the ECU will be erased (history) when you return to stock mode before going to BMW for service.

Question: will an erased ECU provide BMW with an indication that you are using a tuner?

I would like to know the same...

[vividracing]

I can't say for certain, but there are other means and reasons for clearing an ECU besides just using a tuner. I would imagine that this might cause them to speculate that you're using a tuner, but I don't see how it would be definitive proof.

[ken1137]

Originally Posted by vividracing

I can't say for certain, but there are other means and reasons for clearing an ECU besides just using a tuner. I would imagine that this might cause them to speculate that you're using a tuner, but I don't see how it would be definitive proof.

Thx...that's what I am thinking. I also think there would be numerous complaints on this forum if this was a huge issue. I will let everyone know...going to order today

[RealityDesign]

Like anything, if they want to dig deep enough, they can find out. Will they? Probably not.

On the Subaru with the Cobb AP it was the same thing. It saved a copy of the stock ROM to the AP, then when you went back to "stock" it overwrote the flashed map with the saved stock one. A dealer wouldn't know you ever had anything, but if they really wanted to dig, they could detect that the ECU had been written to. Then it was just a question of checking records to see if a dealer had done any ECU updates to your car, and if they hadn't, obviously you were the one writing stuff to your ECU.

Now, how many times did I hear of that happening? Maybe twice in 4 years. It's highly unlikely, but if you bring your car in with a blown motor and need $10,000 in warranty repairs, they might not be so lazy. For service and other small warranty stuff, they aren't going to bother.

While not exactly a huge contributing factor for me, other people have gone with piggyback's instead of flash tunes specifically because they don't change any of the software on the ECU, and thus, are "less" detectable.

IMO, you're better off spoiling your service advisor and trying to be his bud than worrying about the mods. It's amazing what brining in a few cigars, a bottle of wine, etc can do for your relationship with a SA. As long as they like you and you have a relationship with the dealer, they aren't going to give a shit what's on your car. At that point all you have to worry about is BMW NA regional reps that come around to police warranty claims.

[ken1137]

Originally Posted by RealityDesign

IMO, you're better off spoiling your service advisor and trying to be his bud than worrying about the mods. It's amazing what brining in a few cigars, a bottle of wine, etc can do for your relationship with a SA. As long as they like you and you have a relationship with the dealer, they aren't going to give a shit what's on your car. At that point all you have to worry about is BMW NA regional reps that come around to police warranty claims.

Thx for the advice. We're already off to a good start

[Rawhide]

Originally Posted by RealityDesign

IMO, you're better off spoiling your service advisor and trying to be his bud than worrying about the mods. It's amazing what brining in a few cigars, a bottle of wine, etc can do for your relationship with a SA. .

Seriously? Bring wine and cigars to my SA when I get my oil changed next time?

[Walt White Coupe]

I don't know about the BMW but GM can detect any change to the ECU on my Corvette even if it has been returned to a stock tune. It maintains a history of what has been done to it and warranty work will be voided if they find that the tune has been altered in the past. I would be very surprised if the BMW is any different.

[Rawhide]

Basically, if you can't pay then don't play.

[Harpinc]

Flashing is not all it's cracked up to be.. Same thing with Ford and their trucks. Once they started seeing engine problems because of tuners they started looking. They can tell easily if it has been flashed.

[bimmer98]

Originally Posted by Rawhide

Seriously? Bring wine and cigars to my SA when I get my oil changed next time?

You mean you don't send favors to the people that take car of your $45,000 car? Not even a Christmas Card?? Fool.

One thing is certain in this world. People will take care of people who take care of them.

[Rawhide]

Originally Posted by bimmer98

You mean you don't send favors to the people that take car of your $45,000 car? Not even a Christmas Card?? Fool.

One thing is certain in this world. People will take care of people who take care of them.

I'll get through this world just fine without sending my SA a Christmas card.

Oh fuck me I'm arguing about something this stupid. Give him a dozen roses and a blow job for all I care.

[Dackelone]

It is always best to make friends with the people working on your car. Who knows... one day they might actually help you out of a big mess - and save $$$.

[GaryS]

There has never been a post on this forum about BMW denying a warranty claim because they detected a flash tune.

[Harpinc]

I just don't understand why Ford and Chevrolet could detect tuning and BMW wouldn't be able to do the same ?

[cooler2442]

They can detect it only if the dealer decides to send your ECU back to Germany which would only happen for large issues. Say a blown engine.

[egainer]

Originally Posted by Rawhide

Basically, if you can't pay then don't play.

don't play if you can't pay? It's not that people can't pay.

But they don't want to be forced to buy a new engine if the tune wasn't the cause.

BMW has to prove your tune was the cause of the problem before they can void warranty, and they can't void total warranty, only warranty on part failed due to tune.

as GaryS said, no posts saying BMW denied a claim. I've only seen one post ever in my forum career of a true denial due of warranty claim due to a tune, and it was on an Audi

[Rawhide]

Originally Posted by egainer

don't play if you can't pay? It's not that people can't pay.

But they don't want to be forced to buy a new engine if the tune wasn't the cause.

BMW has to prove your tune was the cause of the problem before they can void warranty, and they can't void total warranty, only warranty on part failed due to tune.

as GaryS said, no posts saying BMW denied a claim. I've only seen one post ever in my forum career of a true denial due of warranty claim due to a tune, and it was on an Audi

You read way too much into that sentence. I was referencing an old saying basically meaning "take responsibility for your actions".

[thez99]

Haha..i think its funny people talkin bout smooching over their SA's like it makes a damn difference, plus anytime ive been to the dealer ive got a diff SA, dont always have the same one. No reason to be giving them shit, specially since THEY arent the ones workin on the $45000 car, the techies in the garage are, the SA just signs ur paperwork and replies to ur emails for service requests.

The whole idea of the AP flash going back to stock is just like most other european car flash tunes doing the same thing, its so the cars ECU sets back to stock and erases 99% of any trace of the tune, making it as it was before. Unless theres some seriously fucked up shit with ur care like massive codes, misfiring all over the place, etc. they wont even go near the ECU with any intent.

Just get the AP, set it to stock when u go to the dealer, fuck the cigars and wine, spend that money on mods or pizza for fucks sake.

[blue2fire]

Originally Posted by Rawhide

Seriously? Bring wine and cigars to my SA when I get my oil changed next time?

LOL. Hire him a Prostitute while you are at it.

Ridiculous what people need to go to these days. He is a step above a waiter at a fancy restaurant and they care only about making money by recommending $200 mini details and flushes.

[thez99]

Originally Posted by blue2fire

LOL. Hire him a Prostitute while you are at it.

Ridiculous what people need to go to these days. He is a step above a waiter at a fancy restaurant and they care only about making money by recommending $200 mini details and flushes.

Now i dont feel that was totally warranted. The last couple times ive been to my dealers Ive felt the SA's are a bit more than just money hungry tards. They are bit more involved than that, and ive never been pressed once by any of em to do anything unnecessary. Very accomodating, i just dont think the sucking up bit is needed at all.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by egainer

don't play if you can't pay? It's not that people can't pay.

But they don't want to be forced to buy a new engine if the tune wasn't the cause.

BMW has to prove your tune was the cause of the problem before they can void warranty, and they can't void total warranty, only warranty on part failed due to tune.

as GaryS said, no posts saying BMW denied a claim. I've only seen one post ever in my forum career of a true denial due of warranty claim due to a tune, and it was on an Audi

If you modify the engine from the manufacturers configuration, then yes indeed the manufacturer can deny warranty.
If you modify the ECU, with a tune for example, then the manufacturer can deny and void the warranty on the engine.

If a tune was put on the car, and it's found, then there is nothing for them to prove. If a turbo blows and there is a tune, what's to prove?
The tune modifies the engines operation beyond it's original design parameters. That directly effects how the whole engine operates.
Mag-Moss won't help you there.