A note about clearing fault codes, ECU adaptation reset, etc.

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~alpina.nut/gt1_2.jpg">

I had a chance to get up close and personal with a GT One Tester. For those who never heard of it, this is the machine that every BMW dealer in the world uses to diagnose anything and everything in your BMW.

Price? $18000.00.

The GT1 tester is a very sturdy machine with a touch-screen feature. It can monitor the rich/lean condition of each piston. It can, my fellow friends, know when you last hit the red line and the frequency of that incident. It can monitor things that you never thought of.

So I thought I give some pointers about fault code clearing and ECU adaptation reset.

1. So you saw a CEL and decided to reset the light using a OBDII tool like Peake or Innova. The light on your cluster may be gone. But the fault code is still *on* in your ECU registry. The only way to completely clear out EVERY single code is to use a GT1.

2. Remember that disconnect-battery-for-10min-in-order-to-reset-the-ECU trick? That don't work on E46s anymore. The only way to reset the ECU adaptation is to use a GT1. The machine will clear the adaptations and upload the original ECU program meant for your E46. I went through that last week and felt the difference. Amazing.

3. So you installed your xenons or unplugged and replug a connector or got into an accident and replaced the doors? Yes, GT1 knows. It will register a fault code for every little things done to the car. Having a step with ASA, I had the clutch fan removed and the electric fan installed. Although the electric fan works fine, it sends off a code to the ECU claiming that an electric fan is present. Cleared that code and never came back again. This code never did appear in my cheapo OBDII reader.

4. Ahh..what about shark injector/dinan ECU programs? GT1 can detect that as well. Period.

5. DSC/ABD sensor calibration? No problem. GT1 can do that too.

6. Not sure if your radio button on your steering wheel is working? GT1 can diagnose that in just a few seconds before you decide to replace the button.

7. etc etc...

Too many features to list down. All I can say now is that this is the single most amazing YET compact machine I have seen for a long time. :thumbup:

[kashif]

<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~alpina.nut/gt1_2.jpg">

I had a chance to get up close and personal with a GT One Tester. For those who never heard of it, this is the machine that every BMW dealer in the world uses to diagnose anything and everything in your BMW.

Price? $18000.00.

The GT1 tester is a very sturdy machine with a touch-screen feature. It can monitor the rich/lean condition of each piston. It can, my fellow friends, know when you last hit the red line and the frequency of that incident. It can monitor things that you never thought of.

So I thought I give some pointers about fault code clearing and ECU adaptation reset.

1. So you saw a CEL and decided to reset the light using a OBDII tool like Peake or Innova. The light on your cluster may be gone. But the fault code is still *on* in your ECU registry. The only way to completely clear out EVERY single code is to use a GT1.

2. Remember that disconnect-battery-for-10min-in-order-to-reset-the-ECU trick? That don't work on E46s anymore. The only way to reset the ECU adaptation is to use a GT1. The machine will clear the adaptations and upload the original ECU program meant for your E46. I went through that last week and felt the difference. Amazing.

3. So you installed your xenons or unplugged and replug a connector or got into an accident and replaced the doors? Yes, GT1 knows. It will register a fault code for every little things done to the car. Having a step with ASA, I had the clutch fan removed and the electric fan installed. Although the electric fan works fine, it sends off a code to the ECU claiming that an electric fan is present. Cleared that code and never came back again. This code never did appear in my cheapo OBDII reader.

4. Ahh..what about shark injector/dinan ECU programs? GT1 can detect that as well. Period.

5. DSC/ABD sensor calibration? No problem. GT1 can do that too.

6. Not sure if your radio button on your steering wheel is working? GT1 can diagnose that in just a few seconds before you decide to replace the button.

7. etc etc...

Too many features to list down. All I can say now is that this is the single most amazing YET compact machine I have seen for a long time. :thumbup:


Good info Vince.
When i was supercharging my ride. The guy had hooked up my car with the GT1 and set the ecu back to stock.

He at that time had informed me that he would be using this machine to fine tune my car once the supercharger is installed.

Once the install was done, the mechanic was telling me that the car was throwing lean fault codes and all. Anyways he had fine tuned everything on the GT ONE.

anyways No fault codes after the drivng the car for 450miles or so :thumbup:

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

Good to know Kashif. I am glad your tech did that. The thing is that not every shop has a GT1 and if the shop has it, they must be really into working on BMWs.

Also, one other known fact is when a code is detected, it will be temporary stored in the ECU. It takes another 2 to 3 OBD cycle before the CEL goes on.

[Durgesh]

Nice info mate.

Wish I could Buy one. LOL.

Even more reason to go to BMW now, and get the Codes, and get them to do the reset right?

Durgesh

[Alan L.]

Whoa....nice info Vince. I think i need to have a chat with my bmw tech friend soon :)

Alan

[yafool]

I think i need to talk Rennsport into getting one of these babies..... Can anyone here recommend a good bmw tech to go to or a good dealership to get service done here in LA? Im going to have a blower in soon and i need make some new friends that work for bmw. :hi:

[GarrettF]

so the computer knows if i hav the shark and i uninstall it before i go to the dealer?

[Nt_loader]

Vince so you reccomend setting the ecu back to day 1?

I can just immagine the look on the bmw techs face when I ask him to do that :banghead:

Thanks

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

One note that I have to take back.

4. Ahh..what about shark injector/dinan ECU programs? GT1 can detect that as well. Period.

GT1 has yet to be able to do that. But upcoming version will be able to. At that point, the dealer has the right to decline working on your car.

I have more pictures of the GT1 tester. Will upload them tonight.

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

My opinion?

Well, now that Rennsport is releasing the s/w, it may be redundant to reset the adaptations. The reason why I stand by this whole resetting procedure is that I believe our Siemens ECU is capable of learning the new changes. I have been monitoring the data since and everything is running good so far. And get this...I am at 2 turns. I want to see the limits of the ECU adaptability.

The trick of course is to ask your BMW tech to do it. It's a 5-min job. And I do mean 5 minutes literally. I will post more in the group.

Vince so you reccomend setting the ecu back to day 1?

I can just immagine the look on the bmw techs face when I ask him to do that :banghead:

Thanks

[yafool]

any updates?

My opinion?

Well, now that Rennsport is releasing the s/w, it may be redundant to reset the adaptations. The reason why I stand by this whole resetting procedure is that I believe our Siemens ECU is capable of learning the new changes. I have been monitoring the data since and everything is running good so far. And get this...I am at 2 turns. I want to see the limits of the ECU adaptability.

The trick of course is to ask your BMW tech to do it. It's a 5-min job. And I do mean 5 minutes literally. I will post more in the group.