Jim Conforti's SHARK EDIT

[ssm1991]

I'm surprised this hasn't been posted yet. Basically Jim Conforti is coming out with a product that would let end users edit their ECU maps -- at a reasonable price. If it does what it say it does then it may revolutionize tuning.

Check out: M3 Forum Thread (http://m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=209790)

Shark Edit Brochure (http://www.bonnevillemotorwerks.com/sharkedt/SharkEDT.pdf)
Shark Edit Pricing (http://www.bonnevillemotorwerks.com/sharkedt/SEPrice.pdf)

Would be interesting to get the reactions of the various FI vendors here.

[Nico3k]

I was just about to post this... finally the power has been given to the end user. No need to spend 1000's on BMW OEM equipment just to work with the DME.

Someone send me a CAD design for a Vortech v1/v2/v3 supercharger bracket (cheapest CF blower) so I can use my friends CNC machine to mass produce them ;)

Piecing together our own kits for extremely low prices would be amazing...

[zeshon]

You're not gonna be making your own kits without serious dyno time, and much more knowledge and knowhow than the average joe mechanic. This looks prettttty cool though.

[russ330]

Holy balls. :yikes: I gotta go read that. :bow:

I'd like to see how this might work with a nitrous application. :mischief:

[sheefo2k]

I saw it on bimmerforums!! it will be good ****

[desert123]

What I noticed is that price starts at 299, thats just the starting price and I am sure its going to be add on for each type of ECU.

[aggieE46]

This is pretty rad. I wonder if he'll offer any sort of upgrade or trade-in for those of us with the Shark Injector...

[dennymedeiros]

This is pretty rad. I wonder if he'll offer any sort of upgrade or trade-in for those of us with the Shark Injector...

Anybody have any updates on the SHARK EDIT? We so need this software....

[mpower95]

Anybody have any updates on the SHARK EDIT? We so need this software....

Back from the dead!!

Conforti went postal after a bunch of tools said they would hack his software. He went back to the drawing board to work on the encryption. I can't blaim him for wanting to make sure noone jacks his secrets!

[dennymedeiros]

Back from the dead!!

Conforti went postal after a bunch of tools said they would hack his software. He went back to the drawing board to work on the encryption. I can't blaim him for wanting to make sure noone jacks his secrets!

Same here. His work should be protected. That software is really important for us I will be the first one in line.

It was great at one point for me(Im a professional ECU tuner on GM and Mitusbishi cars with the 4G63) I was tuning supercharged cobalts SS and now the new Turbo with http://www.hptuners.com now that was quite the nice package I hope Jim is coming out with something similar.

[sjo328ci]

I'm hoping that there will be some sort of announcement or update at Bimmerfest 2009 May 2. I have no inside information to that effect but it would be a logical venue for it.
I need the thing too. I have a 2000 328Ci with 11.5:1 pistons that knocks like hell on anything less than 100 octane race gas.

[MachRc]

^^ im pretty sure ive seen you and your car before! the steel grey one im pretty sure..wow long time! good to know nice people are still onboard.

still in the quest for all NA:bow: as always i see :bow:

as for encryption, its understandable..software tuning can be cutthroat buisness.

[sjo328ci]

^^ im pretty sure ive seen you and your car before! the steel grey one im pretty sure..wow long time! good to know nice people are still onboard.

Actually it's steel blue. I don't think I've ever posted a picture of it.

[MachRc]

the last day you picked it up from technik near marina before they went back to sepulveda.

no?

you dynoed it before you left for your drive afternoon sundownish. I asked about the headers and why you didnt go supercharger route.

I remember you saying the pure NA way was the only route for you.

from what i remember middle age american, who pulled off a pink polo that day very well.

If it is you good to see still in pursuit through that route!

[sjo328ci]

the last day you picked it up from technik near marina before they went back to sepulveda.

You remember correctly. I recall the conversation but I have to admit, I can't put a face with it. When I saw your location I couldn't imagine how you could ever have seen the car.
Thanks for the good wishes. If I could just get the knock problem solved it would be just about perfect. No hard feelings towards Zolti about it. Samir handled the interface with Conforti, and between the two of them, they dropped the ball.

BTW Land's End calls that color "Watermelon".

[MachRc]

just in case people missed it.


Shark Edit FAQ
(v1.0.0)
This FAQ is designed to assist you in understanding the revolutionary
concepts behind the Shark Edit system for engine control units.

It is split into 3 sections, a general questions section, then a specific
questions section for both OBD-I and OBD-II vehicles. Please review
both the GENERAL section, and then the section for your OBD variant
(OBD-I for vehicles thru 1995, OBD-II for 1996+).


If you have any further questions after reading this, please send them
via email to sharkedt@bonnevillemotorwerks.com. If appropriate, I will
also add them to this FAQ in a future revision.
General Questions

What is Shark Edit?

Shark Edit is a PC-Based editing system for vehicle engine control
units. It is designed for use on a single personally owned vehicle.

What about professional use on many vehicles?

For OBD-I there are no restrictions. For OBD-II there will be two
specific versions of Shark Edit licensable for professional tuner use.
The first is based on a "per vehicle" model, where the tuner pays us a
small stipend of $50 to $200 per vehicle to flash modified files into the
vehicle. This is only ONCE per vehicle as determined by VIN and the
ECU's individual serial number. The second is "open" and there are no
charges for supported vehicles beyond the initial purchase price.


Will it work for (vehicle OEM xyz)?

Shark Edit is currently slated for compatibility w/ all OBD-I Bosch
Motronic control units, and OBD-II BMW control units. Additional
vehicle manufacturers will be added by us, and also by third-parties by
writing plugins.

Is this a Shark Injector?

No - Shark Edit is completely separate from the Shark Injector except
that for OBD-II vehicles a Shark Injector may be used to send a tune to
a remote customer for loading into his/her vehicle.

Will it run on Mac? How about Linux?

Shark Edit is a Windows program. It was developed and tested on
Windows XP. There are no plans at this time to port it to alternative
operating systems. There is no guarantee that Microsoft will not do
something to Windows Vista to completely break compatibility.

How much does it cost?

Depending on application and level, the Shark Edit software is priced
from $299 to $699. See your specific OBD section for more info!

How about the professional version?

Please contact us for this information.

What do you mean by 'level'?


For tuning vehicles in their OEM aspiration state, a level 1 description
file is all that is necessary or advised. For converting normally
aspirated vehicles to forced induction (super or turbocharger) - level 2
description is recommended. A level 2 description file contains more
predefined maps and special functions. These come from my actual
tuning experience as to what is "needed" when making these forced
induction conversions.

What 'maps' can I edit?

While Shark Edit has a specific set of maps provided, you can identify
and manually define any calibration data object yourself - in short you
can edit every editable thing available in the calibration data. The only
limiting factor is how much work YOU are willing to put in.

What kind of security is built-in?

Shark Edit contains a permission system based upon the *ix security
model. There are four entities called Creator, Owner, Group, and
World. Each of these can have read, read/write, or no access. The
Creator of the tuning project defines the access levels to that project,
adds users to the Group entity, and in general runs the show as far as
project security is concerned.

My brain hurts; can you make this any simpler?

Unfortunately not, if you don't think you can tune your own car, my
suggestion is - DON'T DO IT! You will soon be able to have someone
ELSE tune your car using this industry-enabling software.

Jim, Can you tune my car for me using Shark Edit?

Unfortunately not, this is the very reason I am releasing the technology
contained in the Shark Edit program - to enable vehicle owners and
other tuners to provide quality tunes.
OBD-I Specific Questions

How do I start a project?

You can start a project by reading in a file from your hard drive or by
reading the contents of an EPROM via an EPROM burner/reader.

How much does Shark Edit cost for my OBD-I vehicle?

The basic Shark Edit program is all you need - $299 and you're done
as far as software is concerned. You will also need an EPROM burner
and a selection of proper blank EPROMS. These are available from
many different sources on the Internet as well as local electronics
stores.

Are description files necessary?

If you car is a Bosch Motronic ECU, then the included AutoMap
functionality obviates the need for a canned description file.

What is AutoMap?

For any OBD-I Bosch Motronic ECU, Shark Edit includes a standard
plugin to automatically find and define most all 'maps' in the EPROM
image.

Can I still buy a description file from you?

For any cars except 1984 thru 1995 BMW vehicles, you can. They
are not necessary though - thanks to the revolutionary AutoMap
features. Using AutoMap in combination with peer support, you
should be able to easily do whatever you need to your OBD-I vehicle.

Why can't you sell me a description file for my 1995 BMW?

Due to restrictive covenants contained in an agreement we are not
allowed to do this - sorry. Other companies will likely spring up to fill
the void as Shark Edit becomes the catalyst for a cottage industry.
What kind of security exists for my OBD-I tunes?

Unfortunately - beyond the project security inherent in Shark Edit,
because an EPROM must be readable by the processor of the Motronic
ECU to function - there is no real security.

How about those little 'protection boards'?

While they provide rudimentary protection against the casual attacker,
they are not foolproof. Those who wish to use those types of security
boards should contact a provider of them.
OBD-II Specific Questions

How do I start a project?

You can start a project by reading in a file from your hard drive or by
reading the contents of a vehicle ECU via an interface.

What kind of interface do I need?

Determine if the vehicle you are trying to tune is local (can you touch
it) or remote (you cannot touch it) when you are trying to program it?
Then see below.
What kind of interface do I need for a local vehicle?
For MS42, MS43, M5.2.1, ME7.2, MSS52, MSS54, MSS54HP,
EMS2000, and MS5150 equipped vehicles; any basic OBD-II "single kline
interface" will suffice.
If you ARE programming an RSA-secured ECU such as MS45, ME9,
MSS60, MSS65, MSV80, or MSD80 you will need one of our
interfaces. We require the use of our proprietary Bluetooth or USB
interfaces for RSA-secured ECUs. These will be available for $199.
If you are programming an ECU that requires programming voltage
such as MS41.1, MS41.2, or M5.2 you will need one of our specially
modified USB/M20 Shark Injectors.

What kind of interface do I need for a remote vehicle?

If you have a remote vehicle you wish to read or flash load, you will
need to use one of our specially modified Shark Injectors. This allows
you to provide a tuned file to a customer across the state or on the
other side of the planet.

How much does Shark Edit cost for my OBD-II BMW vehicle?

On the software end, you will need to purchase the basic Shark Edit
program ($299), the BMW OBD-II Flash Module software plugin ($100)
and the proper Flash Pak for your vehicle ($100 to $300 depending on
vehicle and level).
On the hardware end, you will need an interface as discussed above.

What does the Flask Pak contain?

The Flask Pak contains the proper checksum plugin for the ECU type in
question, a description file for the specific PSt variant of your ECU,
documentation for same, and the necessary licensing components to
allow the whole thing to operate.

What is a PSt variant?

PSt is an abbreviation for the German word Programmstand, which can
be taken to mean "ECU Program variant". Any ECU can be
programmed with many different variants of the same program, and
each different variant, or PSt can have the maps in different positions
and sometimes different formats. Yes, BMW does make it as
complicated as they can it seems.

Does the Flash Pak contain a "base tune"?

No, it does not. A "base tune" would need to be purchased either
from us or from another tuner in the form of an editable project.

What about the security of my OBD-II tunes?

The Shark Edit program itself will not form a project by reading either a
file or ECU containing a proprietary tune. You can only form a project
using a STOCK file as a base. Shark Edit was designed to allow
collaboration where required, but to prevent IP theft as needed.

I already have a tune in my ECU, will I lose it?

No, you may read it out and save it into an encrypted VIN-locked file
that may not be edited EVER, and may only be loaded back into your
own vehicle.

Well, how can I edit the tune currently in my ECU?

You cannot. If your tuner uses Shark Edit - AND they wish you to be
able to edit the tune - they would give you a project file containing the
tune. If they do not do that - you cannot edit it. End of discussion!

How about if I hack Shark Edit?

Well, beyond the fact that it is doubtful that you can break militarygrade
encryption from a purely technical standpoint, the circumvention
of technical copyright controls is a violation of the Digital Millennium
Copyright Act and the No Electronic Theft Act - it is a serious Federal
Felony - and only you can decide if a tune is worth time in "Federal
Pound-Me-In-The-Ass Prison". Please note that we will assist the IP
owners in prosecuting violations to the fullest extent of the law.

Can a flash be detected in my car?

OK, this is a long answer, so it gets it's own page - and the type of
Dennis Miller-esque commentary that I was once famous for on Richard
Welty's BMW-Digest.
Strap in folks - it's going to be a bumpy ride.
This is aimed at the owners of vehicles equipped w/ N54 motors, since
their vehicles are the subject of BMW SIB 12 10 08 (April 2008).
The real question should be "Why do you want to hide the flashing of
your car?" Do you expect to raise the boost to ridiculous levels
without proper supportive hardware, blow things up, then feign
ignorance and expect BMW USA to pick up the tab? It's not going to
happen. The limits of the N54 motor, even if it is equipped with a
larger oil-cooler and such are still being discovered. In some cases,
this discovery has been accompanied by blown turbos, clutches, and
motors. If you expect to hit 400whp and NOT have anything bad
happen on a stock setup, you are smoking the good stuff. In short,
charlatans selling snake oil have skewed many owners' expectations.
It was people doing this very thing: modifying their engines, breaking
things, and feigning ignorance that caused BMW to see warranty costs
on the N54 skyrocket and hence take his harsh stance.
You reap what you sew.
Now, on to the technical part***8230;.
A properly calibrated flash tune will not set fault codes in the engine.
(unless BMW takes some drastic measures - which I won't go into, as
I don't really want to give them any ideas, OK?)
Once removed, there should be NO TRACE of its presence.
Ergo you can tune a car and then remove the tune. No traces.

What about the flash counter?

To our knowledge, no BMW has ever been equipped with a "flash
counter" as are some Volkswagen/Audi Group vehicles. BMW ECUs
do have something called the UIF/AIF - which limits the number of
updates that can be applied to any single ECU. We do not touch this
structure and hence have flashed many ECUs over 1000 times.
Still, flashing your car - causing failures - then feigning ignorance is
the reason we are in the mess we are in w/ the N54. Your choices are
made of free will, and you should accept the consequences of your
choices.

Well, wasn't the whole purpose of Shark Edit to tune undetectably?

<sigh>
No, the purpose of Shark Edit is to allow flash tuning at ALL.
Not just for the N54 - but for most all OBD-II BMW vehicles since
1996 model year.
As to the N54 conundrum***8230;
BMW has had enough of the piggyback computers - to the point that
they are modifying existing MSD80 DME ECUs (from Progman V29.2
and beyond) and introducing a new DME MSD81 simply to PREVENT
the use of piggybacks. Even if the piggyback manufacturers can get
around the current level of "tripwires", BMW will simply introduce
more and more until they achieve their goal. Ergo - flashing will be the
only way to tune these cars. It is to this end that I took the steps to
introduce Shark Edit to the vehicle owners.

Sounds like you agree with BMW's policies?

Well, putting aside the whole "take responsibility for your own
choices" theme***8230; I don't. As an aside, I personally think BMW's
actions have opened themselves up to a major lawsuit. Any lawyers in
the crowd with specialty in anti-trust and anti-competition law?
In short, if I agreed that BMW should control what happens to your car
after you buy it, I would never have produced Shark Edit.

[sjo328ci]

just in case people missed it.

This is the same document that was published about this time last year. Why are you posting it now?

[A55A55IN]

This is the same document that was published about this time last year. Why are you posting it now?

IN CASE SOMEONE missed it....:facepalm:

[MachRc]

lol sorry, it just mentioned the flash counter which i caught up to today..

anyways, i hope it, "makes it to bimmerfest this year." D:

[sheefo2k]

I have a demo video and its pretty sweet but not as I expected. I expected it to be more detailed but it doesn't look like it. we will see.

[sjo328ci]

[QUOTE=anyways, i hope it, "makes it to bimmerfest this year." D:[/QUOTE]

Yes, don't we all? In fact the whole reason I'm going to B-fest this year (besides the new venue) is to try and find out when it might be released. BTW I have driven by the SB Polo Club a couple of times and it is quite nice. The playing field is just as huge as it looks in the photos. It is a very pleasant pastoral kind of place.

[sjo328ci]

Nothing happened with regard to Shark Edit at Bimmerfest 2009. One of the organizers told me that Conforti was there but he didn't have a booth and was circulating incognito so he could enjoy himself like everyone else without being asked about Shark Edit. Despite Bonneville Motor Works being the sponsor of the "Best of Bimmerfest" awards at the end of the day, he didn't appear at them. No one I talked to knew anything at all about when Shark Edit might be released.

[spikester550]

i wondering if should even wait any more or just get the shark injector

[dennymedeiros]

Nothing happened with regard to Shark Edit at Bimmerfest 2009. One of the organizers told me that Conforti was there but he didn't have a booth and was circulating incognito so he could enjoy himself like everyone else without being asked about Shark Edit. Despite Bonneville Motor Works being the sponsor of the "Best of Bimmerfest" awards at the end of the day, he didn't appear at them. No one I talked to knew anything at all about when Shark Edit might be released.

Thank you for the update. I was waiting for somebody to report this...

I wish I could talk to Jim and ask him...but I am sure hes tired of people asking!!

On my side I am still working on the maps off my MS43 DMe ...Found 3 maps so far...its long...very long...and I wish I could just buy the shark edit right now.

I'm a tuner not a programmer and thats what sucks about BMW world of tuning right now..

[lkstaack]

i wondering if should even wait any more or just get the shark injector
Shark Edit has been almost on the market for the last five years.
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=175524

[Jeffxxx]

Shark Edit has been almost on the market for the last five years.
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=175524


No? There's been a thread about it for 5 years.

[NightWolfe]

Shark Edit has been almost on the market for the last five years.
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=175524

And it will probably be almost on the market for the next 5 at this rate

[Fire]

I think he's saying it's been "almost ready" for the market for 5yrs

Shark Edit has been almost on the market for the last five years.
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=175524

[lkstaack]

I think he's saying it's been "almost ready" for the market for 5yrs
Yes, I thought the sarcasm was obvious. I was waiting for this product 5 years ago, delaying my FI goals. While it looks like it has made progress, I wouldn't hold up any plans because of it.