Welcome to the BMW Coding Frequently Asked Questions.
Here you will find answers to Some of the most common questions and concerns that our customers have! Please take a look to see if your question is explained and answered below.

Remapping / Engine tuning

Engine tuning for BMW engines is being advertised with increasing frequency through specialist high-performance automotive publications. I.e. an increase in performance and torque.

This intervention is often achieved either by altering the data set in the engine management control unit or by falsifying the signals received.

BMW engines are configured to be reliable and durable also meeting respective emission standards despite their high performance thresholds. In addition, amongst other measures, exceeding the maximum load is reliably mitigated against by various functions of the engine management system. Engine tuning disables these engine protection functions in the engine management system. As a result, the service life of the engines is significantly reduced. Also, as the drive train is set up for a defined maximum torque, it can’t be ruled out that engine tuning can lead to additional damage to other drive train components.

It can also not be ruled out that engine tuning will exceed the legally specified emission limits, especially for exhaust gas opacity under full acceleration.

If the increase in engine performance is not correctly documented in the relevant vehicle papers, then the type approval of the vehicle is invalidated.

If damage to the engine or other affected components as a result of engine tuning, this has a potential influence on the warranty and/or goodwill.

Coding | Programming

BMW iDrive coding and programming makes software changes to a vehicle’s system. iDrive is an interface used to control various functions of the car, including the radio, navigation, and climate control. In most cases, BMW includes a wide range of features in the iDrive system, but they are not always readily available to the user.

With iDrive coding, users can unlock these hidden features, customize the settings of existing ones, and even add new functionalities to the iDrive system. For example, iDrive coding can enable features such as video playback while driving, adjusting the sensitivity of the automatic start-stop system, changing the lighting behavior of the car, or even adding new features such as digital speedometer, tire pressure monitoring, or fuel economy statistics.

Overall, iDrive coding allows for a more personalized and customized driving experience. It’s important to note that iDrive coding should only be done by experienced professionals, as improper coding could potentially damage the car’s software or even compromise its safety features. We get customers, who code their cars using apps, and end up corrupting it, making is useless. We also fix such issues, where it was not done professionally. 

What are the most popular options people have coded?
This all depends on the vehicle spec from factory. but typically people opt for items like,

• Apple CarPlay and our Fullscreen Apple CarPlay Activation
• Enable Video Playback Via USB Port
• Video/DVD Playback In Motion

Can you do this remotely?
Absolutely, that’s the benefit of choosing our services. All we need to do the work remotely is a windows laptop (you will need to have administrator credentials) and an ENET to OBDII cable (available with all remote packages).

I don’t have a laptop, can i come to you for coding?
Yes you can! we have  installation location. Check our offices worldwide so far are in Glasgow, Dubai, Spain & Pakistan.

Can you code my E series BMW?

Yes we we can, carry out coding and diagnostics on BMWs that pre date the F chassis.

Can you code my Mini or Rolls Royce?
Yes we provide same level of services for Mini & Rolls Royce. 

RETROFITS/DIAGNOSTICS

Can you retrofit Cruise Control?
Yes this is generally available for most F-Chassis BMWs that did not come with it from factory. You will need the steering wheel controls fitting and the vehicle coded to make use of them.

Do you sell a full Professional Navigation Retrofit package?
Absolutely. We can fit and code a genuine BMW Professional Navigation system to your compatible vehicle. unfortunately, we do not supply such parts, but can assist in installing and programming them after.

I’m looking to upgrade my headlights to adaptive units, do I need coding?
Yes you will. the car will need to be told that you have the additional functionality in the vehicle. You will also need to make sure you have the correct sensors/cameras in the cars windscreen.

I have Adaptive suspension and want to swap to non adaptive coilovers what do I need to do?
Once your suspension has ben swapped out, we can then code the car to turn off the adaptive suspension system. With coding this out it will prevent the vehicle from displaying an error which would in turn disable the use of Sport and Sport+ modes.

I’m swapping to bucket seats, can you help with the airbag/pretensioner errors?
Absolutely as long as its is safe to do so. This is something we get asked for regularly by those who are building a track focussed vehicle. We do offer programming for seats upgrades / downgrades. 

APPLE CARPLAY

Can you install CarPlay Remotely?
Absolutely, you can utilise our self-install packages. All you’ll need to obtain Apple CarPlay is a Windows 10 laptop (you will need to have administrator credentials) and an ENET to OBDII cable (available with all remote packages) and any remaining hardware we provide e.g. Wi-Fi Antenna if required etc.

Can you activate CarPlay on iDrive 4?
Providing your system supports it, we can flash your system to either iDrive 5/6 and then Activate and install Apple CarPlay, if your unsure please get in-touch. You must have Evo Maps on ID4 for us to perform such actions

What does Fullscreen CarPlay do?
Essentially, this makes the car play screen utilize the entire width of the Professional Navigation screen. This service can be done remotely.

I’ve seen Apple CarPlay on a business navigation system, can I have the same?
Yes and no! this is a very limited option and is available only to very few cars that were built with a specific variant of the ENTRYNAV2 headunit. We offer a service where we physically check suitability for your car. Should your car be compatible the checking service fee is deducted from the cost of car play installation.

If you still need further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch using the Contact Us page.