BMW performance power kit questions

[MMMCOOKIES55]

Hey guys,

I work at a shop here in NC and we just got the latest ISTA/P for BMW (about time too, the GT1/SSS just wasn't working anymore). As far as the Performance power kit is concerned, what all does the Dealer use to program the power kit? Just wondering if I could purchase the kit myself and have one of my techs install it here or if there is something else the dealer has that us Independent shops just cannot get... any help appreciated, thanks guys!!

[Pol]

A key comes with the Power Kit Package. With that key your dealer must connect with BMW to download the necessary software. Here in Europe that means connecting with BMW Germany.

[MilehighM3]

Yes it's an enabling code also called an FSC file. If you have the latest ISTA/P release it should work fine. It can come loaded on a CD/DVD that you load into your ISTA/P PC or it an be downloaded from a BMW site. (for dealer use) the dealer can download it onto a flash drive as well which is how it's transferred to the programming station conventionally.

[jpdb]

I bought the PPK Kit in the US and have it installed to a Euro Spec 135i M sport in South America (Chile), so yes it can be done!

Originally Posted by ianf2002

PPK country specific? I.e. If US version bought, will it work on a Euro car?

[MilehighM3]

Originally Posted by ianf2002

PPK country specific? I.e. If US version bought, will it work on a Euro car?

It's a vin specific code, not country specific. To my knowledge at least, since they are ordered by vin

[GT1281]

Originally Posted by mmmcookies330...

Hey guys,

I work at a shop here in NC and we just got the latest ISTA/P for BMW (about time too, the GT1/SSS just wasn't working anymore). As far as the Performance power kit is concerned, what all does the Dealer use to program the power kit? Just wondering if I could purchase the kit myself and have one of my techs install it here or if there is something else the dealer has that us Independent shops just cannot get... any help appreciated, thanks guys!!

I had one of the techs install it here in the shop after hours. Real simple. Didn't take long at all. It also depends what year your car is to. One of my customers had an early production 08 and he needed new plugs and a new DME. Still simple.

[GT1281]

Originally Posted by Bmw135er

It's a vin specific code, not country specific. To my knowledge at least, since they are ordered by vin

Not all of them are ordered by vin#. Any car produced up to 3/08 needs to be ordered by vin# since you will be getting a new DME from Germany. MSD 81 DME replaces MSD 80 DME. Mine is a 2012 with the N55 so all I needed to do was put in the activation and then program it.

[jpdb]

All of them are ordered by VIN and also VIN Locked, as i said i recently bought the PPK for two different 135i (N55) in the USA and i had the kits installed in Chile (South America), they need your VIN# because the activation keys generated are specific for each car.

Originally Posted by Phil335

Not all of them are ordered by vin#. Any car produced up to 3/08 needs to be ordered by vin# since you will be getting a new DME from Germany. MSD 81 DME replaces MSD 80 DME. Mine is a 2012 with the N55 so all I needed to do was put in the activation and then program it.

[MilehighM3]

Originally Posted by jprooney

All of them are ordered by VIN and also VIN Locked, as i said i recently bought the PPK for two different 135i (N55) in the USA and i had the kits installed in Chile (South America), they need your VIN# because the activation keys generated are specific for each car.

Exactly. With the addition of mandatory msd81 and plugs over 35-40k miles if memory serves me correctly, or produced prior to 3/09 maybe? Either way, ordered by VIN. Same as nav upgrades.

[GT1281]

Originally Posted by jprooney

All of them are ordered by VIN and also VIN Locked, as i said i recently bought the PPK for two different 135i (N55) in the USA and i had the kits installed in Chile (South America), they need your VIN# because the activation keys generated are specific for each car.

Not true. I work for BMW and have sold numerous kits which have needed the vin and some which didn't. I ordered my PPK retrofit part#11-12-2-219-489 as a normal order from BMW that came from the Jacksonville FL warehouse. No vin# needed. Everything came in a white envelope and inside it was a sealed red envelope with the activation codes and stickers and plaque. I have all the paperwork from BMW which states exactly what you need to do for each car. Bulletin# V-12-0911-0045. So no, you don't need to order all of them by Vin#

[fast_lane]

I have a PPK related question and I cant seem to find an answer elsewhere on the forum.

When I bought my 135i it came with a BMW PPK, original owner had it installed at BMW of Stevens Creek, I think. Now, I believe I read somewhere that PPK stickers are there to remind BMW mechanics working on the car that it has ppk installed so that they apply the correct codes for any work on the car if it requires coding on the ecu.

Does anyone know what are the circumstances where a mechanic my need to apply codes for stock engine versus one with ppk tune?

Reason I am asking is that my car is in the shop (getting valve cover and oil-filter housing gaskets replaced, and new sparkplugs and coils) and was curious if for this type of work, there are separate codes for stock engine and one with ppk.