How to tell what flash is on your car?

[Dhunckyn]

I purchase a 135i last May, while adding some windshield washer fluid a couple minutes ago I noticed a sticker on the ECU cover that said

"Performance Software CARD E.O. No D-176-13
This vehicle is equipped with a Dinan Performance Software. Before programming the engine or transmission ECU with DIS or MoDiC, please contact Dinan at (408) 779-8584"

Can I verify that it currently has a Dinan tune myself or do I have to take it to the dealership (local dealer is an authorized Dinan dealership) and have them verify it, I have had this car in a few time for service and I believe they reflashed the ECU but they never mentioned it having a Dinan tune.

Thanks in advance

[Pig Farmer]

I would start with contacting Dinan at the number listed. If you give them your VIN, i'm sure they could provide you information on the flash or reflashes.

[Dhunckyn]

Awesome, thank you, I will call them tomorrow

[oman135]

Some one should check your ecu to know If you have it or its gone

[MilehighM3]

Any Dinan dealer can check as well. They can plug in the lap top or pc used to flash and read out the Dinan program version. If its not currently installed, the good news is you can get it back at no charge.

[BFD99]

Did you find out yet?

[Dhunckyn]

Went to the dealer today and they said I was on my own to prove it should have the Dinan Software (if they were to look at it I would have to pay them the labor to check), and even if it should I would have to pay the labor to have it re-flashed. They said that although they were a Dinan Dealer that they perfer not to deal with them as they have had issue with Dinan honoring their warranty and getting paid from Dinan. Tried calling Dinan but could not get a hold of a person. Next step is calling the dealer the car was originally purchased from and see if they can give me any info.

UPDATE

Called dealership car was originally purchased from and they verified it should have the Dinan Stage 2 Software install as they installed it on 5 Mar 2009. They said it should be no cost to me to have my local dealership look at it and if it does not have the stage 2 flash on it to flash it with the correct software.

I have an appointment for this Thursday at 8:20 to have it checked out woohoo!!

[ken1137]

Originally Posted by Dhunckyn

Went to the dealer today and they said I was on my own to prove it should have the Dinan Software (if they were to look at it I would have to pay them the labor to check), and even if it should I would have to pay the labor to have it re-flashed. They said that although they were a Dinan Dealer that they perfer not to deal with them as they have had issue with Dinan honoring their warranty. Tried calling Dinan but could not get a hold of a person. Next step is calling the dealer the car was originally purchased from and see if they can give me any info.

Well that sucks...keep trying Dinan. Send them your VIN:

http://www.dinancars.com/contact.aspx

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by Dhunckyn

Went to the dealer today and they said I was on my own to prove it should have the Dinan Software (if they were to look at it I would have to pay them the labor to check), and even if it should I would have to pay the labor to have it re-flashed. They said that although they were a Dinan Dealer that they perfer not to deal with them as they have had issue with Dinan honoring their warranty and getting paid from Dinan. Tried calling Dinan but could not get a hold of a person. Next step is calling the dealer the car was originally purchased from and see if they can give me any info.

UPDATE

Called dealership car was originally purchased from and they verified it should have the Dinan Stage 2 Software install as they installed it on 5 Mar 2009. They said it should be no cost to me to have my local dealership look at it and if it does not have the stage 2 flash on it to flash it with the correct software.

I have an appointment for this Thursday at 8:20 to have it checked out woohoo!!

I know that's the Dina sales bit... that they will reflash it free of charge if you lose your flash. Maybe the original dealer who made the sales will honor that, since they made the profit already, but I seriously doubt that another dealership will do that for you. Who will pay them the time to check your car out and/or reflash?

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by ken1137

Well that sucks...keep trying Dinan. Send them your VIN:

http://www.dinancars.com/contact.aspx

That's useless.
The best case scenario is that they will tell you that Dinan software was registered with that VIN.
So what? His question is... is the Dinan software still in the car? No phone call will do. Need to hook car up to computer and read.

[nato-main-man-5am]

Originally Posted by MPBK

I know that's the Dina sales bit... that they will reflash it free of charge if you lose your flash. Maybe the original dealer who made the sales will honor that, since they made the profit already, but I seriously doubt that another dealership will do that for you. Who will pay them the time to check your car out and/or reflash?

Dinan corporate should reimburse the local dealer who does the check and possibly the reflash.

Same way I can take my bmw to a dealer who didn't sell it to me, and if they perform warranty service, bmw corporate reimburses them.

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by Nathan_h

Dinan corporate should reimburse the local dealer who does the check and possibly the reflash.

Same way I can take my bmw to a dealer who didn't sell it to me, and if they perform warranty service, bmw corporate reimburses them.

See his other post... Dealers have trouble getting paid by Dinan corporate.
Servicing warranty claims is built into the pricing, so it's a different story.
He's talking about having the dealer read his car and verify the flash is installed.
From what you're saying, if I take my car to 10 different dealers and have them read my car, Dinan corporate will pay 10 times? They didn't make that much profit as BMW made selling you a $50K car.

[ken1137]

Originally Posted by MPBK

That's useless.
The best case scenario is that they will tell you that Dinan software was registered with that VIN.
So what? His question is... is the Dinan software still in the car? No phone call will do. Need to hook car up to computer and read.

Actually, dont they have different Stages? Dinan can confirm which Stage so at least he will have that info, then have someone read the boost his car is putting out to confirm if it is still installed.

Dont comment if you have nothing good to say.

OP...if you dont have a buddy that can help measure your boost, try to find a local shop that will be able to measure your boost and compare those numbers from the Dinan Stage(s).

[nato-main-man-5am]

Warranty service is a legal requirement, regardless of whether it takes one work order or ten -- but whether it's worth the hassle to press it, or just going back to the original dealer, only the op can decide.

Either way, it would be good to know the name of the dealer than won't honor Dinan's warranties.

[Dhunckyn]

The car was originally flashed in Lincoln, Nebraska. I live in Albuquerque, NM. If I have to i'll pay to see if it currently has the Dinan software. If it doesn't I think the local dealer will make it right.

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by ken1137

Actually, dont they have different Stages? Dinan can confirm which Stage so at least he will have that info, then have someone read the boost his car is putting out to confirm if it is still installed.

Dont comment if you have nothing good to say.

OP...if you dont have a buddy that can help measure your boost, try to find a local shop that will be able to measure your boost and compare those numbers from the Dinan Stage(s).

You mean... don't correct you when you give wrong information?
Since you're paying a local shop, isn't it easier to just pay the dealer to read his software version?
And how the hell you read boost? You mean put the car on a dyno? Yeah, that will tell you a lot.

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by Dhunckyn

The car was originally flashed in Lincoln, Nebraska. I live in Albuquerque, NM. If I have to i'll pay to see if it currently has the Dinan software. If it doesn't I think the local dealer will make it right.

That's most likely what you will need to do: pay to verify software is in (as that's not yet a warranty claim), then, if not there, you make the warranty claim (since Dinan promises to reflash for free as part of their sales pitch).
If your dealer is nice they may even charge the initial diagnosis to Dinan in the reflash bill. But if the software is there to begin with, they will likely bill you, since Dinan is not involved, unless you make a claim that the software isn't working.

[ken1137]

Originally Posted by MPBK

You mean... don't correct you when you give wrong information?
Isn't it easier to just pay the dealer to read his software version?
And how the hell you read boost? You mean put the car on a dyno? Yeah, that will tell you a lot.

The dealer will be more expensive...A turbo boost gauge, butt lick, is capable of reading all the different boost pressures that occur during operation, but to read the boost gauge correctly you need to operate the vehicle under different situations and mark the differences in boost and power gains.

I am done...I will no longer feed the Troll. Meet me in Chicago if you would like to learn some Jiu-jitsu

[nato-main-man-5am]

Originally Posted by MPBK

That's most likely what you will need to do: pay to verify software is in (as that's not yet a warranty claim), then, if not there, you make the warranty claim (since Dinan promises to reflash for free as part of their sales pitch).

Agreed. Even the original installer/dealer might ask you to pay just to "test" whether the software is still present.

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by ken1137

A turbo boost gauge, butt lick, is capable of reading all the different boost pressures that occur during operation, but to read the boost gauge correctly you need to operate the vehicle under different situations and mark the differences in boost and power gains.

I am done...I will no longer feed the Troll. Meet me in Chicago if you would like to learn some Jiu-jitsu

Holy sh1t, son. You're even more messed up than I thought.
Read the turbo boost in order to make indirect inferences on whether some software is installed or not?
And to do that you need to operate the car... on rollers... like on a dyno. Why not just dyno the car?
That costs more in both time and dollars than just pay the 30min at the dealer to read the software version.

[ken1137]

Originally Posted by MPBK

Holy sh1t, son. You're even more messed up than I thought.
Read the turbo boost in order to make indirect inferences on whether some software is installed or not?
And to do that you need to operate the car... on rollers... like on a dyno. Why not just dyno the car?
That costs more in both time and dollars than just pay the 30min at the dealer to read the software version.

That would be on a dynamometer butt-lick. I assume the dealer is more expensive as is the case with everything. The boost is relative to the hp and Stage he has installed....no tune then stock should be around 8-9 psi.

from Dinan; "The Dinan Performance Engine Software safely increases turbo-boost pressure from the stock 8.8 to 13.2 psi"

I know you are right therefore I am wrong. As mentioned this time I mean it...i am done. You can start another argument with another member on a different thread as you have done previously. I apologize to all

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by ken1137

That would be on a dynamometer butt-lick. I assume the dealer is more expensive as is the case with everything. The boost is relative to the hp and Stage he has installed....no tune then stock should be around 8-9 psi.

from Dinan; "The Dinan Performance Engine Software safely increases turbo-boost pressure from the stock 8.8 to 13.2 psi"

I know you are right therefore I am wrong. As mentioned this time I mean it...i am done. You can start another argument with another member on a different thread as you have done previously. I apologize to all

30min of dealer time is about $70.
I doubt you can do a "boost read" for that much.
I'm bored. I like lemmings that can't even keep their own word.