Flashing back to stock with Cobb

[N88888_dawg]

Gents,


My 135 has an unknown map on it. Is it possible to reflash a stock file onto the car using my cobb v2.
Or can I go ahead and flash stage 2 straight onto the car? (Yes I'm FBO)

[foghat]

Did you by the car used? What do you mean by unknown? Is the Access Port telling you this? Or do you know that it has a modified map of unknown origin already loaded?

[N88888_dawg]

Originally Posted by foghat

Did you by the car used? What do you mean by unknown? Is the Access Port telling you this? Or do you know that it has a modified map of unknown origin already loaded?

The previous owner informed me that it had been mapped by a company called angel tuning.
These are a company in the uk which offer generic flashes.


I've got a v2 on it way to me, but having dealt the handhelds in the past, it was alway recommended to only flash a stock car (on my previous car)

[foghat]

Ya. I am not sure if the cobb will flash that. Or if you even should. I'd get in touch with Cobb and see what they say.

[brusk]

I would imagine that when you marry your Cob to the car it will back up the existing flash that's on the car and will overwrite it when you flash to Stage 2+. Wouldn't hurt to call Cobb to confirm, they might suggest having that flash overwritten with a stock flash though. You might be able to do that with the BB Flash utility.

[N88888_dawg]

Originally Posted by brusk

I would imagine that when you marry your Cob to the car it will back up the existing flash that's on the car and will overwrite it when you flash to Stage 2+. Wouldn't hurt to call Cobb to confirm, they might suggest having that flash overwritten with a stock flash though. You might be able to do that with the BB Flash utility.

That's what my initial thought was.
I shall get in touch with them

[Allen@MOTIV]

Shoot an email to josh.dankel@cobbtuning.com and he should be able to answer your questions.

[RaceTruk]

The Cobb downloads the card map and saves it on the handheld.
Doesn't matter what you got on the car.
Works fine with dinan cars or performance package cars and 1m

[foghat]

^ suppose that makes good sense.

[N88888_dawg]

Originally Posted by RaceTruk

The Cobb downloads the card map and saves it on the handheld.
Doesn't matter what you got on the car.
Works fine with dinan cars or performance package cars and 1m

But would that not mean that the car would revert back to the unknown tune if I was to flash it back to what the device thought as stock?

[foghat]

Originally Posted by N88888_dawg

But would that not mean that the car would revert back to the unknown tune if I was to flash it back to whag the device thought as stock?

Yes.

You could go to the dealer and have them flash it back to stock first.

[RaceTruk]

Originally Posted by N88888_dawg

But would that not mean that the car would revert back to the unknown tune if I was to flash it back to what the device thought as stock?

Correct

[str8shot]

Originally Posted by RaceTruk

Correct

This is incorrect.

If the car has a tuned map (like Dinan, or what you have on there now), Cobb erases it and uses a generic OEM replacement map as a base, and then loads whatever tuned map you've selected.

When you un-marry your AP, you're left with that generic OEM map. Basically your current tuned map (Dinan, or w/e) is deleted.

You should be aware that when I installed my Cobb V2 AP over Dinan S2, I lost cruise control. This is because the generic map was from an E90. Cobb emailed me an E82 based generic map to restore cruise functionality.

[N88888_dawg]

Originally Posted by str8shot

This is incorrect.

If the car has a tuned map (like Dinan, or what you have on there now), Cobb erases it and uses a generic OEM replacement map as a base, and then loads whatever tuned map you've selected.

When you un-marry your AP, you're left with that generic OEM map. Basically your current tuned map (Dinan, or w/e) is deleted.

You should be aware that when I installed my Cobb V2 AP over Dinan S2, I lost cruise control. This is because the generic map was from an E90. Cobb emailed me an E82 based generic map to restore cruise functionality.

Well I'm certainly confused now.
Here is the response I got today from Josh @ Cobb

Hey Nathan,
The Accessport does contain stock files, but they are US based and all BMWs require specific coding. Since you're car is European, if you flash over the current tune, there is a good chance you will get DTCs for emissions equipment your car does not have. This will in know way affect how your car runs, but it will trigger the check engine light. If you have the ability to get the car flashed back to a true stock file before installing the AP, then you will have no issues at all. Hopefully that answers your questions, but let me know if you have any more.



Josh Dankel
ECU Engineer
ph: 866.922.3059
josh.dankel@cobbtuning.com




I'm stumped now

[str8shot]

Originally Posted by N88888_dawg

Well I'm certainly confused now.
Here is the response I got today from Josh @ Cobb

Hey Nathan,
The Accessport does contain stock files, but they are US based and all BMWs require specific coding. Since you're car is European, if you flash over the current tune, there is a good chance you will get DTCs for emissions equipment your car does not have. This will in know way affect how your car runs, but it will trigger the check engine light. If you have the ability to get the car flashed back to a true stock file before installing the AP, then you will have no issues at all. Hopefully that answers your questions, but let me know if you have any more.



Josh Dankel
ECU Engineer
ph: 866.922.3059
josh.dankel@cobbtuning.com




I'm stumped now

Makes perfect sense. Essentially they're using a US based stock map as a base, which *could* trigger a DTC.

Do you know anyone or have access to a 135i with same ECU?

You can extract their base map using an unmarried AP, and load that onto your ECU. Basically the same has having the dealer flash a stock image over your tune.

[darkrom]

Pay the dealer like 1 hr labor or less if you ask nicely for them to just flash over it. Tell them you bought the car and it came with some hack tune, and you want BMW OEM glory. Kiss enough ass and they might just do it for free.

[N88888_dawg]

Thanks for the above suggestions gents.

[FactorX81]

Originally Posted by str8shot

This is incorrect.

If the car has a tuned map (like Dinan, or what you have on there now), Cobb erases it and uses a generic OEM replacement map as a base, and then loads whatever tuned map you've selected.

When you un-marry your AP, you're left with that generic OEM map. Basically your current tuned map (Dinan, or w/e) is deleted.

You should be aware that when I installed my Cobb V2 AP over Dinan S2, I lost cruise control. This is because the generic map was from an E90. Cobb emailed me an E82 based generic map to restore cruise functionality.

is this true to me there is a difference between map 0(stock map) and unmarried stock map.

[Freon]

Well, even BMW can revise the tuning maps slightly. I imagine they have one set of "stock" boost, fueling, ignition, etc. maps they use as the "stock" ones. There may be slight variation from BMW depending on year, software updates, and so forth that won't be represented, but it's not something you really should worry about.

When you go to the "stock" map there is still some kind of code or key stored for purposes of "marrying" your car to the AP for sure.

[FactorX81]

Originally Posted by Freon

Well, even BMW can revise the tuning maps slightly. I imagine they have one set of "stock" boost, fueling, ignition, etc. maps they use as the "stock" ones. There may be slight variation from BMW depending on year, software updates, and so forth that won't be represented, but it's not something you really should worry about.

When you go to the "stock" map there is still some kind of code or key stored for purposes of "marrying" your car to the AP for sure.

The thing is str8shot is saying the ap doesn't restore the stock map when unmarried which is contrary to cobbs claims. I'm just trying to figure out whether this is actually true. In my personal experience it seemed to put the car back to stock because it felt better than the "stock map" when the ap was installed.

[Freon]

It's not worth worrying about.

[str8shot]

Originally Posted by FactorX81

The thing is str8shot is saying the ap doesn't restore the stock map when unmarried which is contrary to cobbs claims. I'm just trying to figure out whether this is actually true. In my personal experience it seemed to put the car back to stock because it felt better than the "stock map" when the ap was installed.

If you have a stock car, yes, the AP saves your current map from the ECU, and replaces it when you uninstall (provided you haven't deleted it for whatever reason).

If you have a tuned car, then install Cobb over the top, it does not replace the previous tune. It uses a generic OEM similar map to put your car back to stock like condition.