Alpina B3 Flash - Anyone in Aus got it to work?

[Drawn05]

I have been fiddling about trying to get that much talked about B3 flash on my May 09 135i but it just wont do it. Keep getting an error that says I do not have permission after I set it up to program.

Has anyone managed to get this to work with their 09+ 135i?

[joshuaa187]

Erik has completed the flash on his 335i. Hopefully he can shed some light for you.

[eriktufa]

Originally Posted by Drawn05

I have been fiddling about trying to get that much talked about B3 flash on my May 09 135i but it just wont do it. Keep getting an error that says I do not have permission after I set it up to program.

Has anyone managed to get this to work with their 09+ 135i?

2 things I have in mind:

1. Faulty cable.
2. You didn't configure the software correctly.

[x5mad]

This title intrigued so I looked into the software and it took most of the afternoon setting it up. The programming was easy it was setting it up which took the longest.

Once set up the actual programming took up no more than 10 minutes.

Only had a brief test drive but already can feel that the gear changes are so much smoother. It's pretty cool to be able to see the gear you are in in D and S mode. Will take a longer drive tomorrow and see. But already am loving it. Mine is a 2008 model though.

[chappy]

I flashed mine a while ago as looks I was the first person in Australia to do it just takes a long time to configure the software but I found out later about this cable and software package
Well worth getting for the money
http://bmtechnic.co.uk/bmw-diagnosti...white-edition/

[Drawn05]

Finally re-formatted my laptop and got this flash to work. Its too late at night and I am too pissed to test out on the road now but glad to have sorted it out.

Will start her up in the morning and see if it was worth the effort.

If the B3 was 300kw then I can see this as being a great mod for FBO 6AT people.

[Drawn05]

Had a great drive this morning and suprised at how fast it can shift. Havent really pushed it that hard but it does seem quite good. Lost the paddles though, need to do more coding to get them back.

[chappy]

Yes its not bad should have been made from the beginning yet us know when you get your paddles going again.

[Drawn05]

Originally Posted by chappy

Yes its not bad should have been made from the beginning yet us know when you get your paddles going again.

The D mode is rubbish though. I dont like how it races to 6th all the time, even when slowly going from 0-50kph.

So it seems its "S" mode or nothing.

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by Drawn05

The D mode is rubbish though. I dont like how it races to 6th all the time, even when slowly going from 0-50kph.

So it seems its "S" mode or nothing.

I agree

[Gemballa1980]

Originally Posted by BMW86

I agree

It seems to be a lot worse if you have a louder exhaust - as you really hear it pump through 1st to 6th in the space of 5 seconds like a fooked set of bagpipes! Still well worth doing though.

As a side note: If anyone in Canberra wants to do this - I have a working cable to lend if needed!

[MO3]

I was quoted $120 to have this done by a member here! $60 for the TCU flash and $60 to get the paddles to work again! To his credit, he did offer a voluntary $20 discount bringing the total to $100.
I've got the battery cable recall next week, and as others say, I'll lose the flash and the coding as a result of that!
Might as well order the cable and fiddle with it myself!
It would be super helpful if one of the guys who did it put a DIY with links to the required software!

[Gemballa1980]

Originally Posted by MO3

I was quoted $120 to have this done by a member here! $60 for the TCU flash and $60 to get the paddles to work again! To his credit, he did offer a voluntary $20 discount bringing the total to $100.
I've got the battery cable recall next week, and as others say, I'll lose the flash and the coding as a result of that!
Might as well order the cable and fiddle with it myself!
It would be super helpful if one of the guys who did it put a DIY with links to the required software!

I got a guy on these forums to help set my PC up remotely and run me through the flash process.. He can be contacted on by the name of: ******84.

He's done plenty before and I can now vouch for him.. You just need a working cable.

He can either just setup the software for you, and flash it as well if need be.

From memory it was $30 to provide and install all the software ontp your PC and another $20 to flash & test. Don't quote me on the prices though but it was around that price..

[Drawn05]

Originally Posted by MO3

I was quoted $120 to have this done by a member here! $60 for the TCU flash and $60 to get the paddles to work again! To his credit, he did offer a voluntary $20 discount bringing the total to $100.
I've got the battery cable recall next week, and as others say, I'll lose the flash and the coding as a result of that!
Might as well order the cable and fiddle with it myself!
It would be super helpful if one of the guys who did it put a DIY with links to the required software!

Hmmm, why would they flash your TCU for a battery recall? I think you should wait and see what transpires, you might be pleasantly suprised.

If BMW dont have to do so something they will certainly not do it.

This flash is essentially using pirated software to flash pirate coding onto an expensive cars ECU; I dont agree with this charging people idea.

If you lose the Alpina flash as a result of the recall Moe, I will reflash your car for you free of charge.

[OzJustin]

Digging up an old thread here.

Are there any companies in Australia performing this flash, particularly in Brisbane? Who has had their car flashed in 2014? This flash with the M3 DCT paddles seems like the perfect steptronic setup.

I know there are a few commercial guys (like Alpine below) in the states offering remote flashing but a local option would be better.
http://www.alpinemss.com/product_p/RME.htm

[thezone135i]

Is there any reason to get this? If I wanted to be in 6th gear at 50km/h I would just buy a Golf R.

The only thing that annoys me about the step is not have a discrete function to engage 'M' independently of 'S'. Its stupid. You push it across to 'S' and it shifts down (which is fine) but then you don't actually know what gear its in because it doesn't feckin tell you. By this time you are probably braking or want to use engine braking so you drop another gear but depending on your rate of deceleration it may have dropped another gear for you (because it does this in s mode) and so you end up in 2nd way to early.

Does this flash offer such a thing?

[OzJustin]

Originally Posted by thezone135i

Is there any reason to get this? If I wanted to be in 6th gear at 50km/h I would just buy a Golf R.

The only thing that annoys me about the step is not have a discrete function to engage 'M' independently of 'S'. Its stupid. You push it across to 'S' and it shifts down (which is fine) but then you don't actually know what gear its in because it doesn't feckin tell you. By this time you are probably braking or want to use engine braking so you drop another gear but depending on your rate of deceleration it may have dropped another gear for you (because it does this in s mode) and so you end up in 2nd way to early.

Does this flash offer such a thing?

I think you need to read a little bit about this flash. It may solve all your annoyances. In 'D' mode yes it will get to 6th gear super quick, but that's the point - this mode is about smooth, comfort and fuel economy. Swap to 'S' mode and gear shifts are noticeably more crisp. Put it in 'M' mode with paddle shifting and shifts are super quick and generally smooth, and the rev match downshifts are supposed to be superb.

Here's a vid showing the three modes:

[135BANDIT]

Did you locate anyone in QLD that can perform the flash ?

I will be very keen to get this completed also

[OzJustin]

Originally Posted by 135BANDIT

Did you locate anyone in QLD that can perform the flash ?

I will be very keen to get this completed also

I haven't tracked anyone down yet.

I did contact BPS but they don't offer the flash. I will give a few others a try like Prestige and Performance, Accelerate Automotive, Harding Performance etc. Might even see if Advan or BMR offer it and could do it remotely. Will let you know.