Took my car to BMW service and now my OBD won't connect to my tuning software?

g80_nick · 07-15-2021, 11:52 PM

hi so i ended up going to BMW to get my spark plugs changed cause my car was idling weird (my car isn't under any warranty or anything i'm just out of town and wanted to get them fixed before the long drive home) and now my car won't connect at all to the tuning software. I've tried 3 different tuning softwares and all of them won't connect. They mentioned my tune and said i should put it back to stock cause that might help it but i said i'm not going too and to just do the spark plugs. It connected perfectly fine before taking it there that same day 5 min before i got there but now all of a sudden it doesn't connect at all and i've tried for 30 min and it doesn't connect. It shows the ethernet in the settings of my phone and my phone even charges through the adapter so it's obviously working but it won't connect. Do you think they did something so i can't connect to my car anymore?

XutvJet · 07-16-2021, 09:36 AM

It may be that BMW has developed a DME lock for the N55s now like has been done for newer B58s and S55s.

g80_nick · 07-16-2021, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XutvJet

It may be that BMW has developed a DME lock for the N55s now like has been done for newer B58s and S55s.

can they do that even if i'm just getting my spark plugs replaced? I have no warranty or anything i just had to go and get them replaced before driving back. I don't understand why they would lock my DME

Estoril235 · 07-16-2021, 01:26 PM

They don't do it just to lock it, it's just built into the latest software update and sometimes dealers update the software as a courtesy even if the service your car is in for isn't computer related. A lot of people here ask dealers not to update software, even if they're just getting an oil change, specifically for this reason.

g80_nick · 07-16-2021, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Estoril235

They don't do it just to lock it, it's just built into the latest software update and sometimes dealers update the software as a courtesy even if the service your car is in for isn't computer related. A lot of people here ask dealers not to update software, even if they're just getting an oil change, specifically for this reason.

oh okay i called the dealer do you think they can like re unlock it or something for me? How would i fix this? I emailed PTF so hopefully they can help me fix it.

Estoril235 · 07-16-2021, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by white_f22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Estoril235

They don't do it just to lock it, it's just built into the latest software update and sometimes dealers update the software as a courtesy even if the service your car is in for isn't computer related. A lot of people here ask dealers not to update software, even if they're just getting an oil change, specifically for this reason.

oh okay i called the dealer do you think they can like re unlock it or something for me? How would i fix this? I emailed PTF so hopefully they can help me fix it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by white_f22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Estoril235

They don't do it just to lock it, it's just built into the latest software update and sometimes dealers update the software as a courtesy even if the service your car is in for isn't computer related. A lot of people here ask dealers not to update software, even if they're just getting an oil change, specifically for this reason.

oh okay i called the dealer do you think they can like re unlock it or something for me? How would i fix this? I emailed PTF so hopefully they can help me fix it.

I haven't had this problem so I don't know the details, but PTF is your best bet. The dealer likely isn't going to be able to do anything. The only thing they might be able to do is give you an older version of the software, but that's unlikely.

pikcachu · 07-16-2021, 08:18 PM

can you connect with a regular OBDII code reader ?

It could be that they might have bent some of the pins in the connector and then it won't make contact.... I remember once I was coding a car and the OBDII connector wouldn't even go in all the way because of this

g80_nick · 07-18-2021, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pikcachu

can you connect with a regular OBDII code reader ?

It could be that they might have bent some of the pins in the connector and then it won't make contact.... I remember once I was coding a car and the OBDII connector wouldn't even go in all the way because of this

it seems to go all the way in like it did before and i don't have a regular one :/

pikcachu · 07-18-2021, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by white_f22

it seems to go all the way in like it did before and i don't have a regular one :/

Maybe stop by any Napa or autozone and see if they can check to connect with an OBDII reader... usually they do it for free...

DBinOH · 08-02-2021, 09:00 AM

Disconnect the battery in the trunk for 3-5 minutes. Then reconnect. Should fix it.

mcompact · 08-12-2021, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by white_f22

it seems to go all the way in like it did before and i don't have a regular one :/

That's what SHE said...

pikcachu · 08-12-2021, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcompact

That's what SHE said...

sard_f30 · 08-20-2021, 08:44 PM

Did you ever get this problem fixed?

NateDog07V · 09-01-2021, 02:20 PM

Make sure to follow PTF directions and turn off Windows Defender firewalls on laptop, update BM3 agent and have it running in the background prior to attempting to connect, etc.

07-15-2021, 11:52 PM	#1
g80_nick Private 20 Rep 93 Posts Drives: BMW M3 Competition Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Scottsdale, AZ iTrader: (0)	Took my car to BMW service and now my OBD won't connect to my tuning software? hi so i ended up going to BMW to get my spark plugs changed cause my car was idling weird (my car isn't under any warranty or anything i'm just out of town and wanted to get them fixed before the long drive home) and now my car won't connect at all to the tuning software. I've tried 3 different tuning softwares and all of them won't connect. They mentioned my tune and said i should put it back to stock cause that might help it but i said i'm not going too and to just do the spark plugs. It connected perfectly fine before taking it there that same day 5 min before i got there but now all of a sudden it doesn't connect at all and i've tried for 30 min and it doesn't connect. It shows the ethernet in the settings of my phone and my phone even charges through the adapter so it's obviously working but it won't connect. Do you think they did something so i can't connect to my car anymore?
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07-16-2021, 09:36 AM	#2
XutvJet Major General 5551 Rep 5,369 Posts Drives: 2011 Cayman Base, 2016 M235 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Kansas City iTrader: (-1)	It may be that BMW has developed a DME lock for the N55s now like has been done for newer B58s and S55s.
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07-16-2021, 01:26 PM	#4
Estoril235 Enlisted Member 12 Rep 42 Posts Drives: M235i Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	They don't do it just to lock it, it's just built into the latest software update and sometimes dealers update the software as a courtesy even if the service your car is in for isn't computer related. A lot of people here ask dealers not to update software, even if they're just getting an oil change, specifically for this reason.
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07-16-2021, 08:18 PM	#7
pikcachu Major General 1399 Rep 5,262 Posts Drives: M235i (F22 Red angel) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: undisclosed iTrader: (1)	can you connect with a regular OBDII code reader ? It could be that they might have bent some of the pins in the connector and then it won't make contact.... I remember once I was coding a car and the OBDII connector wouldn't even go in all the way because of this
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08-02-2021, 09:00 AM	#10
DBinOH Private 32 Rep 91 Posts Drives: 2020 X5; 2016 M235i Conv. 6MT Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Cleveland, OH iTrader: (0) Garage List 2024 BMW i4 xdr 40 [0.00] 2016 BMW M235i [0.00]	Disconnect the battery in the trunk for 3-5 minutes. Then reconnect. Should fix it.
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08-20-2021, 08:44 PM	#13
sard_f30 New Member 1 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW 330i Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Newport Beach, CA iTrader: (0)	Did you ever get this problem fixed?
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09-01-2021, 02:20 PM	#14
NateDog07V Second Lieutenant 30 Rep 211 Posts Drives: 15' M235i BSM Auto Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Northern VA iTrader: (0)	Make sure to follow PTF directions and turn off Windows Defender firewalls on laptop, update BM3 agent and have it running in the background prior to attempting to connect, etc.
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