[RocketBoots]

Is there a consensus on which is the better way to go?

What are the cons of coding?

In the past, I've gone the coding route. Any reason this shouldn't work?

[Mehim]

Originally Posted by RocketBoots

Is there a consensus on which is the better way to go?

What are the cons of coding?

In the past, I've gone the coding route. Any reason this shouldn't work?

Originally Posted by RocketBoots

Is there a consensus on which is the better way to go?

What are the cons of coding?

In the past, I've gone the coding route. Any reason this shouldn't work?

Bimmercode works wonders.

[VPB74]

The harness won't be overwritten or cleared when the dealer does an update to your system.

[BEM-S4]

STF - for older models the harness was necessary as coding still left some noise in the system. Later models coding was fine. I forget the specifics.

[Viffermike]

RocketBoots : There are other threads on this. But in a nutshell:

- The harness removes the ASD completely from the system electrically. That means you not only eliminate the fake engine noise, you eliminate the noise that the ASD module introduces into the audio signal path. That noise is significant and affects fidelity.
- Coding turns the module's output off but doesn't remove the module's noise. BMW reportedly rectified this in 2 Series cars starting with the 2018 LCI refresh. So coding seems to be a viable option for any LCI 2 Series.
- As one poster noted, coding is not as set-and-forget as a harness. It can be deleted by a dealer, by you, or by anyone, really. And you can't re-sell coding for 75-80 percent of what you paid for it.

When it comes to audio, hardware upgrades > software upgrades, every time.

[RocketBoots]

Thanks for the input. I know there are a number of threads on this topic across the subforums (I'm familiar with the 2,3,4er ones), but I haven't kept up with them recently.

I generally agree that hardware > software for audio, but I remember reading that the harness was introducing some noise, or reducing the frequency range (bass). I think the issues have since been resolved by Technic.

On the coding side, I've heard of dealers giving customers a hard time for coding that appeared to have nothing to do with whatever issue was going on with the car.

I have the cable, and coded my car a couple of years ago. I'll likely go with the harness this time. I don't think I realized the harness completely bypassed the ASD module. I thought the signal still went through the module. And I do love the set it/forget it part

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by RocketBoots

I generally agree that hardware > software for audio, but I remember reading that the harness was introducing some noise, or reducing the frequency range (bass). I think the issues have since been resolved by Technic.

You're right, again I forget the specifics but early Technic harnesses the customer had to swap a pair of wires. Elias is aware of the issue so that's no longer necessary.