ABS controller recode

ajeff0352

Newbie
American Zeds
Joined
Nov 21, 2024
Points
3
Location
Virginia, USA
I purchased my 97 Z3 in July. It had water damage to the interior. Most of the repairs are done and the car has been on the road since mid August.

The ABS/ASC light have been on since I got the car. Because of the water damage, some of the module needed replacement. The ABS controller was severely corroded. I've installed a replacement and was able to turn off the warning lights, but after a test drive they came back on. A new scan indicates, among other things, that the "gearbox type wrongly coded." Also indicates that the ASC microprocessor is malfunctioning.

A bit of research tells me that this controller has to be coded to my car. This is new territory to me. I have downloaded the INPA software, but have no clue how to proceed. Is there a thread that can walk me through this procedure?
 

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colb

Zorg Guru (V)
British Zeds
Joined
Nov 25, 2012
Points
178
Location
Newport, South Wales,UK
Model of Z
Z3 M43 1.8 (1999) and Z4 E85 2.5 (2003)
INPA is a Diagnostic tool not a coding tool, you need either NCS Expert, DIS or Winkfp software that usually comes with INPA as a collection for use on a Laptop. You can buy the INPA suite on ebay which includes the cable and software. Its all very clunky to use and get your head around it all. Higher end scanners like Launch and Autel Tablet scanners can code but your well into £300+ for these. Don't forget that with all diagnostics you plug in to the Round 20pin socket in the engine bay to read all modules on the car, you need a 20pin to 16pin obd2 cable changer also available on ebay.
 

137699

Zorg Guru (I)
Joined
Jan 30, 2020
Points
89
Location
Hampshire
Model of Z
M Coupe 3.2 S50
I am pretty certain Stevo has been looking into this for some time and the consensus is that it is impossible to recode an ABS controller with *any* tool. They are code once and that's it - nobody has figured out a way to recode them to another car.
So basically the only solution is to buy a new module from BMW (assuming they're still available) or to swap a complete set of coded modules across from a donor car.
 

Andyboy

Zorg Guru (II)
Joined
Jun 2, 2019
Points
119
Location
SHEFFIELD
ASC doesn't need coding to the car, but DSC does.

It's either another faulty unit or a different fault.

It would be helpful to indicate which engine and which ABS pump you have.
 

ajeff0352

Newbie
American Zeds
Joined
Nov 21, 2024
Points
3
Location
Virginia, USA
It's a 2.8l 5-speed. I've attached a picture of the ABS pump. This is a replacement part I decided not to install after I saw the condition of the control module, but is identical to the one in my car.

As indicated in my original post, it appears the module was pulled from an automatic. If it cannot be recoded, I may try to get another one that's verified to come from a 2.8 manual.
 

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Andyboy

Zorg Guru (II)
Joined
Jun 2, 2019
Points
119
Location
SHEFFIELD
You probably have the 34521164094 ECU. Same as E36 323i 328i etc. They are prone to water damage from a windscreen leak.
 
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