[kosio86]

Hi all. I am waiting for my IX Xdrive50 to arrive from USA to Bulgaria atm and seeing this thread concerned me a lot. It's my first BMW, but I alredy have ISTA and other SW for the part numbers and started reverse engineering the US/ECE builds and turned out very few hardware things differ, so I already bought European charge port (the US CCU is the same as the ECE 11kw one), and also was planning to code European taillights, navigation etc (we have maaany US imports converted fine here and everyone convinced me the BMW is one of the easiest to convert), but reading this seems I will face a lot of troubles. I went through the entire post and saw that ones produced before March 2023 (mine is Nov 2022) have better chance of being coded. Is there hope for me, as it's too late to return it back, already?
I wanted to retrofit:
- ECE chargeport (might need coding)
- code in or retrofit ECE taillights
- code in ECE sign recognition, navigation and other head unit options
- enable OTA if they are disabled (not sure if I still want it after reeding this post)

I understand that there's VO coding and FDL coding and that VO is still possible but applies only after OTA, but I am not sure which of the things I need to do are where.
I expected that it's just a matter of removing some of the "export" codings that are applied for the US marker.

[johninaustin]

I had removed 5AP from the VO a while back.

I took it to the dealer & they did a CarPlay update to 7/2024.

Anti-dazzle lights do not work.

I'll have to wait for the next OTA - probably 11/2024 and we'll likely get it some time in February or March 2025.

[rogercheng3]

Originally Posted by johninaustin

I had removed 5AP from the VO a while back.

I took it to the dealer & they did a CarPlay update to 7/2024.

Anti-dazzle lights do not work.

I'll have to wait for the next OTA - probably 11/2024 and we'll likely get it some time in February or March 2025.

This happened to me the first OTA I had after 5ap was removed, nothing happened, then I took it to a dealer for service and they installed a newer version from their systems and now antidazzle works. Although I have to admit at least where I drive it’s not that much of a difference (compared to my x45e with laser antidazzle) the antidazzle portion was noticeably brighter for some reason.

[johninaustin]

Bimmer Tech has confirmed anti-dazzle is no longer possible for the iX (using my 2023 iX VIN):

"Unfortunately due to recent changes in the BMW software, it is not compatible with the Anti-Dazzle Coding"

[DonutRanger]

Just out of curiosity, was it possible to remove the electronic speed limiter from 125mph to 155mph through coding? Before coding became impossible.

[Daniel15]

Originally Posted by johninaustin

Bimmer Tech has confirmed anti-dazzle is no longer possible for the iX (using my 2023 iX VIN):

"Unfortunately due to recent changes in the BMW software, it is not compatible with the Anti-Dazzle Coding"

Does this mean it's no longer possible for anyone to do at all on an iX?

[johninaustin]

Originally Posted by Daniel15

Does this mean it's no longer possible for anyone to do at all on an iX?

Supposedly removing 5AP and letting an OTA hit will enable it for other folks.

I tried this with a small point update (11/2023.x -> 11/2023.y where y > x) & it didn't work.

The dealer did an update to 7/2024 and it didn't work.

We'll see if it works in a larger OTA release when we get Nov 2024 (some time in Jan 2025 I guess?). I'm hoping it didn't work for my minor update OTA because those modules weren't touched by the OTA. Maybe a "bigger" OTA will hit the modules & enable it.

Worst case a bigger update will touch one of the required modules & leave me with a system that's complaining about modules out of sync :-\

Time will tell.

[Daniel15]

Originally Posted by johninaustin

Supposedly removing 5AP and letting an OTA hit will enable it for other folks.

My understanding is that I'd need an ENET cable for this, but what software is required to do it? I don't have my iX yet (currently being built) but I'd like to try this out once I've got it.

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by johninaustin

Supposedly removing 5AP and letting an OTA hit will enable it for other folks.

I tried this with a small point update (11/2023.x -> 11/2023.y where y > x) & it didn't work.

The dealer did an update to 7/2024 and it didn't work.

We'll see if it works in a larger OTA release when we get Nov 2024 (some time in Jan 2025 I guess?). I'm hoping it didn't work for my minor update OTA because those modules weren't touched by the OTA. Maybe a "bigger" OTA will hit the modules & enable it.

Worst case a bigger update will touch one of the required modules & leave me with a system that's complaining about modules out of sync :-\

Time will tell.

There are software version and geofencing restrictions.

[johninaustin]

Bimmer Tech got back & said they could do it. We had a brief coding session this morning & I'll test it out later tonight.

For some reason they warned against not removing 5AP, but didn't get into details. They said OTA and dealers use their own VO anyway.

But seems folks in this forum have had luck removing 5AP & having things work after OTA or dealer visits (provided the updates touch the right modules). Not sure why they warned against this.

Any insights?

Originally Posted by johninaustin

Bimmer Tech has confirmed anti-dazzle is no longer possible for the iX (using my 2023 iX VIN):

"Unfortunately due to recent changes in the BMW software, it is not compatible with the Anti-Dazzle Coding"

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by johninaustin

Bimmer Tech got back & said they could do it. We had a brief coding session this morning & I'll test it out later tonight.

For some reason they warned against not removing 5AP, but didn't get into details. They said OTA and dealers use their own VO anyway.

But seems folks in this forum have had luck removing 5AP & having things work after OTA or dealer visits (provided the updates touch the right modules). Not sure why they warned against this.

Any insights?

You do not write VO chances to vehicle and only respective FDL changes.

[Daniel15]

Originally Posted by johninaustin

Bimmer Tech got back & said they could do it. We had a brief coding session this morning & I'll test it out later tonight.

I'm very curious as to how they're doing it. Do you know how they coded it? They told me just a few weeks ago that it wasn't possible.

For some reason they warned against not removing 5AP, but didn't get into details. They said OTA and dealers use their own VO anyway.

On one hand, they could be right. On the other hand, it sounds like a convenient way for them to try and tell you that you must use their services instead of trying to do it yourself, guaranteeing a sale.

Is 5AP still in your VO after they did their coding?

[johninaustin]

Originally Posted by Daniel15

On one hand, they could be right. On the other hand, it sounds like a convenient way for them to try and tell you that you must use their services instead of trying to do it yourself, guaranteeing a sale.

Is 5AP still in your VO after they did their coding?

I’d removed it a while back - they added it back in!

Antidazzle works fine. But it feels like I should remove it again so future updates don’t take it away…

[johninaustin]

Oh, and if you remove it from your VO it shows as ineligible in their system. Only after asking and escalating did they explain that.

As to the how, they have a way to get the properly signed config from bmw based on VO codes. So they remove it, generate the config, update like you would any non secure code vehicle. That’s my understanding anyway.

Based on that, it makes me think we may be able to retrofit the retractable tow hitch …

[NomoTesla]

Can anyone code my car to enable anti-dazzle? I will happily pay.

[johninaustin]

Originally Posted by NomoTesla

Can anyone code my car to enable anti-dazzle? I will happily pay.

Bimmer-tech .net should be able to hook you up.

If you haven't messed with your VO, just go to the site, enter your VIN, and it'll point you to the right anti-dazzle coding package.

They use AnyDesk and Team Viewer to do remote coding over a tunnel - you need to have the OBD -> Ethernet adapter (I used the BimmerUtility adapter).

It took about 45 min total. I can confirm it works now, though I think anti-dazzle in the F10 and G20 chassis were brighter in the periphery.

[johninaustin]

I removed 5AP a day after bimmer tech coded anti dazzle.

A couple of days later the November software update came in OTA.

Lights continue to work fine.

[LuisBoston]

When you all say “anti-dazzle”, are you referring to enabling full functionality of the laser lights?

Or does it mean the auto high beams?

[johninaustin]

Originally Posted by LuisBoston

When you all say “anti-dazzle”, are you referring to enabling full functionality of the laser lights?

Or does it mean the auto high beams?

Full functionality. This opens up the “matrix” light functionality that keeps high beams on as much as possible. It partially blocks areas that would “dazzle” other drivers in front of you or coming in the opposite direction, creating light “tunnels”

[LuisBoston]

Originally Posted by johninaustin

Full functionality. This opens up the “matrix” light functionality that keeps high beams on as much as possible. It partially blocks areas that would “dazzle” other drivers in front of you or coming in the opposite direction, creating light “tunnels”

Thank you. I did a google search and there were lots of references to auto high beams, so I wanted to make sure.

I’d love to unlock mine. Will do more understanding.

Anyone in the Boston area do this?

[Aalfred]

Originally Posted by LuisBoston

Thank you. I did a google search and there were lots of references to auto high beams, so I wanted to make sure.

I’d love to unlock mine. Will do more understanding.

Anyone in the Boston area do this?

Its only helpful if you are driving in areas that dont have street lights or you drive late at night when there is hardly any traffic and its not lit. In the city its usually not worth it as the high beam wont come on as the freeways are lit and there are other cars on the road. I had decoded it on my X3 and didnt think it made much of a difference. The auto high beam pretty much did the same except go off when another car approached.

[LuisBoston]

Originally Posted by Aalfred

Its only helpful if you are driving in areas that dont have street lights or you drive late at night when there is hardly any traffic and its not lit. In the city its usually not worth it as the high beam wont come on as the freeways are lit and there are other cars on the road. I had decoded it on my X3 and didnt think it made much of a difference. The auto high beam pretty much did the same except go off when another car approached.

I spend a lot of time going to and in Vermont in the winter, so it’d be nice to have!

Critical, no. But nice.