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      02-06-2015, 08:31 AM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by onesixeight View Post
I've coded all my BMWs and I'll be coding my i8 when it arrives later this month.

I plan to do:

-fold side mirrors when locking
-FA code "euro" adaptive LED lighting (did this on my M4 and made a huge difference)
-enable USB video

Honestly guys, its not anything dangerous. Everything is reversible and all you are doing is enabling features that are available in different markets. Your car is coded from the factory to disable certain features and all you are doing is turning them back on.

I think the word "coding" makes it sound a lot scarier than it really is
This is very true, and well said.

Quote:
Originally Posted by jcpca356 View Post
I know many trial lawyers who are naive on cars hehe
Hahah!
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      02-06-2015, 12:28 PM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smithf32 View Post
http://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...5#post17349245

Looks like one of your fellow i8 owners is not so naive.
I am not sure what the hoopla is all about. I have had my Bimmer across the generations coded for these convenience features.. its all software. Never had an issue. Smithf32, i would put the "all i8" owners in a bucket. Some of us are a bit more ... well, I might hold my tongue on this. Do worry mate. Thanks for offering to the community. My car is already coded but I do have a couple of questions... drop me a line as I am not sure if what I want to do is soft code or not. I didn't see when I looked. Thanks again mate.
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      02-06-2015, 12:31 PM   #25
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Originally Posted by DoctaM3 View Post
I am not sure what the hoopla is all about. I have had my Bimmer across the generations coded for these convenience features.. its all software. Never had an issue. Smithf32, i would put the "all i8" owners in a bucket. Some of us are a bit more ... well, I might hold my tongue on this. Do worry mate. Thanks for offering to the community. My car is already coded but I do have a couple of questions... drop me a line as I am not sure if what I want to do is soft code or not. I didn't see when I looked. Thanks again mate.
Haha thank you! I didn't think all i8 owners are like that, its just not very welcoming as a first post on the i8 forums, puts a bad taste in my mouth but its cool, I know MalibuBimmer is not representative of everyone
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      02-07-2015, 11:32 AM   #26
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Originally Posted by smithf32 View Post
While I do not recommend it for safety purposes, yes, DVD in Motion can be enabled.
And also live TV?
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      02-09-2015, 11:48 AM   #27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smithf32 View Post
Haha thank you! I didn't think all i8 owners are like that, its just not very welcoming as a first post on the i8 forums, puts a bad taste in my mouth but its cool, I know MalibuBimmer is not representative of everyone
True. I don't brook bullshit. And I call it the way I see it.
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      05-17-2015, 02:32 PM   #28
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer View Post
True. I don't brook bullshit. And I call it the way I see it.
Seriously Dude? The guy was offering something, you don't like it, pass on it.

It does show how naive you are if you don't learn about a topic prior to lamenting it. I thought most lawyers research topics they may not know the most about, wait a minute that's the general public.

We pick up our i8 this Saturday, it will also get tinted and coded Saturday. Unless you have an issue with tinting?

I feel coding makes the car more personal to me. By your standards I may be an idiot and unexperienced in this field, after all I only own/have owned:

1998 M3
2002 M3
2009 M3
2013 328i
2014 M235i
2015 M4

There was also F430 Hardtop F1 & F430 Spyder MT thrown in there for fun.

All the cars have been coded/modified/personalized to my liking.

By all means, keep talking like you have a clue on this subject.

Maybe you should pick up an old Saturn, after all Manufacturers build perfect machines that should never be tinkered with.

Carry on now.
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      05-17-2015, 03:27 PM   #29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by I hate picking user names View Post
Seriously Dude? The guy was offering something, you don't like it, pass on it.

It does show how naive you are if you don't learn about a topic prior to lamenting it. I thought most lawyers research topics they may not know the most about, wait a minute that's the general public.

We pick up our i8 this Saturday, it will also get tinted and coded Saturday. Unless you have an issue with tinting?

I feel coding makes the car more personal to me. By your standards I may be an idiot and unexperienced in this field, after all I only own/have owned:

1998 M3
2002 M3
2009 M3
2013 328i
2014 M235i
2015 M4

There was also F430 Hardtop F1 & F430 Spyder MT thrown in there for fun.

All the cars have been coded/modified/personalized to my liking.

By all means, keep talking like you have a clue on this subject.

Maybe you should pick up an old Saturn, after all Manufacturers build perfect machines that should never be tinkered with.

Carry on now.
Well don't know about coding but I definitely have an issue with tinting.

And in sure you really care.
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      05-17-2015, 04:42 PM   #30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smithf32 View Post
Yeah I can understand that, I've never heard of someone having a warranty issue from coding. Mainly because even if they see your car is coded, how can they try to say that the reason you have a drivetrain malfunction is because your mirrors are set to fold when you lock the car LOL!
My mirrors DO fold when I lock the car

Memory seats would be nice though. I'M 6FT 2" N WIFE 5FT1"
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      05-17-2015, 07:42 PM   #31
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Well I had my i8 coded, as did postdady. Nothing to affect performance, but to allow us to have all features available in Europe. Plus AM radio. Which is truly lousy.
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      05-17-2015, 07:45 PM   #32
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer View Post
Well I had my i8 coded, as did postdady. Nothing to affect performance, but to allow us to have all features available in Europe Plus AM radio. Which is truly lousy.
Amazing to see you bit the bullet and let someone "play Russian roulette" with your i8.

Hehe, just kidding

Hope you're enjoying the added features.
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      05-17-2015, 07:49 PM   #33
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smithf32 View Post
Amazing to see you bit the bullet and let someone "play Russian roulette" with your i8.

Hehe, just kidding

Hope you're enjoying the added features.
Pretty minimal. I can close the windows and close the mirrors from the key now. Supposedly the brights spread over a wider area. And I can read the temperature for the tires (something also available stock on my new M4).
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      05-17-2015, 07:51 PM   #34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer View Post
Pretty minimal. I can close the windows and close the mirrors from the key now. Supposedly the brights spread over a wider area. And I can read the temperature for the tires (something also available stock on my new M4).
Even still, letting one of us crazy people touch the car must have been hard.

And yes, all M cars come with tire temp and pressure as stock.

As for the brights thing, that could be either anti dazzle enabled or the coder just removed the stop code for variable light distribution.
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      05-17-2015, 11:38 PM   #35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by onesixeight View Post
I've coded all my BMWs and I'll be coding my i8 when it arrives later this month.

I plan to do:

-fold side mirrors when locking
-FA code "euro" adaptive LED lighting (did this on my M4 and made a huge difference)
-enable USB video

Honestly guys, its not anything dangerous. Everything is reversible and all you are doing is enabling features that are available in different markets. Your car is coded from the factory to disable certain features and all you are doing is turning them back on.

I think the word "coding" makes it sound a lot scarier than it really is
While I recognize the process of coding is not perceived to be dangerous, since it's merely a reactivation of certain disabled features that have been preprogrammed into the car, it begs the question as to why they were disabled for certain markets in the first place. Specifically, it would be counterintuitive for BMW to disable features that the vehicle is already equipped for, unless there exists regulatory or compliance issues or processes that need to be met for different markets. Consequently, the EU market gets laser headlights and we're still waiting for the DOT approval.

On another note, and to Malibubimmer's point, If BMW identifies that the vehicle's software has been accessed by a third party or by its owner, would it allow for BMW to use the void of warranty card? Chances are - No, at least not until something goes wrong with the vehicle. It is then that you may find yourself nowhere but up the creek. When it comes to the idea of Coding a vehicle that's under warranty, the following thought comes to mind : "Caveat Emptor".
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      05-18-2015, 07:45 AM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer View Post
Pretty minimal. I can close the windows and close the mirrors from the key now. Supposedly the brights spread over a wider area. And I can read the temperature for the tires (something also available stock on my new M4).
Have you noticed any difference in the brights? I have to tell you my significant "non feature exclusion" issue is the high beams (yes I know laser version fixes this).

I would actually change the settings if this helped.
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      05-18-2015, 09:31 AM   #37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Epirali View Post
Have you noticed any difference in the brights? I have to tell you my significant "non feature exclusion" issue is the high beams (yes I know laser version fixes this).

I would actually change the settings if this helped.
I have noticed no difference. And I drive mountain roads where I think (but am not sure) I would be able to see a difference.

One new feature is that the key allows me to roll up the windows and close the rear view mirrors. Why that's coded out in the USA I am not sure (unless it's to prevent pinching locked-in passenger's extremities sticking out the windows).

BMW coded out the AM radio for good reason. It works worse than a 1950s Popular Mechanics' build-your-own.
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      05-18-2015, 10:29 AM   #38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer View Post
I have noticed no difference. And I drive mountain roads where I think (but am not sure) I would be able to see a difference.

One new feature is that the key allows me to roll up the windows and close the rear view mirrors. Why that's coded out in the USA I am not sure (unless it's to prevent pinching locked-in passenger's extremities sticking out the windows).

BMW coded out the AM radio for good reason. It works worse than a 1950s Popular Mechanics' build-your-own.
I feel like I should know this, but it is interesting how carbon fiber cars seem to have a lot of issues with AM radio. Tesla Roadster has the exact same issue.

Or maybe the antenna design is just not optimal for the lower frequencies.
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      05-18-2015, 11:39 AM   #39
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Is it the CF or the battery/electric motor(s)?
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      05-18-2015, 01:40 PM   #40
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I have been an avid model builder in the past and both batteries (and there emf) and carbon are a serious headache for radio signals.

Lost many an expensive RC model plane to both.

DAB where i live is appaling too.. Cuts out all the time
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      05-18-2015, 02:07 PM   #41
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer View Post
Is it the CF or the battery/electric motor(s)?
Good thought, but I'd be surprised if they were spewing anything near the AM band.
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      05-18-2015, 03:35 PM   #42
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Thimk we must be lucky in the UK. As mine closes windows from the remote as well as folding mirrors
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      05-18-2015, 05:35 PM   #43
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Thimk we must be lucky in the UK. As mine closes windows from the remote as well as folding mirrors
In America we are too stupid to be able to handle auto closing windows, auto folding mirrors, and laser headlights. Apparently we all run around sticking our fingers in things and get them cut off and look directly into lasers, so we must be protected from ourselves...

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      05-18-2015, 06:00 PM   #44
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I wanted to confirm whether or not I was speaking out of context regarding coding so I had a discussion with a BMW Service Advisor on this matter. The following pertains to the takeaway points from our discussion:

1) While he agrees it would be nice to have some of the disabled features, a certain number of them have been disabled in order to meet compliance with the Department of Transportation in the US.
2) Coding will void the warranty. He pointed out, using my case as an example, had I brought my vehicle in and if it was determined to have been coded, I would be responsible for the entire cost of replacing the instrument cluster for the i8 (my instrument cluster was recently replaced under warranty due to false remote readouts and its failure to reprogram).
3) They can detect coding when vehicles come in for servicing (They haven't performed this via remote, thus far).
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