135i M Sport - original owner

[PSuedonym]

Hi all

First post, but have been lurking for years since my wife bought her 135i in 2012. I am looking for the original owner in the hope that he can assist. The vehicle has performance map on it, which the original owner had loaded, with a lock-bit, which is preventing the technician working on the car from coding certain units to the ECU.

The car is suffering from a DSC/ ABS unit fault, which results in many other faults and errors (cruise control, wipers, ABS, DSC and an ELV fault thrown in too) . We have had the car at Mech 1 and Combined Electronics, who are at present unable to fix the car. It has been undriveable since September 2015 as a result.

The car has some markers that may assist: CF mirror covers, CF rear spoiler, CSL replica rims.

The car was bougght new in 2008 in Jhb, then by the second owner in Cape Town in 2010, and then by my wife in 2012. It is an M-spec 135i with:

• BMW Performance Exhaust
• BMW Performance Crossed-Drilled and Slotted Front Rotors
• BMW Performance Gear Knob and Alcantara Boot ('M-Sport' shifter included)
• BMW Performance Side Skirts
• Sunroof
• 'Professional' Sat-Nav with DVD-based 'iDrive' - 8.8" screen
• 'Professional' Harmon Kardon LOGIC 7 Sound System with DSP (10 speakers): CD, DVD mp3 & aux in
• Voice Control
• Heated Seats
• Electronic Lumbar Support
• Xenon Headlights
• Headlight Washer System
• Automatic Head Light and Rain Sensor
• Fully Automatic Air-conditioning and climate control

I can also provide the VIN if that will assist in tracking down the original owner, or tuner. If anyone does know who the original owner is I would appreciate you passing on my details to them in order for them to contact me and provide me with the required information.

 

[China]

Jeeez, nice 1'er man, hope you can find the original owner!!
Welcome to the fanatics side of life.

 

[Kimeran]

You can call anybody you know at BMW, provide him with the VIN and he'll be able to track the original owner....I think

 

[Psypher13]

Drop me a pm with the vin bud

I will get u the info tomorrow

 

[PSuedonym]

Quick update: thanks to Psypher13 I managed to get hold of the previous owner that mapped the car. I then called the guys that mapped it, but they did not put a lock-bit on the map as they don't have the tools to do that.

I assume therefore that it must have been BMW who at some point must have upgraded the vehicle's software and installed the bit.

Now the struggle will be to get it removed so that the DSC unit can be coded to the ECU.

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

pm Ratslaaf on the forum, he is in Joburg, but perhaps he can assist.

 

[M135i]

Great work in getting the details

 

[R!Yo]

Nicely spec'd car man! Not many have been spec'd up like that, very rare.

PM Ratslaaf@OBDWorx (Gert), he is a forum sponsor and BMW electronics specialist. Although in JHB, he might be able to help out.

Good luck!

 

[444YYY]

pm Ratslaaf on the forum, he is in Joburg, but perhaps he can assist.

I think this is an excellent suggestion!

 

[LFC]

Awesome ride, hope you get sorted!

 

[PSuedonym]

Have chatted to Gert but unfortunately there is not much he can do as the car is in Cape Town.

I'll let the current technicians have a final go at it before trying something or someone else.

 

[PSuedonym]

The car will be returned to us tomorrow. The DSC unit has been coded to the car, the ELV unit replaced and the car checked for error codes.

Currently it seems that the DME is not sending a speed signal to the instrument cluster, which is preventing the cruise control from activating. The technicians are confident that it is a DME error and are not prepared to work further on the car.

We will take it back, drive it for some time, and then I will contact Gert again.

Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[PSuedonym]

This car now for sale... We have a 3 month old baby and need something a little bigger.

We have driven the car after it was finally fixed for a couple of months and all seems in order, apart from the cruise control. There are one or two other issues with the car (kerb rash and a very minor scrape on the front bumper) that we will consider fixing before letting it go.

http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-cars-bak...-coupe-135i-m+sport/1001669613420910001137009

It's been a great car and has always put a smile on our face, but it is sadly time to let it go.

 

[zabbo]

GLWS!

 

[paulkane]

Cant BMW provide you that information?

 

[AshG108]

Shew i think this car should be sold by now and his kid grown quite a bit. Judging by his post count, don't think you will get answer now..

 

[michael.joseph]

Yoh... What an awesome spec'd car.

GLWS man

raise:

 

[PSuedonym]

Car sold in July of last year. Went to a 20 year old who bought it cash. About two days after the sale it pinged a steering lock fault but was sold with a watertight contract.

BMW could not provide me with the info I required.

Wife now drives a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimted Pentastar.