Cruise Control - re-coding needed?

R

ryukin

Member
 Milton Keynes
I emailed my local BMW garage to get a quote on cruise control. I asked for a quote on just the part so that I could retrofit it myself. They replied with the following...

"Hello Mr Roberts,

A cruise control retro fit kit is available for your car & costs £150.00 including vat (@ the 15% rate).
I understand that you are capable of installing this yourself but to make you aware that the vehicle needs to be Flash coded first of all & re- coded with the correct software after the install is complete.
A service I assume that can only be performed by a BMW Dealership.

Regards Duncan Gunn

Wayside BMW/MINI "

Flash coded and re-coded? In all of the How-To's I've read about retrofitting cruise control, this hasn't been mentioned. I explained to him that my car was built before 10/04 and then he said it may only need encoding rather than a full re-coding. Thing is, they said it's chargeable as an hour code time at approx £130.00! Bit steep!

Do I actually need this done or are they just trying to get more money out of me?

Thanks in advance.
 
what ages is your car?
if it's pre Oct-2004, look at the thread in my sig.

if it's post then, I still don't believe any coding is required.
There are PDF instrcutions available, again in the thread in my sig, for post oct 2004 cars, that I believe quite a few have followed....


but even if it does require coding, it shouldn't take them long to code.. right?
 
Problem is that all retrofit instructions tell the BMW dealership to hook up and code things so they begin to believe it's a necessary step to actually make it work rather than just a chack that all is well

Next they'll be telling you that you need a recode to fit a hardtop so the windows open and close correctly
 
cj10jeeper said:
Problem is that all retrofit instructions tell the BMW dealership to hook up and code things so they begin to believe it's a necessary step to actually make it work rather than just a chack that all is well

Next they'll be telling you that you need a recode to fit a hardtop so the windows open and close correctly
Click to expand...

"it's all about the benjamins"
 
They told me mine would need coding as well.

also that I might need a new clutch master cyclinder :lol:

needless to say I need neither :D
 
Same for a satnav retrofit. "All needs coding". Like hell it did ...
 
Thanks for all the replies, that's the answer I wanted to hear :thumbsup:

sk93, I didn't even see your thread in the search! Thanks for pointing that out. I'm going to take the cowl off and have a rummage around in there to see if I have the spare plug. If so, I'll just buy the stalk - sounds much easier! Do you remember how much it cost?

I'm not sure exactly age my car is. It's a 2005 Z4 on a 54 plate if that helps.
 
I got told the same. And quoted 500+ squids for "parts, 2 hours of BMW work, re-coding and vat". I almost laughed in my amusement but luckily it was too early in the morning to have any sense of humour.
 
ryukin said:
Thanks for all the replies, that's the answer I wanted to hear :thumbsup:

sk93, I didn't even see your thread in the search! Thanks for pointing that out. I'm going to take the cowl off and have a rummage around in there to see if I have the spare plug. If so, I'll just buy the stalk - sounds much easier! Do you remember how much it cost?

I'm not sure exactly age my car is. It's a 2005 Z4 on a 54 plate if that helps.
Click to expand...

it was £60 (says it in the thread :P).

have a look for your car's build date sticker, it's on the passenger side wall of the engine bay.. near the fusebox thing :)
that''s where you're hoping to find oct 2004 or earlier for the easiest and cheapest solution :p
 
Although it's prob no longer an issue, some time ago some people reported the kit, i.e. stalk and 1/2 cowling, came with a cowling which didn't have the necessary cut-out. Just check before you get al the way home perhaps. £150 sounds steep.
 
It much chealer to buy the stork for around £60, the leads if required for £20, and dremel the cowl so saving £70-£90
 
sk93 said:
I assume you found a cable? :D
Click to expand...
yup :) I've ordered the part today for £64.50 inc vat. Apparently it's got to be shipped over from Germany but should be here by Saturday (fingers crossed).
 
ryukin said:
sk93 said:
I assume you found a cable? :D
Click to expand...
yup :) I've ordered the part today for £64.50 inc vat. Apparently it's got to be shipped over from Germany but should be here by Saturday (fingers crossed).
Click to expand...

Yep - mine came from germany too.. should only take two days tho!

still, gives you time to cut the fabled hole in the cowel :P
 
Just to let everyone know, I fitted the cruise control last night (piece of cake) and it works perfectly.

So the verdit? No re-coding needed at all.
 
sk93 said:
grats :D

probably the second easiest mod you can do to our-age zeds :
Click to expand...
The first being cup holders? They were so easy to fit. I've also fitted aux for my ipod but I think I've covered all the easy mods now. Ooo, except stubby. Must buy stubby!!

I'm going to have to grow some balls now and take on some bigger projects like sat nav (eek! scared at the thought of it!) and I'd love to tackle led's under door handles. hmm... maybe next year.
 
satnav and led door handles... the two mods I'm really looking at doing next year too.. lol


and yeah.. cupholders = #1 :P
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom