2004 E53 Project!!

[YazX5]

Originally Posted by williamx5

Good day Yaz!!

If you get in touch with your friend, do me a favor and find out what software and hardware set-up he is using... I think I have hit the limits of the WinKFP and NCS Expert software in trying to code the EGS in the transmission... What I have isn't talking to the module thru the OBD port...

Thanks much!!

Cheers!!

Gotcha gotcha, nice work by the way, that's some stuff I would never attempt let alone comprehend lol. Nice job keep it up. Will update you as soon as he's back, he left the country in a vacation.

Cheers.


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[williamx5]

Good day all!!

So, I was doing some research and found out that it is recommended that the engine and trans temp hover around the 100 deg Celsius range... Trans temp a little cooler, but anyway... So, I figured I would try something with the weather getting colder... I put the original EGS unit back in the trans... I went to the TSO concert here in Greenville last night, so I didn't get to fill the trans right away... I did that today, albeit a little on the low side cause I didn't have my temp teller hooked up... I'll top it off the half quart or less tomorrow...

So, I had it running and got it up to temp tonight, (I'm guessing as it was running for a good while...) It never faulted out... I'm going to top off the fluid to specs and keep the computer in the vehicle while I bring it up to it's operating temp tomorrow... If it doesn't fault out due to the fluid temp staying below 110 deg C, I'm putting an additional trans cooler on it ASAP!! If this works, I will have a spare trans for it!! Maybe I should go thru the spare, just to be ready in the event the original one fails...

Oh my, would it ever be so amazing to get to use the X5!! Well, I'll keep everyone posted!! Wish me luck!!!

Cheers all!!

[williamx5]

Well, that didn't work... It did NOT fault out for, lets guesstimate, 30 minutes last night... It was +26 deg F last night during the test... moved thru all gears repeatedly!!

I topped it off with fluid with no issues... Got the trans temp of around 58 deg C and outside temp of about +38 and tried the shifter... On the very first time moving into drive it faulted...

So, there is really no rhyme or reason with it's issue...

Looks like I am back to working with my non-sport version replacement...

I'll keep yous advised...

Cheers for now!!

[williamx5]

Good day everyone!!

Well, it has been some time since I have been on here with any real updates... I made some progress today and I wanted to pass this on...

I had been looking for a viable ICOM module, either an ICOM A, ICOM A2, or an ICOM A3... I found a set on ebay that had the MOST module and all the cables... I tried to win the ebay auction, but didn't want it more than the one who won... I finally found an original ICOM A with the swivel part, new from Rheingold for about the same as I was going to spend on the other set... I received that in the mail yesterday... I hooked it all up, did some programming with the settings and went through the steps to program the new EGS I got from the 2006 transmission (that ended up being from a sport model, so technically it should have worked right away)... I pulled the info from the existing EGS into ISTA/P and paused the process... I got the replacement EGS from the workbench and simply plugged it in to the connector, sitting on a box under the X... I finished the process and packed up for the night... I installed the replacement EGS today... It worked as it should; having the "S" for sport mode and "M" with the gears (which it didn't have two days ago)...

Alas, I am still not done with this crazy possessed machine!! Now, I am getting hard shifts and a big flare between third and fourth... It is so bad that it faults the transmission out unless I maintain the RPM's until it catches... I did keep the 2006 valve body with the replacement EGS... I had swapped the new EGS over to my original valve body the other times I did this swap... I may need to buy another liter of Lifeguard 6 to top off the level... I will check that tomorrow before work... Maybe all the air in the systems worked it's way out and I'm just low on fluid... I may have to do another software update... I think I am going to do the entire X with the ISTA/P... I hope getting all the modules on the same page will correct this issue... I really don't want to put my original valve body back in and redo the fill procedure...

Well, if this doesn't work, I'm going to pull the trans and put in a 6-speed!! This crazy thing has just been sitting for far too long without any road time!!!

Cheers for now!!!

[jopecasa]

Originally Posted by williamx5

I may have to do another software update... I think I am going to do the entire X with the ISTA/P...

Make sure you have external power connected.

Mine fails when I code the whole car....it just won't allow full coding.

I can code/update module individually....no issue there.

I've got a legit copy of ISTA-D/P....could be some software in my pc corrupting the process.

[williamx5]

Originally Posted by jopecasa

Make sure you have external power connected.

Mine fails when I code the whole car....it just won't allow full coding.

I can code/update module individually....no issue there.

I've got a legit copy of ISTA-D/P....could be some software in my pc corrupting the process.

I don't really have a power supply, but something just as good... I hook up my Durango with two jumper cables to handle the amps needed (they don't make jumper cables like they use to). I get an average 13.55 volts and it very rarely goes below 13.26V when I cycle on the X when instructed... Sure, I burn up some gas in the Durango, but the alternator regulates the output automatically as needed, and with it having the Hemi, it has the high output alternator... It did great the couple hours I had the X hooked up...

I purchased a dedicated laptop for this purpose... BMW software is the only thing on my BMW program computer... So far it seems to be holding up to the demand... I saw some "kits" on ebay that had all the ICOM's, cables, and either a hard drive or whole Dell laptop... Figured I could piece it together like they did, but cheaper... My was a little over $400 total... The cheapest "kit" I found was $575... The others were about $795...

Thanks!!

Cheers!!

[williamx5]

Good day all!!

Well, I am not going to jinx myself here, but I programmed the EGS again via my ICOM and ISTA/P... The last time I did it, I did two things different... I only hooked up the durango and two jumper cables... This time I did the durango and my 4.6is with three sets of jumper cables... The other change is the long cable that came with the ICOM... I had it in play last time... This time I hooked the ICOM directly to the OBD port... A little difficult, but at least it won't fall out while programming...

The voltage readings fluctuated maybe .2 volts the entire time... 13.56V (+/- 0.12v)... And I got a status that indicated the module was actually being programmed... I also went into manual selection... I let the software determine the plan of action last time... Additionally, I coded the entire vehicle after the EGS program and coding had completed... Oddly, I got an error on my DSC... Something about it not having the correct parameters for the international something or other... So, after the complete vehicle was done, I went back in and programmed and coded the DSC... that worked too... Actually took longer to program the DSC than it did the EGS at over 20 minutes...

So, I didn't take it out yet... I'm actually nervous... But I did start it... Throttle response was night and day different!! I can't explain it!! WOW!!! I really really hope this programming worked!! I also checked the info using INPA... The VIN for the EGS didn't change last time... Rather odd, but figured it was a status thing and didn't have much to do with programming... Well, this time it changed... and the assembly number got updated too...

My fingers are crossed!! Going for a test drive in about three minutes...

Cheers all!!!

[williamx5]

Okay!! It did NOT go as I would have hoped... HOWEVER!! I think my new issue is the valve body or the solenoids in the valve body... While in normal DRIVE, I get bad flares between gears and if the RPM's are up, a hard shift... It's like there is too much delay with the solenoid activation... In MANUAL mode with gear selection, it is crisp and true... Very minimal delay between gears (Except going into 4th)... Nothing that would fault the trans out... I'm going to drive it a while longer to see if it "learns" how to shift... If it won't fix itself, I'll swap the original valve body back in and try it again... From my extensive research, everything I'm getting now is pointing at the valve body, not the module programming...

I'm almost there... Just gotta hang in there for a little while longer and I think I'll figure this beast out...

Cheers for now!!!

[richardb]

Great thread! Maybe this E53 X5 YouTube channel has some DIY and repair guides that will be helpful for you and other members:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd0...zX7yA/featured

[crystalworks]

^That's your YT channel. How about you do some DIY's here? Would be more helpful to members than continually pushing your YT channel. I think every 2nd or 3rd post is a link to your channel or to a video on the channel.