Used LCM coding

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Hi all,

My E53 (01/2002; M54) has been having some issues which I correctly identified as being a dead/dying LCM. I replaced the LCM with one I grabbed at the junkyard and pulled out the laptop to try and get it coded up. I thought I could just load up NCS Expert, load the VO, and get NCS expert to flash the factory coding up to the LCM. It hasn't worked that way, and when I try and write to the LCM I get an error that googling has told me is linked to the VIN not matching..

I ordered a PA Soft today, but I've found references (but no how-tos) on changing the VIN with Tool32 or WinKFP. The writeups I can find are for gauge clusters and I don't have the same options. Anyone know how to do this? I guess it's not an emergency since the LCM seems to have all the typical functions working, but it's bothering me that it's possible and I can't do it.

Also, my LCM and the used one are both LCM-III. I've seen references to swapping in LCM IV, etc. Is there much advantage to going that route? Is it essentially plug and play?