Updating/Replacing CCC Unit

[sleepybear]

I am sure this has been covered, but after struggling to get good search results, wanted to check to see if I could get some solid info.

This all started when I took my 2008 X5 4.8i to a local BMW specialist as (among a few other things) the trunk hatch was having issues completely closing (would get to the point of soft close, and bounce open). They suggested I do an update on the FRM unit, which eventually bricked it, and then had to be replaced with a new one. When I picked the vehicle back up a week later, the rear view camera no longer worked, and the AUX cord was no longer a selectable option through iDrive system. On top of that, the trunk still wouldn't close consistently. After I brought it back, they said they found a piece of plastic that was interfering with the close, and haven't been able to replicate that issue since. The bad news is that after the reprogramming/new FRM, I had more issues than when I brought it in originally.

They are now saying I will have to replace the whole CCC unit, which is obviously very expensive and in the end will still look old and outdated. I am thinking about going with an aftermarket option such as the iNav from 4x4ShopCA or BAVE70A-1025 by AVIN, but want to make sure I am getting the right unit. I did also look at the bimmerretrofit option, but after seeing the price of that, don't think I can justify close to $2k at this point.

My only real goals are to maintain use of the iDrive knob/steering wheel buttons, factory back-up camera/parking sensors, and have bluetooth audio/apple carplay. I don't need wifi or 4g connection, as long as bluetooth works for audio. I spoke w/ customer service at 4x4shop, and they assured me it would be totally plug and play.

Does anyone have experience with either unit/company, and can confirm it is truly plug and play and will still have the factory back-up camera etc.

[Greggo]

I am curious why the shop is telling you to replace the CCC unit? After the previous 'non fixes,' not sure I would trust them with anything electronic, or opinions of same.

Also sounds to me as they do not bother to troubleshoot anything. "Update your FRM!." Always, always look for the simple answer first. How hard was it to actually look at the lock and find the broken plastic?

Did this shop do any sort of module programming or updating? Did you do any updating besides the FRM? Did this shop program the new FRM?

You need to find a local member with programing tools and skills. At the very least, find a new shop.

The AUX selection should be a simple check of the CCC programming. Not much to that, nothing external would cause that issue. If they were messing around the rear hatch, might have disturbed the camera or connection. Nobody was trying to program something in the CCC?

Best of luck.

[Cyrix2k]

I agree with Greggo, this sounds like a coding issue to me and not a broken CCC. Sounds like they broke your FRM too :-/ Find a new shop for sure.

[sleepybear]

Originally Posted by Greggo

I am curious why the shop is telling you to replace the CCC unit? After the previous 'non fixes,' not sure I would trust them with anything electronic, or opinions of same.

Also sounds to me as they do not bother to troubleshoot anything. "Update your FRM!." Always, always look for the simple answer first. How hard was it to actually look at the lock and find the broken plastic?

Did this shop do any sort of module programming or updating? Did you do any updating besides the FRM? Did this shop program the new FRM?

You need to find a local member with programing tools and skills. At the very least, find a new shop.

The AUX selection should be a simple check of the CCC programming. Not much to that, nothing external would cause that issue. If they were messing around the rear hatch, might have disturbed the camera or connection. Nobody was trying to program something in the CCC?

Best of luck.

This has all been primarily phone conversations up to this point, and to be honest I don't have the best understanding of the different modules and coding. From what I recall, they started with updating/programing the original FRM after they pulled some fault codes and ran electrical tests on the 3rd brake light, and saw that there hadn't been any updates since the original production. They said there was a chance the updates could crash the FRM and require a full replacement, but after those tests seemed sure it was the reason the 3rd brake light wasn't working, and why the hatch would not always soft close. I had looked around the hatch to see if I could find anything that stood out as loose/broken that was causing the close issue, but didn't find anything so something electronic seemed plausible.

When they ran the updates, the FRM did crash and so they replaced it with a new unit. I don't know if they did other updates at that time, but they said they did have charges of coding from BMW.

They are now saying the CCC unit has failed and also needs to be replaced. The options are either a new unit ($2k+) or find a similarly configured used CCC to try to replace the current one ($500-600).

I'm obviously pretty upset because had they just found the plastic issue, I wouldn't have paid for the diagnosing/coding/replacement FRM, and then received my car back in worse condition than they had received it.

The shop said they took a CC from a loaner vehicle, and confirmed that the CCC was the issue, but also said the loaner CCC didn't have all the same options and so that is why they need to find a used one from a similar spec'd X5.

I have no clue how to do any coding, or how to find someone local who knows how to do that type of coding. But my main concern is just having the audio, rearview camera, and parking sensors work as they originally did.

Is it possible that an experienced coder could restore those features without having to replace the CCC? Or is CCC failure that can't be remedied by coding a possibility?

[sleepybear]

Originally Posted by Cyrix2k

I agree with Greggo, this sounds like a coding issue to me and not a broken CCC. Sounds like they broke your FRM too :-/ Find a new shop for sure.

I will most likely have no choice... But unfortunately I can't find any real info on this issue, and when I search the form "CCC" is blocked for being to short.

[Siggy]

You can't just "find a similarly configured one". It has to be programmed to the options on that car.

I'm in the process of replacing a CIC unit myself (already replaced it) and I'm trying to schedule time with a guy that says he can program it with my vehicle options again. I paid $150 for the unit from a salvage yard and his price isn't that much to code it, so I should have less than $300 in replacing it, if it works as planned.

[sleepybear]

Originally Posted by Siggy

You can't just "find a similarly configured one". It has to be programmed to the options on that car.

I'm in the process of replacing a CIC unit myself (already replaced it) and I'm trying to schedule time with a guy that says he can program it with my vehicle options again. I paid $150 for the unit from a salvage yard and his price isn't that much to code it, so I should have less than $300 in replacing it, if it works as planned.

I kind of had that fear, but if they find a good CCC and then reprogram it, it should work assuming they do the coding correct? Is there a way for someone to remote in to program it or provide the code needed? If so I would be interested in your contact.

Either way the more I'm learning the more I'm upset with this situation. It should've been them checking the hatch and finding the plastic that was loose. Instead I'm in for at least $1200+ into new modules/coding, and waiting on a CCC, and I still don't have the car or an idea when it will be ready.

The shop has been acting like the CCC can fail at anytime, but there is no way it's a coincidence that they decided to replace the FRM, and returned the vehicle to me with no rear-view camera, aux, and possibly the parking sensors not working (I didn't think to check them as I brought it in, I thought they knew what they were doing and it would be a day or two tops). It's been 3-4 of the last 5 weeks at this point that they've had the X5.

[Siggy]

Info sent.

[Cyrix2k]

You can't just "find a similarly configured one". It has to be programmed to the options on that car.

I'm in the process of replacing a CIC unit myself (already replaced it) and I'm trying to schedule time with a guy that says he can program it with my vehicle options again. I paid $150 for the unit from a salvage yard and his price isn't that much to code it, so I should have less than $300 in replacing it, if it works as planned.

Not sure about the CCC, but I've replaced a CIC. The "hard" part on the CIC is replacing the certs to authorize premium apps which I don't think the CCC even has.

Originally Posted by sleepybear

I kind of had that fear, but if they find a good CCC and then reprogram it, it should work assuming they do the coding correct? Is there a way for someone to remote in to program it or provide the code needed? If so I would be interested in your contact.

Either way the more I'm learning the more I'm upset with this situation. It should've been them checking the hatch and finding the plastic that was loose. Instead I'm in for at least $1200+ into new modules/coding, and waiting on a CCC, and I still don't have the car or an idea when it will be ready.

The shop has been acting like the CCC can fail at anytime, but there is no way it's a coincidence that they decided to replace the FRM, and returned the vehicle to me with no rear-view camera, aux, and possibly the parking sensors not working (I didn't think to check them as I brought it in, I thought they knew what they were doing and it would be a day or two tops). It's been 3-4 of the last 5 weeks at this point that they've had the X5.

Pretty sure the CCC should take all of 5 minutes to code. Should just be reading the vehicle order (options list) and default coding the CCC. As a note, the VO is stored in the FRM and a backup is stored in the CAS iirc. I usually read the FRM so that might partially explain your troubles if they didn't properly code the FRM then tried to code the CCC. The only thing to check is the backup camera on the CCC - it works differently than in CIC vehicles, but I don't know if there's a year split where the hardware might be different. Pretty sure they're all the same though.