The heart of the FRM3 is one of the newest, most secured Motorola MCUs-9S12XEQ384 and all the data is stored inside, including emulated eeprom. Although there are ways to write into this processor, it is not possible to read out the content. But some smart guys have figured out a way to extract the data sets, so restoring is possible now.

Is default coding w/ NCSExpert all that's required?
Is this primarily a problem with FRM3's or are FRM2's also affected?

If the vehicle has been reported as salvaged, and BMW has a copy of that, it will not be covered. If it slipped though the cracks then who's to say its been salvaged.

Extending the warranty and recalls are two different things.

If they recalled the driveshaft, the will check and replace if needed. BMW usually has a policy to extend the warranty for that part also, but it is different in the case of the FRM, as it was not a recall, only an extension of the warranty.

Yeah, FRM2 bites the dust sometimes, but less often than 3. Coding with NCS expert should suffice.

They should have information for cars that have been salvaged at around 15k miles, right? If there were cracks I would have found them by far :yikes:

Quick Update:

After further research and feedback from fellow board members here and other forums, i decided to book an appointment with the BMW Auto Center in Port Chester NY to take a look at it. Anyone have experience with this service center? Based on the following SIB it appears my vehicle is covered. Also, page 6 indicates the primary cause is "Connect an approved battery charger/power supply" which may relate to the battery pack I used give my car a boost.

https://mega.nz/#!ctNgnTLR!Ryid5xjd2...qqIfWQ1DrgEAZI

I also found some good info here;

https://bmwtechnician.com/2016/06/29...module-failed/

Question, does anyone have or know where i can find a list of items the FRM controls, ie. Windows, locks, blinkers etc?

Often times, NCSExpert doesn't detect the FRM3 as a valid ECU. Tool32 may be able to communicate with it. If it can't, then you need to flash the eprom. See this thread

FRM3 Resurrection Thread

After flashing, you should be able to detect it in the ECU list, and communicate with it.

Attached 4 PDFs related to FRM, printed from Rheingold.
Knock yourself out :)

Thanks...

Update:

Sup Guys,

So i dropped off my X5 on Friday for my 9:00am appointment at the Port Chester Service Center. I was assigned (SA) Dava Somma and explained the issue i was encountering with my vehicle along with the SIB for the extended warranty on the Footwell FRM. Dave agreed that it sounded like it was an issue with the FRM. I was quickly given a loaner and told they would reach out to me once the diagnostics was done. Six hours later i received a call from Dave stated the car was ready for pick up. The issue was in fact the FRM and covered by the warranty. I returned the loaner, jumped in my X5 and all is well again. :thumbup:

Thanks for all the help!