The most frequently changed element in a BMW, after engine control units, is the instrument panel. Every 10th car has a non-original instrument panel. Time takes its toll, they die: pixels, encoders, less often hardware filling, and standard used dashboards are cheaper than repairing their own.

 

A big advantage is the storage of information about the type of installed engine, configuration, mileage, VIN number in a removable ROM chip (encoder). And if only the instrument panel fails, and not the encoder itself, then it is enough to find a similar device and swap the encoder. Otherwise, when replacing the device, we lose all information about our car. The most common problem in such situations is a discrepancy in the tachometer readings. By and large, no one gives a fuck about the mileage and the wired-up VIN..

 

 

Different engine models generate different numbers of pulses transmitted to the instrument panel when rotating. If the car has an M50B20 engine installed, and information about this particular engine is stored in the dashboard, then the tachometer will display the correct values. But if we install the dashboard from the M50B25, the tachometer will start to lie. You will need to either find a device from the same engine, or install a working encoder from your own device, or recode an existing one for the desired engine.

 

There are two ways to do this:

Garage - using a Chinese programmer, flash firmware from the Internet into the encoder.

Original - encode the device using DIS.

 

Of course, I’m not going to consider the garage method. Let's get started.

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We launch the Coding/Programming in DIS.

 

 

 

 

In the diagnostic program, open the section Coding ZCS/FA.

 

 

 

 

Double-click Next (it's a green arrow to the right, by the way). It is advisable to read the warning; stop being stupid to follow all the instructions from the Internet.

 

 

 

 

Select the section corresponding to the body being coded, in the example it is E34.

 

 

 

 

Select the Initial coding.

 

 

 

 

DIS automatically reads the installed options from ZCS and displays a list of possible nodes for coding. In the E34 body, coding is possible:

• KOMBI - instrument cluster (dashboard).
• ZVM II - central locking module version 2.
• EWS - electronic anti-theft system.
• DWA - security alarm.
• AIRBAG - airbag.
• LSM - memory of installation and position of the steering wheel.
• IHR/IHKR - built-in heating and air conditioning control system.
• ABS/ASC - Antilock Braking System/Automatic Stability Control.
• EDC - electronic control of shock absorber stiffness.

 

In our case, select the section KOMBI.

 

 

 

 

We confirm the correctness of the choice of the encoded node.

 

 

 

 

We fulfill the requirement and click Next.

 

 

 

 

DIS will offer to recode the VIN number, if required - press the button Yes.

 

 

 

 

Read the information and click Next.

 

 

 

 

Using the numeric keypad, enter the new VIN number, and when finished, press the button Yes.

 

 

 

 

Next, DIS will offer to change ZCS codes, read about them here, if we refused the offer to recode the VIN, we will immediately find ourselves in this section. Since we want to change the type of encoded engine, we press the button Yes.

 

 

 

 

We read the warning, you can also look at the notes, and press the button Next.

 

 

 

 

We open the engine compartment, remove the cover of the fuse box and a backup sticker with the original ZCS code appears in front of us.

 

 

 

 

Using the numeric keypad, enter the GM code (main characteristics) and press the Yes.

 

 

 

 

Then enter the SA code (special equipment) and press the Yes.

 

 

 

 

Finally, enter the VN code (version number) and press the Yes.

 

 

 

 

If any of the codes do not need to be changed, you can simply press the No button to skip, DIS will move on to the section for changing the next code. We check the correctness of the entered codes and press the Yes, if we made a mistake somewhere, then press the No button, DIS will return to the section for changing the GM code.

 

 

 

 

Click the Yes button to start the encoding process.

 

 

 

 

The instrument panel coding process will begin.

 

 

 

 

Upon completion of encoding, DIS will display the corresponding window and ask you to turn off the ignition for 10 seconds, follow this instruction.

 

 

 

 

Then we check the functioning of the encoded dashboard.

 

 

 

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What should I do if I lost my backup ZCS codes?

 

They will need to be recalculated. Over time I will add a calculation function to DISLauncher. Or you can contact me.