BMW LCM Coding, E39 Tail Light Ballast Delete DIY
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
- This video demonstrates how to use BMW Scanner 1.4/PA Soft to code/program an LCM (Light Control Module) to your BMW E39, E38, E46, E38, E83, etc. I also remove the ballasts for my facelift tail lights and use BMW adapters instead.
PART NUMBERS:
Tail Light Adapter, Left: 63120025517
Tail Light Adapter, Right: 63120026771
LIGHT CONTROL MODULE INFO:
LCM II does NOT support automatic headlights.
LCM III does NOT support automatic headlights.
LCM IIIB DOES support automatic headlights.
LCM IV DOES support automatic headlights AND Auto-LWR (vertical headlight aiming).
AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT INFO:
Automatic headlights were standard on USA E39s from 9/2001 production for the 2002 and 2003 model years.
E39Source website: www.e39source.com
Help support E39Source by donating: www.e39source.com/donate - Auta a dopravní prostředky
PLEASE READ!! After a few weeks of running with the LCM IIIB, tail light adapters, and NO ballasts, my CELIS LED bars faded, and burned out. As it turns out, the Hella Euro retrofit tail lights for 1997-2000 5-series require 10 volts at the CELIS lights. All LCMs, US and Euro, seem to provide the CELIS LEDs 12 volts. The ballasts are really just voltage regulators, and step the 12v down to 10vv for the LEDs- so I had to replace the tail lights and put the ballasts back in. This video is still useful for LCM programming and replacement. If you're retrofitting US-style lights to a 1997-2000 5 series, there is NO need for ballasts, and the adapters will work fine.
A lot of the guides I've read about this say that you should copy the car's options (ZCS) to the new LCM using NCSExpert in order for it to work correctly. I noticed that you didn't cover this in the video. I'm wondering whether that might have had something to do with the trouble getting the LCM4 to work?
Also there are options for the facelift and led retrofit and a corresponding LED_RUECKLICHT_OPTION setting that can be set using NCSExpert. I'm also wondering whether correct setting of these values might have saved your tail lights.
This is of interest to me because I'll be swapping out the LCM3 for an LCM4 in the next weeks.
I installed an LCM4 in my '99 last weekend and all's good. I think you do need to code it with NCSExpert because there are a ton of parameters that PA Soft doesn't cover.
The video was helpful though so thanks for that.
Since I have retrofit CELIS I'll look into the ballast delete in the next few weeks, although I'm inclined to think 'if it ain't broke...'
Ryan so does that mean for a pre facelift car I will need to run the ballast at all times?? I have heard you can just upgrade to a lcm3b or higher to run facelifted tail lights which support led's.... I'm just confused on different options out there.....
@@sohailjaned If you use the Hella RETROFIT KIT tail lights, like I am, yes you always need to have the ballasts installed. If you use Hella/BMW USA spec facelift lights and update the LCM to a programmed IIIA or IIIB, then you do NOT need the ballasts. It's just the retrofit kits that require the ballasts regardless of the LCM version.
@@E39Source Thank you for your response, That sure has cleared that up. Looking forward to the next e39source video
Oh my world . So glad I found this video. My e39 lcm got soaked and lights were barely working sometimes not. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out those two end connectors as they are tricky . Luckily patience brought me here and yes it’s bad inside. So rusted the board won’t come our. Thanks Ryan.
THANK YOU!!! Couldn’t figure out hot to get the outer connectors to slide open. They were super tight. U saved me some activation.
Great video, very informative and knowledgeable. It's been a long time coming, I watched years ago when you first facelifted the car.
LWR stands for Leuchtweitenregulierung
(Light Leveling Regulation)
I'm too lazy to read through all of the comments to see if someone corrected you but here it goes. The mileage is also stored in the EWS which additionally writes it to your key constantly.
Very very nice educational video!!! Respect man !!! I need to do same thing bro 😀👍👍👍
Would the adapters from ECS tuning have the same issue you had with being able to plug them in?
Great video, The LCM coding part of this video is priceless, thank you so much for putting it together.
would love to dig deeper into converting the
Thank you! Giving full 'power' to the OBD-II port can be as easy as jumping a few pins at the round connector.. but doing that in a clean and reliable way would require some custom work. I've never minded using that port actually, as I can stand outside the car and work with a laptop on a table/the engine vs sitting in the car with the steering wheel in the way. For live monitors though, I could see cases where working in the car is better.
@@E39Source Any reference to what pins to short for "Full power" OBD II inside the car?
Since in any case, the OBD II to USB adapter is required, the ease of working from a workbench outside the car will be maintined
@@blancA4blanc Pins 2, 17, and 20 need to be bridged. When those are jumped, the OBD-II port has 'full power' inside the car.
@@E39Source I'd think you could pin out the 20-pin sealing cap to including the jumpers? If done in a weatherproof fashion that should be fine.
Just did it, nice job😁thank you👍🍻
LCM4 allows you to run angel eyes as running lamps without flipping the switch over. Back when I had my e39 it was the big reason I wanted to swap it out for my LCM3
Do you know which one you need to turn on for that to work ?
i dont believe so, but if youre right i want it !
Thank you Ryan!
Big fan! Love the videos! The tamper dot is more of a VIN than a mileage discrepancy. If you need a hand with the LCM IV I'd be more than happy to assist. I just retrofitted ine to my e38 for auto headlight functionality.
Thank you! Would the tamper dot not come on if I left the mileage coded to something very different than the IKE and DME? What did you use to program/code the LCM IV?
@@E39Source A mixture of pa soft and ncs expert
I would like to retrofit the automatic lightning too, since my E39 had this. But I got a few questions. Did you have to do anything else to get the LCM IV running? I'm not quite sure yet, if I should go for a LCM III B or a LCM IV, since Ryan couldn't get it running. Does it matter what kind of LCM you use? When I was looking for a used one, I saw modules with manual light leveling (obviously no xenon) and modules without manual light leveling (that would be xenon). Ryan mentioned you can't change the software on it, unless you got the equipment to do so. So, do I have to care about that?
Great Video,,, mileage is also stored on Abs Modul 😊
I thought that might be the case- thanks!
Mileage is also stored in ews Module !
Hi, I would like to know if anyone knows why the mileage is missing on my main screen (time 16:30 on this video), and it is also missing by going to units and selecting LCM. Thanks.
So i can’t just replace the LCM without having the software you’re mentioning or taking it to a dealership?
I found your video doing research on my '00 540i.. I don't have turn signals, brake lights, high beams or hazards.. I do however have rear courtesy lights when the doors are open and the key is on as well as the headlights are always on with the key in the run position.. Would that be because of a faulty LCM or a bad fuse for the LCM?
Could be either... assuming the LCM has fuses. I would check if the LCM can communicate on the network with PASoft or similar.
Does anyone know what the hole in the trim piece below the glove box is for? Might be a nice place for a footwell lamp
Honestly, it's probably a hole to grab it form and remove it! You could install a light in it though, with some custom fabrication.
I noticed in your video that you had to have you ABS Module rebuilt, looks by the same company I used Module Masters? I unfortunately have had on going problems with a code 15 return fault. Just curious how well has you rebuilt ABS Module held up? Have you had it fail again? If so was the code the same as mine 15? If had to send mine back in and then also got another rebuilt from them. Still have the intermittent code 15. Thanks
Yes, I had Module Masters do it 1-2 years ago. I don't recall which error I had, but they were able to fix it and it has been perfect sense with no codes!
@@E39Source Thank you for the feedback. It's really been a problem off and on. The first rebuild my son had with the car lasted a while. Then I got the car and did some rebuilding then it acted back up again with the number 15 code. I just did a lot of checking for bad connections all over the car. I even went as far as going under the passenger seat area to look at the main fuse panel. What a poor location to put it. It was perfect, no signs of over heating or corrosion. Then several other ground bars, relays, etc. etc. etc. Have to see where is all goes. I also pulled out the LCM per your video, (thanks), so I could reseat the connections on it for another intermittent issue. When I unlock the car at times the emergency lights starts flashing, and it you drive the car the turn signals don't work. What a pain in the butt to remove, especially when your almost 70. Thanks again for the reply.
Great video, Ryan. Don't you also have ballast for your front headlights?
All xenon headlights have ballasts. Mine are setup just like any 2001+ E39.
just a question., at minute 16:46 your IKE and EWS odometer show 333.164km but on LCM odometer show 251.200km, in , have you dot on IKE?
That was before I programmed my vehicle's mileage to it.
hi guys ,is there a way to code/adding code to have the angels ON as DLR on a e39 ? what is the name refering to the angel on the lcm code ?
thanx
You would need an LCM 4 from a later BMW to enable xenons without aftermarket equipment. If you have a BlueBus, you can simply enable DRLs in the settings to use the halos as DRLs; this is what I would recommend over swapping LCMs.
you can code more things to the LCM with NCS Expert.
Probably also recode that LCM IV to work with external LWR module.
Try these bits:
LWR_AUT_EXTERN = 1
LEUCHTWEITENREG_AUTOM = 0
I have NCS Expert, but I am not familiar with it at all. What are those bit, what do you do with them?
@@E39Source install NCS dummy, then start it and choose E39, LCM C20. then you can see those bits. (you dont have to be connected to car)
if you're not familiar with it at all, you must read some guide on how to program with NCS expert/NCS dummy
can you use any e39 lcm? or does it need to be specifically from an m5?
Great question! I should have answered that. Any E39, E53, E38 LCM will work. Maybe more, too.
Hi Ryan! Great video as always. I know you probably get this question alot but iw these any software out there that can change the lcm mileage that can utilize a K+DCAN cable?
PASoft.
I've got an E46 M3 and when I enter the LCM, check/control messages show up like yours however is faded indicating it isn't a clickable button for me. Any ideas on why that might be?
What is faded? Usually that means 'feature not available or applicable" but it should be. Does it work in other modules?
Can i do this programing with a new srs module? Change de vin and good to go?
Yes, airbag modules can be programmed with this software as well!
Great video, but i dont see any coding to make the tail lights work. It is really necessary change to LCM 3B to use the hella tail light connected directly to the car? I have the LCM III.
So, upon further research, the LCM 3B didn't come out until 9/2001 production- when auto headlights became standard on USA E39s. Facelift tails came out in 9/2000 for the 2001 model year. So, in theory, the LCM 3 (A) will support the facelift tail lights without ballasts. I am not sure if coding is required for this, as I never attempted to use them them without ballasts on the LCM 3A. I am not aware of any coding options in the LCM 3A (at least in PASoft/BMW Scanner 1.4) to facelift the tail lights, they just work when installed without ballasts...
@@E39Source ok, i will try. Thanks
PLEASE HELP! Thank you so much for this amazing video. Part for LCM programming is priceless. I just got a replacement LCM module for my BMW e38 since mine would stop working whenever outside temperature would go bellow 50F. Now since I got the used one I installed it and tempered dot is there and I know that will be fixed once I put correct mileage and VIN number but my high beam and turn signals are not working. Everything else seems to be fine even hazard lights work. Would you please be able to tell me is that something that can be programmed or not? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot!
Have you set the algorithm yet for your specific vehicle? That could certainly cause that issue.
@@E39Source I ordered PA Soft 1.4 scanner and it should arrive in a two to three days. I did not make any of the changes yet. Will try doing that first with the milage and vin number then will let you know. Thanks a lot for telling me to check that! I appreciate it a lot.
Hello.
Then headlight switch is in position "A",and then you start the car,halos is on and read leds? And what happend if in mode "A" you will turn on fog lights?
Thanks.
with A you cant get halos and leds on, sadly.
The LCM coding part of this video is very useful - for some reason I cannot write km into "new" lcm - vin worked ok but km gives some error and temper dot is orange not red :( I will try to put 0 value as I watched this video several times that cross my mind is worth trying...No other modules were changed except lcm3a with lcm 3b LWR 6135-6919454 109 110 / 070200 HW C1 SW 43 month12 year2001 if this matter my car is EU market 520d low ike
I just have LED bulbs tossed in and the little resistors they sent in dont help with the flickering randomly. Can i code it to stop the random flickers? I have a US E39 525ITA
You can disable hot/cold checks in software such as NCS. I do not recommend LED bulbs in E39 lights beyond the halos or license plate lights though.
Ahh okay, thanks man.
Yeah, I've been trying to find a decent set of led rears but its hard to find so i thought bulbs would be okay. But being overseas now there seems to be a better market for the tourings might take another look. @E39Source
Did the software you're using come with the diagnostic tool? And would it work on an BMW E38 from 99?
The software did come with the OBD adapter and the USB cable. It would work with a 1999 7 series, but you'd also need an adapter to go from OBD-II to the old under-the-hood round diagnostics connector. Those are all over the internet though, quite common.
@@E39Source Thanks, I already have an adapter and could use NCS Expert, but the software you're using seems to be way more easy to use.
Lithuania saves the day once again :D
Hey Ryan, have you ever changed a fuel pump on these? And have you ever had a car with long cranking issues come in? Couldnt find any videos about it from you.
I have done the fuel pump. Tons of things could cause long cranking, though. Scan the DME for codes and go from there.
E39Source thanks for the reply. No fault codes. Car drives like a dream otherwise. Just seems like the fuel pressure is bleeding out somewhere.
@@ademc8872 I would replace the filter and check the pressure regulator, that's where fuel pressure could be more likely to be lost.
E39Source Forgot to mention, those were replaced too. I know i sound like a parts changer by now without diagnosing it but these aren’t really complex fuel systems ( compared to diesels anyway haha).
@@ademc8872 Crank sensor? Vacuum leak? When it does start, how is the idle?
I used NCS Expert/Dummy to code LED tail lights on my MY2000 M5. PA soft doesn’t have much options.
What options needed to be changed?
E39Source it just says “LED tail lights: aktiv or nicht_aktiv” I selected aktiv and measured the voltage to my rear CELIS adapter and it was mid-11 volts
@@albenjgaudiel I have combed through the LCM 3-B looking for that option in NCS and cannot find it. Maybe that's 3A only?
E39Source I just replaced my LCM 3 with the LCM 3-B and it does have LED tail lights option. Are you using NCS Dummy along with NCS E?
@@albenjgaudiel Yes I had both dummy and expert, no option for LEDs!
Without pulling my LCM out to look at what it is (III, IIIB, etc), is there a way to determine what I have from the #'s off PA SOFT? My 540 is a 2000, and in PA SOFT, I have: 6.961.141 HW: 07 SW: 21.
From what I see online, that is an LCM IV without auto-LWR.
@@E39Source Interesting.... so, if I install the retrofit cells lights WITH ballasts, I shouldn't need to do anything coding wise?
@@patricklee7214 That's correct
E39Source so now that you’ve tried this.... basically, even though the LCM IV can “manage” the CELIS tails, this only applies to “normal factory” (and not retrofit) tails that expect 12V.
@@bmwm750 Exactly. The retrofits need 10 volts (thus the ballasts to provide that) regardless of LCM version/coding.
I have a 2018 MacBook pro like yours. What way did you take to get windows on it? (bootcamp, parallel, vmware) Also is it best to use windows 7 or can I use windows 10?
I use the latest version of VMWare Fusion, and Windows 7. Windows 7 will be more compatible with this software than 10.
What are the part numbers for the different part numbers for the LCM's?
There are dozens of part numbers, you want to go by the versions instead (IIIB, 4A, etc)
@@E39Source Gotcha, thanks!
I'm looking at an E39 that I think has a bad LCM 4, but I suspect someone replaced the LCM and didn't code it properly. How can I tell what LCM and programming the car originally came with?
What is the production date? That will help us tell if the LCM version (4) is original to the vehicle or not. It won't be easily possible to tell from programming if the LCM is original or not.
@@E39Source Thank you sir. The production date of this 2003 530iA is 3/28/2003 (today's the car's birthday!). It has the Xenon headlights. If you can tell me what LCM this needs I'd be grateful.
@@MindHunger Wow, what are those odds! Happy birthday to her lol. A March, 2003 E39 would indeed come with the LCM 4A module. The 4A version replaced the 3B for the 2003 model year, starting 9/2002. The main difference is that the xenon leveling features moved out of an independent 'LRA' module, and were built into the LCM 4A instead. Going back to a 3B would mean no more headlight leveling.
@@E39Source Thank You!!!
So if the module is marked "LCM - 4 Auto LWR", is that an LCM 4A?
Also, how do I know what the correct HW and SW version is for this car?
@@MindHunger Yes. I'm not sure of a way to tell if the HW and SW versions are correct without finding another car of the same date to compare to.
You should first write mileage then the vin if the mileage from your lcm is higher the cluster, just to be sure that the rest of the car doesn't go up.
Cluster still need to be coded with the right data with ncsexpert, because you gm/sa/vn stil do not match the car, and then code it with ncsexpert to accept rear facelift lights
If you have the right modules in europa at least almost all of the support lwr
What does the cluster have go do with accepting rear facelift lights? My understanding is that only the LCM needs to be upgraded/programmed for this. Mine are working fine.
Can you used this program to clone the ecu
PASoft is not a DME programming tool
@@E39Source thanks for the info
Did you run into any issues with respect to working order of your taillights? I ordered the exact same adapters from some dude in Latvia thru eBay, but the pins in my car are arranged differently. It's still 6 pins, but one of them in the car doesn't connect to anything in the adapter and viceversa. Sure enough, my turn lights do not work now. I mean, none of them. Hazards do work though. I guess I'm a traditional BMW driver now! Will see how hard they are to modify.
This vide is about to come down. The Hella Euro 1997-2000 retrofit lights that I have want 10 volts to the celis lights, and that is what the ballasts do, step that voltage down. All LCMs (Euro and US) seem to always supply 12 volts to the celis lights, which caused mine to fade and burn out after a few weeks. So- the ballasts must stay in my case. But the adapters weren't a problem, did you get the right ones? Make sure they're on the right side? They worked out of the box for me.
@@E39Source Sorry to hear you run into that problem. Not sure why you have to install the ballasts again, though. If you had to source another set of tail lights anyway, shouldn't those work fine without the ballasts? Otherwise people would be replacing their tail lights every month (unless you got the same tail lights like the ones that came with the retrofit set). In my case, the adapters were the same ones you got, BMW parts. If you look at the 23:49 mark on the video, you see 4 pins on the rounded part of the connector and 2 on the opposite (short) side. I noticed right away that the car-side where this plugs in, has the same four pins on one side but the other 2 are not opposed to them, but instead on one side of the connector. This obviously causes that 5 out the 6 pins make contact. Doesn't make much sense to me. My car came with a LCM2, I sourced a LCM4 (PA soft said not found, assumed defective) and a LCM3b (installed). I assumed the difference in the pinning was causing my turn signals not to work, but I plugged back in the old LCM2 in and everything worked fine. So it's definitely something in the LCM3b keeping them from working. When I push the turn signal lever to either side, it does absolutely nothing. No clicking noise or anything. Hesitant to start checking/unchecking boxes or to mess with the reprogramming (there are several "modes" that you can set, I have no idea what those will do). I want to keep the newer LCM for the xenon capabilities, but if I can't make the turn signals work will have to go back to the LCM2
@@pedrogadea4926 I purchased the same tail lights again, the Euro Hella retrofits. So I do still need ballasts. I got these lights because they fit the pre 2001 chassis much better than USA style facelifts, and I could still easily get them in brand new condition. USA cars are not wired for rear fog lights, so only 5/6 pins will be used on the adapter in your case. It sounds to me like your LCM IIIB is dead too, the turn signals should work fine even before VIN/mileage programming. You might want to check the mode. There is workshop mode, transport mode, and normal. Make sure normal is checked, I am unsure what the other two modes actually change.
@@E39Source Great info, thanks. I don't think the LCM 3b is dead or defective, based on the fact that I tried not 1 or 2, but 3 others, and the exact same thing happened.
I will check the mode, (not sure I've seen that before), hopefully I can make it work.
👍
Been following you for along time now... I'd asked you how business was a while back and what you do with leftover parts have you figured that part out yet? And how is business going now?
Thanks for the support! Parts business is holding up- I've got lots available still. We just took in a new M5 yesterday, a video will be coming soon! Parts we haven't sold are in our inventory system, but over-stocked items or things I can't move will be recycled or disposed of eventually.
@@E39Source if your shipping parts throw in a small part that wont up your shipping cost too much... that's what I do to get rid of bike stuff that I would of thrown away.. and no problem, keep doing what your doing I follow the movement 💪🏿
Can this software code new keys to car
New keys ordered from the dealer come pre-coded and only require initialization, which does not require any software. PASoft cannot code third party keys.
E39Source excellent thanks