Using Bimmercode to modify the BMW i8 computer modules

UPDATE: NewTIS has been closed. Service Manual data is no longer free. DIY maintain your BMW at your own risk. • BMW shut down NewTIS. ...
In this video, I use the Bimmercode application on my Android device, as well as the Veepeak OBDII Bluetooth adapter, in order to modify the computer modules in the BMW i8. Bimmercode is available for both iPhone and Android, and requires that the phone be placed in Airplane Mode, with Wifi disabled, but only Bluetooth enabled. Veepeak Bluetooth can be discovered by the phone and paired. After that, I recommend stopping any applications that are running on the Android platform so that they don't interfere with the Bimmercode application. The video goes into the several codes that I modified on my BMW i8.
Bimmercode is different from Bimmerlink. Bimmerlink is an iOS Apple Only program that offers some coding, as well. One coding feature that Bimmerlink provides is the ability to open the exhaust flap, which Bimmercode does not provide.
The Veepeak OBDII adapter I used:
amzn.to/2ssiXnm
My cost was $31.99
Bimmercode main page with links to download app:
bimmercode.app/
My cost was $38.99 purchased through in-app purchasing
Supported coding options for the BMW i8:
bimmercode.app/cars/i8/
List of compatible OBDII adapters:
bimmercode.app/adapters/
Android Advanced Task Manager:
play.google.com/store/apps/de...
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[@PatsGarageOnline]

For some reason, KZbin disabled comments for this video. I just re-enabled. Sorry for the inconvenience.

[@kiduswardsnowden_bd]

Awesome video! Does bimmercode work for iOS???

[@jonathanazouzout2651]

No worries bud. Wanted to know where you got your cell phone holder that you have in the I8. Thx

[@dave104832]

Take a look at welcome lights. The tail lights and angel eyes will start from dim and get brighter after you unlock, then the opposite when you lock the doors. It works on my i3.

[@ChasingTheApex]

So I know nothing about this car, but it's discontinued, I love that you took your time to actually walk through in detail for viewers like myself, this is valuable for anyone considering this particular car.

[@PatsGarageOnline]

Thank you for the kind words! I've received quite a few comments from others who were interested in buying the car and learned a lot from the information I presented. I'm glad to help. After one year of ownership, I need to publish a video discussing my experiences, good and bad, with this vehicle. There's a lot more info that I need to get out.

[@PatrickKal]

Thank you for these videos Pat 👏🏼

[@Evapors]

Another dope video my friend! I am going to look into this for sure. Thanks!!!!!!

[@C_Franc2000]

este señor , es un crack ojala aqui tuviesemos este nivelazo !! de 10 , matricula gracias por tus videos !!

[@Evapors]

fold mirrors with key fob is major!!!!

[@PatsGarageOnline]

This is one thing that BMW should never have left out of the i8.

[@HeidiandFranny]

That was great Pat! Thanks! There are a few things I'd like to change as well...

[@PatsGarageOnline]

Thank you! I fail to understand why BMW didn't include these settings as part of their production run. There are also color changes we can make to the LED light strips besides the normal Blue/Orange/White. I'm going to work on that soon and post another video.

[@alirezahamidifayegh]

Hi my brother. I congratulate you and the people of the world on the Iranian New Year. NOROUZ EID. Good luck

[@nicerumble]

I have an '09 E92 M3 Coupe. Do I have access to the same kind of bimmercode as the i8? Great videos Pat. Always learn something new from you. Update: Did some research and yes bimmercode is available for all BMW's. Great feature.

[@PatsGarageOnline]

Thanks! Glad to hear that it will work for your E92 M3. Let me know if you decide to go through with it and how well it worked for you.

[@redteam77]

The side mirror tilt in reverse should turn down enough to see your rear tyre for when you reverse park so that you don't scrub the tyres or rim on the kerb.

[@ryansteel7189]

I've watched a few of your i8 videos now Pat and I'm well impressed. Definitely going to give the air box flap removal a go sometime. I previously installed a Maxhaust sound booster on my i8 but subsequently uninstalled it as I preferred the BMW factory artificial noise. This system basically piggy backed on the BMW system and utilised the external BMW sound booster speaker so I know the factory speaker is capable of making a far louder noise / volume. Do you know if it is possible to increase the volume of the external BMW factory artificial noise via the coding using bimmercode or by any other means? It's a great noise but just needs to be louder. Also I read further down that you were having difficulty receiving an AM radio station and were unsure if it required an antenna. Any further forward with this? I would like to turn on the AM wave band as well and am thinking about buying the OBD to do so as I would hate to think how much my local BMW dealership would charge! Cheers

[@PatsGarageOnline]

Thanks so much for the kind words. I greatly appreciate the feedback and questions. The BMW module that controls the speaker emits a turbine sound up to 3000RPM and then transitions to the false engine noise. User "evanevery" on the bimmerpost forum confirmed this by hooking a bluetooth transmitter to the harness and put a bluetooth speaker in the car while he drove around. He was also going to test installing an amplifier on the lines to the speaker, but he hasn't replied whether he did this or not. He posted very detailed information, so please check it out: bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1335982&page=11 I am able to hear local AM stations but they are not as strong as in other vehicles. I believe the antenna for AM was not installed, therefore it would be impossible to hear stations farther away. I do not know if there is even a port available to install an antenna. And, I'm not sure BMW would enable this function for you because of that. So, in short, it works, just not as well bringing an AM transistor radio along for the ride. ;)

[@tonycarman5078]

Hi Pat. I took the plunge and modified my i8 to open and close door mirrors on locking and unlocking. Also I thought the tyre temperature mod would be a good safety feature. Thanks for the clear video guidance. Have you updated anything else since this video. Separately I’m exploring an Apple CarPlay update option for my i8 via a professional provider. Thanks again Pat.

[@PatsGarageOnline]

Thank you for the nice comment and for the feedback. It's great to hear that the modifications worked very well for you. Good luck with the carplay. I am not interested in doing that modification on my I8, but there are a few other videos and posts online that give some guidance.

[@aznr0llerx]

Thank you for the video. I coded my I8 pretty much the same way as my previous 428i: auto folded/unfold mirrors, video in motion & and that annoying seatbelt reminder. One thing annoying about the I8 is everytime I open the door and step out for a quick minute to pick up food takeouts or use the ATM. The car engine just shuts off automatically. Living in nevada the summer heat is ridiculous so I like to keep the engine and air condition on (i always take my keys and lock the doors) which is what i've been able to do in the 4 series. Is there a code to keep the engine on?

[@PatsGarageOnline]

Sadly, no. You can go into the idrive and tell it you want to precondition the car. That way the AC runs while you are away. The AC runs off the high voltage battery so the engine doesn't need to run.

[@jonathanazouzout2651]

Hey Pat. Love your videos. Where did you get your phone holder for the I8 ? Thx bud.

[@PatsGarageOnline]

Thanks! ProClipUSA makes the holder that attaches to the car. I then bought a Squish holder/charger that bolts to that and ran the USB line into a 12v adapter under the glove box.

[@ProfDrDrThomasJRosemann]

Hi Pat, so you know if there is any way to display the oil temperature or at least the water temperature? Thanks in advance for your reply.

[@PatsGarageOnline]

Hello and thanks for the question. I downloaded Torque Lite for Android and it also communicates with the Veepeak Bluetooth adapter. I set it up to see the temperatures, boost, engine load, etc. It's free for many features, which is really nice. There are other apps out there that will also show that information but they are more OBDII troubleshooting specific. The description for the Veepeak says it works with: OBD Fusion, Car Scanner ELM OBD2, DashCommand, Carista etc for iOS and Torque Pro for Android.

[@frotleet5412]

Hey Pat, great vid! Do you know if this all works on UK i8 models too? And if I unplug the VEEPEAK does everything get restored to normal as if nothing ever changed?

[@PatsGarageOnline]

This works on all models and any changes you make stay with the car even if you unplug the VEEPEAK

[@markusengelmann2558]

Hey Pat, I guess we all have to say thank you for all your work and tips. You already helped me a lot here in Germany. I just have one question. I love the nice blue welcome light. It standardly dims after opening the door. Do you know if I could keep the brighter blue light after doing some setup work with BIMMERcode? Regards Markus

[@PatsGarageOnline]

Sadly there's no way to keep the LED blue. It's controlled by signals from the body control module which cannot be programmed by bimmercode.

[@markusengelmann2558]

@@PatsGarageOnline Hey Pat, thank you very much for your feedback. It's a shame that there is nothing we can do.

[@ajpardilla]

hey pat, do you know how to make your driver side mirror dip during reverse? on my i8 only the passenger side dips, is mine broken or is this a bimmercode feature (i ordered my bluetooth obd2, waiting a couple of days)

[@PatsGarageOnline]

Sadly, you can't make your driver's side mirror dip automatically in reverse. You have to do it manually.

[@seanf3255]

Hey there do you know what with my 2020 440i M Sport i only get 2 options to increase the angel eyes with low beams from 46% to 100%, no in between options.

[@PatsGarageOnline]

I have no idea, as I don't own a 440i. I'm sorry.

[@daniepretorius6594]

I really liked this video. I bought a much bigger and clumsier solution some year ago and I never even knew that there is a solution this simple. I am just wondering how this app works. Is it only a one time purchase and no limitation on how many vehicles or models you can code as long as you have the right connectors or is it a recurring fee or some limitations to numbers of vehicles etc?

[@PatsGarageOnline]

Thank you! It's amazing what kinds of technology are out there these days. I'm constantly surprised at what we can do with a phone. However, I haven't tried my Bimmercode app on any other vehicles. I'd suggest googling that question to see if others have tried it on multiple cars.

[@AbstractWerks]

Hey pat, you mentioned in another comment that it was possible to configure the interior lighting if you knew hex codes. Do you know where these options are? Converting to hex isn’t tricky but finding those options sure is!

[@PatsGarageOnline]

If you haven't yet joined the i8 Facebook group, you can check out how people have done it by visiting this link: facebook.com/groups/bmwi8group/?post_id=2497315823849589

[@AbstractWerks]

Pat's Garage Online Do you know if this solved the issue where BMW did a firmware update that moved the codes? My car shows 6 presets each with 8 “layers”. Changing them doesn’t seem to affect anything. I’ll have to join that group once I get to my desktop!

[@Evapors]

i also want to cut on the day time running tail lights

[@PatsGarageOnline]

I noticed we can also change the intensity of the front DRLs as well. I'm pretty happy with mine but they can be modified.

[@Evapors]

i need a.m. radio!!!! temp in tires would be dope!

[@PatsGarageOnline]

I haven't heard any AM stations on my radio. I'm wondering if there is no antenna connected and we need to be super close to a transmitter.

[@kamilbelzTV]

Could you please show us how to code different interior led colours? :)

[@PatsGarageOnline]

It's not easy. You have to know the hex code for the color you want, then go into Expert Mode in Bimmercode. I honestly didn't want to mess with it. I like the blue. But if you search bimmerpost, there might be an article that tells you how to do it.

[@AbstractWerks]

Pat's Garage Online wait you can do this?? I’ve been wondering if they were RGB. Very excited to try it out

[@pierreswing]

Hello Pat, I subscribe to your channel and have seen a lot of your videos. I would like to know if you have already made a video about updating the mapping on an I8. Thanks in advance.

[@PatsGarageOnline]

Yes, I did create a video on tuning (remapping) the i8: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJ63lmeCZsR8ick

[@reggiesparks4357]

Can you adjust your exhaust speaker with this unit?

[@PatsGarageOnline]

Nope. The only way to disable the speaker is to disconnect it. It's pretty weak as it is and can barely hear it over the real exhaust. I don't know why the installed it because it adds more weight.

[@adrianv8915]

Will the Bimmercode give access to the laser lights? Currently, in some countries outside of Germany, this is "tuned down" and made less bright.

[@PatsGarageOnline]

Not that I'm aware of.

[@adrianv8915]

@@PatsGarageOnline thanks for the response. DO NOT GET LASER LIGHTS before you check whether the country you live in has tuned down the intensity of the light. So I own a 2017 i8. In Canada the cost of the Laser Light upgrade is $5,000-$8,000 for i8. They of course have it on many BMWs now. I think on the X7 it's $10,000! What I take exception to, is in Canada, BMW doesn't tell you that you are actually getting Laser Lights that are lower in intensity and that offer a very very very minimal difference in light between high beam and lasers. Unlike in Germany where the Laser Lights actually are significantly brighter. The reason for this? Although there are sensors which will not allow the laser lights to turn on unless it is very dark and there are no cars approaching you, Transport Canada felt they were too bright and dangerous and made BMW dim the lasers to meet import requirements. So, BMW are offering this upgrade, making you believe you are getting the benefits of Laser Lights when in fact you are not. So my advice to anyone thinking of getting laser light upgrades. First check to see if where you live they allow full intensity of the laser light. If not. DO NOT DO IT. Save your money.

[@PatsGarageOnline]

@@adrianv8915 Great advice to i8 prospects considering the laser lights. You may want to try Bimmerlink to see if it works in turning up the intensity. I don't have an i8 with laser lights so I don't have the module in my car.

[@topqualityBVBA]

Oh now I finally understand why I always complained about the terrible visibility with my laserlights. I always knew there was something wrong with them. I tell you, those laserlights will be the death of me on rainy nights.. The only thing I always complain about my i8 roadster (Belgium). So now I know why. Thanks.

[@sidneylloydrobinson]

Is there a way to code a function to hold lock/unlock to open/close the windows with the key fob?

[@PatsGarageOnline]

Not that I could tell.

[@sidneylloydrobinson]

Pat's Garage Online thanks for taking time to reply

[@BryanToder]

Will it work on my Mercedes and an iPhone? 🤨

[@PatsGarageOnline]

That's a great questions, Bryan. I couldn't find something similar to Bimmercode for the Mercedes. However, there is an app out there called Carly which connects to the Mercedes using bluetooth, to the OBDII connector, in order to scan trouble codes and reset the check engine light. It's possible that Mercedes encrypts it's firmware (software written on the computer modules) in order to prevent custom coding.

[@ajpardilla]

Does this void warranty? Also can you make video on how to improve exhaust noise artificially outside? Thanks

[@PatsGarageOnline]

Thanks for the question! In the US, a dealership could decide that if you bring the vehicle in for a malfunction, that the bimmercode modifications may have been responsible for causing the malfunction, and deny the warranty claim. The Magnuson Moss Warranty Act protects consumers if the dealer wanted to deny a claim on a part, or the vehicle as a whole, due to a consumer implemented modification. If I use bimmercode to enable my rear daytime running lights and an LED burns out, they may try to claim that my modification resulted in excessive use of the taillight and that was the reason it burned out. However, this is a matter that could be appealed to BMW North America. Warranty claims at BMW can also be resolved at mid-tier level, such as the mid-Atlantic area. It's best to have a good relationship with the service manager. In different countries, the policies and regulations are completely different, so a minor modification may result in a different response when attempting to make a claim. I'm currently working on developing a physical modification to the exhaust flap on the stock muffler. However, there are modifications to the active sound that can be done, by replacing the BMW module with a Maxhaust module. However, some of the users have complained that the Maxhaust note does not sync up with the engine note or interior sound augmentation. I don't plan on implementing this device, but you can read more about it, and how to implement it, here: bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1335982

[@ajpardilla]

@@PatsGarageOnline thanks, i checked that maxhaust thread before in bimmerpost and i found it too overly complex to do myself to be honest. I just bought a 2016 i8 last week and I've been searching around for videos of what people have done with it. Good thing I found your channel cause I already see a lot of useful information. Keep up the good work. but yes, I would love if you make a video on possible ways to increase exterior engine/exhaust noise so the car sounds sportier.

[@PatsGarageOnline]

@@ajpardilla Thank you! I'll be experimenting soon on that exhaust. One thing I've seen people do is swap out the exhaust, but it sounds like a Duramax or lawn mower, so I want to keep the stock muffler, personally. I found this video of different mufflers on the i8, which you may have found already: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnmUfXiBfraph5Y

[@daniepretorius6594]

@@PatsGarageOnline Very amusing conversation. I personally have never owned a car with a really load exhaust volume anyway so I guess I am normally quite happy with a less intrusive exhaust sound as long as I can hear it when I put my foot down and it is more about the pureness of the sound that making lots of it to me. I also just have not much interest in all the cracks and pops that seem so popular right now. Personally I prefer that a car's engine sounds really smooth. I guess it is all about personal taste. That said I can appreciate someone else's car toy with some interesting sound track coming from the exhaust. As for the i8, I suspect it might not be that simple to get a more noisy exhaust that still sounds decent enough with such a small little engine. Something that I am curious about and maybe it is already answered somewhere is whether there are any engine noise related settings accessible to the bimmercode tuning for the i*

[@reeeek2017]

Is there a code in here that I can enable the blue interrior light??????????

[@PatsGarageOnline]

Sadly, no. No one has been able to keep that overhead light blue.

[@reeeek2017]

@@PatsGarageOnline okay thanks for the quick response I love the channel you actually inspired me to get the roadster

[@Disneysconnect]

does this void the warranty? I want to enable apple car play :)

[@PatsGarageOnline]

Modifications to the car using brimmer code have not resulted in any warranty claims being disputed by BMW, from what I've read in the forums. replacing the entire head unit with one that has Apple CarPlay is a different situation. BMW can deny warranty claims if they can blame the new head unit. Swapping a head unit will not avoid the warranty for the entire car.

[@Steve-gn4hk]

In a lot of videos people say there’s no AM Radio in the i8 because it interferes with the battery. Good to know that’s FALSE.

[@NoReverse77]

You can do more with ncsexpert.