DVDinMotion or CodeMyCar

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lencap

Active member
Joined
Nov 27, 2014
Messages
37
Location
North Carolina
Greetings - I have an i3 ReX and want to: (1) control when the ReX begins charging the battery instead of relying upon the BMW 6% default setting; (2) expand my gas tank to the European 2.9 gallon setting; (3) remove the "Accept" screen on startup. DVDinMotion hasn't yet figured out #2, but can do the rest. CodeMyCar appears able to do all of these things.

I like DVDinMotion since the solution they provide is "plug and play" - just download the code, copy it to a USB drive, insert the drive into the i3, follow their procedure and it loads automatically. More important, for me, is that I can uninstall the coding they provide by reinserting the USB drive and reversing the process. That will make my car setting return to factory defaults when I take it in for service.

CodeMyCar seems to provide more coding options, but to do that I have to do it myself by attaching a cable they provide, connecting to my laptop and essentially coding it myself. Additionally, if I take my car in for service their coding changes aren't easy to remove (or at least not easy for me since I'm not familiar with the process). Also, I have to connect their supplied cable to my car/laptop (I use a MacBook Air) and the MacBook Air has the correct connections to accept the cable that CodeMyCar provides. I would need a Thunderbolt/USB connector (probably serial) to make the needed connection. CodeMyCar does offer lifetime upgrades - allowing me to add other features in the future.

I'm torn between the ease and flexibility to remove the DVDinMotion mods and the greater flexibility, but lack of easy removal, of the CodeMyCar solution. My initial thought is to get the DVDinMotion solution and wait for them to eventually unlock the gas tank to full capacity. I've emailed Lucie and she said that the gas tank unlock will be either free or a modest extra charge.

What solution seems best for me: DVDinMotion or CodeMyCar?

Thanks in advance for the help.
 
lencap said:
Greetings - I have an i3 ReX and want to: (1) control when the ReX begins charging the battery instead of relying upon the BMW 6% default setting; (2) expand my gas tank to the European 2.9 gallon setting; (3) remove the "Accept" screen on startup. DVDinMotion hasn't yet figured out #2, but can do the rest. CodeMyCar appears able to do all of these things.

I like DVDinMotion since the solution they provide is "plug and play" - just download the code, copy it to a USB drive, insert the drive into the i3, follow their procedure and it loads automatically. More important, for me, is that I can uninstall the coding they provide by reinserting the USB drive and reversing the process. That will make my car setting return to factory defaults when I take it in for service.

CodeMyCar seems to provide more coding options, but to do that I have to do it myself by attaching a cable they provide, connecting to my laptop and essentially coding it myself. Additionally, if I take my car in for service their coding changes aren't easy to remove (or at least not easy for me since I'm not familiar with the process). Also, I have to connect their supplied cable to my car/laptop (I use a MacBook Air) and the MacBook Air has the correct connections to accept the cable that CodeMyCar provides. I would need a Thunderbolt/USB connector (probably serial) to make the needed connection. CodeMyCar does offer lifetime upgrades - allowing me to add other features in the future.

I'm torn between the ease and flexibility to remove the DVDinMotion mods and the greater flexibility, but lack of easy removal, of the CodeMyCar solution. My initial thought is to get the DVDinMotion solution and wait for them to eventually unlock the gas tank to full capacity. I've emailed Lucie and she said that the gas tank unlock will be either free or a modest extra charge.

What solution seems best for me: DVD inMotion or Code My Car?

Thanks in advance for the help.

I acquired the necessary cable and software to do it mysef, but they keep changing the coding software definition files every time BMW does another update. I went for the dvd in motion option, as it is readily available to you for a quick install and or uninstall. Ten minutes of your time and your are done. I asked about the gas tank fix too and Lucy said it would be ready soon, but I get that every time I ask and they have been saying soon for many month's now.

Whatever you do you will appreciate having control of the Rex, GOOD LUCK either way.
 
Its really a personal choice of which hassle you can tolerate better. For me, the flexibility of doing anything I wanted outweighed the ease of DVDInMotion (and the fact that you have a very limited set of changes that they can make). I've done the coding myself (and have had to re-code after getting a software update). It is a hassle re-coding, since the pieces WILL change between coding sessions (I think there have been 6 or 7 updates to the PSdzData files since I first did coding in January). And when its not working, its frustrating to get help when you need it. I think that the CodeMyCar solution is the way I'd go in your situation. It eliminates most of the frustrations and hassles of coding (you literally have a expert who knows all the answers) effectively doing the coding for you, you can get everything done that you want and you can get it re-done if you get a software update.

Personally, I don't think the risk of taking the car in for service if its been coded is very high at all, so undoing coding before taking it in is a non-issue for me. I had my car updated in June and there was no hassle about the coding.

As usual, YMMV.
 
lencap said:
Greetings - I have an i3 ReX and want to: (1) control when the ReX begins charging the battery instead of relying upon the BMW 6% default setting; (2) expand my gas tank to the European 2.9 gallon setting; (3) remove the "Accept" screen on startup. DVDinMotion hasn't yet figured out #2, but can do the rest. CodeMyCar appears able to do all of these things.

I like DVDinMotion since the solution they provide is "plug and play" - just download the code, copy it to a USB drive, insert the drive into the i3, follow their procedure and it loads automatically. More important, for me, is that I can uninstall the coding they provide by reinserting the USB drive and reversing the process. That will make my car setting return to factory defaults when I take it in for service.

CodeMyCar seems to provide more coding options, but to do that I have to do it myself by attaching a cable they provide, connecting to my laptop and essentially coding it myself. Additionally, if I take my car in for service their coding changes aren't easy to remove (or at least not easy for me since I'm not familiar with the process). Also, I have to connect their supplied cable to my car/laptop (I use a MacBook Air) and the MacBook Air has the correct connections to accept the cable that CodeMyCar provides. I would need a Thunderbolt/USB connector (probably serial) to make the needed connection. CodeMyCar does offer lifetime upgrades - allowing me to add other features in the future.

I'm torn between the ease and flexibility to remove the DVDinMotion mods and the greater flexibility, but lack of easy removal, of the CodeMyCar solution. My initial thought is to get the DVDinMotion solution and wait for them to eventually unlock the gas tank to full capacity. I've emailed Lucie and she said that the gas tank unlock will be either free or a modest extra charge.

What solution seems best for me: DVDinMotion or CodeMyCar?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Just a FYI: The gas tank in the USA is 1.9 gal, in the UK it is 2.4 us Gal so you only get an extra 1/2 gal. It is not 2.9 gal after recoding it is 2.4 us gal.
 
For over a year now, I've been trying desperately to get enhanced BT coded into my i3. I was in touch with codemycar and they offered to help by remotely installing the upgrades. I declined, as I thought the price was excessive especially with the cable purchase. I was fortunate to find a specialist BMW two hours away who said he could do the same work for $100. In addition to my enh BT, I also got dvd in motion (through USB stick),
I was surprised to hear that this coding would not effect my warranty and would not be cleared if taken in for a service. The specialists themselves code bmw's for the local official dealer!
Anybody in the UK who would like details then please message me.
 
I went to codemycar. They sent me the cable and the software download took about 15 minutes. Then, after hooking up to the port, they remotely reprogrammed multiple codes on my BMW i3.


For a little more than the DVD in motion, I had multiple changes. They answered each e-mail in less than a day,and on the day of the install, called and were prompt. They also promised full upgrade changes and software fixes on any reprogramming for the life of the car..

So, here is the option list they give for the purchase price.
1) DVD In Motion (DVD Slot/Changer Required)
2) Enable Video Via USB Port (NBT Navigation Only). Video Playback
Possible From USB Flash Drive/SSD Harddrive
3) Turn On Zoom Feature For Rear View Camera
4) Disable Legal Disclaimers (Startup, Cameras, Etc.)
5) Enable Tire Pressure & Temperature Readings In iDrive
6) Transfer Phone’s Ringtone To Vehicle (Only Works With iPhones)
7) Change US Nav Voice To UK Nav Voice
8) Enable ///M Logo On Startup, Instead Of Normal BMWi Logo – (NBT
Navigation Only)
9) Change BMW Sounds/Gongs To Mini, Rolls Royce or BMWi (NBT
Navigation Only)
10) Enable AM Radio
11) Enable Hold Mode for the Range Extender (REx) (Allows You To
Manually Switch To Gas Mode To Save Battery Power)
12) Disable Seat Belt Chimes
13) Close Windows & Sunroof With KeyFob
14) Fold/Unfold Side Mirrors With KeyFob & Comfort Access
15) Fold Side Mirrors As Soon As The Vehicle Is Locked
16) Disable Window Safety (Allows One Touch Up Window Operation While
Door Is Open)
17) Unlock Doors When Car Is Turned Off
18) Radio/Nav Turns Off When Door Is Opened (After Pressing Stop Button
Once)
19) Enable Third Button On KeyFob To Open Trunk
20) Enable Taillights As Daytime Running Lights (DRLs)
21) Run High Beams & Fog Lights Simultaneously
22) Disable Fogs From Turning On When You Are Turning Left & Right
23) Enable Brake Force Braking (Flashing Taillights Activated With Heavy
Braking)
24) Remove Light Errors (Caused By Aftermarket LED Lights, etc.)

25) Enable Door Handle Lights To Come In When Car Is Put In Reverse
26) Disable Auto-Dimming Side Mirrors
27) Enable Fog Light Functionality While The Light Switch Is In The Parking
Light Position
28) Change ‘One Touch’ Lane Change Count From 3 Blinks to (4,5,6,etc)
29) Change Cluster Language To Spanish, Chinese, Etc
30) Enable Full Capacity Of The Fuel Tank
31) Change Fuel Level Reserve Warning
32) Change When Rex Comes On (Default Is Currently 6%)
33) Disable Top Speed Restriction For Cameras (Can Be Used While Driving)
34) Disable AC/Climate From Automatically Turning On When Car Is Started
(Set Climate Settings To Last Memory)
35) Disable A/C From Automatically Turning On When the ‘Auto’ Button Is
 
MGS9500 said:
I went to codemycar. They sent me the cable and the software download took about 15 minutes. Then, after hooking up to the port, they remotely reprogrammed multiple codes on my BMW i3.


For a little more than the DVD in motion, I had multiple changes. They answered each e-mail in less than a day,and on the day of the install, called and were prompt. They also promised full upgrade changes and software fixes on any reprogramming for the life of the car..

So, here is the option list they give for the purchase price.
1) DVD In Motion (DVD Slot/Changer Required)
35) Disable A/C From Automatically Turning On When the ‘Auto’ Button Is

It is a substantial list but if you wanted just one option coded, the price remained the same.

Did you have office feature coded also and does your usb video playback, let you watch while in motion?
 
Hi,
Not certain what the "office feature" is.

Also, did not enable DVD playback. Can't ever imagine wanting or using it. If I'm going to watch a video, I'll have my passenger use a tablet or laptop. Better resolution and screen brightness.

They do include the cable in the price of the upgrade... so subtract that from the final price.
 
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