BMW X3 EWS: Immobilizer Bypass & Repair

Hello.

Perhaps someone here is familiar with BMWs.

Upon customer request, because the car wouldn't start, I replaced the EWS control unit with a new one (genuine BMW part). However, it turned out that the problem wasn't the EWS control unit, but rather the ignition switch.

Since I replaced the EWS control unit, the car has failed to start approximately every 200 kilometers. It cranks, but doesn't start.

The first time, the error log showed a "EWS manipulation" error. I cleared the error, synchronized the Digital Drive Encoder (DDE) and Electronic Vehicle Security (EVS), and the car started working again.

Approximately 200 km later, the same problem occurred again, but this time without any error messages. I then directly measured the voltage supply, ground, kW, and crankshaft signal at the engine control unit, and suddenly it started up again and ran for another 200 km. I also tried a used engine control unit (cloned), but that one also only worked for about 200 km.

Today, the same problem occurred again, but this time it was due to a manipulation error in the memory.

Does anyone know when the manipulation error occurs? Perhaps it's triggered by an unauthorized key, but if that were the case, it should start working again with a valid key.

Today, the following errors were also present: "DSC: Message missing (Engine control unit 316)", "KOMBI: CAN identification missing (ECM)", and "Message from engine control unit missing, receiver DKG/EGS".
The DME-DDE/CAS module is stored in memory but shows older mileage readings (267448 compared to the current reading of 267776).

I'm going to replace the main relay now.

Hi there,

First of all, I mainly work with BMWs up to models manufactured in the year 2000 .

I understand from the text that there was no error code stored in the old EWS control unit. The "EWS manipulation" only appeared after it was replaced with a new, genuine BMW unit, correct?

Quote:

Upon customer request, because the car would not start, I replaced the EWS control unit with a new one (genuine BMW part); however, it then turned out that it was not... It wasn't the EWS control unit, but rather the ignition switch. Since I replaced the EWS control unit, the car has failed to start approximately every 200 km. It cranks, but doesn't start.

If the problem is with the ignition switch, wouldn't it be possible to reinstall the original EWS control unit that came with the vehicle?

I assume that the vehicle keys are equipped with passive transponders for the ring antenna of the Electronic Key System (EKS).
It's not that the battery in the key only maintains the connection to the transmitting/receiving module for 200 km.
Does the error occur with all keys?

Quote:

The first time, the error memory showed a "DDE manipulation" error for the EWS (Electronic Key Management System). The error was cleared, the DDE (Digital Data Exchange) and EWS were synchronized, and the car started working again.

Is "synchronized" referring to the synchronization between the EWS control unit and the MSG? As far as I know, this can only be done with DIS/MoDiC at a BMW dealership.
If the car started again after that, it might have been a coincidence and the problem could be something completely different!

I don't know when the manipulation error is set. I suppose it might be at the first occurrence.
I think the other errors were produced by the cloned message.

Wenn das DME-Relais ein Schlag weg hätte, würde gar nichts mehr gehen. Ist zumindest bei den alten BMW so. A"But that's..."
switched quickly.

Unfortunately, I can't contribute any further than this.

Best regards from Hesse.
Richard.

It doesn't start with any of the keys.

I'm now getting an interface error with the old EWS control unit, and it won't synchronize with the engine control unit.