I've never heard of this, could you provide a link to what you're describing? I've used NCS Expert to code a bunch of features but am not aware of any changes to the OBC on the gauge cluster

 

My turn signal stalk does not have the “BC” button on the side of it. I bought a used one for thirty dollars. My trouble is finding someone that is able to code the car so it recognizes the new stalk, giving me access to those features. I really only want it so that I can see the outside temperature displayed on the dash. Its crazy to me that this was not a feature that came standard on all of these cars.

 

You can do it yourself with NCS Expert. Just add $550 to your VO and recode the instrument cluster.

 

Not sure if OP ever got this squared away, but I thought I'd reply to help anyone else trying this.

I recently installed a BC turn stalk on a 2004 325i and today used the following directions for NCS Expert. On the 09/2001+ cars, the VO is in the AKMB (instrument cluster) and ALSZ (light control module). After loading the car information, "entering FA", adding $550 to the VO, hitting back, select job "FA WRITE", and then execute that job on both the AKMB and the ALSZ modules, one at a time.

EDIT: Note that changing only the VO will not activate the BC stalk. You need to code both AKMB and ALSZ modules as explained below by @DigitalRelay and @Bali.

How to change BMW VO Vehicle Order by Ncs Expert | OBDII365.com Official Blog

Here is the step-by-step guide to change BMW VO (Vehicle Order) by using BMW Ncs expert coding software. Instruction: Before NCS Expert can be used a Profile must be loaded. Select File/Load Profile from top menu bar Select Expert Mode, then… Continue Reading →

blog.obdii365.com

Changing BMW Vehicle Order Using NCS Expert | Leonard J Caesar

When retrofitting options that were not factory installed, it is sometimes necessary to program the car to enable them. The car stores a list of options that were installed at the factory in one or…

www.ljcaesar.com

A little over a year ago, I added a BC turn stalk to my 2004 325i and had used PA Soft to code the option to get it working. Works great over the last year plus. So I checked the VO with NCSExpert and it turns out that while PA Soft enabled the BC function, it did not actually change the VO. Not sure if that really matters or not, but went ahead and changed the VO on the AKMB and ALSZ on my car as well.

 

@The112, where are you located? If you are in USA, you can find a reputable indie shop that can code it at www.bimrs.org.

 

I used to have a working copy of DIS and it had a retrofit option built in that programmed it for my car after I got the new stalk. Not sure what the other programming options look like. I had found a video on the web which showed me how to do it with DIS. I cannot get DIS working correctly on my newer computer.

 

I've done hours of searching and research on using NCS Expert to code this myself, but I'm stumped. Here's what I've done on my 2002 325i.

• installed used stalk with BC button
• Using NCS Expert, read AKMB module, saved FSW_PSW.TRC file to a backup folder, verified BC nicht_aktiv
• Using NCS Expert, added $550 to AKMB Vehicle Order using FA WRITE
• Then added $550 to ALSZ Vehicle Order using FA WRITE
• went back and verified that both modules list $550
• Using NCS Expert, I read each module, letting a new FSW_PSW.TRC file be created each time, verified BC aktiv in both
• Since FSW_PSW.TRC showed BC aktiv, I did NOT change to FSW_PSW.MAN and write the code to AKMB or ALSZ
• BC button unresponsive
• Double, triple-checked VO for $550, and FSW_PSW.TRC for BC aktiv
• Pulled the stalk back out, inspected for broken wires, verified with multimeter the button works
• Verified all 3 instrument cluster fuses are in place, checked each for continuity
• Car still starts, runs and operates as if I haven't changed anything

Am I missing a step? Any suggestions?

 

I figured it out!

I was missing a step. Beside changing the VO in AKMB and ALSZ, the AKMB module must be written to. Based on a comment above, I'd say changing the VO in the modules isn't necessary. Just changing the code in the FSW_PSW file and writing it to the module is.

I started fresh in NCS Expert and followed the steps to read the AKMB module for vin and VO, FA.
Then I backed out and went to Process ECU, and selected AKMB.
I changed the Job to CODIERDATEN_LESSEN to read the module and create a FSW_PSW.TRC file on the PC in the NCSEXPER\WORK folder.
I opened that in Notepad, searched for “BC”, and manually changed nicht_aktiv to aktiv
Then I saved the FSW_PSW.TRC file as FSW_PSW.MAN, overwriting the blank file that was originally in the folder.
Back to NCS Expert, Process ECU, selected AKMB, made sure Job was SG_CODIEREN to write to the module.
I nervously hit Execute Job and waited for an eternity. The dash flashed for a second, and the clock reset.
I turned the key off, then on, clicked the BC button and watched it successfully cycle through the BC functions.

Also, it's June 2021 in Phoenix and the ambient temperature in my garage this morning is 100F.

This PDF was very helpful: http://nutsofamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Guide-to-BMW-Coding-2011.04.23.pdf

 

@DigitalRelay Glad you figured it out. Indeed you are correct. Changing the VO alone is not enough to activate the BC stalk and is not strictly necessary either, but doing so does at least make the BC stalk part of the car's default settings.

 

DigitalRelay, you are correct. There are several steps when modifying the VO, and each uses a different job.

1. changing the VO itself in cluster and EWS/LSZ
2. coding all modules to their defaults

 

I did it in BMW Scanner 1.4. Very simple to do. Once you have the stalk installed, you simply check the on board computer box in the IKE menu and click write. I agree, it's a very satisfying project.