Failed CCC (my experience)

I am not looking for help with a recently failed CCC but figured I would share my experience.

After spending a day washing my car and having my doors open for several hours I drained my 5 year old battery.

Replaced the battery by spec and was left with nonfunctioning Car Communication Computer (CCC), the only sign of life was the BMW Splash Screen which always appeared while the car was on and running. The iDrive control was freewheeling.

I took it to an independent BMW mechanic, after watching the tech fumble with the computer appliance like a child with his first erector set I found little confidence in his words when he told me that I needed a new computer, that will be $100 dollars for the diagnostic analysis, thank you and please do not let the door slap you in the ass on the way out. Over several weeks I tried resetting the CCC and disconnecting the battery but to no avail.

So I searched this forum and found information relating to replacing my own CCC and more information on INPA, CARSOFT and PROGMAN. I paid 45 dollars for a cable and downloaded all three software packages, used the forum to configure and use the software (make a very long story short) and was able to get the software to work. Using INPA I accessed the CCC and reset \ activate all which related to CCC really not knowing what I was doing but had very little to lose since I was ready at this point to replace the CCC. I shut the car off for several moments and when I turned on the ignition wow there she was, life was back in my machine.

The one symptom of my failed CCC that made me reluctant to run out and replace it was the fact that the BMW Splash Screen always stayed on.

Great job! We don't often hear such a success story when dealing with the CCC.

Awesome and congrats. Always feels good when you get something done on your own.

Yeoman's work! Must leave you with a very satisfied feeling (and more than a few shekels in your pocket). You're now master of your own diagnostic fate.
Good to hear we are not always beholden to the $tealers or Indies.

What OS did you install the software on? I have heard that most of the diagnostic software likes XP.
I tried installing on Win7 Pro without much luck.

Here's to your persistence and hard work.
Cheers!

You are better off using VMWARE which will allow you to host an XP OS on your windows 7 machine. Even if your laptop is 64bit the hosted XP OS will be 32bit. Additionally you really do not want to dedicate you laptop to only one function which progman will do, the VMWare keeps this from happening.

Bostoned, Thanks for your post! I too am having the same problem, told the same thing, etc. I am going to try your route as I too have nothing to loose at this point (I already spent approx $1,500 for a new computer 3 years ago and I refuse to again without trying myself first).

Can you please tell me the type of cable you used and where you bought it? I believe we are in the same area, I am North of Boston. I did look myself before asking but I am having no luck with finding what type of cable I should be looking for...thanks in advance!

I bought the cable off of eBay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-USB-OBD-...b475a7&vxp=mtr I recommend that you read their instructions to the letter when loading and configuring the cable to work on your laptop. The ebayer is located in Romania but I received the cable and software in 7 days via us postage. Also their email support was very responsive.

I read a number of posts regarding Computer failure and remember that my computer symptoms were slightly unique. Most victims of this problem complained that the screen was completely dead. Well, my screen illuminated the BMW splash screen while the car was running.

By the way my computer is still running great!!

Thanks so much! I really appreciate the link. Yes, mine is also showing the splash screen so I am hoping that we do have the same problem. I did end up finding the cable but like yours, they all seem to be outside the US. I will go with yours, 7 days doesn't seem bad. I was getting 2 weeks plus at some of the sites. I will post after I do! Thank you again. Happy Labor Day!

I assume you have already tried to reset the computer holding the mute button.

Yes, multiple times.

Did ya ever get it going?

Hey Bostoned, I'm having the same issue w/ my CCC in my 07 E64.

I've gotten the cable, and downloaded NCS Expert (INPA, etc). All the posts in BMWcoding.com and other forums talk about Coding and changing options (which i really want to get into now)!
But I can't find out where to "reset/activate" the CCC like you did.

Can you direct me to some posts/instructions on how to "reset/active" my CCC (like yours, BMW Splash screen comes on, but then gets stuck a "no mobile device installed") - so the CCC still runs.

Thanks in advance
Jeff

Originally Posted by Bostoned

After spending a day washing my car and having my doors open for several hours I drained my 5 year old battery.

You can deactivate the interior lights permanently by holding down the overhead light button for about 5-10 seconds. Reactivation only requires to push the same button once briefly.

Originally Posted by jcheun4

Hey Bostoned, I'm having the same issue w/ my CCC in my 07 E64.

Can you direct me to some posts/instructions on how to "reset/active" my CCC (like yours, BMW Splash screen comes on, but then gets stuck a "no mobile device installed") - so the CCC still runs.

Thanks in advance
Jeff

I can't find those instructions either. A search for CCC didn't help.
Did you ever figure it out?