A really useful tool to use along side NCS Expert for coding is NCS Dummy created by the use Revtorover on a rival forum, just google NCS Dummy Revtor & you'll find the thread. Revtor is regulary updating the tool adding more info & functionality.
What is NCS Dummy? What does it do?
- First off it acts as a translator
It gives the english translation of each parameter in a module.
- It identifies all the possible settings for each parameter, so no guessing needed
e.g. aktiv/nicht_aktiv, wert_01/wert_02, etc. The options for each parameter are not intuitive as it first seems in some cases, aktiv is not the only opposite of nivht_aktiv, panikalarm is an alternate option in one particular parameter
- You can use it to generate .MAN files for modifying parameters. It has an function with check boxes that you can tick to select desired options rather than spell it incorrectly.
You don't connect to the car with it, it is purely a post-processing tool. You can take FSW_PSW.TRC file that you have read from a module in your car using NCS Expert & run it through NCS Dummy to see what parameters & options are available for that module.
Even without any reading from a car you can see Module Function listings for any module. I have attached to outputs for two E60 light control moules:
- E60-LM_E60.C0E (C0E is the software version, LM2 is light control module 1)
- E60-LM2_E6X.C32 (C32 is the software version, LM2 is light control module 2)
The thread on the tool gives more info than above but I hope it at least gives some idea of the benefit of the tool.
AE as DRL
If you notice in the LM & LM2 files there is an option to have the AE as DRLs in LM2 but not in LM. From LM2, here's the DRL options:
LM2 Extract
VERHALTEN_DRL_TFL ANGEL EYES AS DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS
drl_tfl_off daytime running lights (drl) disabled
drl_s
drl_h
drl_l
tfl_s
DRL_TFL_BLK_V_GED
nicht_aktiv not active
aktiv active
DRL_TFL_SML DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL) - ANGEL EYES
nicht_aktiv not active
aktiv active
DRL_TFL_KZL DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL) - LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS
nicht_aktiv not active
aktiv active
DRL_TFL_RL_BL_2 DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL) - TAIL LIGHTS 2
nicht_aktiv not active
aktiv active
DRL_TFL_RL_BL_1 DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL) - TAIL LIGHTS 1
nicht_aktiv not active
aktiv active
DRL_TFL_RL_BL DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL) - TAIL LIGHTS
nicht_aktiv not active
aktiv active
LM Extract
DRL_V_GEDIMMT DIMMED FRONT DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS
nicht_aktiv not active
wert_01 value 01
wert_02 value 02
DRL_WERT_DIMMUNG DIMMING VALUE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS
wert_01 value 01
wert_02 value 02
Maybe I got confused thinking that only LCI cars could have AE as DRLs, in fact it is only cars with LM2 (light control module version 2) that can have AE as DRL. Earlier cars have LM (LM v1). I'll check mine later today to see (it's a 2006 630i with a build date in 2005 ( MY 09/2005). I'll post my results here.
I hope people find the info on NCS Dummy above useful & intresting. I think NCS Dummy is a must if you're planning on making the most of your coding abilities!