Velos Tuning In Progress- crisis averted!

[ncbimma]

**Edit: A big shout you to the Velos team for being kick ass and helping me through my stupidity**

I want to inquire all those who have gone through the Velos tuning process.

During the mod file writing, my handheld seems to not be progressing at all after 30-40 mins of the process - still a blank progress bar.

Anyone gone thru this to settle my nerves that I didn't do something wrong? How long did your mod file take to write?

When gathering the stock file, the progress bar chugged along to at least know you had begun something.

[pdX5M]

Originally Posted by ncbimma

I want to inquire all those who have gone through the Velos tuning process.

During the mod file writing, my handheld seems to not be progressing at all after 30-40 mins of the process - still a blank progress bar.

Anyone gone thru this to settle my nerves that I didn't do something wrong? How long did your mod file take to write?

When gathering the stock file, the progress bar chugged along to at least know you had begun something.

Did you leave the keys in the car while doing the write process? I haven't installed my Velos tune yet but when I was pulling the ECU file I forgot to take my keys out of my pocket, walked away to do something else, and the car went from the "on" position to the accessory position, or just turned off can't really remember. Caused the handheld to stop what it was doing. I had to restart the read process and leave the keys in the car so it wouldn't turn off.

Figured I'd just throw the easiest thing I could think out there 👍🏼

[ncbimma]

Originally Posted by pdX5M

Did you leave the keys in the car while doing the write process?

Keys are in the car...my car requires the keys to go in the ignition (non-smart key).

Handheld is still on power and still at this point at that same screen but no progress bars.

I'm afraid to unplug it and restart as I don't want to jack anything up and have a partially written ECU.

[pdX5M]

Originally Posted by ncbimma

Keys are in the car...my car requires the keys to go in the ignition (non-smart key).

Handheld is still on power and still at this point at that same screen but no progress bars.

I'm afraid to unplug it and restart as I don't want to jack anything up and have a partially written ECU.

Doubt restarting the process would be an issue since I believe the tune file rewrites the entire ECU but better to see if someone else can chime in to confirm that or reach out to Stephen/Omar and see what's up.

[ncbimma]

Originally Posted by pdX5M

Doubt restarting the process would be an issue since I believe the tune file rewrites the entire ECU but better to see if someone else can chime in to confirm that or reach out to Stephen/Omar and see what's up.

Guess that makes me dumb for doing this outside of east coast business hours...

[eDubz]

You have the vehicle hooked up to a battery stabilizer, I assume?

[ncbimma]

Originally Posted by eDubz

You have the vehicle hooked up to a battery stabilizer, I assume?

I consider this my negligence. I read wrong and was assuming battery tender and not a battery stabilizer. Omar even stated this in email..ugh.

I pulled the plug for tonight, guess I'll be giving them a call in the morning to see how I can revert my stupidity

[9vapors]

Originally Posted by ncbimma

I consider this my negligence. I read wrong and was assuming battery tender and not a battery stabilizer. Omar even stated this in email..ugh.

I pulled the plug for tonight, guess I'll be giving them a call in the morning to see how I can revert my stupidity

You can just load your stock file back on and try again... I can't remember if this exact thing happened to me, but I definitely had to start over. The whole process took about 25 mins... I used a battery tender the first time as well, and it didn't have any problems... give it another shot, you have your stock file to flash back to if needed. I would think your car just isn't in the right mode... just switch on the dash, like you're gonna start it, but leave your foot off the brake...

[ncbimma]

Originally Posted by 9vapors

You can just load your stock file back on and try again... I can't remember if this exact thing happened to me, but I definitely had to start over. The whole process took about 25 mins... I used a battery tender the first time as well, and it didn't have any problems... give it another shot, you have your stock file to flash back to if needed. I would think your car just isn't in the right mode...

Might try again I think the morning, i am afraid I'm going to brick my ECU with all these failures to write!

[9vapors]

Originally Posted by ncbimma

Might try again I think the morning, i am afraid I'm going to brick my ECU with all these failures to write!

I know how you feel, but it will always let you flash the stock one back on... I panicked a bunch when I first did it as well, it feels complicated and you want to make sure you do everything right, but if you just follow the steps, it goes without issue. If it hangs, just start over, everything will be fine. Check the connections as well, my obd2 port was unscrewed and is a pita to plug in, a slight move and the cable unplugs enough to lose communication. I literally sat the handheld down, then plugged it in and didn't pick it up until it was done lol. Then you'll get check engine lights once the map is loaded, you have to tune the car on and off a few times... Omar puts that in the email as well, but I somehow missed it. Good luck man, Velos folks will help you over the phone if there is a legit issue.
Lastly, if you worried for the battery, you can get one of these from your dealer like I did and pay an arm and a leg, or grab a CTEK off of Amazon, that's the company that makes the BMW branded one anyway and it's like half the price... you'll want the 4.3 8 stage one.

[Molez93]

Could have sworn my process took~45 min, although maybe that was an initial step. Pretty sure I did mine first without any battery assistance/ maintenance for starters, but I did acquire one Omar suggested for round 2 ( that antsy feeling sucked and I got nervous heading into that 2nd ECU connect).

[ncbimma]

Welp, add insult to injury- car is on charger to recharge for the day. Consolation prize is drive the 2002 to work.

[mirob]

Originally Posted by ncbimma

I consider this my negligence. I read wrong and was assuming battery tender and not a battery stabilizer. Omar even stated this in email..ugh.

Did mine without either but the battery was fairly new.

[9vapors]

If you ever want to sell that 2002, let me know... I love that thing so much

[ncbimma]

Talked to the Velos team and got a tech on the phone. I explained my actions, they defined the issue and how to resolve.

Turned out my old ass battery was dipping in the middle of the write sequence and would kill the process.

Fired it up for a few with an approved maintainer and then was able to recover and once again, wrote the mod file.

Lesson learned- heed the Omar email!!

Solid bunch of guys, very supportive and made themselves available for questions- even though this was all my fault!

First impression in m mode, prior 50% throttle feels as if it only takes 15% now. Very spunky! I look forward to learning all the power curves again.

Thanks again!

[ncbimma]

Oh and to answer the initial question of the OP...it took 20 mins to write the mod file.

[9vapors]

Originally Posted by ncbimma

Oh and to answer the initial question of the OP...it took 20 mins to write the mod file.

Awesome man, glad you got it worked out! M mode is great, but move the shifter over to sport mode as well, get your burble on! You'll notice better mileage as well.

[ncbimma]

Originally Posted by 9vapors

Awesome man, glad you got it worked out! M mode is great, but move the shifter over to sport mode as well, get your burble on! You'll notice better mileage as well.

Well yeah...flappy paddle lifestyle. I don't ever drive in "D". Ask the nearest gas station.

[9vapors]

Originally Posted by ncbimma

Well yeah...flappy paddle lifestyle. I don't ever drive in "D". Ask the nearest gas station.

I never use the paddles, just drive it in sport... did you ever get downpipes?

[ncbimma]

Originally Posted by 9vapors

I never use the paddles, just drive it in sport... did you ever get downpipes?

VRSF catless installed. Fabspeed exhaust. It's pretty noisy...lol

[9vapors]

Originally Posted by ncbimma

VRSF catless installed. Fabspeed exhaust. It's pretty noisy...lol

Ah that's right... we have a very similar setup, the noise is crazy during cold start for sure. It borders on too loud, but I love it. Been meaning to ask, do you have a journal for your 2002 anywhere? I really would love to get one and build it.

[pdX5M]

Originally Posted by ncbimma

Well yeah...flappy paddle lifestyle. I don't ever drive in "D". Ask the nearest gas station.

Flappy paddle gang 👍🏼 Sometimes if I want to relax it's in D with M mode on. If the shifter is to the left I prefer to shift manually. I like to choose what gears I hold not hold gears constantly. I'd say I use a 50:50 split between paddles and shifter.