xHP DCT Flashing

doublespaces

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Oct 18, 2016
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It's weird, everywhere xHP states, even when asked directly, that the flashing wont work with other than OEM DCT cars. I can anyways identify my Z4 35is DCT in my old E36. I just don't dare to try flashing, because everyone says it doesn't work.

View attachment 40614

Someone who has flashed the xHP, does this look correct to you (VIN is hidden on purpose)? Next step would be to buy a license and flash away?

@doublespaces, here's one interested in the development (specially for aftermarket things), two projects going on at the moment, both E and F-series DCT:s going into old BMWs with a decent amount of power...

Can't be sure but I think the issue is mixing flashes. GTS flash into non m3 for example. I know for sure that a 2007 dct car has used xHP. ncat10, the person who swapped the first DCT has told me their green car is working well with it. Although, it is an E92, just an early one prior to dct.
 

aus335iguy

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Nov 18, 2017
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XHP is reading the vin from the DCT itself...! change the VIN in the box and you’ll get a different flash. We don’t know if it interacts with the rest of the car but it seems to be communicating with the box ok
 
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Svmp

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Dec 23, 2019
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XHP is reading the vin from the DCT itself...! change the VIN in the box and you’ll get a different flash. We don’t know if it interacts with the rest of the car but it seems to be communicating with the box ok
Thanks! This is what i wanted to confirm. I dont have any other modules on the canbus in the car so no problem there.
 

aus335iguy

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Thanks! This is what i wanted to confirm. I dont have any other modules on the canbus in the car so no problem there.
I’m commenting that because it clearly thinks your car is a z4. I wouldn’t risk flashing because while it’s clearly talking to the box xhp might be using the junction box for example to toggle on boot mode and if that’s the case the flash won’t work and the result is unpredictable. I wouldn’t risk it. I would wait until more is known about how XHP works
 

aus335iguy

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So In Ncats car he has an e92 and all of the modules line up. His box would’ve been from a euro dct like mine and so everything works ok
 

mangombia

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Oct 19, 2019
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I have the flasher module now. The features are nice but I can't really recommend it to anyone unless they are REALLY into their trans.

From my experimenting I've made some assumptions.
-It uses VIN to work out the correct ZB and not VO
-It generates a stock bin file that it places in "Internal Storage\Android\data\com.rbttuning.xhpflashtool\files\xHP Flashtool\Backups"
-It bases any OTS flash off your stock bin and not whatever ROM you flashed previously

It would be nice if xHP were more open about what they do rather than make us guess, it seems from the Whatsapp that a large portion of their userbase are people with odd hardware and software combinations. Makes sense as anyone willing to go to the lengths of buying new hardware and flashing software with WinKFP are also willing to spend €400 on torque limiters.

I'm curious about the flashing process though, it seems to take a while (10-12min with BG cable) so they are doing more than just flashing the data area. I wonder how recoverable a failed flash is, with MHD it seems almost impossible to brick the DME, not so sure with xHP if it does indeed do something in the boot sector.
I got the flasher and maps for my '11 E88 N55 M-Sport DCT the day they posted. After implementing all their precautions (extra power source for battery, lights/radio/AC off, Tablet in Airplane mode), I tried two Stage 1 flash attempts with the MHD orange adapter and they failed at less than 3% complete. The app said there could be any number of reasons and to just try again. So I pulled out my cable and got the same result. The DCT was inoperable - no communication. All kinds of transmission error codes. Through all that my portable jump charger had completely discharged, so I disconnected for the night, sent my logs to xHP and waited. xHP got back to me the next morning and advised a new app version had dropped and to update. This time I connected a 30A charger and used the cable again. The flash completed, but it took something like 1.5hrs! The only difference in setup was the updated app and a 30A charger (which from what I could tell never pulled more than 15A the whole time). I sent this huge log to xHP for review and they reported that every read/write action took 100ms with all the error checking going on. I've had no codes or issues since.

As for performance experience, given the various COVID related restrictions I haven't gotten a lot of drive time in, but I've noted a bit more responsiveness in regular comfort drive, more holding in the power band before upshift, a lot better kickdown response at speed. In S mode it appears to be markedly different across the board, way more holding gear into the power band, and much quicker up/down shifts.

From a customer service perspective I found xHP to be fairly responsive, considering the marked difference in time zones between me (Central USA) and they (Austria), professional and to the point wanting to solve my issue. I started a FB thread in the DCT group about the experience and have updated my observations there as time goes by. Once they posted the iOS app I got that and will be using my iPad from this point forward to work with MHD & xHP - my Samsung tablet is getting relegated to just working w/TuneECU for my Speed Triple.
 
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RTA

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Jun 17, 2020
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Info I can share: I have a EU n54 DCT 2009, VO set to build year 2013 because of some nav/CIC hacking, flashed stage 3, 135 DCT TCU flash.
First attempt caused my DCT to crash/not start, after flash back to stock and second attempt, having the car powered off for 2 minutes and started afterwards it was back up.
Seems to be a good mod for tracked cars like mine. Faster shifting -> Yes it does. No unplanned downshifts etc - Yes that seems to work.

Flashing took 2 minutes on a samsung s10 with a OBD cable.
While my battery is a bit to its end and I often get a warning for low battery, flash went well without the use of a charger (Not recommend).
 
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RTA

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24 hours update: I find the car run somehow a bit better, I'm tuned by Buraq already, but it seems more happy kind off, hard to measure tough or to explain.

What is measurable is that the gearbox has 0 sludgyness anymore. Always shifting as requested and almost instant.

Also nice that I can pull in 3-4 gear, with a starting speed of 10km/h. Perfect for generating logs and dyno ;-)

But most useful at the track, no more unfortunate shifts at that challenging corner, at the wrong moment :)

This might be an upgrade in line with: Upped turbo's, LSD, upgraded in-outlets, meth injection. It's significant and very useful for track racing.

Next steps: M DSC and M steering rack.
 
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N54TT

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Jul 21, 2020
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Are you guys able to adjust the launch control as stated from xHP original post?
 

aus335iguy

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Svmp

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Dec 23, 2019
62
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M50 DCT & M57 DCT
I’m commenting that because it clearly thinks your car is a z4. I wouldn’t risk flashing because while it’s clearly talking to the box xhp might be using the junction box for example to toggle on boot mode and if that’s the case the flash won’t work and the result is unpredictable. I wouldn’t risk it. I would wait until more is known about how XHP works
Didn't try my luck yet, but instead checked a little bit into this. xHP looks for the DCT first, and after that it checks for CAS and DME/DDE. Would be easy to verify the "need" of other modules by just doing a flash and log the CAN-bus. Too bad i don't have any OEM DCT-cars nearby... :)
 
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N54TT

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Jul 21, 2020
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Finally flashed my DCT to straight stage 3. Can launch control and performance mode be set at 2500 rpm at the same time? I like the idea of the performance mode rather then lighting the tires off a dig. Not sure if 2500 rpm is a good range or not since I’m still on street tires, but I’ll need to try it out.
 

NoGuru

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Jan 9, 2018
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Finally flashed my DCT to straight stage 3. Can launch control and performance mode be set at 2500 rpm at the same time? I like the idea of the performance mode rather then lighting the tires off a dig. Not sure if 2500 rpm is a good range or not since I’m still on street tires, but I’ll need to try it out.
Yes, they can be set at the same time. 2500 is just a little low but it depends on what turbos you have and how the tune is setup. I think mine is set for 3500.
 
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N54TT

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Jul 21, 2020
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Yes, they can be set at the same time. 2500 is just a little low but it depends on what turbos you have and how the tune is setup. I think mine is set for 3500.

I still have the stock turbos nearly maxed out :grin: Process of buttoning up my relocated inlets so once I get the car rolling off the ramps ill try 2500 rpm and above if needed. Thank you!
 

NoGuru

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I still have the stock turbos nearly maxed out :grin: Process of buttoning up my relocated inlets so once I get the car rolling off the ramps ill try 2500 rpm and above if needed. Thank you!
Yeah I think just testing is best. 2500 in the Winter is a lot different then in the summer too, so it might need adjustment.
 

N54TT

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Jul 21, 2020
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Yeah I think just testing is best. 2500 in the Winter is a lot different then in the summer too, so it might need adjustment.
Is torque punch and torque reduction even necessary to play around with? I would think the ots flash from XHP is set to where they think is the best?