Objective Test of EDC performance

[derbo]

It definitely sounds like the case, as the verbage does suggest it is just merely a function of time, nothing more.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by Tony B

I am thinking the same.

The differences between the settings seem very small now, so maybe everything has been over-compensated assuming more wear than has actually taken place.

Mine have changed drastically since i bought the car 9y ago with 12k miles on the clock, at 56k miles now. Been fiddling around measuring damper current, replacing EDC module, visiting dealers etc without result. Gave up at some point and found that a very precise tyre pressure produce ok softness/stiffness in the different modes but still miles from the orginal differences thought.
I will give this a try soon as I get hold of a tool that support it.

[DrFerry]

Anyone know if the Carly App is capable of the EDC damper reset?

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by DrFerry

Anyone know if the Carly App is capable of the EDC damper reset?

I don't believe so. I had Carly for years but can't say I go through everything in between updates of the app but would be surpriced if the feature is hidden somewhere in there. Why, replacing chock mate?

[DrFerry]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

I don't believe so. I had Carly for years but can't say I go through everything in between updates of the app but would be surpriced if the feature is hidden somewhere in there. Why, replacing chock mate?

My question stems from a 'hypothetical-what-if' type scenario. If the EDC module compensates for OEM EDC shock wear - by altering the voltage the EDC shocks 'see' - i.e. to stiffen them as mileage and wear increase, then what might happen if the EDC was reset BUT the old OEM EDC shocks were left installed?

In this case it seems as though the EDC would revert to "thinking" the shocks were new when in fact they are old and worn. So if the EDC is reset and the shocks are still old then the ride would (comfort) theoretically improve but the handling would be degraded.

I know this sounds like an odd scenario, but suppose an owner wanted a softer ride then one could reset the EDC mileage to zero and if desired still stiffen the ride back up from the newly improved comfort mode with the other two remaining EDC normal and sport settings.

Sorry for my miscellaneous ramblings.

[derbo]

Originally Posted by DrFerry

My question stems from a 'hypothetical-what-if' type scenario. If the EDC module compensates for OEM EDC shock wear - by altering the voltage the EDC shocks 'see' - i.e. to stiffen them as mileage and wear increase, then what might happen if the EDC was reset BUT the old OEM EDC shocks were left installed?

In this case it seems as though the EDC would revert to "thinking" the shocks were new when in fact they are old and worn. So if the EDC is reset and the shocks are still old then the ride would (comfort) theoretically improve but the handling would be degraded.

I know this sounds like an odd scenario, but suppose an owner wanted a softer ride then one could reset the EDC mileage to zero and if desired still stiffen the ride back up from the newly improved comfort mode with the other two remaining EDC normal and sport settings.

Sorry for my miscellaneous ramblings.

That's exactly the mindset we thought when I reset wyatth 's EDC on his ZCP car.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by DrFerry

My question stems from a 'hypothetical-what-if' type scenario. If the EDC module compensates for OEM EDC shock wear - by altering the voltage the EDC shocks 'see' - i.e. to stiffen them as mileage and wear increase, then what might happen if the EDC was reset BUT the old OEM EDC shocks were left installed?

In this case it seems as though the EDC would revert to "thinking" the shocks were new when in fact they are old and worn. So if the EDC is reset and the shocks are still old then the ride would (comfort) theoretically improve but the handling would be degraded.

I know this sounds like an odd scenario, but suppose an owner wanted a softer ride then one could reset the EDC mileage to zero and if desired still stiffen the ride back up from the newly improved comfort mode with the other two remaining EDC normal and sport settings.

Sorry for my miscellaneous ramblings.

Got you. Also been thinking about this since I read about that the EDC are compensated over time. I don't have a tool to reset with but thinking of getting one to do it as I don't think my EDC behave the way I like it over the years.

Come to think of it, it is a few years not since I measured the (individual) EDC chock current but when I did it measured according to spec (IIRC 0.8/1.6/2.0Amps in the diff settings). Still have the wire "tool", maybe I'll make another measurement now after some years have passed to see if its possible to confirm (assumingly should be tad lower current).

[wyatth]

Originally Posted by derbo

That's exactly the mindset we thought when I reset wyatth 's EDC on his ZCP car.

Yup. In my case, comfort mode got a little more comfortable, and sport mode got a little tighter, while normal stayed about the same. When I got my car (47K) the 3 EDC modes were noticeably different (and each used). But by the time I got to 62K, the 3 modes were hard to tell the difference between (they all felt like normal). Resetting the EDC made each mode feel the way they used to.

In theory, a system that adjusts for wear would be neat and I wouldn't want to "trick" the system into treating old dampers like a new set, but (1) we aren't sure what factors contribute to the EDC adaptations (if it's just mileage, that seems somewhat primitive since not all miles/use are equal on damper wear), and (2) given that mine were all feeling the same, I figured it would be a worthwhile experiment before considering swapping out the dampers. In my case, it bought me time since I like the distinct EDC modes and the dampers are not otherwise failing.

Davisca455 had different results with his reset, where it made all of his modes feel like sport... so YMMV.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by Tony B

I am thinking the same.

The differences between the settings seem very small now, so maybe everything has been over-compensated assuming more wear than has actually taken place.

Hey Tony, just chiming in should you have missed a parallell thread going on the subject.

Brandoch provided a BMW document (https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=21370133) that confirms...

"Tolerance Adaptation
The damper force is diminished as part of the operating time function. Diminishing damper forces are compensated by current (amperage) reductions which are calculated by the tolerance control. This also individually compensates for mechanical damper wear on each axle."

...as well as reset/clearing adaptations:

"Notes on Service
Mechanical wear causes the dampers to weaken over the service life, therefore a running time memory adapts the damper curves towards a harder setting (over time). Faulty dampers must be replaced together (in pairs) on a single axle. After a replacement, the running time memory for the front or rear axle must be reset with the BMW diagnostic equipment"

FYI we've continue the discussion here: https://www.m3post.com/forums/showth...2006874&page=3

[Tony B]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Hey Tony, just chiming in should you have missed a parallell thread going on the subject.

Brandoch provided a BMW document (https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=21370133) that confirms...

"Tolerance Adaptation
The damper force is diminished as part of the operating time function. Diminishing damper forces are compensated by current (amperage) reductions which are calculated by the tolerance control. This also individually compensates for mechanical damper wear on each axle."

...as well as reset/clearing adaptations:

"Notes on Service
Mechanical wear causes the dampers to weaken over the service life, therefore a running time memory adapts the damper curves towards a harder setting (over time). Faulty dampers must be replaced together (in pairs) on a single axle. After a replacement, the running time memory for the front or rear axle must be reset with the BMW diagnostic equipment"

FYI we've continue the discussion here: https://www.m3post.com/forums/showth...2006874&page=3

Hi - only just seen this. Thanks for the heads-up!