At Opus IVS, we pride ourselves on providing technicians with the advanced diagnostic support they need to efficiently resolve complex vehicle issues. A recent case involving a BMW F20 M140i with the B58 engine highlights how our technical team’s experience and expertise come through when our customers need it most.
The Challenge
A customer in the East Midlands brought a vehicle running extremely poorly to G-Tech Motor Services in Derby. The engine was misfiring and noticeably down on power. An initial diagnostic scan conducted by the workshop technician revealed multiple misfire faults stored in the engine control unit (ECU).
To dig deeper, the technician performed further checks on both the ignition and fuel injection systems. However, these tests did not provide a conclusive explanation for the issue.
The Solution
The workshop contacted Opus IVS for support, where Steve Pink, an experienced BMW specialist and six-time BMW Master Technician, reviewed the case. Drawing on his extensive background in diagnosing complex BMW and MINI faults, Steve quickly recognised a familiar pattern in the data captured during the quick test.
His expert assessment indicated that the ECU software had been manipulated, suggesting the vehicle had likely undergone performance tuning.
The Result
Steve discussed his findings with the technician and recommended connecting the vehicle to ISTA, BMW’s genuine online dealer diagnostic platform. ISTA includes functionality to analyse installed software and detect whether any manipulation or remapping has occurred.
Customer Feedback
“ISTA confirmed that the car had indeed been remapped. The owner was unaware and asked us to proceed with a software update, which we completed. The car now runs properly, although there are emissions-related faults caused by holes drilled through the catalytic converter. A new cat is on the way, and everything should be resolved once it’s fitted. Thank you for the direct approach and the accuracy of the support provided”.