If we return to our car’s original ZCS, we can see that without the final checksum digit, the GM value is 5C630000. The zero values show us that no other difference exists between the ZCS of a 528i and 528iA. A quick search of that gives us the following result:Īs shown in the table above, the only difference between the two models is the third character of the GM value. To determine the model code, we can check the VIN. Open this file in a text editor (like Notepad). This is found at C:\NCSEXPER\DATEN\E39\E39ZST.000. To do that, we can navigate to the E39 ZST file.
I will walk you through an example to help understand the process.īMW Standard Tools (specifically, NCS Expert)īMW Daten files for your vehicle (usually included with a BMW Standard Tools installation)Ĭhanging the ZCS on a 2000 BMW 528i (E39) – Manual Swapīefore we begin, we need to understand how the ZCS is calculated on this car. Luckily, we can use a few bits of knowledge to help us on our way. The principle is the same – the ZCS dictates the configuration of the car, determining the defaults of each module. ZCS (roughly translating to Central Key in German) is comprised of three linked strings of hexadecimal. However, for older BMWs, such as the E46 3-series (and its contemporaries), BMW used a different, less straightforward system called the ZCS.
