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What Are Integration Levels? (Also Referred To As I-Level, I-Step, and I-Stage)

Here are the key points from the document in 3 sentences: The document provides answers to frequently asked questions about BMW integration levels, determining the current integration level and required SP Daten for a vehicle, how to find module part numbers and the software version currently programmed, and best practices for flash programming modules using tools like WinKFP. Integration levels define the electrical configuration of a BMW and need to be considered when coding or flashing modules. Flashing modules without properly enabling user information field writes can cause issues if the vehicle later needs software updates from the dealership.

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Merab Tavartkiladze
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127 views

What Are Integration Levels? (Also Referred To As I-Level, I-Step, and I-Stage)

Here are the key points from the document in 3 sentences: The document provides answers to frequently asked questions about BMW integration levels, determining the current integration level and required SP Daten for a vehicle, how to find module part numbers and the software version currently programmed, and best practices for flash programming modules using tools like WinKFP. Integration levels define the electrical configuration of a BMW and need to be considered when coding or flashing modules. Flashing modules without properly enabling user information field writes can cause issues if the vehicle later needs software updates from the dealership.

Uploaded by

Merab Tavartkiladze
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Here my answers to some Frequently Asked Questions, in no particular order.

I will update this FAQ


over time. This is not intended to replace, but rather augment official BMW Group documentation.
1. What are integration levels? (Also referred to as I-level, I-step, and I-stage)
During development of a given chassis (i.e. E90) and subsequent upgrades and/or fixes, integration
levels are defined. An integration level is a defined vehicle configuration from an electrical standpoint
(hardware and software) that is validated by BMW. There are three integration level states:
• Plant -- the integration level of the vehicle when it left the factory
• Dealer -- the current integration level
• Backup -- the last integration level
The integration level designation is comprised of the system reference, SOP date (SOP=Start Of
Production) and the I-level.
Example: "E89X-13-07-501"
E89X: System reference
13: Year of introduction
07: Month of introduction
501: I-level of the system reference
2. How do I determine the current integration level of my vehicle?
You can display your current (dealer) integration level with INPA...E90 -> Select E90 -> Functional
Jobs -> <Shift> + <F2> Vehicle data:

3. Do I need a newer SP Daten to code my vehicle?


That depends upon your current integration level. Integration levels correlate to Progman (older) and
ISTA/P software versions (current.) Your integration level tells you the minimum SP Daten needed
to code your car. Google bmw group ista/p version and i-level overview and examine a chart. Here is
an example from ISTA/P P3.57.0:
Example: If your integration level is "E89X-13-07-501" you would need SP Daten 50.0 at a minimum
to code your vehicle. You can always use a newer SP Daten if you wish, but it's not necessary.
4. I'm not sure which SP Daten I have. How I can determine which integration level it
supports?
The supported integration level can be found in the KMM database. With Windows Notepad, open
the file E89\kmmData\kmm_ETM.txt. This is an example from SP Daten 51.1:
Code:
#$This file has been signed. Do not edit.$#
# Erstellt und freigegeben durch VT-T-1 \ Produktmanagement Teile
# KMM Datei E89X zur Datenfreizeichnung E89X-13-07-505_45 Version Stand
02.09.2013, 10:07:18 / HO

5. How do I determine the part number of an installed module?


You can display the part numbers of all installed modules (and lots of other useful information)
with INPA...E90 -> Select E90 -> Functional Jobs -> <F2> Identification:
In some instances, if you search for the part number on RealOEM, it will provide the complete BMW
part number.
Example: The part number for my MSD81 DME is 7616431. RealOEM shows that the full part
number is 12-14-7-616-431.
6. I want to flash reprogram a module in comfort mode with the WinKFP tool. After pressing
<F2> Choose ZUSB or <F3> Update ZUSB, I don't know which ECU family to select. I don't
see my module listed...HELP!
Determine the part number of the module you want to flash with WinKFP and then open the file
C:\EC-APPS\NFS\DATA\GDATEN\HWNR.DA2 with Windows Notepad and search (Ctrl-F) for
the part number. The ECU family name will be in the last column under SG type.
Example: The part number for my EGS module is 7591971. When I search the HWNR.DA2 file, I
see that the ECU family name is GKE215:
Code:
7591971,0000000,0000000,GKE215

Now when I highlight the GKE215 ECU family in WinKFP, I can see that I have the 2009 & 2010
Alpina B3 flashes available; ZB numbers 7603537 and 7615835:
7. How do I determine the ZB number of the software that my module is currently
programmed with?
Display the UIF (User Information Field) data for all installed modules with INPA...E90 -> Select
E90 -> Functional Jobs -> <F3> User information field:

The UIF data is only accurate IF UIF writes were enabled in WinKFP when the module was last
flashed. If UIF writes were not enabled, then the UIF data is stale.
8. When flash reprogramming a module with WinKFP, do you recommend enabling UIF
writes?
No, absolutely not. The UIF data is used by various BMW tools to validate the vehicles integration
level. If you flash various modules on an ad-hoc basis with UIF writes enabled, the vehicles
configuration will no longer align with any defined integration levels as validated by BMW. This
could create a myriad of problems should you ever need to have the vehicles software updated by a
BMW dealership.
9. I was told that if I disable UIF writes in WinKFP prior to performing the Alpina B3
transmission flash BMW won't know that I flashed the transmission. Is that true?
No, BMW can easily identify the fact that you flashed the transmission. Even if UIF writes were
disabled. When you flashed the transmission with WinKFP, reference data was written to the TCU.
Run Tool32 and open the SGDB file C:\EDIABAS\ECU\GS19D.PRG. Execute the job
daten_referenz_lesen to display the reference data:

ZB numbers map to WinKFP .0PA files (data set files for program) and .0DA files (data set files for
data.) The programming data and logistics files for the TCU are stored in the C:\EC-
APPS\NFS\DATA\GKE215 folder. The .0DA file that correlates with your ZB number contains the
reference data. Open the GKE215.DAT logistics file with Windows Notepad and search (Ctrl-F) for
the ZB number that you used to flash the transmission.
Example: The transmission was flashed with ZB 7603537. Here is an excerpt from the
GKE215.DAT file:
Code:
7603537,0000000,7591971,A,7603538DA,0FFFFFFFFFD,000,1 8
We see that the .0DA file used to flash the transmission was A7603538.0DA. Open the .0DA file in
Windows Notepad to display the reference data.
Here are the first few lines from the A7603538.0DA file:
Code:
;============================================
;Austausch-Datei Daten
;============================================
;
;;ZL_System: GS19.11.0
;;ZL_Projekt: HZ
;;ZL_Referenz: 0479SA0T641Z1HZ57
;
Notice that the reference data matches what was displayed in Tool32. It is conclusive evidence that
the transmission was flashed with ZB 7603537.
10. Why are the various data files collectively referred to as a SP Daten?
SP is an acronym for Servicepakets, which translates to Service Package in English. Daten is
German for Data.

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