w84me

Thanks to Kyle for the inspiring writeup over in DIY https://5series.net/forums/diy-do-yo...thread-137584/

I'm posting this question over here because the thread does not specifically discuss the 6HP26 transmission and the DIY section doesn't get as many eyeballs on it.

I have a few questions concerning the 6HP26 valve body/mechtronics unit. I'm getting the impression the TCU can not be separated. in other words, you can not save your old one and bolt it onto the new valve body. The rebuilt one you purchase must be specifically programmed to contain the VIN and Transmission Serial number of your vehicle, not the car it came off. Without doing this, you will have a dead car. I've located a few places on the web that sell rebuilts (thanks to you guys!) but only one mentions requiring the VIN/Tran ser #. Can anyone shed some more light on what is going on here and if this is going to be a safe operation to attempt - replacing and getting a properly programmed unit that is.

BTW - If any of you are interested, here are some great overviews of these transmissions:

Quick overview of some of the issues and thus my question:
http://www.furitech.com.au/index.php...-transmission/

P 71 discusses some of the flashing issues
http://www.ukrtrans.biz/files/2012/1...ineBUS_eng.pdf

Great overview of the tranny from a software perspective (sorry its not a Beemer, close enough for gov work )
http://www.europeantransmissions.com.../6hp_trans.pdf