Many BMWs have a Foot Well Module or FRM that controls electrical functions such lighting.
Location:
This is the module that sits on the drivers side foot well, behind the hood release (in US cars).
Which vehicles are affected?
E90 Series BMW 3 Series Cars
E70 X5 Series
E81,E82,E87,E88 1 Series
What Faults are covered?
Various faults including
Reversing Lights Not Working
Number Plate Lights Not Working
1 or more sidelight,headlight,brake or tail lights not working
What causes these problems?
The FRM Footwell Module monitors & detects short circuit’s either in the wiring (common in the
E90 boot area) or a short circuit bulb. If you do not get the fault repaired quickly then the module
will eventually permanently switch off that particular output. Once it’s switched off it doesn’t make
any difference if you have repaired the fault the light will stay off.
BMW Diagnostic Tool replace the complete FRM module at a cost of several hundred pounds including coding the module to your car. Here is the procedure in action on a reset we did to a E90 recently.
Solution:
Load/re-write the original eeprom dump (parts requires coding as well)
Vehicle model example:
2011 BMW 3-series E90
Read FRM module CPU data with VVDI Prog, Xprog or CG100 ecu programmer. Follow the wiring diagram and read eeprom data.
CPU type 9S12XEQ384
You can see all data shows F, blank data, CPU data may has been lost
Load the original eeprom dump and re-write to CPU.
When do you need coding/don’t need coding?
There are many variants of FRM (Footwell Module) FRM1, FRM2, and FRM3 which all have different controls and functions such as lights, windows and doors. If the eeprom data is exactly the same as your car original data, you do not need coding. If fog light or aperture still flashes after load original data, you need to do coding.
Device optional:
BMW ICOM Engineering software Ncs expert, Launch X431 V pro, Autel Maxisys Pro MS908P etc
Here is the instruction of Launch X431 Pro, it is easier than ICOM engineering software.
Select vehicle make: BMW
Select Coding/Programming
Select detail model: 3 series E90
Select data stream: FRM Module has been replaced
Select FRM module
Download file
Flash/Reset FRM
Complete
FRM module is repaired.