Compatible BCM for Mk7 12 seater

[Ewan from Oz]

I'm new to this forum. I have a 2008 VM 12 seater bus with BCM issues. First it wouldn't crank (batteries fine), then headlights wouldn't turn off, now parking lights won't turn off. These faults are intermittent but parking lights staying on even with the IGN key out has become permanent. To prevent the batteries discharging I've unplugged the power lead from the BCM. I've checked main earth lead from starter motor to chassis, and battery main earth. Can't find any obvious problem with wiring. I thought the next step would be to try another BCM. Wreckers here (Melbourne, Australia) charge about $200 for secondhand BCM's but I'm not exactly sure which BCM units (part numbers) would be compatible with my van. The part number on my BCM is "8C1T-14A073-BC". Do I need one from another 12 seater or is the BCM hardware the same as a regular van? Obviously there is a rear aircond unit in a 12 seater but I'm thinking the hardware for this might be present in all BCM's and once another is fitted and programmed it will work in a 12 seater.

[knobby1]

Whereabouts in Aus are you..??

Lord Knobrot

[Ewan from Oz]

Near Rochester in Northern Victoria.

[knobby1]

Near Rochester in Northern Victoria.

Bugga..I'm in Sydney and could've done the BCM config change on IDS for you.

Lord Knobrot

[grogan197]

There's a module reset option in ForScan. Not sure if that could sort your existing BCM but could be worth a shot. Forscan is free software, you just need a compatible ELM327 off ebay / amazon for about £15

[loot]

Any mk7 2006 to 2013 bcm should fit, it'll need initializing and pats (security) and asbuilt (software) installing for your van.
Bc is mid level bcm if you have a choice get C(a-z) level bcm as it is high spec and allows foot future upgrades like cruise control, and so on.

Make sure all of the bcm connectors are firm and secure and that all fuses etc are firm and secure including the ones in the battery fuse box as they have nuts holding them on. Also the battery terminals are tight including the black earth strap at the seat base.

The bcm has relays internally so a tell tale might be that there isn't a click when you turn off something that doesn't turn off.

Also the headlight unit is prone to failure.

Next time the lights stays on unplug the connector from the headlight switch and see if that does it.(if so replace the switch).

[Ewan from Oz]

The parking lights are on permanently now so I will check the headlight switch but I doubt that is the problem since the parking lights only became an issue following the no-cranking fault. I've had the BCM circuit board out to inspect for dry solder joints but everything looks fine there.

Loot, regarding BCM compatibility, a couple of the motor wreckers I've spoken to are telling me they need my old BCM part number before they can confirm if the secondhand units they have will be compatible. I'm not sure what they are referencing to determine this. I presume if I had a high spec unit I couldn't replace it with a low spec unit but upgrading is okay? Is there some kind of a list of BCM part numbers to check?

[loot]

As far as I'm aware there's only 1 type of bcm for the shape of transit you have, 3 variants are listed in bemm but rarely were the low spec ones used.
A common mid spec bcm is BK.

The first letter B is the variant level and the K is the software level.(yours being BC doesn't matter as you'll install software updated to BZ or whatever plus Asbuilt on installation).
Provided that you get either B or C then you will be fine.

Give them your full part number if they insist as it can only help them I suppose but there's not a lot of differences in the bcm.
6c1t is the year
14A073 is the component reference
BC you know.

[Ewan from Oz]

Okay thanks, that's very helpful. There's a "DG" unit for sale on eBay over here at the moment. I presume that is a higher spec again over a B or C unit?

The other bit of information I need is regarding the software I need to program a replacement BCM. I have ordered a VCMII clone from China (on eBay there seemed to be only the one clone available which was listed by numerous sellers - I hope it is of adequate quality to do the programming). I have a couple of Laptops, one running XP and the other Win7. I'm only interested in software that will work with a Mk7.

[knobby1]

Okay thanks, that's very helpful. There's a "DG" unit for sale on eBay over here at the moment. I presume that is a higher spec again over a B or C unit?

The other bit of information I need is regarding the software I need to program a replacement BCM. I have ordered a VCMII clone from China (on eBay there seemed to be only the one clone available which was listed by numerous sellers - I hope it is of adequate quality to do the programming). I have a couple of Laptops, one running XP and the other Win7. I'm only interested in software that will work with a Mk7.

You "should" be able to do it with "Forscan" and a suitable ELM327 unit....cheap as chips. Forscan is Free to download too.

Lord Knobrot

[loot]

I fitted a D bcm but I'm not entirely sure what added functionality there was, probably wouldn't see anything on the 2008 van if anything, possibly dpf related or something? It will be high spec and it will work for you.

You need to initialize the module then reprogram it with asbuilt.

https://www.motorcraftservice.com/AsBuilt

Then probably service functions.

I haven't played with forscan that much so don't know to what extent it'll perform the above although young mr knobby up there knows his stuff so either ids or forscan will do

W7 is my favorite although I have it on xp/7 and w8 over w10 via virtual machine.

[knobby1]

young mr knobby

Pffttt...I wish..

Lord Knobrot

[Altransit]

young mr knobby

Pffttt...I wish..

Lord Knobrot

It's all relative ................... like being a Northerner

[henk_t4]

I have exactly the same problem,
I put a relay in between and already had a push button in my dash so when I park the van I disconnect one of the two wires of the bcm , sometimes the lights come one, but they go off in 10 to 20 seconds. please let me know if the bcm solved the problems

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-N910F met Tapatalk

[Ewan from Oz]

You "should" be able to do it with "Forscan" and a suitable ELM327 unit....cheap as chips. Forscan is Free to download too.

Lord Knobrot

I have a couple of those cheap ELM327 type units but from reading various threads on this forum I thought only the VCMII interface could do programming. Anyway, I ordered one a week ago and am waiting for it to arrive. I might need a bit of a tutorial on how to do it with Forscan.