vs v8 bcm

[cannibalrikman]

can anyone give me some info on bcm's. I have a vs series 1 v8 which is fitted with a low series bcm. Can I fit a mid, high or a lux bcm? What is the difference between them? To fit another bcm do I need the matching key remote or can I reprogram old key? I'm also looking at fitting a level 3 dash and loom is there a specific bcm required or will the low series work? Any info would be great. Cheers.

[VrWagz1]

I cant answer all your questions. But the BCM is coded to the key. New bcm will mean new key. BUT you get those keys now off Mr Minute or whatever those key cutter booths are and they self match themselves to a BCM 1st time you use them, so that maybe an option. Im pretty sure high,med, low bcms can be swapped out for each other ok. Unsure however if you jst swap the bcm if it will talk with the ecu ok. Potentially worst case is you will need to get a bcm out of a wreck where you know you can get the ecu if needed aswell. And i think you need atleast a mid bcm for l3 dash, but im thinking at the same time i am erong on that one. I think im getting confused with thinking of things like electric aeirial dosnt work on low bcm.

EDIT: As belowVVVVV seems its only low and mid that can be interchanged, but that will hopefully see you where you wanna be.

[RX25SE]

The Commodore/Acclaim BCMs have 3 plugs. (Ute, Low, Mid)
The Berlina/Calais BCMs have 5 plugs (Hi, Lux)
So they are not a 'plug and play' arrangement to swap between levels.

Also the Hi and Lux BCMs control the heater/AC, rear demister and dash lights in a different way.

[commycrew]

Yer just put remote central locking into my vs ute, got a "Mid" bcm with two keys for $110. Hope this helped

[cannibalrikman]

what is the difference between a low and a mid bcm? What options work on a low and a mid? Can low bcm's run central locking? I've got a low fitted to my ute. Are ute's only fitted with low and mid bcm's? To change to a mid do I just need a mid bcm and matching key head? Anything else needed? Does a mid simply just plug in and ready to go? I don't know much about bcm's any info would be great. Sorry about all the questions but I want to be sure before I jump in and buy one and don't want to waste my money.

[VrWagz1]

You shouldnt have to waste to much on a bcm, they go pretty cheap on ebay these days. I think i mentioned before that even if you get a bcm with no keys. Simply see the mr minute guy and get one of the programmable ones that will match itself up to any bcm.

There was a thread here years ago that had the differences, i'll do a search and see if i can see it 4 ya.

EDIT: BCM level differences heres a thread but not the one i was after. The stuff about the high bcm only supporting L3 dash is wrong though. I got a mid and modified the L3 dash to go in.

[Brett_jjj]

Heres what the VS gregorys workshop manual says about the low and high BCM's.It doesnt mention anything about mid level BCMs though.
---Low series BCM- central door locking(except series 1 utility), washer timer,theft deterrent system,courtesy lamp delay,automatic lights off and if applicable, cruise control and power windows.
It goes on to say the high BCM is the same as the low series BCM with the following extra functions,-variable windscreen wiper delay,power aerial,speed sensitive power steering(calais,newport and statesman),instrument lamp dimmer,automatic lamps off with delay,rear lamp failure warning,rear demister,engine cooling fan low speed relay,and theft deterrent systems.---
Ive read on here somewhere that the low BCM's fitted in series 1 VS utes will support central locking,you just gotta add and connect up the door wiring and the door lock solenoids..My 95 VS executive sedan has a low BCM ,it has cruise control but no power windows or power aerial..Also has no ABS fitted but has a drivers side SRS airbag..

[RX25SE]

Pretty much as above.

Ute, low and Mid should be interchangeable as they have the same plugs and basic functions. Low is Ute+ c/locking. Mid is Low+p/windows.

My VSII Acclaim has a Low as it doesn't have p/windows.

[cannibalrikman]

Thanks for the info guys explains alot my ute is series one and has power central locking, cruise control but no power windows or power ariel. My only other question was about wether I can change bcm to another low or a mid with matching key remote, plug it in and that's it? Will any low or mid work in my ute as long as I have matching key remote. Is there anything else needed? Are all low and mid bcm interchangable? Also I'm going to convert auto to manual gearbox soon will this be affected by the bcm? Cheers.

[VrWagz1]

Not having hands on practice, only reading whats available. It seems the low and mids are totally interchangable to any car provided the key head goes with it.
There is a maual conversion thread that explains everything for a v6, you will find alot of it relevant to the v8 especially the patching of the auto loom to make it work for a manual box(if you dont have the maual g/box wiring loom with the box). The ecu is the bit that gets effected there, and the bcm has nothing really to do with it. The ecu memcal will need sending to someone for re-tuning to a manual. The car wont run if it has the auto still programmed into it.