Installing a higher level BCM

[benanna88]

Hi, I'm looking at upgrading the BCM in my VY S to allow for adjustable intermittent wipers and adjustable aerial on an upgraded head unit, and I'm just wondering if it's as simple as installing a new BCM, or if there's more involved. Has anyone done this? I couldn't find much info on it. I've found the BCM and wiper stalk on ebay, so if that's all I need then I'll probably go ahead and buy them.

Thanks in advance,

Ben

[sp001in]

pretty sure you won't need to upgrade the bcm for your wiper control. it's just a delay in the switch. the bcm controls the windows, locks, alarm etc. self leveling suspension.

[Calaber]

pretty sure you won't need to upgrade the bcm for your wiper control. it's just a delay in the switch. the bcm controls the windows, locks, alarm etc. self leveling suspension.

According to the manual, you need a Lux level BCM and the S only has a Low or Mid level BCM, so it will need to be changed.

Can't help with advice regarding any wiring changes, sorry.

[benanna88]

Yeah my car has the Mid level BCM, and the one I found on eBay is the Hi level (from a Calais). So I just need to know if it can be plugged straight in, or whether that will cause problems. I would have thought that a higher level BCM would do everything plus more, but it could be that it is different, like with climate control as opposed to normal air con for example.

[Calaber]

If you change the BCM, I think you need to change the keys to match it, just to start off.

[benanna88]

Ok, the BCM does come with one remote, and I should be able to just screw my current key to the new remote.

Which manual do you have? I have the Max Ellery one which does have wiring diagrams but they aren't very useful, and it also has a section on BCMs which basically says you can't change it for a different one. I might have to study it some more and see what I can find out.

I also contacted Holden but they said they don't recommend any changes like what I want to do.

[wortus]

I thought that all VY's had speed sensitive intermittent wipers? Mines a 25th anniversary which is executive based and it has. I wasn't aware that any models had any additional switch or dial that you could adjust also?
Calais sound systems have buttons to adjust the arial height and I understand that you just need the BCM rerogrammed to cater for that with a TECH 2? I read somewhere that the arial is different from series 1 to series 2 but I dont know what the differnece is.

[benanna88]

The lower model VY's have speed sensitive wipers, but the Berlina and Calais have adjustable intermittent wipers, so it can be really slow, or pretty much as fast as when the wipers are on constantly. On the wiper stalk, there is an extra bit that turns to adjust it which isn't in the lower models. I was just hoping to add this option if wasn't too difficult.

But I didn't know that about the aerial, so I will look into that a bit more. I want to get the top of the range head unit for the extra line of info it displays (for an iPod interface), and just didn't want to have 2 buttons that didn't do anything.

Thanks for the replies so far.

[Calaber]

The lower model VY's have speed sensitive wipers, but the Berlina and Calais have adjustable intermittent wipers, so it can be really slow, or pretty much as fast as when the wipers are on constantly. On the wiper stalk, there is an extra bit that turns to adjust it which isn't in the lower models. I was just hoping to add this option if wasn't too difficult.

But I didn't know that about the aerial, so I will look into that a bit more. I want to get the top of the range head unit for the extra line of info it displays (for an iPod interface), and just didn't want to have 2 buttons that didn't do anything.

Thanks for the replies so far.

Other members who have fitted six stackers from Calais or Berlina's, which both have the same head unit, have found that the standard power aerial does not work. The wiring for the automatic aerial is different between the base and luxury models. You can't just stick the six stacker in and expect the aerial to work, and that includes from the controls on the head unit. You will have to rewire and maybe even replace the aerial with the upper level unit.

The Manual I have is the Ellery one and you're right, the wiring diagrams aren't much good.

[one_and_only2004]

i was unaware the six stacker had ipod connectivity?

[benanna88]

Other members who have fitted six stackers from Calais or Berlina's, which both have the same head unit, have found that the standard power aerial does not work. The wiring for the automatic aerial is different between the base and luxury models. You can't just stick the six stacker in and expect the aerial to work, and that includes from the controls on the head unit. You will have to rewire and maybe even replace the aerial with the upper level unit.

I don't have the head unit yet, so I didn't know that the aerial didn't work at all. I've heard in other threads that the BCM still plays a part in the aerial control because it remembers what height it was at last.

i was unaware the six stacker had ipod connectivity?

No the head unit doesn't have iPod connectivity, but there is a kit available so that you can control an iPod from the head unit, and display song info on the screen. Here's a link about it: holden (udcaus)

[one_and_only2004]

looks like a pretty decent setup. I sort of regret taking the six stacker out now...

[taztassio]

the aerial itself is different, wiring is different, bcm different.

same with steering control illumination, wipers, fuel level calibration, climate control.

sell your car and get a calais, its soo much work its not funny

[benanna88]

sell your car and get a calais

I was thinking just that earlier today, maybe I should...

Anyway I was hoping that this would be a simple thing to change, but it sounds like it's not, so I won't worry about it. Thanks everyone for your help.

[0081]

Its not that easy and you cant just plug in as there are many differences

1 the computer is linked to the bcm so the car wont start untill its liked via holden or some one else with the comupter and software

2 the keys are different so you will need to get the keys to sute the new bcm or have yours recoded to sute the new bcm, if that can be done i do remember some talk of it not being able to be done but i dont know if is true or not(i would think not tho)

3 the high level bcm has climate so you wold have to change your car to climate control, which i would like to do but its alot of work and i cant have the car off the road that long.

4 the wiring loom is different so you would have to remove it and fit a new loom, you could cut and add what you need but it would just be better to change the loom

[benanna88]

Its not that easy and you cant just plug in as there are many differences

1 the computer is linked to the bcm so the car wont start untill its liked via holden or some one else with the comupter and software

2 the keys are different so you will need to get the keys to sute the new bcm or have yours recoded to sute the new bcm, if that can be done i do remember some talk of it not being able to be done but i dont know if is true or not(i would think not tho)

3 the high level bcm has climate so you wold have to change your car to climate control, which i would like to do but its alot of work and i cant have the car off the road that long.

4 the wiring loom is different so you would have to remove it and fit a new loom, you could cut and add what you need but it would just be better to change the loom

Ok thanks for that, you've answered my question, so obviously I won't be trying to change it now.

[Calaber]

There's no doubt that, if you want the luxury items in your car, it's much cheaper to just buy a Berlina or Calais, rather than try to upgrade an Exec or other base model.

The price differential between VY bottom and top of the line models these days isn't great. I bought a Berlina and probably should have looked for a Calais, instead of spending a lot of brass to make the Berlina look like a Calais, but them's the breaks/.

[0081]

There's no doubt that, if you want the luxury items in your car, it's much cheaper to just buy a Berlina or Calais, rather than try to upgrade an Exec or other base model.

The price differential between VY bottom and top of the line models these days isn't great. I bought a Berlina and probably should have looked for a Calais, instead of spending a lot of brass to make the Berlina look like a Calais, but them's the breaks/.

This is true but some people like the look of the 's' over the berlina or calais, so you could buy one with all the parts you want but then spend a nother 2 to 3k on a body kit.

[benanna88]

This is true but some people like the look of the 's' over the berlina or calais, so you could buy one with all the parts you want but then spend a nother 2 to 3k on a body kit.

Yep, that's exactly why I went for the S, but of course I didn't think about the fact that I would want all the extra features later.

[Calaber]

This is true but some people like the look of the 's' over the berlina or calais, so you could buy one with all the parts you want but then spend a nother 2 to 3k on a body kit.

It would probably still be cheaper to buy a Calais, then fit the S body parts and sell off the Calais bits. I'll bet the S bumpers and lights would only cost a fraction of the Calais equivalents, and the Calais parts would get good money.

And you would have a pretty unique car, too.

[0081]

It would probably still be cheaper to buy a Calais, then fit the S body parts and sell off the Calais bits. I'll bet the S bumpers and lights would only cost a fraction of the Calais equivalents, and the Calais parts would get good money.

And you would have a pretty unique car, too.

Not uness you could get the 'S' kit already in the same colour as your new calais which i think would be a tad hard esp if you have the hot house green colour as the calais never came out in that colour, so unless you can get a free paint job your stuffed.

I think you would have a more unique car if you fitted all the calais options (or the ones you wanted) into the 'S' rather then just slapping a 'S' kit on a calais, as anyone can do that easy

I still would fit the climate and other features you want into your car, yes its not that easy but once its finished thats when you can say to your self i have a unique car.
There are to many people saying its to hard these days and not trying anything just do it

[benanna88]

I still would fit the climate and other features you want into your car, yes its not that easy but once its finished thats when you can say to your self i have a unique car.
There are to many people saying its to hard these days and not trying anything just do it

I'm glad someone thinks that. I wasn't going to say anything cause I thought everyone would just say don't do it, but I still want to convert my car to the climate control and other extras. The way I would do it is to get a cheap car to get around in, and then slowly work on the VY without having to worry about it being done by a particular time. But it won't be happening anytime soon.

[DRAGONKZ]

Hi, I'm looking at upgrading the BCM in my VY S to allow for adjustable intermittent wipers and adjustable aerial on an upgraded head unit, and I'm just wondering if it's as simple as installing a new BCM, or if there's more involved. Has anyone done this? I couldn't find much info on it. I've found the BCM and wiper stalk on ebay, so if that's all I need then I'll probably go ahead and buy them.

Thanks in advance,

Ben

It's do-able, but probably not worth the time/cost. It depends on how much you value your car

Whilst not 100% the same, My VS wagon has had a BCM/Wiring swap from a low level (Exec) to a high level (Caprice).

Climate control and all other Caprice/luxury features (eg, power windows, dual airbags, level 3 cluster...etc) were added to the car at the same time.

As a rough indication, it took about 5 weekends to get the car re-wired and functional again.

[MAG00]

COME ON MATE! Please read the date of the last post.