Electronic immobilizer

The electronic immobilizer is both an anti-theft system and start enable device. The electronic immobilizer uses modern encryption. Each vehicle is assigned a 128-bit code. This code is stored in a BMW database. This means that the code is known only to BMW. The code is programmed in the Body Domain Controller (BDC) and the Digital Engine Electronics (DME) and is locked. When the code is in the control units, it can no longer be deleted or changed. This means that each control unit is assigned to a certain vehicle. The Body Domain Controller (BDC) and the electronic immobilizer (EWS) mutually identify one another with the code and the same algorithm. If the identification data is correct, the Body Domain Controller (BDC) activates the starter motor via a relay in the control unit. At the same time, the Body Domain Controller of the Digital Engine Electronics (DME) transmits an encoded enable signal (rolling code) for engine start. The Digital Engine Electronics (DME) then only enable the engine start if a correct enable signal has arrived from the Body Domain Controller (BDC). These operations may result in a slight delay in starting (up to half a second).