Owners Forums for Ford and Volkswagen MPVs / SUVs

Evening all,

I am almost 1 year into owning my first ever Ford, a 2017 150 TDi SMAX Ti. I was wondering if any of you long term Ford owners (Galaxy or SMAX & preferably 2015 on as they are same Gen as mine) have ever made any modifications to your cars BCM (Body Control Module), or BCMII as it is in mine?

By modifications, I mean changing simple things like the 3 x lane change indicator flashes to 4 x flashes etc. I would like to make the following modifications if able but need to know if they are even possible first, what equipment is needed and does anyone know anyone who is good at this kinda stuff so they don't make my car even worse?

1. 3 x flashes to 4 x indicator flashes on lane change activation
2. Rear tail lights on during the day (as per the front DRL LEDs)
3. Auto door locking on driving off on first journey
4. 2 x Rear fog lights (if the nearside one is even fitted that is - I drive in Europe quite a bit and do not want to be fined if stopped).
5. Engine Oil Temp reading available on Dash.

My last 8 cars, 4 x Skodas and 3 VW's could all be programmed / modified (to lesser and greater extents = newer had more options) using VCDS. My last car was a 2016 Skoda Superb SEL Estate (which I sorely miss) and the last of five which I had modifications made too.

Some nice chap spent 45 mins modifying my car from his front room using a RossTech WiFi enabled OBD device and his iPad with a corresponding RT VCDS App. For 2 x crates of Guinness, he activated my 2nd rear fog light (new cluster required but programming done in advance), rear DRLs on all the time, 3->4 lane change flashes, altered the available colours of the (decorative) dashboard and door interior mood lighting, throttle map to Audi mode (more responsive) plus a whole lot more.

The biggest modification was activating Lane Assist (£750 Skoda factory option) by placing a tick in a box and changing the LaneAssist function mode from inactive to active. To get Lane assist I had to have a camera at the top of my windscreen, so to get that when ordering, I optioned Traffic Sign Assist (£95) which puts traffic signs up on your dash and adjusts the Auto Cruise control when the speed limit changes. That got me the camera, 10mins with his iPad App and I had £750 of options for £95.

For the tech now packed into these modern cars, making simple changes like this should be easy. If it has been done to the VAG group since 2006'ish, surely there is something similar for FORDs. For my SMAX, all I want to know is can the changes I'd like be made, and can any of you do it? If you are anywhere in the SW = Salisbury / Bath direction and up for helping me, I would be keen to visit someday in the summer.


Many thanks in advance and Happy Easter (if its your thing)! Apologies about the size of this post, I wanted the detail in there so there was no ambiguity about what I wish to do.

Regards

John

PS: My Ford dealer (is not very good) said they could make these changes.....but in the end couldn't for some reason I didn't believe. I suspect they don't have the equipment / BCM access required to make these changes in house. Very few of the VW/Skoda Dealers ever had VCDS to hand either, so VCDS was mostly user based. Briskoda forum was exceptionally learned and incredibly helpful with speccing options if someone was looking to order new.

Not done any of the mods you want as don’t have a ford of that vintage,however I do have a spare modified elm lead to use with forscan that is also suitable for later generation can bus as it has the switch on.
Never been used as I mistakenly purchased thinking I could use to code x type diesel injectors as it’s a ford lump but I can’t.
It’s sitting in my garage doing nothing PM me your address and I will post it to you if you want it?? You will just need to download forscan

think you have to get a modified elm257 obd2 interface?iirc comes with a toggle switch.for some reason saw this posted a lot and they were being snapped up.

That’s the one I purchased,the toggle is something to do with can speeds so you can switch it over for use on later cars with faster can.