Successfully added Traffic Jam Assistant to US model -- interested in other people's experience with TJA

[I3drivei3]

I just had Premium Retrofit code my 2015 I3 for lane assist and it works great. I did have to buy the module from them and easily installed it behind the steering wheel in about 10 minutes. Yes, many of your Bimmercode programming will be erased, but you can easily recode. Premium Retrofit stated that they will reprogram for free if the coding ever gets erased.

 

[Fleshy8029]

Has anyone purchased a TJA module, had it programmed, and then had it not work? I've never been able to get it to function on my 2019 i3S.

 

[JohnnyCakes]

Who did the programming? From whom did you purchase the TJA module? Critical facts!

 

[Fleshy8029]

It was premiumretrofit who did both. I've been meaning to learn how to program myself but haven't gotten around to it.

 

[JohnnyCakes]

It was premiumretrofit who did both. I've been meaning to learn how to program myself but haven't gotten around to it.

Not to state the obvious, but are you sure you are activating it properly? You have to activate it differently than normal cruise control before it will work. Does anything happen (dash lights) when you turn it on?

Also, what did PremiumRetrofit say? They are an extremely trustworthy and I assume would have your back on getting this to work. If they confirmed your VIN then it should work (it doesn't work on all i3's, specific options required).

 

[Fleshy8029]

Not to state the obvious, but are you sure you are activating it properly? You have to activate it differently than normal cruise control before it will work. Does anything happen (dash lights) when you turn it on?

Definitely activating properly. When in ACC cruise, hit the increase follow distance button. The dash will light up the TJA icon but say it could not be activated. I could try snapping a photo later this week of it. I've had the module in my car for over a year now, it's never worked once.

When I first had it programed remotely, I couldn't get it to work. A few days later he redid it manually with no change. Neither of us have said anything to each other since. I figure there isn't anything he can do remotely since he already retried, so I've been waiting until I have the time to try programing it myself. He did say that that the TJA module was connected correctly, but also noted that he could not ready any info or error code from my car (which he found interesting, I guess that's never happened before).

I thought I'd bring it up because I haven't found anyone else reporting the TJA modules NOT working.

 

[Mondomensch]

Definitely activating properly. When in ACC cruise, hit the increase follow distance button. The dash will light up the TJA icon but say it could not be activated. I could try snapping a photo later this week of it. I've had the module in my car for over a year now, it's never worked once.

When I first had it programed remotely, I couldn't get it to work. A few days later he redid it manually with no change. Neither of us have said anything to each other since. I figure there isn't anything he can do remotely since he already retried, so I've been waiting until I have the time to try programing it myself. He did say that that the TJA module was connected correctly, but also noted that he could not ready any info or error code from my car (which he found interesting, I guess that's never happened before).

I thought I'd bring it up because I haven't found anyone else reporting the TJA modules NOT working.

I wonder if the TJA steering wheel module could be defective. It would be handy to know the reason the car says TJA could not be activated.

 

[Fleshy8029]

The car really doesn't say why, just that it cannot be activated at this time or something like that. I'll get a picture of exactly what it says later this week. I know you have to have a car in front of you, clear road lines, etc. for it to function, but like I said earlier I've never been able to get it to work in over a year of having it, so I highly doubt I've never had the right conditions for it to activate. ACC functions fine.

 

[JamesInLondon]

During my entire ownership of my i3, I have only been able to operate TJA once, and that was on a French Autoroute last summer. I spoke to Martin at Wisely, and he confirmed what the readout states - it only operates at speeds below 35mph and only on motorways (Freeways, Autoroutes, Autobahn etc.)
I have never been able to use it where it would be most useful, in London traffic.

 

[Fleshy8029]

I've tried it multiple times, including heavy traffic below 35mph on some freshly repaved and repainted pavement with no luck. When it was programed he increased the speed limit to 55mph as well.

 

[I3drivei3]

I installed the jumper behind my steering wheel and had Premium Retrofit code it for me. It was a fairly easy installation.
I use it under 40 mph and it works fine as long as the lines in the road are painted clearly and the sun isn't directly in front of me.
The only issue is it tends to leave space in front of the car so other drivers tend to cut in front of me. The TJA doesnt like to let cars in as the camera can only see the lane in front of me and doesn't notice a car changing lanes until it's halfway into my lane.
Not sure if I would spend the money on it if I had to do it over again. But it's fun to use on occasion.

 

[alohart]

The only issue is it tends to leave space in front of the car so other drivers tend to cut in front of me.

Are you not able to change the distance to the vehicle ahead as can be done with ACC?

I have coded our i3 to default to the minimum gap instead of the maximum gap to reduce the number of vehicles who change lanes into this gap:

SAS (Optional Extra System)

Set ACC following distance upon startup: set to Level 1

 

[I3drivei3]

Are you not able to change the distance to the vehicle ahead as can be done with ACC?

I have coded our i3 to default to the minimum gap instead of the maximum gap to reduce the number of vehicles who change lanes into this gap:

SAS (Optional Extra System)

Set ACC following distance upon startup: set to Level 1

Yes, I have my coded for the minimum distance (and that can also be adjusted manually by cycling through the "reduce distance" top button on the cruise control settings), but as your speed gets faster, the distance followed also increases. When in traffic, that leaves enough gap for others to turn into your lane. In addition, the TJA is slow to speed up while following another car. So if you are going 5 MPH and all of a sudden the car in front speeds up to 30 MPH, there will be a large gap where other cars can turn into your lane.
I guess I shouldn't care, but it definitely throws the TJA off when that happens as it doesn't see the car turning into your lane until it is mostly already in your lane. As my car speeds up, it almost seems as though it is speeding up to be discourteous and not let the other driver in. (That's how most drivers regularly drive, so maybe it's just acting normal - wink wink).

 

[Fleshy8029]

I wonder if the TJA steering wheel module could be defective. It would be handy to know the reason the car says TJA could not be activated.

This is the error the car says. I do acknowledge that in this specific image isn't the best since the left lane marker is missing as it becomes the turning lane, which may trip of the TJA, but this is the error it has always given me.

 

[JohnnyCakes]

Never seen that error before. PremiumRetrofit is such a stand-up company that I suspect they will make right.

 

[I3drivei3]

I get a similar message when heading into a setting sun. The sun messes with the camera and the system shuts down the TJA.

 

[johcagaorl]

Definitely activating properly. When in ACC cruise, hit the increase follow distance button. The dash will light up the TJA icon but say it could not be activated. I could try snapping a photo later this week of it. I've had the module in my car for over a year now, it's never worked once.

When I first had it programed remotely, I couldn't get it to work. A few days later he redid it manually with no change. Neither of us have said anything to each other since. I figure there isn't anything he can do remotely since he already retried, so I've been waiting until I have the time to try programing it myself. He did say that that the TJA module was connected correctly, but also noted that he could not ready any info or error code from my car (which he found interesting, I guess that's never happened before).

I thought I'd bring it up because I haven't found anyone else reporting the TJA modules NOT working.

I just did one of these a few months ago

Take it apart and make triple sure it's connected, the connector takes a good bit of force to get seated. You will need BimmerUtility or BimmerGeeks protool to code it yourself correctly. Gabor is a nice guy, but he kind of gives the impression (on purpose or not) that he's a tech guy and he's not, he has a tech team, weird problems completely throw him off.