E8000 to EP800 conversion?

[MaKaToM]

Hi all!

First post here and I have posted this in the Merida section too, I hope this is OK?

I have a 2020 Merida eOne Sixty 9000 and the motor has died (for the second time). The first time was a few years ago and it was replaced by shimano. Now it’s gone again (same E010) and they have quoted me £920 for a new one. Naturally I told them that it’s ridiculous and totally unreasonable that these motors die so regularly… but they didn’t care. I asked what was actually wrong with the bike (after paying for diagnostics) and they just told me (it’s dead).

I asked for a copy of the report and that shows E01021 “a sensor abnormality was detected in the drive unit”.

Firstly, I have decided to pull the motor and the loom, get it on my work bench. Clean it, check it for damage and split the motor to check for anything obvious. If I can bring it back to life, that’s my priority.

However, if I can’t I am looking at replacing the motor with an EP800. Online they can be picked up for £300-£500 and the bolt pattern and spacing seem to be the same. I have checked online and the batteries I have seem to be compatible… but I know the wiring needs upgrading.

Has anyone done this upgrade before? Does it work straight away without being coded, does the coding make a big difference and are shimano the only company on earth who can code them? I ask that last question because the authorised shimano LBS I went to told me that my only option is £920, that shimano are the only people who can code the motors and they will only code new ones they sell.

Thanks all!!

 

[Benny90]

So there is a few bits you will need.

Speed sensor
Sd300 cable (normally get the shortest)
Sd50 to sd300 adapter
Plastic motor cover

The plastic covers there is a couple of options and possibly one from Merida depending on which bottom cover you have now.

As for the motor the cheap ones online don’t come programmed so they won’t work out of the box. The LBS is correct in saying the only people who can program the is shimano but you can get 3rd party software like emax tuning but it’s also not cheap. I think it’s £130 for the software (locked to one motor) then you also need the shimano pc tool which is another £200-300 depending if it’s new or used.
Also using this software will void any warranty it may have which might even be non if it’s not sold by an authorised uk dealer.

If you consider the above cost of the software and connection tool it quickly add up and buying a motor from an authorised dealer for a new EP8 at £970 with a full 2yr warranty would possibly work out a better option as they do still go wrong and you might just need that warranty if it did.

If you get stuck or need any help sourcing the parts or the motor the guys over at E-Motor Repairs should be able to help you with all of the above.

www.E-MotorRepairs.co.uk

 

[MaKaToM]

So there is a few bits you will need.

Speed sensor
Sd300 cable (normally get the shortest)
Sd50 to sd300 adapter
Plastic motor cover

The plastic covers there is a couple of options and possibly one from Merida depending on which bottom cover you have now.

As for the motor the cheap ones online don’t come programmed so they won’t work out of the box. The LBS is correct in saying the only people who can program the is shimano but you can get 3rd party software like emax tuning but it’s also not cheap. I think it’s £130 for the software (locked to one motor) then you also need the shimano pc tool which is another £200-300 depending if it’s new or used.
Also using this software will void any warranty it may have which might even be non if it’s not sold by an authorised uk dealer.

If you consider the above cost of the software and connection tool it quickly add up and buying a motor from an authorised dealer for a new EP8 at £970 with a full 2yr warranty would possibly work out a better option as they do still go wrong and you might just need that warranty if it did.

If you get stuck or need any help sourcing the parts or the motor the guys over at E-Motor Repairs should be able to help you with all of the above.

www.E-MotorRepairs.co.uk

Thanks for that. How ridiculous this situation is. I am 100% never buying Shimano tat again.

So a brand new, £500, legitimate EP8 won’t work at all unless Shimano code it and shimano wont code it unless it’s a £900 one from them?

I thought that plugging another motor in would work, it’s just that some perameters would be off?

Also, why would I need a speed sensor? I have a new speed sensor and magnet on the disc and they work fine. Would they not just connect via the sd50 - sd300 adapter? I thought I would just need 3 x adapter cables to make it work.

There is no cover underneath my motor, so I presume there’s a saving there too.

Thanks for the response

 

[Benny90]

Thanks for that. How ridiculous this situation is. I am 100% never buying Shimano tat again.

So a brand new, £500, legitimate EP8 won’t work at all unless Shimano code it and shimano wont code it unless it’s a £900 one from them?

I thought that plugging another motor in would work, it’s just that some perameters would be off?

Also, why would I need a speed sensor? I have a new speed sensor and magnet on the disc and they work fine. Would they not just connect via the sd50 - sd300 adapter? I thought I would just need 3 x adapter cables to make it work.

There is no cover underneath my motor, so I presume there’s a saving there too.

Thanks for the response

The £500 online price isn’t from an authorised dealer and the motors are brought in bulk as an OEM motor so they only have basic firmware on them. Bosch also work in this way and you can find the same deal with cheap online price but not programmed.

As for speed sensor they have a different plug to the others which is why it’s recommended to just get a new one that compatible with the EP8.

 

[Spiff]

A cheaper SW is STUnlocker Premium version, you need to program motor angle and wheel circumference

ST Unlocker

ST Unlocker - unleash the power of your E-Bike motor!

www.stunlocker.com

 

[Biano44]

Hi all!

First post here and I have posted this in the Merida section too, I hope this is OK?

I have a 2020 Merida eOne Sixty 9000 and the motor has died (for the second time). The first time was a few years ago and it was replaced by shimano. Now it’s gone again (same E010) and they have quoted me £920 for a new one. Naturally I told them that it’s ridiculous and totally unreasonable that these motors die so regularly… but they didn’t care. I asked what was actually wrong with the bike (after paying for diagnostics) and they just told me (it’s dead).

I asked for a copy of the report and that shows E01021 “a sensor abnormality was detected in the drive unit”.

Firstly, I have decided to pull the motor and the loom, get it on my work bench. Clean it, check it for damage and split the motor to check for anything obvious. If I can bring it back to life, that’s my priority.

However, if I can’t I am looking at replacing the motor with an EP800. Online they can be picked up for £300-£500 and the bolt pattern and spacing seem to be the same. I have checked online and the batteries I have seem to be compatible… but I know the wiring needs upgrading.

Has anyone done this upgrade before? Does it work straight away without being coded, does the coding make a big difference and are shimano the only company on earth who can code them? I ask that last question because the authorised shimano LBS I went to told me that my only option is £920, that shimano are the only people who can code the motors and they will only code new ones they sell.

Thanks all!!

I went through this exact scenario last year with a SC Heckler. Ended up sending my motor to E-motor repairs and they fixed it/serviced it for me£200 ish but the whole thing made me bitter so sold the bike and bought an Amflow.
I would suggest you at least consider the same.
It’s the best thing I ever did.

 

[MaKaToM]

I went through this exact scenario last year with a SC Heckler. Ended up sending my motor to E-motor repairs and they fixed it/serviced it for me£200 ish but the whole thing made me bitter so sold the bike and bought an Amflow.
I would suggest you at least consider the same.
It’s the best thing I ever did.

Thanks! I contacted them, explained the issue and gave them the error code and they told me that it is terminal, unfortunately.

I was looking at replacing the motor with an EP8, but even if I got a £330 one from China, it would still cost lots more to get it installed and running. I’d need new cables, adapters, cranks and the motor coding.

I have found someone who might have a new, unused DUE8000 which he wants £500 for - so that would be a better route, as it’s truly plug and play.

I’d then sell it and buy an Amflow too

 

[Biano44]

Thanks! I contacted them, explained the issue and gave them the error code and they told me that it is terminal, unfortunately.

I was looking at replacing the motor with an EP8, but even if I got a £330 one from China, it would still cost lots more to get it installed and running. I’d need new cables, adapters, cranks and the motor coding.

I have found someone who might have a new, unused DUE8000 which he wants £500 for - so that would be a better route, as it’s truly plug and play.

I’d then sell it and buy an Amflow too

You should also consider what it’s worth.
Could you sell it as parts? You’d probably make more ‘profit’ than fixing it and selling complete.

 

[MaKaToM]

You should also consider what it’s worth.
Could you sell it as parts? You’d probably make more ‘profit’ than fixing it and selling complete.

To be honest, I don’t know what it’s worth. It’s a 2020 Merida eOne Sixty 9000. It’s a carbon bike in great condition with two Shimano batteries, charger, cables etc.

I don’t know what it would sell for with a dead motor, and what it would sell for with a new motor. Maybe £2k?

 

[Biano44]

To be honest, I don’t know what it’s worth. It’s a 2020 Merida eOne Sixty 9000. It’s a carbon bike in great condition with two Shimano batteries, charger, cables etc.

I don’t know what it would sell for with a dead motor, and what it would sell for with a new motor. Maybe £2k?

View attachment 170113 View attachment 170114

You don’t sell it with a broken motor……
You sell the frame
The forks
The wheels
And so on.

A working bike is only worth what someone is prepared to pay.
Last Xmas I sold my Santa Cruz Heckler for £2200. I thought it would go for much more but there we are.

 

[Fangs2k]

Looks like a nice bike, I’d fix it and carry on riding it.

This is the reality of owning an e-bike unfortunately, motors can and do fail and out of warranty it hurts.

People have no issues dropping £500-600 on a pair of forks, a motor is just another component that can need repair or replacement.

Even some Avinox jockeys will be facing the same dilemma a few years down the line!

 

[Spiff]

A Shimano powered eBike is not like the rest of brands, looks like Shimano is not providing spare motors neither older models (E8000, EP8) nor new models (EP801) nor batteries. The only choice for spare motors is to buy them from non official stores or ebay and with no warranty. Also, very few bike manufacturers are using Shimano motors in 2026 models, so it looks like a dead end.

So having an ebike with Shimano motor is a very high risk of having bad support and not having motor or spare batteries in a very near future.

 

[Joecrow]

All Shimano Steps motors are repairable and with preventive maintenance they can reach 40,000 km.

Given the very negative experience of the OP and others here regarding support for Shimano motor repair and replacement can you let us know what opportunities you are aware of that support your contrary opinion?

 

[Spiff]

I was talking about official support and spares from Shimano, not about a Mr. Wolf that solves problems or a McGiver that is able to fix everything with a hair clip. Lack of support from manufacturer means a dead end sooner than later.

 

[Spiff]

Bosch 4thGen is the only one with all steel gears. The rest: Bosch 5th Gen, Avinox and Shimano, all of them have some nylon/plastic gears

 

[Fangs2k]

A Shimano powered eBike is not like the rest of brands, looks like Shimano is not providing spare motors neither older models (E8000, EP8) nor new models (EP801) nor batteries. The only choice for spare motors is to buy them from non official stores or ebay and with no warranty. Also, very few bike manufacturers are using Shimano motors in 2026 models, so it looks like a dead end.

So having an ebike with Shimano motor is a very high risk of having bad support and not having motor or spare batteries in a very near future.

All valid reasons for not buying a Shimano motor equipped bike now, but the original post is about somebody who already owns the bike and is wondering what to do for the best, ie replace the motor or sell the bike for parts.

It looks like a nice bike, £600 to fix it and get at least another couple of years out of it sounds like a sensible option to me, if they like it.

If they want to use it as justification to buy a new bike, then a different story of course!