Upgrade to Di2 shifting

[Iain at the back]

Has anybody upgraded the shifting on their bike to Di2 shifting. I know it is possible as it is on the Merida and Focus bikes, but I keep getting a W032 error which says to replace the mechanical derailleur. I can't find any setting in the etube app and when I run a diagnostic it says there are no errors and the rear derailleur runs up and down the block. When you come out of connection mode it brings the error straight back and the shifter does nothing.

For reference, this is a 2018 Vitus E-Sommet VR. Shimano Steps E8000 with XT di2 mech and shifter.

HELP

 

[Eckythump]

Has anybody upgraded the shifting on their bike to Di2 shifting. I know it is possible as it is on the Merida and Focus bikes, but I keep getting a W032 error which says to replace the mechanical derailleur. I can't find any setting in the etube app and when I run a diagnostic it says there are no errors and the rear derailleur runs up and down the block. When you come out of connection mode it brings the error straight back and the shifter does nothing.

For reference, this is a 2018 Vitus E-Sommet VR. Shimano Steps E8000 with XT di2 mech and shifter.

HELP

I think you need the pc software and interface to let the motor controller know Di2 is installed.

 

[Iain at the back]

Thanks @Eckythump. Do you know where abouts in the E-TUBE programme the magic selection can be made?
I couldn’t find anything in the iPad app so my Bike guy got the PC connector and tried on the PC software. He spent hours trying without success and resorted to G&T after about 3 hours. I will get the bike and connector and have a fiddle over the weekend, but it would be good to know where to look.

 

[Eckythump]

Sorry I cannot help there. I just remember reading a while ago it was one of the things you need the PC interface for.
Maybe one of the guys who have an interface may be able to help out....

One thing you could try is updating the firmware as the systems may do a self check during the process to identify the components connected to the bikes network.

 

[R120]

Read the workshop manual for the e8000 that you can download of Shimano’s website, has a section on the DI2 iirc

 

[R120]

http://si.shimano.com/pdfs/dm/DM-E8000-02-ENG.pdf

 

[Iain at the back]

Thanks @R120 I have a copy of that and I know everything is connected correctly, it is finding the setting in the E-TUBE program that is foxing us

 

[R120]

Hmm - is there some sort of syncing you have to do i presume?

 

[R120]

This any use?

http://e-tubeproject.shimano.com/pdf/en/HM-G.3.2.0-01-EN.pdf

 

[Iain at the back]

This any use?

http://e-tubeproject.shimano.com/pdf/en/HM-G.3.2.0-01-EN.pdf

Thank you. I'll keep you updated on the progress. It will hopefully be a story of success but could equally be a sad story of a man refitting a mechanical derailleur to the smouldering remains of his bike whilst bitter tears roll down his cheek to dilute a lukewarm G&T, adding insult to injury.

 

[Iain at the back]

Right, I have finally managed to get the Di2 shifting working on my Vitus. It turns out that the method of shifting is set by the manufacturers when they setup and flash the bike. According to Madison (Shimano importer in U.K.) the type of derailleur is set to either mechanical or electronic and only they can change it. After a few days of trying to get the Shimano E-TUBE app to change this it just wouldn’t work and I was giving up. Then I found a software solution for the Shimano E8000 system. eMax - english.

To cut a long story short, there is 2 versions of the software. Freemax that allows you alter the assist levels in eco, trail and boost. It also allows you to change the wheel circumference if required, but I won’t go into that here. The other software is called Emax, and whilst it is a full blown tuning suite, it required a paid license key to alter the motor cutoff levels. But you can use this version for free and change the derailleur type from mechanical to electronic. It also allows you to change the chainring size and the cassette size.

So armed with my well used PCE1 and the Emax free software I proceeded to change the derailleur type on my trust bike. Well at least I tried but without success. I popped a quick email to the email address on their website thinking it would all be for naught, closed the computer down and trudged out to the office. To my surprise I had a reply before I got home asking for more information and if I could send the log files created by the program. I flicked those over this morning and had a reply and solution within 2 hours. The chap on the other end of the emails is called Markus and every reply is full of detail, pictures and very comprehensive guides. It turns out that the reason he wrote the software is because he had exactly the same problem as me, but has expanded what his program can do.

If anybody is looking to upgrade their Steps E8000 from mechanical to Di2 shifting, this is what you need. I can not recommend Markus and the Emax software highly enough. Knowing from the outset that I only needed the free version of the software, Markus went above and beyond to get it working for me. It really is customer service at its very best. Add to this his excellent grasp of English is WAY better than my German, I find it remarkable.

 

[Eckythump]

Right, I have finally managed to get the Di2 shifting working on my Vitus. It turns out that the method of shifting is set by the manufacturers when they setup and flash the bike. According to Madison (Shimano importer in U.K.) the type of derailleur is set to either mechanical or electronic and only they can change it. After a few days of trying to get the Shimano E-TUBE app to change this it just wouldn’t work and I was giving up. Then I found a software solution for the Shimano E8000 system. eMax - english.

To cut a long story short, there is 2 versions of the software. Freemax that allows you alter the assist levels in eco, trail and boost. It also allows you to change the wheel circumference if required, but I won’t go into that here. The other software is called Emax, and whilst it is a full blown tuning suite, it required a paid license key to alter the motor cutoff levels. But you can use this version for free and change the derailleur type from mechanical to electronic. It also allows you to change the chainring size and the cassette size.

So armed with my well used PCE1 and the Emax free software I proceeded to change the derailleur type on my trust bike. Well at least I tried but without success. I popped a quick email to the email address on their website thinking it would all be for naught, closed the computer down and trudged out to the office. To my surprise I had a reply before I got home asking for more information and if I could send the log files created by the program. I flicked those over this morning and had a reply and solution within 2 hours. The chap on the other end of the emails is called Markus and every reply is full of detail, pictures and very comprehensive guides. It turns out that the reason he wrote the software is because he had exactly the same problem as me, but has expanded what his program can do.

If anybody is looking to upgrade their Steps E8000 from mechanical to Di2 shifting, this is what you need. I can not recommend Markus and the Emax software highly enough. Knowing from the outset that I only needed the free version of the software, Markus went above and beyond to get it working for me. It really is customer service at its very best. Add to this his excellent grasp of English is WAY better than my German, I find it remarkable.

Great to hear you have got this resolved. Happy e-shifting??

 

[Kernow]

Good info , japsuride has the computer setup , we shared it but he’s in charge of it . We found there is a new update for the shimano that doesn’t yet appear on the smart phone app . It seems to have given trail mode a tweak with a variable power that increased with harder input , I almost looped my bike over on my first little steep climb on a corner as I gave a good stomp on the pedals after changing up to trail the power a bit more than expected .

 

[Iain at the back]

[QUOTE="Kernow, post: We found there is a new update for the shimano that doesn’t yet appear on the smart phone app . It seems to have given trail mode a tweak with a variable power that increased with harder input , I almost looped my bike over on my first little steep climb on a corner as I gave a good stomp on the pedals after changing up to trail the power a bit more than expected .[/QUOTE]

Hi Kernow, do you know what firmware number that is? I had upgraded to 4.4.4 from the app but the etube setup didn't offer anything else.

 

[R120]

I thought the trail mode, in terms of responding to rider input to sense when an increase in support is required, was already taken care of in last update?

 

[Kernow]

[QUOTE="Kernow, post: We found there is a new update for the shimano that doesn’t yet appear on the smart phone app . It seems to have given trail mode a tweak with a variable power that increased with harder input , I almost looped my bike over on my first little steep climb on a corner as I gave a good stomp on the pedals after changing up to trail the power a bit more than expected .

Hi Kernow, do you know what firmware number that is? I had upgraded to 4.4.4 from the app but the etube setup didn't offer anything else.[/QUOTE]
I think that’s it , the last I think was 442
R120 it seems to have improved the response to input over the last one , which was hard to detect i thought .

 

[Nifty 56]

Iain... does the Shimano display on the E-Sommet show the gear position? I'm considering upgrading my E-Sommet as the std shifting has always been tight. The problem is the cable routing and 2 tight turns around the btm bracket.

Do the shifters automatically use the E-Sommet battery when connected?

 

[Iain at the back]

Hi @Fastfocker.
The display does show the gear position but it isn't quite plug and play. Vitus set the firmware of the bike to be mechanical shifting. You will need to use the software I have discussed elsewhere and the rather expensive pc link rather than the phone app. This will enable the electronic shifting and you then just need to change the mech and shifter. The shifter plugs into the display and the mech connects to the motor and it all uses the main battery. I'll be quite honest, it was a real faf to get it all working, but it's lovely in use.
I am however thinking of selling mine as health is preventing me from using it at the moment.

 

[R120]

A shop with the equipment should also be able to do it for you - I found out the most bike shops that sell bikes with di2 group sets have the software.

 

[Iain at the back]

A shop with the equipment should also be able to do it for you - I found out the most bike shops that sell bikes with di2 group sets have the software.

That wasn't my experience. I tried several specialist shops who all thiught it coukd be done with the Shimano software and the pc link and it could not. Direct contact with Vitus confirmed that it would need to go back to them as the manufacturer has a different software for the factory options. As Vitus didn't have a Di2 option on the 2018 bikes they didn't enable it in the motor firmware.

 

[R120]

That wasn't my experience. I tried several specialist shops who all thiught it coukd be done with the Shimano software and the pc link and it could not. Direct contact with Vitus confirmed that it would need to go back to them as the manufacturer has a different software for the factory options. As Vitus didn't have a Di2 option on the 2018 bikes they didn't enable it in the motor firmware.

Yes I realised as I was typing the issues you had

 

[Iain at the back]

@R120 it really is down to the manufacturer. Vitus didn't enable the option as they didn't do a Di2 version of the e-sommet. Someone like Merida may well have enabled it and make it much easier.
You can connect the mech and the shifter. The app will recognise them and allow you to set up and calibrate, but when you come out of setup they don't work. That is the motor firmware set by the manufacturer.

 

[Tamas]

@R120 it really is down to the manufacturer. Vitus didn't enable the option as they didn't do a Di2 version of the e-sommet. Someone like Merida may well have enabled it and make it much easier.
You can connect the mech and the shifter. The app will recognise them and allow you to set up and calibrate, but when you come out of setup they don't work. That is the motor firmware set by the manufacturer.

The shifting is set to either mechanical or Di2. The manufacturer can change it but cannot enable both.

 

[R120]

@R120 it really is down to the manufacturer. Vitus didn't enable the option as they didn't do a Di2 version of the e-sommet. Someone like Merida may well have enabled it and make it much easier.
You can connect the mech and the shifter. The app will recognise them and allow you to set up and calibrate, but when you come out of setup they don't work. That is the motor firmware set by the manufacturer.

Yes, I meant as I was typing I remembered that you had to go back to manufacturer, so was wrong - sorry not clear on my part

 

[Iain at the back]

@R120 it really is down to the manufacturer. Vitus didn't enable the option as they didn't do a Di2 version of the e-sommet. Someone like Merida may well have enabled it and make it much easier.
You can connect the mech and the shifter. The app will recognise them and allow you to set up and calibrate, but when you come out of setup they don't work. That is the motor firmware set by the manufacturer.

Yes, I meant as I was typing I remembered that you had to go back to manufacturer, so was wrong - sorry not clear on my part

No worries @R120. Just trying to let people know it isn't straight forward and even specialists struggle. I assumed myself that it was plug and play, but after you spend the money on the bits you have to carry on till it's sorted.
Interestingly, the chap who wrote the eMax software did so because he was trying to do exactly this (mechanical to Di2).

 

[Iain at the back]

@jonathan The problem is that the manufacturer sets the type of shifting, either mechanical or electric. Whilst you can plug di2 bits into the system and they work in setup mode on the app. When you revert to normal use, the motor, which is the brain, will not look for the di2 mech. It just requires a setting change, but you need 3rd party software to do it.
I guess it's like fitting an auto gearbox to a manual car without updating the CPU. The car wouldn't know you had done it so it wouldn't look for it. I wouldn't say it's a problem with anything, just the way it works.

 

[Nifty 56]

I'm going to buy an SM-PCE1 linkage. I have been chatting to Markus and I have also asked him the full list of components I need to convert my bike.

I’ve worked out I need the RH gear switch, the Di2 rear derailleur and a couple of the Shimano connecting wires (1 long, 1 short). Is that it?

 

[Iain at the back]

I'm going to buy an SM-PCE1 linkage. I have been chatting to Markus and I have also asked him the full list of components I need to convert my bike.

I’ve worked out I need the RH gear switch, the Di2 rear derailleur and a couple of the Shimano connecting wires (1 long, 1 short). Is that it?

Just a pot of coffee and you will be all set.

 

[Nifty 56]

Cheers Iain!

Markus has given me a full parts list now as well. I didn't realise the rear mech connected to the motor and not directly to the shifter. I've been fitting rear mech cables for years and just thought it would be the same with wires.

The main reason for buying the PCE1 linkage is that the % power settings in all the modes can be tweaked... even Eco! Shame you can't change them on the fly though

That was the one thing where Specialized with the Mission Control App, had a major advantage over Shimano. The Mission Control App can do so much tweaking you can go round in circles
But the reliability issues with the Levo stopped me buying one.

 

[Iain at the back]

@Fastfocker Markus is brilliant and is always happy to help. It's really quite straight forward. My trouble was using a Win7 laptop. Once I changed it to use a Win10, it worked perfectly.