Question 1

What is the BSI on a Peugeot or Citroën?

Accepted Answer

BSI stands for "Body Control Unit". It is the central ECU of PSA vehicles (Peugeot, Citroën, DS) that manages the immobilizer, lighting, door central locking, electric windows, wipers, dome light, CAN communication between all the vehicle's ECUs, and stores the original configuration (VIN, paired keys, options). On PSA vehicles since 1998, it is literally the brain of the vehicle — a faulty BSI paralyzes all onboard electronics.

Question 2

What is the difference between BSI cloning and BSI repair?

Accepted Answer

Repair involves restoring the electronic circuit of a faulty BSI (component replacement, refurbishment) — possible only if the fault is hardware and locatable. Cloning, on the other hand, involves copying all the software data (immobilizer, car key coding, VIN, mileage, options) from a faulty BSI to another physically functional BSI. On recent PSA vehicles, faults are often software-related or affect the microcontroller — cloning is then more reliable and less costly than uncertain repair.

Question 3

Why do I need to provide a second BSI (the "donor")?

Accepted Answer

Because cloning is a data transfer from one BSI to another. Your faulty BSI contains valuable data (key coding, VIN, km) but its electronics no longer work. The donor BSI has functional electronics but data from another vehicle — which we erase to write yours. Therefore, both are needed: your original BSI (to extract the data) + a compatible donor BSI (to copy this data and be mounted on your vehicle).

Question 4

How to find a compatible donor BSI?

Accepted Answer

Two options: (1) New BSI from Peugeot/Citroën (€400-700 depending on model) or reconditioned, (2) Used BSI from a scrapyard (€60-150, most economical option). In both cases, the reference must be strictly identical to yours: 10-digit number engraved on the label stuck on the BSI, starting with 96xxxxxxxx. Simply send us a photo of your label via our contact form, we will confirm compatible references for free within 24 hours (some references are interchangeable, others are not).

Question 5

Will my original car keys remain functional after cloning?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely. This is the fundamental advantage of cloning over a new BSI replacement: we copy the pairing data of your keys into the donor BSI. Your original car keys therefore remain recognized identically, without any recoding at the dealership. Conversely, a new BSI purchased from Peugeot or Citroën is blank and requires complete key coding at the dealership (€80-150 per key).

Question 6

Are the mileage and VIN preserved?

Accepted Answer

Yes, both are preserved identically. The VIN (chassis number) and the mileage are stored in the BSI — we read them from your original BSI and write them into the donor BSI. This ensures consistency with your registration document and preserves the resale value of your vehicle. This operation is technically controlled: we never modify these data, we reproduce them faithfully.

Question 7

Where is the BSI located on my Peugeot or Citroën?

Accepted Answer

On most PSA models, the BSI is integrated into the passenger compartment fuse box. Depending on the models: behind the glove box (Peugeot 207, 307, 308, Citroën C3, C4), under the passenger side dashboard (Peugeot 407, 508, Citroën C5), or in the engine compartment on some recent versions. Its removal generally takes 15 to 30 minutes: removal of the fuse box fixing screws, disconnection of multiple connectors (be sure to note their position), extraction of the BSI. Numerous YouTube tutorials exist for your specific model.

Question 8

What are the typical symptoms of a faulty BSI?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms are varied but recognizable: vehicle refusing to start with "Immobilizer active" message, random electrical failures (windows, wipers, lighting activating on their own), central locking malfunctioning, battery draining when stationary (BSI remains in active standby), multiple warning lights on the dashboard without mechanical cause. The most frequent fault codes are P1336 (immobilizer fault), U1313 and U1000 (CAN communication loss). If in doubt, contact us with your codes: we confirm if the BSI is indeed the cause.

Question 9

How long does the cloning take?

Accepted Answer

Between DHL collection from you and the return of the two BSIs: 48 to 72 working hours. The technical operation takes about 2 hours on our bench: complete data extraction from your original BSI (immobilizer, keys, VIN, km, configuration), donor BSI erasure, data writing, bit-by-bit integrity verification, bench testing. We usually ship the same day or the day after the intervention is completed.

Question 10

Do I need to visit Peugeot or Citroën after cloning?

Accepted Answer

No. Cloning is plug & play: the cloned BSI is strictly equivalent to your original BSI (same data, same pairing), you just need to reinstall it, reconnect the battery, and start. No Lexia or PP2000 tool required, no dealership visit. This is the main financial advantage of cloning over a new BSI which requires €150-300 mandatory coding at a PSA dealership.

BSI Cloning Peugeot, Citroën, DS

BSI Cloning Peugeot, Citroën and DS

Supported BSI Models

PSA Vehicles Concerned

Peugeot

Citroën

DS

Other Brands Based on PSA

Typical Symptoms of a Faulty PSA BSI

Why Cloning Instead of a New or Used BSI?

How Cloning Works — Important to Understand

How It Works

Why choose Incarline?

Recognised expertise

1-year warranty

48-72h turnaround

Frequently asked questions