upgrade to latest iStep/Firmware if tuned? need immediate help please

[frankiebones]

i have an F80 with a may, 2016 build. I am hex tuned stage 1. is it worth it to upgrade to the latest firmware/iStep versions to get the benefit of the newer edc calibrations, torque management, etc.? Consider that it will lock the dme and I will have to retune the software using the obd2 cable. Also, the tune may be detected (as it has been explained to me).

I plan on doing M Perf HAS and supposedly, the suspension upgrade calls for the latest iStep software.

My car is currently being serviced and I have the opportunity to do the upgrade if I give them the "ok" to plug the car in today. Thanks in advance.

[swifty]

Originally Posted by frankiebones

i have an F80 with a may, 2016 build. I am hex tuned stage 1. is it worth it to upgrade to the latest firmware/iStep versions to get the benefit of the newer edc calibrations, torque management, etc.? Consider that it will lock the dme and I will have to retune the software using the obd2 cable. Also, the tune may be detected (as it has been explained to me).

I plan on doing M Perf HAS and supposedly, the suspension upgrade calls for the latest iStep software.

My car is currently being serviced and I have the opportunity to do the upgrade if I give them the "ok" to plug the car in today. Thanks in advance.

Can't Alex@alpine do the iStep upgrade for the suspension?

Wondering about this myself as well.

[frankiebones]

Originally Posted by swifty

Can't Alex@alpine do the iStep upgrade for the suspension?

Wondering about this myself as well.

Not sure who that is. i spoke to Autocouture and they suggested I have BMW do the upgrade. They are one of THE premier shops in the NYC area.

[M3anPower]

Originally Posted by frankiebones

Not sure who that is. i spoke to Autocouture and they suggested I have BMW do the upgrade. They are one of THE premier shops in the NYC area.

Lol, Alex is the best coder in BMW community. I'm sure he can hook you up.

[frankiebones]

appreciate the feedback but still looking for anyone with experience in terms of updating their software to get improved driveability.

[clutchdj]

Don’t let the dealer do the SW upgrade as you are flashed.

[Sahbatage]

Did you flash back to stock before dropping off your car?

I have the same tune and am also a 2016, from what I have read most people don't care for the updated bmw software. What you should do is get Alex (search Alex alpine) to program your diff, steering, suspension which are where the biggest improvements can be had and will be better than the bmw update. VF hex tune + Alex coding, at least that's what I'm doing.

[drgmt]

Originally Posted by Sahbatage

Did you flash back to stock before dropping off your car?

I have the same tune and am also a 2016, from what I have read most people don't care for the updated bmw software. What you should do is get Alex (search Alex alpine) to program your diff, steering, suspension which are where the biggest improvements can be had and will be better than the bmw update. VF hex tune + Alex coding, at least that's what I'm doing.

Absolutely flash back to stock with your tuners assistance first.

Otherwise you will end up with a software tamper code.

[frankiebones]

Originally Posted by drgmt

Absolutely flash back to stock with your tuners assistance first.

Otherwise you will end up with a software tamper code.

My dealer does not plug my car in and has not since I was tuned.

The printed out sign that goes on the car says:

"do not plug in, do not test drive, do not wash"

[ecoast45]

Originally Posted by frankiebones

My dealer does not plug my car in and has not since I was tuned.

The printed out sign that goes on the car says:

"do not plug in, do not test drive, do not wash"

You can do that lol? I am about to start having a little sign on my car as well.

[BuLoOoSki]

You should not upgrade your I-Step unless you have flashed back to stock and relocked your DME to avoid having a DME tamper code.

Secondly, even if you upgrade your I-Step it wont matter. Your VF tune is not based on your I-Step. VF uses a specific software version that they base all their tunes on, so once you flash their tune your DME will be downgraded to the software version VF are using (the other ECUs will be on the latest i-step though as they are not affected by the flash tune). For those with older I-Step flashing with VF tune might mean that their DME software will be upgraded to a newer version.

Hope that helps.

[swifty]

Originally Posted by BuLoOoSki

You should not upgrade your I-Step unless you have flashed back to stock and relocked your DME to avoid having a DME tamper code.

Secondly, even if you upgrade your I-Step it wont matter. Your VF tune is not based on your I-Step. VF uses a specific software version that they base all their tunes on, so once you flash their tune your DME will be downgraded to the software version VF are using (the other ECUs will be on the latest i-step though as they are not affected by the flash tune). For those with older I-Step flashing with VF tune might mean that their DME software will be upgraded to a newer version.

Hope that helps.

Is this only true with VF?

[BuLoOoSki]

Originally Posted by swifty

Is this only true with VF?

No, almost every tuner does it that way. I know for certain VF, BPM, MHD, and Alex @ Alpine do that. The only one I know of that doesn't is BM3, they tune every car for it's specific version.

[M-Pilot]

Originally Posted by BuLoOoSki

No, almost every tuner does it that way. I know for certain VF, BPM, MHD, and Alex @ Alpine do that. The only one I know of that doesn't is BM3, they tune every car for it's specific version.

I don't want to hijack OP's thread but just curious... Does BM3 let you flash it back to stock and re-lock your DME on-demand without requiring someone to connect to your car remotely or remove your DME? If so, how long does it take?

[BuLoOoSki]

Originally Posted by cntzl

I don't want to hijack OP's thread but just curious... Does BM3 let you flash it back to stock and re-lock your DME on-demand without requiring someone to connect to your car remotely or remove your DME? If so, how long does it take?

Yes, less than 5 mins.

[bracer]

I don't think any of the tuners will update the entire i-step on a car. I know I asked Alex and he would not. IN order to do so you need to have the car connected to a power supply and it takes a fair amount of time. I jumped from a late 2014 istep to the late 2017 istep and it did make a pretty good difference. I'm not sure it would be that big of a jump though from a 2016 car.

[swifty]

I believe OP (and I) are only interested in the latest istep in relation to lowered suspension.

Wondering if that's possible or have to do the whole process.

[frankiebones]

Originally Posted by swifty

I believe OP (and I) are only interested in the latest istep in relation to lowered suspension.

Wondering if that's possible or have to do the whole process.

100%. However, there are supposedly numerous benefits to updating software from a 2016 to a current version.

[frankiebones]

Originally Posted by BuLoOoSki

You should not upgrade your I-Step unless you have flashed back to stock and relocked your DME to avoid having a DME tamper code.

Secondly, even if you upgrade your I-Step it wont matter. Your VF tune is not based on your I-Step. VF uses a specific software version that they base all their tunes on, so once you flash their tune your DME will be downgraded to the software version VF are using (the other ECUs will be on the latest i-step though as they are not affected by the flash tune). For those with older I-Step flashing with VF tune might mean that their DME software will be upgraded to a newer version.

Hope that helps.

I can flash back to stock but that doesnt lock my DME again (i had my DME pulled when i tuned in the pre OBD2 flash days). I can flash back to stock and go to any stage after that, and then back to stock, etc.

VF has software for numerous versions of the BMW software. If BMW updated my software I would plug in with the Hex app and it would tell me what version of BMW i was running and then they would either tell me my existing tune file was still ok or send me a new one. VF tech support told me this yesterday.

[frankiebones]

So I spoke to alex @ Alpine and he can update my EDC and Differential settings to the GTS settings.

Can anyone more versed in the software terminology explain if that will suffice to do something with M Performance Springs?

[swifty]

Originally Posted by frankiebones

So I spoke to alex @ Alpine and he can update my EDC and Differential settings to the GTS settings.

Can anyone more versed in the software terminology explain if that will suffice to do something with M Performance Springs?

I now believe that's not the same as getting the most recent istep software lowered cars. I hope I'm wrong tho as I've no way of convincing my dealership to update without paying significant amount here in Canada.

[frankiebones]

Originally Posted by swifty

I now believe that's not the same as getting the most recent istep software lowered cars. I hope I'm wrong tho as I've no way of convincing my dealership to update without paying significant amount here in Canada.

If you have a manual, tell them your rev matching isn't working and to cover it under warranty.