Firmware/Software Versions

[Fat Goose]

Originally Posted by Fat Goose

Car is a night and day difference, in a good way from the 2017 software build to March 2020 build. Engine response, suspension, steering, all improved.

Night and day.

[mfurse]

Just got mine updated for the last time as the car has gone off manufacture now so likely to be the last update needed. Will report back if it feels any different to the last update.

Edit: had a quick drive, nothing major to note - slight change in the instrument display to show temperature/fuel consumption/remaining distance/time independently of each other (pretty sure I always had temperature showing alongside the others).

Steering feels a little lighter in comfort and more "linear" in its response, gearbox seems to shift slightly smoother in D1, damping is pretty much the same as the 2018 update as far as I can tell. Will go for a proper blast and see what else has changed (if anything).

Edit 2: Had a quick blast - gearbox is actually much smoother and crisp when doing manual changes in M2/M3, surprisingly so. Damping is subtlety better in all modes too - mainly noticeable when pressing on vs going over an expansion joint or manhole cover at lower speeds. The dealer had also pumped the tyres up to 38PSI so it smothered this subtle improvement. I adjusted them all back down to 32PSI and went on my usual broken tarmac backroads and damping definitely has a mild improvement over the previous iStep update.

The biggest difference seems to be how it all "comes together" which I thought was a big step on in the last update but the way the ESP, Diff, steering, Gear changes, throttle and damping seem to work as a whole makes the car seem like it's much more developed than the 2018 update and it's hugely better than the original 2015 firmware. Perhaps all the ZCP/GTS/CS software improvements filtered down into the base cars? Either way I can stomp on it and it squats and goes, cornering is more predictable and the car seems better all round.

All in all very happy and only $90 AUD for the update. Keeps it interesting!

[Karlooch]

What are peoples thoughts here on the new software taming the earlier production m4's? Have read multiple comments on the forums here of people comparing earlier (2015/2016) to 2018 m4's and saying the earlier production feels much more raw and has more fun factor. Wondering how much of it is due to software?

[White340]

I really wonder if BMW tames down the power once a product has launched and all reviews are in. My 340 when it first came out was a torque monster and it would hit peak torque very quickly. After a year they did an update and I noticeably lost power down low. But of course all the dynos and reviews were out by then.

The M3 is another example. Early years put the power out way sooner before they updated it to get better traction down low.

The G8x is dynoing well as well, so time will tell if updates change that.

[mfurse]

Originally Posted by Karlooch

What are peoples thoughts here on the new software taming the earlier production m4's? Have read multiple comments on the forums here of people comparing earlier (2015/2016) to 2018 m4's and saying the earlier production feels much more raw and has more fun factor. Wondering how much of it is due to software?

My car feels just as quick, probably against the stopwatch it would be quicker as the car can find traction now rather than spinning the wheels and cutting power with the abrupt traction control. The newer software makes the TC intervene more subtlety and the throttle map stops it spiking off the line.

Yes, it does feel less torquey further down the rev band now, the trade off being I can drive it harder and not feel like it's going to spit me off the road like it used to and it doesn't spin the wheels for any little throttle tap in the wet. If by "raw" you prefer a car to feel more spikey from the off then don't get the software updated - it definitely removes that feature.

Lots of people have had GTS / CS flashes for gearbox, diff, steering etc and say it improves things... I think it's likely a similar change as having newer stock software.

Having said that... I would love to see some before/after dyno plots - my butt dyno suggests the car feels no weaker it's just I have to reach for the performance which I quite like.

[HarryTee]

Hi, and sorry for the very newbie question: where (and how) can I see the version of the software/ firmware currently in my car?
Thanks,

[EasyBimmerCoding]

Originally Posted by HarryTee

Hi, and sorry for the very newbie question: where (and how) can I see the version of the software/ firmware currently in my car?
Thanks,

If you PM us the Last 7 of your VIN we can check for you

[HarryTee]

Originally Posted by EasyBimmerCoding

If you PM us the Last 7 of your VIN we can check for you

PM sent
Thanks!

[Wanted_M]

Originally Posted by EasyBimmerCoding

If you PM us the Last 7 of your VIN we can check for you

Sent thanks.

[sappersix]

Originally Posted by mfurse

My car feels just as quick, probably against the stopwatch it would be quicker as the car can find traction now rather than spinning the wheels and cutting power with the abrupt traction control. The newer software makes the TC intervene more subtlety and the throttle map stops it spiking off the line.

Yes, it does feel less torquey further down the rev band now, the trade off being I can drive it harder and not feel like it's going to spit me off the road like it used to and it doesn't spin the wheels for any little throttle tap in the wet. If by "raw" you prefer a car to feel more spikey from the off then don't get the software updated - it definitely removes that feature.

Lots of people have had GTS / CS flashes for gearbox, diff, steering etc and say it improves things... I think it's likely a similar change as having newer stock software.

Having said that... I would love to see some before/after dyno plots - my butt dyno suggests the car feels no weaker it's just I have to reach for the performance which I quite like.

Just another voice confirming this perception (I haven't dyno'd). I upgraded my 2016 stock M4 ZCP to F020-20-07-540 last year and I didn't feel any loss of power or torque, rather the car felt more planted and composed. I would argue more useable power and torque.

As mfurse said, if you have an early MY car and like driving at the limit and you like the adrenalin rush that comes with the car trying to get away from you, don't upgrade. Otherwise, the newer software is a better driving experience, IMHO.

[Wanted_M]

Originally Posted by HarryTee

PM sent
Thanks!

You can check it yourself, press and hold the black button on the left of instrument panel and you'll come into a menu where the car gets put into dyno mode. Go into 01. "identification" by hitting button again and again to scroll thru and you'll see your vehicle SWFL1 and HMI version. Once your done cycle the start button and it exits from this program.

[EricP3]

I'm not sure if THOR flasher has been mentioned in the many pages of this thread but after the dealer not wanting to update my software version I went this route. Fairly reasonable price ($150 for the non DCT package) and I feel like similar results. No way of comparing but they offer the CS and GTS versions of the Steering, DSC, and M-Diff. Very straightforward flashing process via their mobile app. Of course you can also have some of the coders like the ones on this forum do it potentially for cheaper as well.

[sappersix]

Originally Posted by EricP3

I'm not sure if THOR flasher has been mentioned in the many pages of this thread but after the dealer not wanting to update my software version I went this route.

Folks, do your research on THOR. Some, not all, have had challenges with the product. For transparency, I used THOR without a problem on my 2016 for steering, diff and MDM.

I ended up working with a coder anyway because THOR has not released the long promised support for CS EDC, which is what I wanted for my ZCP. FWIW, a couple of the coders here are less expensive than THOR.

[EricP3]

Originally Posted by sappersix

Folks, do your research on THOR. Some, not all, have had challenges with the product. For transparency, I used THOR without a problem on my 2016 for steering, diff and MDM.

I ended up working with a coder anyway because THOR has not released the long promised support for CS EDC, which is what I wanted for my ZCP. FWIW, a couple of the coders here are less expensive than THOR.

Absolutely, not promoting them at all just sharing my experience and I was surprised they hadn't been mentioned as an option in relation to the software updates being discussed here. The more info out there the better.

[mfurse]

My iStep update was $90 AUD / ~$50 USD as an FYI whilst in for a service which was pretty good tbh. Keeps the car stock and gives improvements.

[RetroGamerJP]

My current iLevel is 18-07 ... are there any benefits to me trying to have dealer update to latest version? What am I missing out on at current level?

[hoppes-no9]

My SWFL numbers don't look anything like those posted. What should I be looking at?

[HarryTee]

Originally Posted by hoppes-no9

My SWFL numbers don't look anything like those posted. What should I be looking at?

I followed the same instruction and got a result like yours, so that must be something else.

To get the firmware/ I-step version, try this: plug a blank and formatted USB Disk into the car, export the driver profile (from the iDrive) to it and then open the exported file using Notepad. Then look out for something like this format:

<i-step>F020-20-11-540</i-step>

[gerri]

Car behavior aside, with the latest software it is no longer possible to map via OBD

[E92TiAg335i]

My car is a 2016 (late 15 build date). Is there any updates that i can get from the dealer or aftermarket?

[mfurse]

Originally Posted by E92TiAg335i

My car is a 2016 (late 15 build date). Is there any updates that i can get from the dealer or aftermarket?

If you read up mate and check my replies I had a late 2015 build and talk about my experiences.

[Tflong24]

Took my car in today, told them my idrive was freezing up. They flashed to F020-21-03-545. Went from original 2017 model software.