Bootmod3 and locked DME?

GregSM3 · 09-28-2020, 12:39 PM

Was considering getting a used or possibly new license for bootmod3 and read that current BMW software updates may be locking out any flash tunes. My car 2018 F80 ZCP was just serviced last month, could my software have been updated to prevent use of BM3 tunes?

Also, if I am able to tune, can I flash back to stock and bring to dealer for service or warranty work and they wont be able to tell that car was flashed / tuned? Thanks for your help.

Cboy · 09-28-2020, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregSM3

Was considering getting a used or possibly new license for bootmod3 and read that current BMW software updates may be locking out any flash tunes. My car 2019 F80 ZCP was just serviced last month, could my software have been updated to prevent use of BM3 tunes?

Also, if I am able to tune, can I flash back to stock and bring to dealer for service or warranty work and they wont be able to tell that car was flashed / tuned? Thanks for your help.

BMW automatically flags your car if it's tuned now. There is no way around jt. The computer they hook up to the car scans for it immediately now days.

GregSM3 · 09-28-2020, 12:59 PM

So some risk of voiding a warranty item, it they can prove it was tune related?

Sd335i2007 · 09-28-2020, 02:53 PM

I've heard of this now being an issue now. When the dealer does software updates you will no longer be able to flash. The new software locks the DME. If you try flashing it, you will brick the DME. Someone i know with a m2 comp had this happen last week.

drgmt · 09-28-2020, 03:01 PM

If you want to keep tuning take your car to a good independent mechanic and forget the dealer.

GregSM3 · 09-28-2020, 03:08 PM

I was going to take my car elsewhere for service from this point forward anyway as my 3yrs of free service has passed. However, do not want to brick my DME if the software has already been updated by the dealer as I was there last month for my final service.

CT_M3 · 09-28-2020, 03:25 PM

GregSM3

See this. I think you will have to do a bench flash to unlock the DME first.

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1672862

GregSM3 · 09-28-2020, 05:50 PM

Found this in another post - https://www.2addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1603379
"Summary - 2016 M235i went from F020-16-03-504 to new F020-19-07-539, previously confirmed anything from F020-19-03-5xx and up having the new round of BMW tuner protection"

Now trying to determine what software version I have .

TopJimmy · 09-28-2020, 06:18 PM

On a 2019 it's unlikely the update set your DME so it can't be unlocked. It is possible and you could email PTF asking if they refund your fee if BM3 hits a blocker.

New factory scans can now detect if a DME was tuned, even if flashed back to stock (all flash tunes regardless of brand). This puts a note in the service log the car shows a tune was installed, and they can deny powertrain repairs. They don't deny everything, like normal service stuff (my door gasket is still covered under CPO+, oil changes, yadda-yadda).

GregSM3 · 09-28-2020, 06:21 PM

Thanks - I have another year of mechanical warranty. I guess would depend on nature of warranty issue on how much of a stickler they wanted to be.

Wanted_M · 09-28-2020, 07:02 PM

Unbelievable that BMW can do this without your consent, its not their car after all.. Audi forced me to do an update on my S4 back in 2015 but that was emissions related and I couldn't register my car until I showed proof to the state but other than that one, all others were optional.

GregSM3 · 09-28-2020, 07:05 PM

Actually spoke w bmw SA and they did not update software just still not sure what version I have.

HyeM3 · 09-29-2020, 12:43 PM

Plug a thumb drive into the USB port, download your idrive profile onto that thumb drive, plug it into your computer and open up the file, then look for the istep version. It will look something along the lines of "F020-17-07-503". Then search your istep on google to see when that software version was released

GregSM3 · 09-29-2020, 12:50 PM

Perfect - thanks will try that!

blkcow · 09-29-2020, 06:06 PM

It it all flash tunes that are having this issue or just bootmod? i.e. does MHD have the same issue?

tom @ eas · 09-29-2020, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullet11291

It it all flash tunes that are having this issue or just bootmod? i.e. does MHD have the same issue?

All flash-based tunes, it's due to a new bootloader used in 19-03-5xx or higher. You can check your ISTEP level in VCM in esys.

We can unlock DMEs in house if needed.

GregSM3 · 09-29-2020, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyeM3

Plug a thumb drive into the USB port, download your idrive profile onto that thumb drive, plug it into your computer and open up the file, then look for the istep version. It will look something along the lines of "F020-17-07-503". Then search your istep on google to see when that software version was released

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyeM3

Plug a thumb drive into the USB port, download your idrive profile onto that thumb drive, plug it into your computer and open up the file, then look for the istep version. It will look something along the lines of "F020-17-07-503". Then search your istep on google to see when that software version was released

HyeM3 - sorry not sure how you get data to download into drive? I plugged thumb drive into USB port on car and not sure what to do next. Sorry I'm a noob.

tom @ eas · 09-29-2020, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregSM3

HyeM3 - sorry not sure how you get data to download into drive? I plugged thumb drive into USB port on car and not sure what to do next. Sorry I'm a noob.

https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1638904

Not 100%, but most users report success.

HyeM3 · 09-29-2020, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregSM3

HyeM3 - sorry not sure how you get data to download into drive? I plugged thumb drive into USB port on car and not sure what to do next. Sorry I'm a noob.

Go into the iDrive settings, scroll down and click on profiles, and then click on "Export profile (USB)". If you don't have a profile you might have to quickly create one first

Edit: just noticed you have a 2019 so you have a newer iDrive than me. Still just go to the settings, find Profiles, and click export to usb

GregSM3 · 09-29-2020, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1638904

Not 100%, but most users report success.

Worked great - Thanks!

GregSM3 · 09-29-2020, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

All flash-based tunes, it's due to a new bootloader used in 19-03-5xx or higher. You can check your ISTEP level in VCM in esys.

We can unlock DMEs in house if needed.

Ok Looks like my version is:
i-step>F020-17-07-505

Tom, so looks like that I am ok to get bootmod and not worry about issues re my dme?

tom @ eas · 09-29-2020, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregSM3

Ok Looks like my version is:
i-step>F020-17-07-505

Tom, so looks like that I am ok to get bootmod and not worry about issues re my dme?

You're good.

09-28-2020, 12:39 PM	#1
GregSM3 Private First Class 83 Rep 197 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 ZCP Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	Bootmod3 and locked DME? Was considering getting a used or possibly new license for bootmod3 and read that current BMW software updates may be locking out any flash tunes. My car 2018 F80 ZCP was just serviced last month, could my software have been updated to prevent use of BM3 tunes? Also, if I am able to tune, can I flash back to stock and bring to dealer for service or warranty work and they wont be able to tell that car was flashed / tuned? Thanks for your help. Last edited by GregSM3; 09-29-2020 at 06:30 PM.. Reason: put wrong year its a 2018 not 2019
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09-28-2020, 12:59 PM	#3
GregSM3 Private First Class 83 Rep 197 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 ZCP Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	So some risk of voiding a warranty item, it they can prove it was tune related?
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09-28-2020, 02:53 PM	#4
Sd335i2007 Lieutenant 171 Rep 491 Posts Drives: E90/F80/E70 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: SanDiego iTrader: (3) Garage List [10.00]	I've heard of this now being an issue now. When the dealer does software updates you will no longer be able to flash. The new software locks the DME. If you try flashing it, you will brick the DME. Someone i know with a m2 comp had this happen last week. __________________ F80 Gintani downpipes/Gintani Crank Hub Fix AA midpipe paired Dinan exhaust KW V3 coilover, Forgeline wheels, Ecutek Custom Tune MS109 by Counterspace Garage , SDgarage Built
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09-28-2020, 03:01 PM	#5
drgmt Lieutenant Colonel 985 Rep 1,885 Posts Drives: M4 Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Australia iTrader: (1)	If you want to keep tuning take your car to a good independent mechanic and forget the dealer.
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09-28-2020, 03:08 PM	#6
GregSM3 Private First Class 83 Rep 197 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 ZCP Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	I was going to take my car elsewhere for service from this point forward anyway as my 3yrs of free service has passed. However, do not want to brick my DME if the software has already been updated by the dealer as I was there last month for my final service.
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09-28-2020, 03:25 PM	#7
CT_M3 Lieutenant 1478 Rep 599 Posts Drives: F80 M3 DCT Competition Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0)	GregSM3 See this. I think you will have to do a bench flash to unlock the DME first. https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1672862
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09-28-2020, 05:50 PM	#8
GregSM3 Private First Class 83 Rep 197 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 ZCP Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	Found this in another post - https://www.2addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1603379 "Summary - 2016 M235i went from F020-16-03-504 to new F020-19-07-539, previously confirmed anything from F020-19-03-5xx and up having the new round of BMW tuner protection" Now trying to determine what software version I have .
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09-28-2020, 06:18 PM	#9
TopJimmy Major General 5450 Rep 5,143 Posts Drives: 2023 M3 Comp xDrive Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Chester County, PA iTrader: (5)	On a 2019 it's unlikely the update set your DME so it can't be unlocked. It is possible and you could email PTF asking if they refund your fee if BM3 hits a blocker. New factory scans can now detect if a DME was tuned, even if flashed back to stock (all flash tunes regardless of brand). This puts a note in the service log the car shows a tune was installed, and they can deny powertrain repairs. They don't deny everything, like normal service stuff (my door gasket is still covered under CPO+, oil changes, yadda-yadda). __________________ '18 F80 Base 6MT \| '19 F82 Exec DCT \| '18 F82 Comp Exec DCT \| '23 G80cx
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09-28-2020, 06:21 PM	#10
GregSM3 Private First Class 83 Rep 197 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 ZCP Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	Thanks - I have another year of mechanical warranty. I guess would depend on nature of warranty issue on how much of a stickler they wanted to be.
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09-28-2020, 07:02 PM	#11
Wanted_M Captain 756 Rep 946 Posts Drives: Frozen Blue M4CS Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Norcal iTrader: (2)	Unbelievable that BMW can do this without your consent, its not their car after all.. Audi forced me to do an update on my S4 back in 2015 but that was emissions related and I couldn't register my car until I showed proof to the state but other than that one, all others were optional.
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09-28-2020, 07:05 PM	#12
GregSM3 Private First Class 83 Rep 197 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 ZCP Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	Actually spoke w bmw SA and they did not update software just still not sure what version I have.
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09-29-2020, 12:43 PM	#13
HyeM3 Lieutenant 465 Rep 502 Posts Drives: BMW M3 Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: California iTrader: (1)	Plug a thumb drive into the USB port, download your idrive profile onto that thumb drive, plug it into your computer and open up the file, then look for the istep version. It will look something along the lines of "F020-17-07-503". Then search your istep on google to see when that software version was released
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09-29-2020, 12:50 PM	#14
GregSM3 Private First Class 83 Rep 197 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 ZCP Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	Perfect - thanks will try that!
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09-29-2020, 06:06 PM	#15
blkcow Private First Class 58 Rep 186 Posts Drives: BMW X3MC LCI Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: South Orange County iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 BMW X3MC LCI [0.00]	It it all flash tunes that are having this issue or just bootmod? i.e. does MHD have the same issue?
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