[CosmosMpower]

Does anyone know if the software is updated at the 1,200 mile break in service? My car is an Dec 18 build, got back to the US and 1,200 mile service around March/April. My car has istep version F020-19-03-522. It's only been to the dealer once when it got re-delivered to the US after ED and for the 1,200 mile service.

Looks like I'm SOL on flash tunes unless there's a way to know if just a few random modules were updated and the car can still be flashed without removal.

[doughboy]

If yours is a Dec 18 build but it has a March 19 Istep then it's been updated.

Do you mean it's been to the dealer twice? Once after ED and once after 1200 mile service?

Updates are not compulsory in but maybe your dealer was quiet that day and they had time to press the update button?

[CosmosMpower]

Originally Posted by doughboy

If yours is a Dec 18 build but it has a March 19 Istep then it's been updated.

Do you mean it's been to the dealer twice? Once after ED and once after 1200 mile service?

Updates are not compulsory in but maybe your dealer was quiet that day and they had time to press the update button?

Had a friend at the dealer check my service history, it was updated at 34 miles when the car got re-delivered to the US in April 2019 for 'miscalculation of exhaust backpressure' SIB 12 07 19 before I took redelivery.

Are we pretty sure that March is for sure a locked ECU update?

[chmura]

I just had annual service performed. Specifically told SA no test drive, no DME updates, no car wash. Everything was honored.

I will use this usb method in the next day or so to make sure no updates were performed.

[chmura]

Went in for an oil change and told SA NOT to update DME.

Just used the USB method and my i-step is F020-18-07-547.

Looks like they kept their promise. Itching for a tune now!

[M Fifty]

Noob question: is the i-step number the actual version, or just indicating when the firmware was updated?

[prompt]

Mine says F020-19-11-538

I guess I have 0 chance for me of being unlocked

[Kleinacus]

Still hooolllddddiiinngggg on.

<date>2020-08-06T17:34:01</date>
<i-step>F020-18-07-530</i-step>

[gnx]

Originally Posted by Kleinacus

Still hooolllddddiiinngggg on.

<date>2020-08-06T17:34:01</date>
<i-step>F020-18-07-530</i-step>

Took the car in for an oil change today. Got bullied by two different techs to perform the update, had to cuss them out both to get things done my way.

I don't know anything about programming, but i find it odd that all this brainpower dealing with remaps haven't found a way around this issue of unlocking.

[ItChristy]

Originally Posted by Dav3

1. Get yourself a USB (formatted to either FAT32/EXFAT) and plug it into the usb port under the armrest



2. Navigate to "My Vehicle" and select your profile



3. Select the Export to USB option.



4. Pull out the USB and insert it into a Windows Machine (Might work on Mac, just need a text editor)



5. Now navigate to the .mpd file, right-click on it, select "More options" and open the file with "Notepad".



6. The highlighted area on the text below is your Istep version.



I cross referenced my ISTEP Code on other forums and apparently it's a late 2018 version so my DME should not be locked right now. (Promising news!)

For reference, code should be read like this: F020 Platform Code - YEAR - MONTH - UNKNOWN

As a baseline:


- Version: F020-18-07-547 = July 2018 - DME Confirmed Unlocked
- Version: F020-18-11-531 = November 2018 - DME (Presumably unlocked)
- Version: F020-19-03-546 = March 2019 - DME Confirmed Locked (First software version that locks obd flash tune, anything above is assumed to be locked too for the time being 26/09/2019)
- Version: F020-19-07-539 = July 2019 - DME Confirmed Locked



Feel free to chime in with your version (and if works or doesnt)

HI, god!
I want to know what update I-STEP is useful. When do I need to update I-STEP and How to know which version is right.

[lnsaneM]

<date>2020-10-11T23:39:56</date>
<i-step>F020-19-11-530</i-step>

Anyway for me to use BM3 to flash

[Kleinacus]

Originally Posted by lnsaneM

<date>2020-10-11T23:39:56</date>
<i-step>F020-19-11-530</i-step>

Anyway for me to use BM3 to flash

Unfortunately, I'm almost certain the answer is no. Your DME is proper locked.

[lnsaneM]

Originally Posted by Kleinacus

Unfortunately, I'm almost certain the answer is no. Your DME is proped locked.

Bummer, I guess I have to find a way to bench unlock it first

[Micke_B]

So my car was built 2020-09-04, run in service done 2020-10-09: F020-20-07-540 What does that mean? That I can't program the ECU via the ODB? But I can tune it, right?

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by Micke_B

So my car was built 2020-09-04, run in service done 2020-10-09: F020-20-07-540 What does that mean? That I can't program the ECU via the ODB? But I can tune it, right?

You can tune via bench unlock yes.

[Superdaws]

Originally Posted by doughboy

You can tune via bench unlock yes.

Maybe not... depends if it's got the new Bosch MEVD DME, so far some new units detected from late July 2020. Reports are the newest Bosch DME can't "yet" even be bench unlocked.


Bad News for the Tuning Community? https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1760825

My June 20 built MY21 M2C has the same iStep 20-07-540 and I'm yet to confirm if I have the older Bosch MEVD DME. My HWEL version indicates I may, but not confirmed.

[VIERsr]

S**t.
I brought my car to the dealer because my navigation system got crazy and I suppose that they updated my ISTEP version to the F020-20-07-525.
It should be one of the latest versions, locked and not tunable even via bench

[chmura]

Originally Posted by VIERsr

S**t.
I brought my car to the dealer because my navigation system got crazy and I suppose that they updated my ISTEP version to the F020-20-07-525.
It should be one of the latest versions, locked and not tunable even via bench

My navigation gets 'sticky'. Sometimes when I cancel the navigation at the instrument cluster it keeps going.

I dont care. I only use Navigation 10 percent of the time. Not worth upgrading the i-step. I'll keep my 2018 tuneable version.

[VIERsr]

Originally Posted by chmura

My navigation gets 'sticky'. Sometimes when I cancel the navigation at the instrument cluster it keeps going.

I dont care. I only use Navigation 10 percent of the time. Not worth upgrading the i-step. I'll keep my 2018 tuneable version.

Unfortunately all the system got crazy, radio, bluetooth, telephone, and I just moved to a new city so I need the navigation every day

[chmura]

Originally Posted by VIERsr

Unfortunately all the system got crazy, radio, bluetooth, telephone, and I just moved to a new city so I need the navigation every day

Yeah your case is unfortunately way worse then mine. Better to fix it.

[vrooooom]

Just trying to understand the thread....

The newer vehicles have DMEs with newer versions of IStep that are locked? BM3 won't do work on these cars? So I'm actually lucky to have an old 2018 M2 that's running BM3? I thought that BM3 works on all the M2 models inclusing the M2-CS.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by vrooooom

Just trying to understand the thread....

The newer vehicles have DMEs with newer versions of IStep that are locked? BM3 won't do work on these cars? So I'm actually lucky to have an old 2018 M2 that's running BM3? I thought that BM3 works on all the M2 models inclusing the M2-CS.

No only the DME is not readily flashable from the OBD port or bench unlock any more. The DME is only 1 module of the car and all modules form the "IStep level" of the whole car.

Of course BMW have a way to flash / upgrade these cars DMEs as and when they need to for future alterations etc.

It just needs this to make its way into the tuner market.