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M2 Technical Topics > S55 Engine / Drivetrain / Exhaust / Bolt-ons / Tuning > How-to: Find out your ISTEP version (guide)

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      07-31-2019, 01:28 AM   #1
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How-to: Find out your ISTEP version (guide)

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



UPDATE June 2021 Apparently, updated ISTEP version DOES NOT ALWAYS exclude OBD Flash possibility. Flashing lock actually depends on the bootloader version. If you contact BootMod3 and have an ENET cable, they can tell you if its possible or not. Source: Just flashed my F80 M3 with latest ISTEP. However, this should not apply for 2020+ Cars with new DME although Gx DME's have been cracked as of late



x

Last edited by Dav3; 06-26-2021 at 01:53 AM..
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      07-31-2019, 01:35 AM   #2
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Nice DIY.
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      07-31-2019, 03:35 AM   #3
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Mine is F020-19-03-546 (june build)
It seems that the updated version was released in March 2019


Last edited by VIERsr; 07-31-2019 at 05:18 AM..
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      07-31-2019, 05:05 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by _RS4_ View Post
Mine is F020-19-03-546 (june build)
It seems that the updated version was released in March 2019
Format: F020 Platform Code - YEAR - MONTH - UNKNOWN (edit)

By June, do you mean June 2019?

By the way, your VIN is exposed on this sheet (right above istat version), suggest hiding it for privacy reasons

Last edited by Dav3; 08-02-2019 at 11:54 AM.. Reason: Correct Format
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      07-31-2019, 05:15 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doughboy View Post
Nice DIY.
Cheers!

Iirc you have BM3 flashed on your M2C, would it be too much to ask for your istep version?

If yours matches mine, we pretty much figured out which specific Istep update breaks obd flashing

Lots of first batch cars sitting on dealer lots and orders in between where chance of update being applied is 50/50

I'm still rocking last years update even after break-in and an additional recall maintenance visit, others might be in luck too

Last edited by Dav3; 08-01-2019 at 02:17 PM..
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      07-31-2019, 05:19 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dav3 View Post
My best guess is:

20 = Car Year (BMW labels current year cars as next year)
19 = Day
03 = Month
546 = Car Model?

By June, do you mean June 2019?

By the way, your VIN is exposed on this sheet (right above istat version), suggest hiding it for privacy reasons
Done
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      07-31-2019, 08:09 AM   #7
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My m2c is a February 2019 build.

istep as per this method is: F020-18-11-551
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      07-31-2019, 03:37 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dav3 View Post
My best guess is:

20 = Car Year (BMW labels current year cars as next year)
19 = Day
03 = Month
546 = Car Model?

By June, do you mean June 2019?
Not quite...
F020 is the platform code, F020 encompasses all F2x 2 series cars on which F87 is based. F020 model code is also used in Esys coding and ISTA diagnostic's.

19 is the year
03 is the month (march)
546 is just some sort of revision / variant code


Last edited by doughboy; 07-31-2019 at 03:47 PM..
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      07-31-2019, 04:16 PM   #9
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No need to check mine since I picked up my M2c last year in October 2018 via ED. I know I have the old version.
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      07-31-2019, 06:26 PM   #10
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Thanks for the write-up!
I wonder if the last 3 are Region code of some sort?
I just ran out to check and my October 2018 build US-spec M2c is
F020-18-11-520



I've been planning to go BM3, but have been reluctant to check version since I had the break-in service done in late April. I didn't want to face reality of possible lock-out. But now? Whoop! buying that sh*t tonight
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      07-31-2019, 07:26 PM   #11
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The ISTEP version on my car is:
F020-18-07-530

That is the oldest one so far.
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      08-01-2019, 07:39 AM   #12
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Build date: 2018-07-31

The ISTEP version on my car is:
F020-18-07-530

I'm sure when I go in for my annual oil change they will upgrade the software.
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Last edited by ChrisK; 08-01-2019 at 07:48 AM..
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      08-01-2019, 11:18 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisK View Post
Build date: 2018-07-31

The ISTEP version on my car is:
F020-18-07-530

I'm sure when I go in for my annual oil change they will upgrade the software.
That is the same version that my car has. I think that may be the first M2C istep version for US cars.
I don't think they'll update cars just for the fun of it. They didn't update mine. I had my 10k mile service last week.l asked the SA if they do routine updates. He said that they never do an update unless BMW requires it, otherwise they charge you for the update. I checked the ISTEP version on my car after the service. It is exactly the same as before I took it in.
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      08-01-2019, 11:42 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlpsRider View Post
That is the same version that my car has. I think that may be the first M2C istep version for US cars.
I don't think they'll update cars just for the fun of it. They didn't update mine. I had my 10k mile service last week.l asked the SA if they do routine updates. He said that they never do an update unless BMW requires it, otherwise they charge you for the update. I checked the ISTEP version on my car after the service. It is exactly the same as before I took it in.
They never update ISTEP unless there is a recall, related issue, or you pay. However, I thought there was a TSB and the software needed to be updated.

Maybe what I read was for the EU market.
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      08-01-2019, 11:45 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisK View Post
They never update ISTEP unless there is a recall, related issue, or you pay. However, I thought there was a TSB and the software needed to be updated.

Maybe what I read was for the EU market.
I don't know about a TSB. The SA checked the computer and my car was listed as up to date, no updates required.
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      08-01-2019, 11:47 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlpsRider View Post
I don't know about a TSB. The SA checked the computer and my car was listed as up to date, no updates required.
I don't see any TSB's open. Who knows what the heck I read
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      08-01-2019, 11:54 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisK View Post
I don't see any TSB's open. Who know what the heck I read
Now that I'm confident that BM3 will install, I'm tempted to try out the CS tune. It seems like a no brainer. I would rather have the official M2CS tune though since it will also come with a MT. I'm not sure if a tune is tailored to MT specifically or not.
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      08-01-2019, 12:16 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlpsRider View Post
Now that I'm confident that BM3 will install, I'm tempted to try out the CS tune. It seems like a no brainer. I would rather have the official M2CS tune though since it will also come with a MT. I'm not sure if a tune is tailored to MT specifically or not.


I really excited about a CS Tune.
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      08-01-2019, 07:12 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisK View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlpsRider View Post
I don't know about a TSB. The SA checked the computer and my car was listed as up to date, no updates required.
I don't see any TSB's open. Who knows what the heck I read
I think that was in the EU related to the OPF. I remember reading something similar on a different thread.

I had my run in service in Australia and they didn't update
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      08-01-2019, 11:39 PM   #20
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Ah man... I had to go in last month for CarPlay issues and odd noises coming from the driver's tweeter, so they suspected the stereo headunit software was to blame. They said they updated the software to see if it would fix it... It happened to be the one year service date too.

Was hoping it was just a module they updated, but I just downloaded my profile and though my car's a July 2018 build, it says my ISTEP is:

F020-19-07-520

Which takes the cake as far as the latest version out there it looks like, according to OP. And I'm probably screwed should I decide to do anything...

Last edited by Lotus99; 08-05-2019 at 07:03 PM..
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      08-05-2019, 08:45 PM   #21
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my istep is F020-19-03-522. Will BM3 work?
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      08-05-2019, 08:56 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mshea397 View Post
my istep is F020-19-03-522. Will BM3 work?
Very unlikely unfortunately, if as we assume the 19-03 refers to March 2019 (which is when the changes took place). At least unlikely to work with obd flashing.
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