[kimbow]

There is a huge thread on here regarding this problem. Later ECUs which are locked can be cloned. My tuner uses a guy in Russia of all places who can clone a locked ECU to an unlocked one. Then its just a case of putting the cloned ECU into the vehicle and off you go.

[NEfan508]

My 02-2019 m2 has never been "updated" when in for service/maintenance

I specifically note to my SA, No Wash No software updates every time I'm in

Will updating lock up my unit for "possible" future tuning?!?

1: no CarPlay, SA might need to update car
2: taillight gremlin, to sort out might need updating?!?

This car is a long term keeper, as of now I'm not tuning but a few years maybe 🤔 when it's out of warranty 2023 spring

[bing240sx]

Originally Posted by rogeroger

You can find out from your vin. Put it in https://mdecoder.com/ and you should be able to see your cars manufactured month and year.

03/19... thanks.

[Navy Davy]

Originally Posted by DadVibes

But to be clear, 09/2019 can still be bench unlocked. It's the post-06/2020 cars that can't be unlocked, at all.

I think that's where a lot of confusion comes from. As I understand it, there are three variations to consider...

1) Unlocked (Early - Mid 2019),
2) Locked but unlock-able (Mid/late 2019 - mid-2020)
3) Completely unlock-able (mid-2020 onwards)

Mine has a March, 2020 build date and from my understanding I can send my ECU in to be bench unlocked, allowing me to flash tunes as I wish.

That said, the most odd thing, to me, is that the new G8X M3/M4 ECU's have supposedly already been cracked and are tune-able. But for some reason the 06/2020 and onwards M2 ECU's still aren't cracked, with seemingly no light at the end of the tunnel. As if they were just completely given up on.

Maybe BMW made it tough on purpose so more people upgrade to the new Ms? More sales for the 50th anniversary Ms potentially…🤨🧐