[TopG42]

Why do some people send their dme to femto more than once? I thought the unlock was a one time thing and that bench unlocks would happen based on if the car is updated post unlock.

[Rdurty2]

If a dealer or over the air software update installs then it locks the DME. Only way to unlock it is the send it back to FEMTO.

Also both MHD and BM3 have released large updates that require you to send your dme back to femto if you want to get those updates. For example MHD+ required it. I don’t know the reasoning behind that though, just know that it has been required before.

[inevitab1e]

Do you guys think sometime in the near future the unlock will become available through MHD like previous vehicles? I had a N55e that needed to have the DME pulled for unlock, but a year or so later the unlock was built into MHD.
So is this just a time game until no DME removal is needed?
Aren't other companies actively trying to unlock these DME's via the OBD port?

[Rdurty2]

Originally Posted by inevitab1e

Do you guys think sometime in the near future the unlock will become available through MHD like previous vehicles? I had a N55e that needed to have the DME pulled for unlock, but a year or so later the unlock was built into MHD.
So is this just a time game until no DME removal is needed?
Aren't other companies actively trying to unlock these DME's via the OBD port?

Short answer: don’t hold your breath

[TopG42]

Originally Posted by Rdurty2

If a dealer or over the air software update installs then it locks the DME. Only way to unlock it is the send it back to FEMTO.

Also both MHD and BM3 have released large updates that require you to send your dme back to femto if you want to get those updates. For example MHD+ required it. I don’t know the reasoning behind that though, just know that it has been required before.

I thought if we did the femto unlock we would just need to bench unlock after. Is it really worth doing a femto unlock if everytime they decide to update my car it gets locked again?

[Rdurty2]

Originally Posted by TopG42

I thought if we did the femto unlock we would just need to bench unlock after. Is it really worth doing a femto unlock if everytime they decide to update my car it gets locked again?

You have to tell them to not update your car and hope they listen. Also you aren’t missing out on anything if you don’t update the software pushed out by bmw.

That is the risk you take.

And no, there is no state-side bench unlock for our DME. It will need to go back to femto if it gets locked again.

[TopG42]

Originally Posted by Rdurty2

You have to tell them to not update your car and hope they listen. Also you aren’t missing out on anything if you don’t update the software pushed out by bmw.

That is the risk you take.

And no, there is no state-side bench unlock for our DME. It will need to go back to femto if it gets locked again.

I see , so in theory could I just never go to the dealership? I dont care for the oil changes there or anything else really. There are shops by me like CES that I could probably do break jobs at if need be. Id rather just not go instead of risking them doing an update. I agree though these idrive updates have really done nothing for me

[Rdurty2]

There is no reason to go to the dealer except for warranty work.

You will also want to disable the over the air updates.

[ILikeBimmers]

Originally Posted by Rdurty2

Also both MHD and BM3 have released large updates that require you to send your dme back to femto... For example MHD+ required it

Dammit this is just another point against sending my ECU to an all expense trip to finland. I just want to customize my burbles and run E85 .

[TopG42]

Originally Posted by Rdurty2

There is no reason to go to the dealer except for warranty work.

You will also want to disable the over the air updates.

Speaking of updates, I am unlocked and tuned on mhd while my ota updates are turned off on both my car and phone, I keep getting notifications for app updates. Would the app updates brick my dme or possibly lock it again? I am not risking it either way but I am just curious as to why the car would still have notifications for that when ota software updates are off. Maybe app updates are treated differently?

[Rdurty2]

Originally Posted by TopG42

Speaking of updates, I am unlocked and tuned on mhd while my ota updates are turned off on both my car and phone, I keep getting notifications for app updates. Would the app updates brick my dme or possibly lock it again? I am not risking it either way but I am just curious as to why the car would still have notifications for that when ota software updates are off. Maybe app updates are treated differently?

Are you talking about the My BMW app on your phone?

If the App Store on your phone is saying there is an update to my bmw You can update that no problem. You are just updating the app on your phone. Has absolutely nothing to do with your car.

[TopG42]

Originally Posted by Rdurty2

Are you talking about the My BMW app on your phone?

If the App Store on your phone is saying there is an update to my bmw You can update that no problem. You are just updating the app on your phone. Has absolutely nothing to do with your car.

No my friend,
Let me clarify what I meant. So on idrive 8 I get notifications about apps having updates available and was wondering if hitting update on that would ruin my dme unlock

Edit: adding photo

[Rdurty2]

Ohhhh that makes more sense.

The app updates SHOULD be fine since they are just updating the apps like Spotify and all the other ones no one uses but I would rather be safe than sorry and would leave them alone.

[sameer123]

Hi there,
I have sent my DME for unlocking, before sending i have checked software update section and it was not showing me an option to turn it off it was directly searching for updates, i turned off automatic updates from the phone but it keeps on turning back on. Is there any way to permanently stop updates?
2023 m240i

I checked online that there is another way to go thru data privacy but my dme is already out, can i plug battery back on put it on accessory mode and try to turn it off or wait for dme to be back?

[TopG42]

Originally Posted by sameer123

Hi there,
I have sent my DME for unlocking, before sending i have checked software update section and it was not showing me an option to turn it off it was directly searching for updates, i turned off automatic updates from the phone but it keeps on turning back on. Is there any way to permanently stop updates?
2023 m240i

I checked online that there is another way to go thru data privacy but my dme is already out, can i plug battery back on put it on accessory mode and try to turn it off or wait for dme to be back?

I wouldnt worry too much if you checked for it to not automatically update on the phone. Yes there is the data privacy option on idrive itself but DO NOT plug ur battery and try turning the car on without the DME. I have no idea what would happen but I don't want you to find out for us. Just wait patiently and when you get the car it should allow you to go to settings and turn off the OTA updates through the previously mentioned data privacy option. Don't bother clicking software updates search ever again. Hell, I literally have a notification telling me I have an app update waiting and I just ignore it. No software update is worth re-locking the dme

[sameer123]

Originally Posted by TopG42

I wouldnt worry too much if you checked for it to not automatically update on the phone. Yes there is the data privacy option on idrive itself but DO NOT plug ur battery and try turning the car on without the DME. I have no idea what would happen but I don't want you to find out for us. Just wait patiently and when you get the car it should allow you to go to settings and turn off the OTA updates through the previously mentioned data privacy option. Don't bother clicking software updates search ever again. Hell, I literally have a notification telling me I have an app update waiting and I just ignore it. No software update is worth re-locking the dme

Sure,
Thank you so much, i will wait for the dme and turn off from data privacy.

[ifound2pac]

Originally Posted by Rdurty2

You have to tell them to not update your car and hope they listen. Also you aren’t missing out on anything if you don’t update the software pushed out by bmw.

That is the risk you take.

And no, there is no state-side bench unlock for our DME. It will need to go back to femto if it gets locked again.

God this is SO stupid. Such a great platform to tune on and they lock it down like this. Id expect BMW to just offer to sell an OTA unlock by this point.

We're basically fucked on tuning these cars reliably if it requires a trip to Finland and two grand just to press some buttons that femto has a monopoly on. Guess I'm forever stuck in stock tune.

[blue135]

Information is the real stock in trade. Hence FEMTO has the power until someone else invests time and effort to develop competitive product.

[M_Power Rob]

Originally Posted by ifound2pac

God this is SO stupid. Such a great platform to tune on and they lock it down like this. Id expect BMW to just offer to sell an OTA unlock by this point.

We're basically fucked on tuning these cars reliably if it requires a trip to Finland and two grand just to press some buttons that femto has a monopoly on. Guess I'm forever stuck in stock tune.

Not sure why you think "we" are f'd and/or what your reliability comment has to do with anything. Bottom line, if you want a real tune (not a piggyback), it needs to go to femto (which is safe and reliable...thousands upon thousands have done it).

As far as paying $2k for the unlock...if that is what you were quoted for just the unlick, someone is ripping you iff.

The reliability aspect comes with your buyer and tuner (sorry, BM3 and MHD OTS tunes are just a step above a piggyback...most reliable are customers exu tunes).

[ifound2pac]

Originally Posted by M_Power Rob

Not sure why you think "we" are f'd and/or what your reliability comment has to do with anything. Bottom line, if you want a real tune (not a piggyback), it needs to go to femto (which is safe and reliable...thousands upon thousands have done it).

As far as paying $2k for the unlock...if that is what you were quoted for just the unlick, someone is ripping you iff.

The reliability aspect comes with your buyer and tuner (sorry, BM3 and MHD OTS tunes are just a step above a piggyback...most reliable are customers exu tunes).

Well the reliability part was more so that a simple OTA update from BMW or a dealer pressing an update button can screw it up.

Also, yeah it's nearly $2k from what I'm seeing even without BM3 included?

Just saying it's silly we have to jump through these hoops to do an unlock. If you don't think it's silly that we have to send the whole ECU to Finland for this I don't know what to tell you lol

[M_Power Rob]

Originally Posted by ifound2pac

Well the reliability part was more so that a simple OTA update from BMW or a dealer pressing an update button can screw it up.

Also, yeah it's nearly $2k from what I'm seeing even without BM3 included?

Just saying it's silly we have to jump through these hoops to do an unlock. If you don't think it's silly that we have to send the whole ECU to Finland for this I don't know what to tell you lol

It is what it is. As I stated umpteenth thousands have done it, myself included. It is safe and the turnaround time is quick (one the holidays pass)....about a week, give or take.

That price is a hefty markup. You know you can send it off yourself.

Its very simple, turn off the updates from the iD8 and your app and you won't have any issues.

Taking it to the dealership, well, that is the live wire. Some people claim they have great contacts and won't run the update or hook up the car to Germany so they can't see the unlock. Some don't take it to the dealership for anything. While my builder has a couple of great contacts, I for one will opt to not take it there for any service unless absolutely necessary.