[jmg]

EDIT: as of 2025/03/23 this method still works with the recent update to iDrive: 18.5 03/2025.30. Please make sure your bimmercode data update is current to v4.3(14092) 25.3.0. To check for data updates, open the app, select the gear icon on the lower right, then select "Check for Update".

EDIT: as of 2025/03/25 this method reportedly does not work with iDrive 18.5 03/2025.38.

Thanks again to BIGW0RM for accidentally finding this exploit and being the first guinea pig!

Currently Bimmercode v4.3(14092)-24.11.3, does not allow the ambient lighting to coded in the 2025 G87 M2 with iDrive 8.5. I was informed that this will be in a future Bimmercode update. However, for those who want to personalize the ambient lighting before the update, here is a step-by-step on how to achieve this. This will allow you to choose between 13 colors that will activate when selecting the “Ivory” setting in iDrive.






The key is to tell Bimmercode to code for a "BMW 3 Series, M3" instead of a "BMW 2 Series Coupe, M2".

I’ve coded this several times on my G87 M2 and I have not run into any issues. However, as with any coding on our bimmers, do so at your own risk. If you are not familiar with coding with Bimmercode, please follow my directions exactly. I'll try and make this as simple and through as possible. If something is unclear, please ask!

Having said that, this is a very easy process and I’ll provide a step-by-step with screenshots.

What you need:

1. The Bimmercode app
2. An Enet OBD2 Cable - This will connect directly to the OBD2 port.
3. An adapter for you smartphone - This will connect the Enet OBD2 cable to your smartphone.

You can get the hardware on Amazon:

Here is just the Enet OBD2 Cable - https://amzn.to/3CJ0BT4
Here is a lightning to Enet Adapter - https://amzn.to/4hsuSEZ
Here is a bundle for the Enet OBD2 Cable and USB-C adapter - https://amzn.to/3QaJaOm

I HIGHLY recommend using an Enet cable instead of a bluetooth or wifi adapter. Some coding options through Bimmercode are ONLY available with an Enet OBD2 cable. It’s also 50 times as fast and much more reliable. With the wifi and bluetooth adapters, some loading screens can take almost 1-2 minutes, while using the Enet cable takes less than 1-10 seconds. Trust me, it’s just so much easier and more stable with the Enet cable.

So now you have the 3 things you need. Here’s what to do:

• Make sure you smartphone has plenty of charge on it.
• Delete your smartphone device from your vehicle - go to your “Mobile Devices” setting, select your smartphone and then select “Delete device”
• Delete the connection to your car on your smartphone - on iPhone that means finding the bluetooth connection to the vehicle in settings. This is usually called “BMW XXXXX” where the Xs are numbers associated with you vehicle. Press the “I” icon then select “Forget This Device” .
• Place your smartphone into “Airplane” mode so nothing will interfere with the coding process.
• Plug the Enet cable to the OBD2 port under the dash on the lower left side footwell.
• Plug in your smartphone using the adapter.
• Launch Bimmercode.

• 

• Select “Connect”. You should now see this:

• 

• Select “ENET cable” and then "Connect" on the lower right - If you get a connection error, follow the prompts and allow access to “Local Networks” for the app and then select “Try Again”. Even if you already enabled Local Networks, just hit "Try Again" anyway.

• 

• Do NOT select “BMW 2 Series Coupe, M2” - this coding option isn’t currently available.
• Select “BMW 3 Series, M3” - The 3 series gives access to the coding options we want.

• 

• 

• With a check mark next to “BMW 3 Series, M3”, select “Continue” on the bottom right.
• Bimmercode with now display “Identifying control units…” - If you are using the Enet cable this will take seconds. If not, it could take awhile.

• 

• The “Control units” page should be up. You want to select “Body Domain Controller”

• 

• 3rd from the top of the “Body Domain Controller” page should be: “Ambient lighting color (i-level 22-07 and later)”. In my screenshot these say "Red" because I already coded it. It should say "Ivory" by defauly. Select this to get to the next page.

• 

• Next, select a color for what you want the top ambient light to be. In my example, I selected RED. A blue check mark will appear next to the color you selected.

• 

• Then click the back arrow on the upper left.
• Select “Ambient lighting color bottom (i-level 22-07 and later)”

• 

• Then select a color for what you want the FOOTWELL colors to be. In my example, I selected CYAN. A blue check mark will appear next to the color you selected.

• 

• Then click the back arrow on the upper left.
• You should be back on the “Body Domain Controller” page.
• Click “Code” on the upper right.

• 

• At this point, you will see an “Important note”. After you read it you will understand why we deleted the connections and used airplane mode earlier.

• 

• Select “Start coding”
• You will see “Restarting ECU…”
• Then “Clearing errors”
• Then “Coding successful.

• 

• 

• 

• Now you can select the upper left arrow to go back to the main page.
• Select “Disconnect”
• Unplug your smartphone and Enet OBD2 connector from the car.

That’s it! If you did everything right, you should have custom colors when you select “Ivory” in the iDrive.

The new update supposedly will allow us to code more than just “Ivory” in the iDrive 8.5. Until then, we have this exploit. 


[Bimmer Frank]

Thank you for this, very clear.

When you have some spare time, could you do similar for turning off ASD?

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Frank

Thank you for this, very clear.

When you have some spare time, could you do similar for turning off ASD?

It’s pretty simple. Instead of selecting “Body Domain Controller”, select “Reciever Audio Module” and set “Active Sound Design” to “deactivated”.

I’m not sure if it sticks, as it didn’t in some versions of iDrive 7.

[M2M3M3]

nice write up.

[BroDoze]

Awesome post OP - I’ll give it a shot today.

[BIGW0RM]

Hey, I just noticed something... My door cup holders appear to have LED in them. But no light is coming out of them. Im left wondering if this mod disabled them or of its just a hole for the LED which BMW does not have plugged in on the LCI.

Because the manual G87 M2 I had for three weeks. I had chris3g code the colors for me. And I dont see the cup holders lite up in the pics I took of my car after he was done.

And I dont see the lite up with the color changes I made myself on my auto M2.


So before anyone does this... do you door cup holder LEDs turn on?

EDIT:
Pics ive googled of a 25 M2 ambient lighting pictures and they dont show door cup holders luminated. WTF BMW.

[BroDoze]

^^ Where were these 23-24 cupholder LEDs exactly?

[BIGW0RM]

Originally Posted by BroDoze

^^ Where were these 23-24 cupholder LEDs exactly?

If you look in your door cup holder, at the top vertical part closest the outside of the doorcard you'll see a small indent. Thats where the lighting would come out of on a 23/24. Its like the size of a BB. Run you fingers around it and you'll feel the indent.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by BIGW0RM

If you look in your door cup holder, at the top vertical part closest the outside of the doorcard you'll see a small indent. Thats where the lighting would come out of on a 23/24. Its like the size of a BB. Run you fingers around it and you'll feel the indent.

Is this it? Mine is off.

I changed the color to Azure and it didn’t come on either.

[BIGW0RM]

Originally Posted by jmg

Is this it? Mine is off.

I changed the color to Azure and it didn’t come on either.

Yeah I don’t think we have the leds in the door cup. Just the cut out. That or they are disabled by BMW.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by BIGW0RM

Yeah I don’t think we have the leds in the door cup. Just the cut out. That or they are disabled by BMW.

Another cost cutting?!

[BIGW0RM]

Originally Posted by jmg

Another cost cutting?!

I guess so. The 23 guys have them in the door cup and door storage from what I can tell.

[Tag]

Originally Posted by jmg

Is this it? Mine is off.

I changed the color to Azure and it didn’t come on either.

You can try rolling back coding to stock, see if it comes on.

[jmg]

Can anyone else with a 2025 that hasn’t coded yet triple confirm that their cut holder light doesn’t turn on?

[BroDoze]

Originally Posted by jmg

Can anyone else with a 2025 that hasn’t coded yet triple confirm that their cut holder light doesn’t turn on?

I checked this morning - no LEDs.

I also successfully coded Ma lights (red.) NICE.

I had to turn the brightness down. It was super intense. Kinda looked like I was in the pit of hell or something.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by BroDoze

I checked this morning - no LEDs.

I also successfully coded Ma lights (red.) NICE.

I had to turn the brightness down. It was super intense. Kinda looked like I was in the pit of hell or something.

Thanks for confirming!

[BIGW0RM]

I wonder if we can add those leds back in the door cup holder. Here’s a 22/23 that have them in the cup holder and storage cubby.

https://g87.bimmerpost.com/forums/at...1&d=1637804534

[jmg]

Originally Posted by BIGW0RM

I wonder if we can add those leds back in the door cup holder. Here’s a 22/23 that have them in the cup holder and storage cubby.

https://g87.bimmerpost.com/forums/at...1&d=1637804534

That would be cool. I wonder if it is as simple as tapping into the light in the door handle. And now that I think about it, I do remember this light in my G87.

[J-RO]

Surprised Infinite Autowerks is not on this.

[BIGW0RM]

Originally Posted by J-RO

Surprised Infinite Autowerks is not on this.

I actually checked there site thinking the same thing. Us LCI guys got the shaft on ambient lighting. The door cup and umbrella holder cubby storage LEDs would be a nice improvment for us.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by BIGW0RM

I actually checked there site thinking the same thing. Us LCI guys got the shaft on ambient lighting. The door cup and umbrella holder cubby storage LEDs would be a nice improvment for us.

This poster did it on their ‘24 G80. Time to go down the rabbit hole!

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=31845849

[BIGW0RM]

Originally Posted by jmg

This poster did it on their ‘24 G80. Time to go down the rabbit hole!

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=31845849

I knew I saw this somewhere! I have been searching for this post for days now! lol. Thank you for finding it!

Here is the parts list. He did say that he got it all working. BUT, if he choose two different colors. Top to bottom. That one side would be top color and the other side the bottom color. But if he choose all the same color, no problem.

https://g80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...ostcount=12285