[sac02]

I just bought a new-to-me 2019 x40i, build date 11/2018.

That date is prior to the commonly quoted date of 06/2020 when BMW started locking DMEs - vehicles built after 06/2020 must send their DME out to be bench unlocked prior to being able to flash tune (or use MG flasher at home, apparently a new-ish product in this space ).

My question: is the build date of my vehicle enough to be pretty confident that the DME is unlocked? (barring some anomaly like the DME got fried and was replaced some time in the vehicle's life).

Is it possible that a dealer service visit in say 2022 could have resulted in a newer DME calibration being flashed and the DME being locked?

I have some diagnostic capability with ProTool - can I pull a software revision number or something to confirm that my DME does not require unlocking prior to flash tuning?

[VasilisV]

Originally Posted by sac02

I just bought a new-to-me 2019 x40i, build date 11/2018.

That date is prior to the commonly quoted date of 06/2020 when BMW started locking DMEs - vehicles built after 06/2020 must send their DME out to be bench unlocked prior to being able to flash tune (or use MG flasher at home, apparently a new-ish product in this space ).

My question: is the build date of my vehicle enough to be pretty confident that the DME is unlocked? (barring some anomaly like the DME got fried and was replaced some time in the vehicle's life).

Is it possible that a dealer service visit in say 2022 could have resulted in a newer DME calibration being flashed and the DME being locked?

I have some diagnostic capability with ProTool - can I pull a software revision number or something to confirm that my DME does not require unlocking prior to flash tuning?

Try check with m-link they stating they have a tool to backup and unlock dme. I have a 2020 and once the warranty is over I’ll go that route. M-link and then tune with bm3 or mhd

[labphoto]

My understanding is once you have 03/2023.x or later, the DME is locked.

[sac02]

Originally Posted by labphoto

My understanding is once you have 03/2023.x or later, the DME is locked.

Is this the type of locked that requires only at-home unlocking (with a tool like MHD unlocker), or the big bad "have to send the DME to FEMTO in Europe" locking?

[weinerbarn]

Originally Posted by labphoto

My understanding is once you have 03/2023.x or later, the DME is locked.

There's 2 kinds of locked, software locked and hardware locked in general terms. The "software" locked is for vehicles with DME made before 06/2020. This generally means 2020 and older model years. Sometime in 2019, BMW locked out the ability to tune the vehicle via the OBD port, thus the term "bench unlock". This means that you have to hook the DME (engine computer) to an unlocker such as M-Link or the very expensive Autotuner, MagicMotorsports, etc to reenable the OBD tune ability for tools like BootMod3 to work again. So ANY version of BMW update 2019 and later on ANY vehicle is locked unless bench unlocked first. If you unlock and then go for a dealer visit and they update the software again. Rinse and repeat. You can unlock newer software, even 11/2023 but it requires the bench tool again.

The other type which I will refer to as "hardware" locked is any vehicle made after 06/2020 which is generally understood as 2021+ model year. The HW is actually different in the DME and they fixed the old flaw that was used to bench unlock. This is where the overseas unlock option is required to ship to Femto. They've found a backdoor to allow some limited modifications. It's not really a full unlock like the old DME's. One unlocked by them you can use tuning software like BootMod3.

I hope this helps a bit.

[weinerbarn]

Originally Posted by sac02

I just bought a new-to-me 2019 x40i, build date 11/2018.

That date is prior to the commonly quoted date of 06/2020 when BMW started locking DMEs - vehicles built after 06/2020 must send their DME out to be bench unlocked prior to being able to flash tune (or use MG flasher at home, apparently a new-ish product in this space ).

My question: is the build date of my vehicle enough to be pretty confident that the DME is unlocked? (barring some anomaly like the DME got fried and was replaced some time in the vehicle's life).

Is it possible that a dealer service visit in say 2022 could have resulted in a newer DME calibration being flashed and the DME being locked?

I have some diagnostic capability with ProTool - can I pull a software revision number or something to confirm that my DME does not require unlocking prior to flash tuning?

All you really have to do is go into the Car > Settings > Remote Software Update menu and look to see what version of software you have. You can technically even find this in the MyBMW app. Click on your vehicle in the app, scroll down to Software and then Remote Software Update. Tells you the software version. I would find it HIGHLY unlikely it hasn't had a single dealer visit since mfg date and never updated. Anything 2019 and above software is pretty much guaranteed lock. I have the M-Link and it works very well on 2020 and older vehicles. I've unlocked B58 and S63 with it.

[sac02]

I think this clarifies something that I was confused about.

I was thinking specifically DME calibrations/updates/software versions, and these calibrations would only change with a dealer visit.

It seems that the actual condition is that the OTA "vehicle level" software packages will in fact update the DME software version number.

[JohnRoth]

Download the MHD app, and you can check to see if you need to unlock it

[Theewade]

sac02 I have an 19 X5 40i and I had to buy the MHD unlocker to unlock the DME. Not sure where you are located but I’d be down to unlock it for you if your in Connecticut area, highly doubt you are though.

[sac02]

I sincerely appreciate the offer, Theewade . Unfortunately, I am a few (just a few) miles away in Texas, lol.

[Theruleslawyer]

I have a similar age 2019 and it was locked when I checked. I'll see how the mhd unlocker works. I'm hoping I can split the cost a few ways locally. Mailing a DME isn't something I'm interested in doing.