[turnsignalslol]

My question is what does "bench unlocking" mean? How do tuners figure out how to "unlock" DMEs that prevent flash tuning? Also, how do you check your DME date? I see that on Kies Motorsports' site that the production date and DME date are usually seperate.

Thanks

[xnick101]

My question is what does "bench unlocking" mean

Bench unlocking means they take your ecu out and connect to it via the pins to a special tool that can unlock certain parts of an ECU. You remove it and put it on a workbench, ie the name.

How do tuners figure out how to "unlock" DMEs that prevent flash tuning?
Tuners do not unlock your ECU. They buy a special tool like bflash which costs $5000+ to purchase and they use the tool to unlock your ecu. Tuners just manipulate the ECU parameters.

how do you check your DME date?
The DME date is on the DME itself. However, you do not really need to check the date on the DME if your car was manufactured prior to 06/2020. The manufacturer date can be found on your driver's side door jam sticker. The only time you need check the DME date is if was manufactured between 05/2020-07/2020. Because you may have a ECU that is newer or older than the manufactured date. Cars made after 06/2020 use a bosch ecu which are LOCKED unless you send it out to Femto in Finland. Anything prior to 06/2020 can be unlocked in the USA

[turnsignalslol]

Originally Posted by xnick101

My question is what does "bench unlocking" mean

Bench unlocking means they take your ecu out and connect to it via the pins to a special tool that can unlock certain parts of an ECU. You remove it and put it on a workbench, ie the name.

How do tuners figure out how to "unlock" DMEs that prevent flash tuning?
Tuners do not unlock your ECU. They buy a special tool like bflash which costs $5000+ to purchase and they use the tool to unlock your ecu. Tuners just manipulate the ECU parameters.

how do you check your DME date?
The DME date is on the DME itself. However, you do not really need to check the date on the DME if your car was manufactured prior to 06/2020. The manufacturer date can be found on your driver's side door jam sticker. The only time you need check the DME date is if was manufactured between 05/2020-07/2020. Because you may have a ECU that is newer or older than the manufactured date. Cars made after 06/2020 use a bosch ecu which are unlocked unless you send the out to Femto in Finland. Anything prior to 06/2020 can be unlocked in the USA

On this line

"Cars made after 06/2020 use a bosch ecu which are unlocked unless you send the out to Femto in Finland."

Do you mean locked?

[Chubbiejones]

Originally Posted by turnsignalslol

On this line

"Cars made after 06/2020 use a bosch ecu which are unlocked unless you send the out to Femto in Finland."

Do you mean locked?

Yes xnick meant to say "locked" - give him some credit for taking time to answer your question in thorough detail. Regardless of the verbiage utilized, you will still be required to physically transfer your ECU overseas to be unlocked if manufactured after 06/2020.

We are all here to help each other in any way, but don't forget Google and the search function within this forum are your friend.

[xnick101]

Originally Posted by turnsignalslol

On this line

"Cars made after 06/2020 use a bosch ecu which are unlocked unless you send the out to Femto in Finland."

Do you mean locked?

Edited. Meant to say LOCKED

[Chubbiejones]

Originally Posted by xnick101

Edited. Meant to say LOCKED

[turnsignalslol]

Originally Posted by Chubbiejones

Yes xnick meant to say "locked" - give him some credit for taking time to answer your question in thorough detail. Regardless of the verbiage utilized, you will still be required to physically transfer your ECU overseas to be unlocked if manufactured after 06/2020.

We are all here to help each other in any way, but don't forget Google and the search function within this forum are your friend.

I wasn't trying to berate him, I was genuinely asking a question because I was confused.

[Chubbiejones]

Originally Posted by turnsignalslol

I wasn't trying to berate him, I was genuinely asking a question because I was confused.

Understood - this topic has been discussed numerous times within this forum and countless others. Again, the search function and Google are your best friend when questions arise. In the event you were not able to locate a solidified answer, then you create a thread

[4cylenjoyer]

Originally Posted by xnick101

My question is what does "bench unlocking" mean

Bench unlocking means they take your ecu out and connect to it via the pins to a special tool that can unlock certain parts of an ECU. You remove it and put it on a workbench, ie the name.

How do tuners figure out how to "unlock" DMEs that prevent flash tuning?
Tuners do not unlock your ECU. They buy a special tool like bflash which costs $5000+ to purchase and they use the tool to unlock your ecu. Tuners just manipulate the ECU parameters.

how do you check your DME date?
The DME date is on the DME itself. However, you do not really need to check the date on the DME if your car was manufactured prior to 06/2020. The manufacturer date can be found on your driver's side door jam sticker. The only time you need check the DME date is if was manufactured between 05/2020-07/2020. Because you may have a ECU that is newer or older than the manufactured date. Cars made after 06/2020 use a bosch ecu which are LOCKED unless you send it out to Femto in Finland. Anything prior to 06/2020 can be unlocked in the USA

Originally Posted by xnick101

My question is what does "bench unlocking" mean

Bench unlocking means they take your ecu out and connect to it via the pins to a special tool that can unlock certain parts of an ECU. You remove it and put it on a workbench, ie the name.

How do tuners figure out how to "unlock" DMEs that prevent flash tuning?
Tuners do not unlock your ECU. They buy a special tool like bflash which costs $5000+ to purchase and they use the tool to unlock your ecu. Tuners just manipulate the ECU parameters.

how do you check your DME date?
The DME date is on the DME itself. However, you do not really need to check the date on the DME if your car was manufactured prior to 06/2020. The manufacturer date can be found on your driver's side door jam sticker. The only time you need check the DME date is if was manufactured between 05/2020-07/2020. Because you may have a ECU that is newer or older than the manufactured date. Cars made after 06/2020 use a bosch ecu which are LOCKED unless you send it out to Femto in Finland. Anything prior to 06/2020 can be unlocked in the USA

So if my car is 2019 I don't need a bench unlock? I bought in 2022 so it has updated software

[xnick101]

Originally Posted by 4cylenjoyer

So if my car is 2019 I don't need a bench unlock? I bought in 2022 so it has updated software

Yeah most likely its been software updated so you do need a bench unlock. You can check using MHD software or email BM3 some information and they can tell you also.

[4cylenjoyer]

Originally Posted by xnick101

Yeah most likely its been software updated so you do need a bench unlock. You can check using MHD software or email BM3 some information and they can tell you also.

I dont have time for all that mailing out dme bs. Imma just keep the car until I can get an m340i lmao

[xnick101]

Originally Posted by 4cylenjoyer

I dont have time for all that mailing out dme bs. Imma just keep the car until I can get an m340i lmao

You don't need to mail it out. You can take it to any local bmw shop and they can unlock it.

[4cylenjoyer]

Originally Posted by xnick101

You don't need to mail it out. You can take it to any local bmw shop and they can unlock it.

Originally Posted by xnick101

You don't need to mail it out. You can take it to any local bmw shop and they can unlock it.

Yeah, I have an appt for Tuesday at SSR performance. An hour drive from me but better than mailing it out. I called AU tuning, a dinan dealer about stage 1. They said they cant install it for me since its not carb complaint in california yet. Since when do tune shops care about that?

[Turkish Pickle]

Originally Posted by xnick101

My question is what does "bench unlocking" mean

Bench unlocking means they take your ecu out and connect to it via the pins to a special tool that can unlock certain parts of an ECU. You remove it and put it on a workbench, ie the name.

How do tuners figure out how to "unlock" DMEs that prevent flash tuning?
Tuners do not unlock your ECU. They buy a special tool like bflash which costs $5000+ to purchase and they use the tool to unlock your ecu. Tuners just manipulate the ECU parameters.

how do you check your DME date?
The DME date is on the DME itself. However, you do not really need to check the date on the DME if your car was manufactured prior to 06/2020. The manufacturer date can be found on your driver's side door jam sticker. The only time you need check the DME date is if was manufactured between 05/2020-07/2020. Because you may have a ECU that is newer or older than the manufactured date. Cars made after 06/2020 use a bosch ecu which are LOCKED unless you send it out to Femto in Finland. Anything prior to 06/2020 can be unlocked in the USA

My car was built 06/2020 as a 2021 model year car, and I've been keeping it up to date (haven't disabled OTA updates, but i thought those were for iDrive only anyway). To my knowledge BMW hasn't updated it when I drop it off at service.

How can I check the date on the DME, is it like a sticker on the unit or some other way?

[repz]

Is there any hope for these Bosch secured ECU to be unlockable by regular chiptuning companies in a near future ?

[RTPenland]

M-Link is your friend at home bench-unlocking. I purchased one and it works the treat. Here is a fellow forum members review

https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2041113

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by repz

Is there any hope for these Bosch secured ECU to be unlockable by regular chiptuning companies in a near future ?

Doubtful to be done shortly, in my opinion.

[g20_shub]

If any needs bench unlock we provide in house unlocks for the best prices. @bmwcodes on Instagram for more info and pricing .

Located Queens, NY
Can do mail in service