[SimoneSpeed]

Hello,

I have just purchased my 2018 m240i from a BMW dealership down in NC ( CPO car, 51k miles) in March of 2022. Let me first say, amazing vehicle and I am in love, literally.

I swiftly ordered an MHD Super license, and VRSF downpipe to wake her up a bit. upon receiving my MHD Black Adapter i went ahead and tried to Tune my car to stg1. To no avail only a "progressed stopped" message, onto a message that reads that my DME is currently Locked and requires a bench unlock. Okay fine, I know the dealers update the software's sometimes, considering I had purchased my car Certified Pre Owned, I figured they probably had updated it before selling it to me.

I call my local "repeatable" (my first time using them) tuner shop (VAST Performance in Ferndale Michigan) and they say bring her in we should be able to unlock that AND tune it for you. After explaining to them, I just wanted it unlocked and not a tune, the shop rep kept pushing that MHD is trash and to let them tune it.

6 hours goes by and now they are letting me know that they can "Bench Flash" the DME ONLY and cannot unlock the capabilities of "Port Flashing" during the "Bench Unlock" but can flash tune it while on the bench. My question is, has anyone else ran into an issue like this or is this unheard of on the B58 platform cars before 2020? To my understanding if the ECU is unlocked it is unlocked of both "Port tuning" and or "Bench Flashing the ECU" capabilities.

I don't want anyone to think I'm shaming the shop as I know BMW throws new software's out there and has tricks up their sleeves. Please chime in on your DME unlocking experience that was recent. THANK YOU ( ALSO I STILL NEED MY DME UNLCOKED I GUESS PLEASE HELP, AS I TOLD THEM NOT TO TUNE MY CAR) What should I do?

[jjjkid13]

Im local to that area, did you find anyone local that could bench unlock it. Im running into the same problem.

[Shadysu]

My two buddies who both got 2017/8 440i's both from BMW directly came with locked ECU's, I believe you need to get a tuner shop to unlock it for you as thats what we did, My 240 came from a third party dealer, had an unlocked ECU

Of course the shop that will unlock your ECU, would want to tune and get the extra $$$, just do some digging and should be able to find someone who can provide the service, worst case you will have to go for a little drive, You definitlly don't wanna ship your ECU out for an unlock as thats just a lot of work.

[AleksanderSuave]

Im from same area, I can verify that NO ONE in michigan can do a proper DME unlock. I ran into the same exact issue a few months ago. I wouldnt trust VAST on what they're telling you, that sounds like the same bullshit that got them shut down originally.

I sent mine out to a guy who works for MHD to unlock properly. Paid for expedited shipping both ways and it was still reasonably cheap.

[O Stater]

Is there any way to determine if your DME is locked short of getting the MHD program? I have purchased the black wireless dongle but have not pulled the trigger on the program yet.

[n55david]

Originally Posted by AleksanderSuave

Im from same area, I can verify that NO ONE in michigan can do a proper DME unlock. I ran into the same exact issue a few months ago. I wouldnt trust VAST on what they're telling you, that sounds like the same bullshit that got them shut down originally.

I sent mine out to a guy who works for MHD to unlock properly. Paid for expedited shipping both ways and it was still reasonably cheap.

This.. don't trust VAST. I've had my own experiences.

[cooolone2]

Hmmmmm... I will most likely purchase a cloned ECU for my M240 when I decide to tune it ... A worthy investment! And yeah, I'm aware there may be data stored in other modules today, but I still go old school and would want to retain my original should anything happen while flashing, etc. But that's just me.

I recently sold off one of my old toys, self tuned SC engine, built with many upgrades, along with the tuner and 3 ECU's, lol. Worked well on the platform, can't see why it wouldn't here either unless someone can explain to me why it wouldn't other than taking time to swap and expense...

[n55david]

Originally Posted by cooolone2

Hmmmmm... I will most likely purchase a cloned ECU for my M240 when I decide to tune it ... A worthy investment! And yeah, I'm aware there may be data stored in other modules today, but I still go old school and would want to retain my original should anything happen while flashing, etc. But that's just me.

I recently sold off one of my old toys, self tuned SC engine, built with many upgrades, along with the tuner and 3 ECU's, lol. Worked well on the platform, can't see why it wouldn't here either unless someone can explain to me why it wouldn't other than taking time to swap and expense...

You generally don't have issues flashing unless you do something wrong.. not saying you're one of them but 90% of the people in this forum don't know what they are doing and that's why people brick their ecu's. However most of the time even screwing up up the flash process can still be fixed now with very little effort.

There is nothing wrong with buying a second ecu to swap etc.. just cost and time to swap which is very quick tbh.

On a side note, bmw dealers can now see if the car has been tuned even if you swap put the ecu for the stock one etc.

[Ledesc]

For your information, my 2018 M240i was serviced end of 2019 and in 2022.
I have the following information read with bimmercode and bootmod3, apparently I could unlock it. I hope so ….