[kianf22]

Hey guys. Was almost there in convincing myself to bite the bullet and flash tune until I heard about the locked 2020 DMEs... If I were to get my DME unlocked.. how would this be detected at the dealer? I'm not talking about a tune but just the DME being unlocked on stock tune. Don't they hook the car up every service now? I'm basically asking for the negatives/downsides of getting the bench unlock done other than the price and extra hassle. Thanks!

[aerobod]

Likely can be detected, the dreaded "S0777 Suspicion of engine tuning" code is a new feature in ISTA. More here: https://www.reddit.com/r/BmwTech/com...tm_name=iossmf
https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...&postcount=240

[kianf22]

Originally Posted by aerobod

Likely can be detected, the dreaded "S0777 Suspicion of engine tuning" code is a new feature in ISTA. More here: https://www.reddit.com/r/BmwTech/com...tm_name=iossmf
https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...;postcount=240

Thank you very much for the links. Both were very informative.

If JB4 can be detected, flash tuning can be detected, and unlocking the DME can be detected then I guess the detectability of tunes is no longer a factor with the new DMEs... I guess now we should just look at reliability and gains..

Am I correct in my understanding that BMW now automatically detects piggyback and flash tuning in post March 2019 DMEs? There is no way around this? That is very unfortunate. I'm not looking to abuse the system by blowing up my engine and then expecting a new one free of charge, but I believe it used to be more of a process in flagging your vehicle for a warranty claim i.e. not instantly. It seems now they'll just refuse to work on it. I just don't want to be nagged about it every service or be denied a warranty claim on something unrelated to my tune.

I wish I would have known about the new DMEs before purchasing my car :/

[kianf22]

Also... Kind of a related question I guess if anyone can answer it... Let's say you were to be warranty flagged due to a tune or DME unlock. Would there be any complications in selling the car later on? Would that be something that could be picked up in a PPI? Could you be legally responsible if the next owner has a warranty claim denied due to a previous tune?

[brakthru]

This is a good question. I'm thinking about getting a 2017 or 2018 model and need to know how can you tell if the dme is locked. Do you know if the obd port is locked from flashing other ecus or just the dme?

[kianf22]

Originally Posted by brakthru

This is a good question. I'm thinking about getting a 2017 or 2018 model and need to know how can you tell if the dme is locked. Do you know if the obd port is locked from flashing other ecus or just the dme?

You will need to get a wifi adapter or Enet cable and get the software version. MHD and BM3 can tell you the version and if it's compatible. Your car shouldn't have came locked but if it had an update recently it could be locked now. It shouldn't cost more than $150 to unlock it anyway but I this decision is more complicated for me as I am in warranty.

[Laith027]

i flashed tuned my 2020 M240i no problem

[kianf22]

Originally Posted by nawfoo

other than horsepower, what are you trying to gain by flashing the car? If you can wait until the warranty is over it would be safer just in case something crazy happens. You do have the option to go the Dinan route and still be covered under warranty.

I'm just trying to gain more power with smoothness. More power more fun. Not looking to play with burble settings at all. Maybe turn the cooling up a bit. It would be paired with xHP

[kianf22]

Originally Posted by Laith027

i flashed tuned my 2020 M240i no problem

What did you flash with? MHD? BM3?

[cooolone2]

Unlocking the DME itself and even dropping a tune on it can not in itself automatically void a warranty! They would still need to prove that parameters were in there which exceeded manufacturer spec and was a contributor to the failure! Like maybe you just turned the coolant fans on earlier? Or adjusted the vanilla tune for better mileage by installing a wideband and reading actual exhaust/engine performance! Of course, you would need to be able to articulate exactly what you've done to what! Not something many Tunes or Tuners will share with you!!! But anyways... The simple rule is:. You must PAY if you want to PLAY! Accept the fact that you might break something once you open the Pandora's box!

Universal Rule for Modding!
Cheap/Fast/Reliable

You can ONLY have 2 of the 3 at any one time, so choose wisely!.. ie, you want Fast & Reliable, it isn't cheap! You want Cheap & Fast, it isn't reliable! Cheap & Reliable isn't fast, lol!

Anyways, have fun!

[kianf22]

Originally Posted by cooolone2

Unlocking the DME itself and even dropping a tune on it can not in itself automatically void a warranty! They would still need to prove that parameters were in there which exceeded manufacturer spec and was a contributor to the failure! Like maybe you just turned the coolant fans on earlier? Or adjusted the vanilla tune for better mileage by installing a wideband and reading actual exhaust/engine performance! Of course, you would need to be able to articulate exactly what you've done to what! Not something many Tunes or Tuners will share with you!!! But anyways... The simple rule is:. You must PAY if you want to PLAY! Accept the fact that you might break something once you open the Pandora's box!

Universal Rule for Modding!
Cheap/Fast/Reliable

You can ONLY have 2 of the 3 at any one time, so choose wisely!.. ie, you want Fast & Reliable, it isn't cheap! You want Cheap & Fast, it isn't reliable! Cheap & Reliable isn't fast, lol!

Anyways, have fun!

tell that to any service advisor in the US and let me know what they say

[kianf22]

The general answer I seem to be getting from most people (have directly contacted support for all the flash tuning companies) is that anything tuning you do (jb4 or flash) can void the warranty. If you want a warrantied tune it will be more conservative, more expensive, and you can't run a downpipe.

I understand if something major blows and you have a tune then you can't expect them to cover it if you're at fault. But ideally i'd like to have a safe OTS tune and be able to go to service at BMW and not have them bitch to me that I have an ECU tune and my powertrain warranty is void before anything has even happened yet lol.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by kianf22

The general answer I seem to be getting from most people (have directly contacted support for all the flash tuning companies) is that anything tuning you do (jb4 or flash) can void the warranty. If you want a warrantied tune it will be more conservative, more expensive, and you can't run a downpipe.

I understand if something major blows and you have a tune then you can't expect them to cover it if you're at fault. But ideally i'd like to have a safe OTS tune and be able to go to service at BMW and not have them bitch to me that I have an ECU tune and my powertrain warranty is void before anything has even happened yet lol.

I'm reminded why it made sense for me to choose Dinan – or something equivalent, had it been available.

The Dinan V2 piggyback I chose provided ~10% more power. That cost me $1,190 installed. Many owners think that's too much; in my case, and having been down the reliability/inconvenience vs. power road before, I thought it was excellent bang-for-the-buck.

As always, everyone's mileage varies. In the end, almost all of us end up figuring out our own tolerances, variabilities, and mileages for ourselves.

I continue to be convinced that that's a major part of the fun of our hobby.

[roku.g9]

Will share my 2 cents as this just happened to me this week. My Orignal new car warranty on my 2017 M240i expired in October. CPO warranty still in effect.

I just picked up my car yesterday from a BMW certified bodyshop. Simple rock chips on the front bumper were to be fixed. Elective work on my part.

When I picked it up, the service manager came out and said that while they were "scanning parts" as a part of the repair, he warned me that BMW has my car flagged as having an unlocked DME. He brought it up as an FYI as he thought I was still under new car warranty, but the guy himself has a BM3 tuned G20 and X3M. Super cool guy and just gave me a heads up.

Regardless, he said it wasn't a big deal to BMW. They keep that info on file incase I open a warranty claim, and as others have said, if something were to fail due to the tune BMW wouldn't cover it through warranty. That should be no surprise to anyone.

What's interesting to me is I've taken my car in for service to my BMW dealership multiple times since flashing, maybe 4 visits. My SA never brought it up or denied service or warranty work. I had an oil gasket leak, replacement engine cover, and pads/oil changed through my maintenceplan with no problems. I clearly track my car(lowered, camber plates, elective oil changes, brakes), but they don't give a shit. They've been awesome.

Moral of the story, if you're going to tune be ready for some hiccups. You can't break the factory status of the engine and then expect the factory warranty to cover your elective mods.

[MassNerd]

Originally Posted by kianf22

You will need to get a wifi adapter or Enet cable and get the software version. MHD and BM3 can tell you the version and if it's compatible. Your car shouldn't have came locked but if it had an update recently it could be locked now. It shouldn't cost more than $150 to unlock it anyway but I this decision is more complicated for me as I am in warranty.

My biggest problem with the DME unlock is not the cost but that I assume it renders the car undrivable while the DME is removed and sent out to be unlocked. I don't think I have a shop nearby that can unlock so it would be a big hassle to have to get rides to and from the shop.

[jv92red]

Originally Posted by kianf22

The general answer I seem to be getting from most people (have directly contacted support for all the flash tuning companies) is that anything tuning you do (jb4 or flash) can void the warranty. If you want a warrantied tune it will be more conservative, more expensive, and you can't run a downpipe.

About the downpipe, you live in CA (oh the joy I know...) swapping in and out a downpipe alone the dealer won't be able to void a warranty with since you're not touching the DME. I say swapping since I see you have one in your signature so I'm assuming you'll be swapping it out come time for a dealer visit or a smog check.

[kianf22]

Originally Posted by jv92red

About the downpipe, you live in CA (oh the joy I know...) swapping in and out a downpipe alone the dealer won't be able to void a warranty with since you're not touching the DME. I say swapping since I see you have one in your signature so I'm assuming you'll be swapping it out come time for a dealer visit or a smog check.

Yeah I have the AA catted. And since opening this thread I've changed my mind on some things regarding tuning but haven't deleted it since I thought it would be helpful to others, I'll probably go BM3 soon. I don't plan on removing it for my upcoming dealer visit either since it doesn't throw a code/CEL and don't think I will need to smog the car anytime soon since it's new MY2020.

"Starting January 1, 2019, if your vehicle is less than 4 model years old, you can pay a smog abatement fee instead of getting a smog inspection for the first 8 years that your vehicle is registered." - CA DMV website

Was stoked to hear that^

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by kianf22

"Starting January 1, 2019, if your vehicle is less than 4 model years old, you can pay a smog abatement fee instead of getting a smog inspection for the first 8 years that your vehicle is registered." - CA DMV website

Love it!!!