Hey everyone, me again with more questions....

As I am trying to understand things more, and looking at ECU tunes for my 2018 F60 per my other thread, I am seeing where several people are recommending updating software despite not having any obvious issues. To me, that makes sense, as 6+ years is a long time without "fixes".
My car appears to be original 2017 software & am curious if it's worth going down the path of dealer updates, but I cannot find what DME / ECU software my car has, other than the TB & MB numbers (006.001.044).
Is there an easy way to find what version I have, without the dealer (2+ hours away)?
Is there a PDF online somewhere that explains the version updates (not TB & MB)?

Thanks!
~Matt

 

It's not recommended to update if you plan to flash. It will cause headaches for tune updates as you will most likely have to bench flash it every time there is an update (usually $250). I run bootmod3 and one thing that would make that suck is some settings require a reflash just to enable something or adjust say the burbles etc. As always though speak with the vendor you want to use and get all the info.

 

I am going to do a Dinan tune, so unfortunately I have to pull & send the DME for a bench flash anyway, and cannot do any non-bench updates. I don't think Dinan does newer revisions anyway, but when I talked to them, they basically said I could update or not update beforehand... it made no real difference to them, other than they may need to take a little longer to tweak their code if my software wasn't one they already had a version for. They didn't know what all fixes the OEM versions had over the years for my car.
And after talking with my local(ish) dealer, he seemed to recommend an update for an older build date car, but also seemed to say "if it ain't broke, don't bother". So I am just trying to see what all may have changed with other aspects, like the transmission or something.

 

Former dealer tech here, ECU software can have updates or newer versions for multiple reasons. Typically if the manufacturer is continuing to use that engine in another product line and developing it then newer engine software can become available. But it's usually to fix bugs or efficiency items(like coolant distribution to warm the engine up faster for emissions). If the manufacturer isn't continuing to develop the engine than software updates might only be in recalls to fix consumer complaints or to allow to install a blank or new ECU/DME in a car. This would be why the technicians don't know what the differences in software are because unless they are flashing the car for a recall they won't have information on what the software versions are fixing or updating. In this case there might only be a couple software versions for the DME with no real advantage to having either. Typically the chance of something going wrong while reflashing a car is not worth the gain just to update the ECU software.

 

Right. And I agree... it very well may not be worth it, which is why I was trying to figure out what may have been changed.
I had found a document for the media software updates (linked below as an example) while searching for other things over the past weeks, and had hoped someone had an equivalent for DME.
If there was not anything major, then I wouldn't bother updating. But, if there were some changes that would be good to have (and not get overwritten by Dinan anyway), then I would consider it.

https://static.bmw.com/content/dam/b...PD09051_en.pdf

 

If there was any significant upgrade in a newer ECU version than Mini would send a letter to customers. The differences aren't like "added 1psi to boost controller, total engine output increased", they are more like "added 1s timer to remote start in EU market per new law" or some stupid stuff like that.

 

And that is what I figure & is probably true... but I just bought this car, and I know people ignore letters, especially when we have no dealership anywhere near us.