Autotuner first released support for BMW DME8 ECUs back in 2019. However, in 2020, Bosch and BMW released an update that effectively locked everybody back out, meaning technicians could no longer read and write to these ECUs in the field.
Now, that access has been restored. All you need is an Autotuner tool.
Now, any shop around the world with an AutoTuner Tool can perform supported BMW DME8 unlocks in-house.
For an experienced tuner, the process is quick and straightforward. And best of all? AutoTuner doesn’t charge you to perform the unlock.
Once you own the AutoTuner Tool, you can unlock as many supported ECUs as you want, with no subscriptions, no per-unlock charges, and no additional fees from AutoTuner.
Supported Lineup (Bosch MD1CP002 / MD1CS001 / MG1CS003):
BMW (Petrol & Diesel):
1 Series to 8 Series & Z4: 116d up to M40i / 50i
X Range (X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7): 18d up to M50d / M40i / 50i
Mini: Clubman, Cooper, Countryman (16d, 18d, 2.0 sd, 20d)
Alpina: D3 S, D5 S, XD3, XD4 (3.0d / 40d)
Two Ways to Flash
There are two methods for flashing the ECU:
- Bench flashing – Connect to the harness on the bench.
- OBD flashing – Apply an OBD patch, then flash through the OBD port in the vehicle using either the Autotuner tool or many of the popular handheld flashers on the market today.
The entire process can be done with all of the parts that come with the Autotuner tool: the tool itself, a power supply, a USB cable, and a universal harness used to connect to the ECU.
Step-by-Step Process
1. Connect the tool to the PC. Plug the Autotuner tool into the computer.
2. Load the Autotuner program and find the protocol. With the program open, click “ECU operations,” then click “vehicle.” Scroll down to BMW. In the example shown, the vehicle is believed to be a BMW M3, G80 series. Among the available options, select “MG1CS049.”
3. Choose bench mode. After selecting the ECU, choose “Bench.”
4. Review the instructions. Clicking on the instructions will tell you how difficult everything is, show you where the ECU is located in the vehicle, list the accessories you need, and explain how to connect to the ECU.
5. Pin out the ECU. Pinning out the ECU is described as “not that difficult.” However, for those who want to save time, Autotuner also makes a plug-and-play harness—you simply plug it in and go.
6. Identify the ECU. Once connected, the next step is to identify the ECU. Now everything is identified correctly.
7. Back up the ECU. Normally, the next step would be to back up the ECU before doing anything. In this case, however, the process is to do an OBD patch—and the Autotuner tool will automatically back up the ECU before applying the patch.
8. Write the ECU. Go down to “write ECU,” select “OBD unlock patch,” and let it start working.
The entire unlock process in the Autotuner tool takes a couple of minutes. It will run through, you’ll see some sectors being written, and it will chime when it’s all finished.
Both the slave and master versions of the Autotuner tool work for this procedure.
