[Pewtinn]

2020 X3MC /w build date 11/19

i-step>S15A-21-03-535

Guessing my firmware is outdated? Will have to call my BMW SA and have a stab at it!

[2kaccordocoupe]

Originally Posted by Pewtinn

2020 X3MC /w build date 11/19

i-step>S15A-21-03-535

Guessing my firmware is outdated? Will have to call my BMW SA and have a stab at it!

You are not on the latest however the version you are on contains the "fixes" that are mentioned throughout this thread.

[Pewtinn]

Originally Posted by 2kaccordocoupe

You are not on the latest however the version you are on contains the "fixes" that are mentioned throughout this thread.

Would you know of any noteworthy changes/updates from 03-21 to current?

[2kaccordocoupe]

Originally Posted by Pewtinn

Would you know of any noteworthy changes/updates from 03-21 to current?

Sorry no, last I checked the current version is 21-11-535. Unfortunately release notes are not readily published.

[Pewtinn]

Originally Posted by 2kaccordocoupe

Sorry no, last I checked the current version is 21-11-535. Unfortunately release notes are not readily published.

Gotcha! Maybe I'll hold off on pressing for any ISTEP updates for now. Perhaps they'll update it some time in the future if they deem it necessary.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by spta97

I got some time to drive around with the new software update tonight.

Keep in mind I have my (softer) 20" winter tires on so it's hard to say what is due to the softer rubber vs. the suspension updates but it definitely feels more refined/smoother.

Road imperfections don't come across as dramatic now and the ride is far smoother. I might even say it is too smooth in comfort mode with the winter tires so hoping it is the sweet spot when I put my summers back on.

In addition, it changes gears (from P to R or P to D) much quicker/smoother (so far). I had an issue where it would hesitate for almost 10 seconds at times in my driveway or where it would slam into reverse going from park in the garage. Those have not happened since so hopefully the software update is the resolution.

The full screen CarPlay is also nice - though since I did the brightness mod on my control screen it is now super bright at night with an album showing lol.

Not sure why the dealer took 2 days to program it, but very happy with the results! I'm glad I held out for a software fix rather than a hardware option like MSS springs.

100% all of this! I have exactly the same experience with my 2021 X3MC and am a very happy camper. Suspension is smoother and the gear shifts, as well as the start/stop work so much smoother now. I am actually surprised how much of difference there is and can highly recommend getting a recent update. I got the 2021/07 software flashed back in October.

[spta97]

Originally Posted by Klazu

100% all of this! I have exactly the same experience with my 2021 X3MC and am a very happy camper. Suspension is smoother and the gear shifts, as well as the start/stop work so much smoother now. I am actually surprised how much of difference there is and can highly recommend getting a recent update. I got the 2021/07 software flashed back in October.

I've had a bit more time with it and I definitely feel the improvements.

Most notably is the lack of slamming into gear when going from P to R and of course the ride quality.

It's like it was a bratty teenager and has matured into a young adult

Curious what the summer tires will feel like but thus far I find myself puckering less when I see bumps in the road.

[sittingmongoose]

Does anyone know if the idrive update that was announced on the front page will include 2021 x3m? Considering it's half idrive 7. Or will these improvements be included in a new ista update?

[heavyD^2]

The only notable improvement IMO is full screen carplay. Any improvement to the suspension, transmission, etc are extremely subtle if there are any changes at all. I really tried to pay a lot of attention to how my car was driving days up to getting the latest update and maybe the only thing that I could notice was lighter steering effort in comfort mode but even that may be placebo effect.

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by sittingmongoose

Does anyone know if the idrive update that was announced on the front page will include 2021 x3m? Considering it's half idrive 7. Or will these improvements be included in a new ista update?

Idrive update and ISTA update are the same thing. 2021 needs to be programmed with ISTA as it has no remote software upgrade feature.

[sittingmongoose]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

Idrive update and ISTA update are the same thing. 2021 needs to be programmed with ISTA as it has no remote software upgrade feature.

Is that ista update released yet?

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by sittingmongoose

Is that ista update released yet?

21-11 is already out

[OttawaM]

Originally Posted by spta97

To be honest I’m not sure. I’m sure they can find out but not sure if they care or look.

It seems engine mods (even piggy backs) are what people report being flagged.

I asked this question before and did not get a definitive answer.

The way I understand it, Bimmercode is just enabling features that are already there but not in the iDrive UI.

I could be mistaken though.

Being new to BMW (actually don’t get my X4M until later this week) I assumed these tweaks are much like VCDS tweaks in the Audi world I’m moving over from. Most of which wouldn’t impact warranty but get set to default whenever they flash/update the car at the dealer. I hope that’s also the case with BMW!

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by OttawaM

... get set to default whenever they flash/update the car at the dealer...

Or (for the 2022) when you get an Over The Air update.

Make sure you get winter (or all seasons) tires before the next dump.

[spta97]

Originally Posted by OttawaM

Being new to BMW (actually don’t get my X4M until later this week) I assumed these tweaks are much like VCDS tweaks in the Audi world I’m moving over from. Most of which wouldn’t impact warranty but get set to default whenever they flash/update the car at the dealer. I hope that’s also the case with BMW!

Generally what I have read is if you have an issue which you are trying to get covered under warranty and you modified the part, that's when you run into issues.

Example would be you have suspension issues after installing MSS springs or your headunit is fried after using bimmercode (I have never heard of this happening, just hypothetical).

It really depends on the dealership I think.

That said, I would love to do a Bootmod tune but I'm too scared something would go wrong and I would be on the hook for a repair bill which is close to 50% of the cars worth.

With bimmercode I have not had an issue but who knows.

[sittingmongoose]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

21-11 is already out

Is there going to be a December update? I'm asking because I am waiting to get my car updated, should I wait a week or two more to get the newest update?

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by sittingmongoose

Is there going to be a December update? I'm asking because I am waiting to get my car updated, should I wait a week or two more to get the newest update?

No. Updates come out like every 3 months. 21-07 then 21-11 came out. Next will likely be 22-03

[OttawaM]

Originally Posted by JJ 911SC

Or (for the 2022) when you get an Over The Air update.

Make sure you get winter (or all seasons) tires before the next dump.

I am trying to find a decent price on some! So late in the season not much stock left around. What do you use?

[OttawaM]

Originally Posted by spta97

Generally what I have read is if you have an issue which you are trying to get covered under warranty and you modified the part, that's when you run into issues.

Example would be you have suspension issues after installing MSS springs or your headunit is fried after using bimmercode (I have never heard of this happening, just hypothetical).

It really depends on the dealership I think.

That said, I would love to do a Bootmod tune but I'm too scared something would go wrong and I would be on the hook for a repair bill which is close to 50% of the cars worth.

With bimmercode I have not had an issue but who knows.

Since you mentioned it... a friend-of-a-friend works at a local BMW dealer and said a customer brought in their car and it needed a firmware update for the infotainment unit. The update failed and bricked the unit and because he had a hack to use Carplay, they denied warranty and it was a $9000 bill to repair. Not sure on the exact details (if it was a unit that didn't support CarPlay period or if it was just a tweak to enable full screen CarPlay, etc) but that is the kind of story that scares me haha

[BobsM3Coupe]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

No. Updates come out like every 3 months. 21-07 then 21-11 came out. Next will likely be 22-03

Just because there may be an update, it doesn't mean the car will receive it.
My 2021 X5MC which I took delivery of in Nov. 2020 still has the 11/2020 software. Only updates it has received is 2 regional map updates and a couple of apps.
Of course the dealer will do nothing about it.

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by BobsM3Coupe

Just because there may be an update, it doesn't mean the car will receive it.
My 2021 X5MC which I took delivery of in Nov. 2020 still has the 11/2020 software. Only updates it has received is 2 regional map updates and a couple of apps.
Of course the dealer will do nothing about it.

I wasn't referring to remote software upgrades. 21-07 is currently the latest RSU upgrade. 21-11 is latest on ISTA. if you make a service apt for unable to upgrade over RSU the dealer can look up your vin on the REU portal and see if it's been sent to your car yet and potentially the reasons why it's not updating.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by OttawaM

I am trying to find a decent price on some! So late in the season not much stock left around. What do you use?

Check 1010tires.com. I got a set of Rims & Tires for around 2K