DME Bench Unlock for MHD.

Does your BMW or MINI have a locked Bosch engine computer? Then you can't flash it via the OBD port. We unlock the DME at our workshop in Elburg in about 20 to 30 minutes, while you wait. After that, you can simply tune with MHD.

Since the March 2019 software revision, BMW ships the Bosch DME locked from the factory to prevent tuning via the OBD port. The unlock is a one-time, safe patch: it removes the lock and leaves your car's factory performance otherwise untouched.

New since August 2026: many more cars can now be done in-house

Until recently, we could only unlock cars built before June 2020 ourselves. After that, the engine computer hardware changed and the DME had to be shipped out. Since August 2026, we can also unlock the newer Bosch control units MG1CS201, MG1CS024, and MG1CS049 ourselves. For most of the G-series, that means no more shipping and no more waiting: just an appointment in Elburg.

Can it be done in-house for your car?

• Built before June 2020: always, regardless of model or engine.
• Built from June 2020 onward: in most cases, yes. It depends on which control unit BMW installed in your car.
• The exception: if your car has a Bosch MG1CS003 or a DME9 (MG1CS221), the DME still needs to be shipped out. In that case, choose the DME unlock where the ECU is shipped out.

Please note: what matters is the production date, not the date on your registration document. A car that rolled off the line in May 2020 may not have been registered until months later.

These models we always handle in-house

These cars never have a control unit that needs to be shipped out, regardless of model year:

• M2 G87, M3 G80/G81, and M4 G82/G83, including Competition, CS, and CSL
• X3M F97 and X4M F98, including the LCI
• M5 F90, including LCI and CS
• M8 F91/F92/F93, including Competition
• X5M F95 and X6M F96 through 2022
• X6 G06 pre-facelift: 40i and M50i
• MINI F54 Clubman, F55, F56, F57 Cabrio, and F60 Countryman

How it works

• Order the unlock and choose the variant that matches your engine. V8s with two engine computers fall under the second variant.
• We'll contact you to schedule an appointment at our workshop at Uiterwaardenstraat 30 in Elburg.
• The unlock takes about 20 to 30 minutes. After that, your car is immediately tunable via the OBD port.

Fits these models

• 1 Series F20/F21 (2012-2019): 116i, 118i, 120i, 125i, M135i, M140i
• 2 Series F22/F23 (2014-2021): 220i, 228i, 230i, M235i, M240i
• 2 Series F87 (2016-2021): M2, M2 Competition, M2 CS
• 2 Series G42 (2021+): 220i, 230i, M240i
• 2 Series G87 (2023+): M2, M2 CS
• 3 Series F30/F31/F34 (2012-2019): 316i, 320i, 328i, 330i, 335i, 340i, ActiveHybrid 3
• 3 Series F80 (2014-2019): M3, M3 Competition, M3 CS
• 3 Series G20/G21 (2019+): 318i, 320i, 320e, 330i, 330e, M340i
• 3 Series G80/G81 (2021+): M3, M3 Competition, M3 CS
• 4 Series F32/F33/F36 (2014-2020): 420i, 428i, 430i, 435i, 440i
• 4 Series F82/F83 (2014-2019): M4, M4 Competition, M4 CS, M4 GTS
• 4 Series G22/G23/G26 (2020+): 420i, 430i, M440i
• 4 Series G82/G83 (2021+): M4, M4 Competition, M4 CS, M4 CSL
• 5 Series F07/F10/F11 (2010-2017): 520i, 528i, 535i, 550i, M5
• 5 Series G30/G31 (2017+): 520i, 520e, 530i, 530e, 540i, M550i
• 5 Series F90 (2018-2023): M5, M5 Competition, M5 CS
• 6 Series F06/F12/F13 (2011-2018): 640i, 650i, M6
• 6 Series GT G32 (2017+): 630i, 640i
• 7 Series G11/G12 (2016-2022): 730i, 740i and 740Li, 750i and 750Li, M760i
• 8 Series G14/G15/G16 (2018+): 840i, M850i
• 8 Series F91/F92/F93 (2019+): M8, M8 Competition
• X3 G01 (2018+): 20i, 30i, 30e, M40i
• X3M F97 (2019+): X3M and X3M Competition, also the LCI
• X4 G02 (2018+): 20i, 30i, M40i
• X4M F98 (2019+): X4M and X4M Competition, also the LCI
• X5 F15 (2013-2018): 40e, 50i, and X5M F85 (2014-2018)
• X5 G05 (2019-2023): 40i, 45e, M50i
• X5M F95 (2020-2022): X5M, X5M Competition
• X6 F16 (2014-2019): 35i, 50i, and X6M F86 (2015-2018)
• X6 G06 (2019-2023): 40i, M50i
• X6M F96 (2020-2022): X6M, X6M Competition
• X7 G07 (2019-2023): 40i, M50i
• Z4 G29 (2018+): 20i, 30i, M40i
• MINI F54 Clubman, F55, F56, F57 Cabrio en F60 Countryman: Cooper, Cooper S en JCW

For the X5, X6, and X7, this applies up to the 2023 facelift. The M60i from that facelift has the new S68 engine with DME9 and does need to be shipped out, just like the M5 G90, the XM, and the 7 Series G70.

This list is a snapshot

We regularly add control units we can unlock ourselves, and BMW has switched engine computers mid-cycle within the same models and model years. So model and model year alone don't always tell you what's in your car, and this list may lag behind what's currently possible.

The only way to know for sure is to have us scan your car at our shop. Then we can see exactly which control unit is installed and whether we can unlock it in-house. If it turns out we can't, you'll hear about it right away and we'll discuss the shipping route.

Tuning afterward

Once the DME is unlocked, you can get started with MHD yourself or have us handle the tune. Check out our ECU tuning options or ask about it at your appointment.

Not seeing your model on the list, or unsure about your software revision? Send your license plate or VIN through the contact page, and we'll take a look for you.