[TupperBMW]

The OTA software updates have become a bit much of late. About 2 months ago I did one, and then weeks later there was another one. For me, at least, this kind of stuff is a bit annoying.

Does anything bad happen if I just skip these entirely?

What if I just told my dealer, at my next oil change, to update the software? Is that a reasonable option?

Thanks

[VP007]

Originally Posted by TupperBMW

The OTA software updates have become a bit much of late. About 2 months ago I did one, and then weeks later there was another one. For me, at least, this kind of stuff is a bit annoying.

Does anything bad happen if I just skip these entirely?

What if I just told my dealer, at my next oil change, to update the software? Is that a reasonable option?

Thanks

If the OTA update process works for you, I would continue doing them so that you can get the future software fixes.

Most dealers will charge you to do the update unless they have to do it as part of a repair.

For the current 03/2023 software, there isn’t much for our SP18 cars in it (although my Driving Assistant Plus has improved and weaves less in the lane) and probably other fixes to modules we can’t see.

The 07/2023 update which will come OTA in September (and dealers already have) has some interesting things for our cars:

• Quality improvement: Cruise Control and Assisted Driving Control: The robustness of the Distance Control activation is improved with the new software.
• Quality improvement: Lane Departure Warning and Front Collision Warning: The robustness of the Lane Departure Warning and front collision warning are improved in difficult weather conditions, such as rain, snowfall, low sun or fog. Note: However, functional performance may be reduced in bad weather conditions.
• Quality improvement: Optimised starting behaviour: The vehicle's starting behaviour from engine start/stop situations has been improved with this update.
• Quality improvement: Owner's Handbook: The description for activating trailer operation has been adapted in the Owner's Handbook.
• Quality improvement: Assisted Driving Plus: The display and operation of the Assisted Driving Mode Plus function has been improved.

[Vic55]

my car remains faster and louder ....

[bloozemanAZ]

Originally Posted by TupperBMW

Does anything bad happen if I just skip these entirely?

Absolutely not outside of what others have mentioned you just miss out on some software improvements. If the last one you did is at least 11/2022 then you have pretty much all the improvements for iD7 up through 03/2023. 07/2023 has a few more and listed above but nothing you can't live without.

There are still some 2019 M850i owners on 11/2019.50 as if you upgrade beyond it that is where the ECU tuning that neuters the exhaust kicks in.

Originally Posted by TupperBMW

What if I just told my dealer, at my next oil change, to update the software? Is that a reasonable option?

I've had my dealer do it twice with zero static. Technically BMW won't pay them for the labor under warranty but also in reality there isn't any labor involved outside of the 15 minutes to hook the car up and then unhook after the programming runs by itself.

[Draxxas]

I never update. (I'm tuned so ...🤷&#128514

[JCtx]

Originally Posted by bloozemanAZ

There are still some 2019 M850i owners on 11/2019.50 as if you upgrade beyond it that is where the ECU tuning that neuters the exhaust kicks in.

What exactly was done with that? And even in sport, or sport+ still 'neutered'on '23s and '24s, as in the valves not being fully open, or what? Thx.

[Ducks91]

Just out of curiosity when the ECU tuning that screwed with the exhaust kicks happen did BMW state that in the release notes or was it more of a do the update and find out. Just wondering if its better to just see with the update notes are and go accordingly.

[Tenac]

Originally Posted by Ducks91

Just out of curiosity when the ECU tuning that screwed with the exhaust kicks happen did BMW state that in the release notes or was it more of a do the update and find out. Just wondering if its better to just see with the update notes are and go accordingly.

It was in the release notes in a release I think back in 2020 or 21... It obviously ran around the bush on what it was doing said something like Exhaust adjustment improvements and that was all. Anyone who had a pre 2020 knows the BMW signature pops and aggressiveness compared to any BMW after that update, it was fleet wide.

[bloozemanAZ]

Originally Posted by Tenac

It was in the release notes in a release I think back in 2020 or 21... It obviously ran around the bush on what it was doing said something like Exhaust adjustment improvements and that was all. Anyone who had a pre 2020 knows the BMW signature pops and aggressiveness compared to any BMW after that update, it was fleet wide.

Yep and for the original 2019 M850i model year they ran hot so the exhaust even gurgled in Comfort. Sport Plus was a pop/bang show. My 2020 has a 10/2019 build date and it was already toned down but the 03/2020 or to my surprise 11/2019.85 is where the neuter hit across the fleet. I thought I was being smart by not updating to 03/2020 but BMW snuck it into the 11/2019.85 with zero mention in the release notes.

[r33_RGSport]

Well, based on Windows PC, it will crash and give you a blue screen of death. Ask limeypride

Joke aside, you are fine skipping the OTA, worst case dealer will update it when you go to the dealer for service.

[limeypride]

I never liked you. 🤬

😂

[specracer]

Ive never bothered to update, and that feature list of improvements, above, are all features I have turned off, or don't use.

[TupperBMW]

Well, I went ahead and did the update anyhow. Whoopty doo, I guess!

[Tenac]

Good Luck