Newbie Tuning Question

[Jeremehh]

So I just got my 2020 Supra a little over a month ago and put a downpipe and intake in it. I'm looking to get it tuned and am interested in getting ots maps but am a bit confused on how it works. Here's my understanding

1. Take car in or send in ecu to be bench unlocked
2. Purchase either Bm3, MHD, or Ecutek (depending on which you are unlocked for)
3. Purchase OTS maps to flash ecu with

Am I missing something or is this pretty much the process and all that's needed?
Also, Can I just buy ots maps online (a90 shop, visconti, etc.) and just flash it myself or do I need to bring my car in for that too?

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[razorlab]

So I just got my 2020 Supra a little over a month ago and put a downpipe and intake in it. I'm looking to get it tuned and am interested in getting ots maps but am a bit confused on how it works. Here's my understanding

1. Take car in or send in ecu to be bench unlocked
2. Purchase either Bm3, MHD, or Ecutek (depending on which you are unlocked for)
3. Purchase OTS maps to flash ecu with

Am I missing something or is this pretty much the process and all that's needed?
Also, Can I just buy ots maps online (a90 shop, visconti, etc.) and just flash it myself or do I need to bring my car in for that too?

Yes pretty much. I would pick what platform you want first. Ecutek doesn't have OTS maps so that nix's that. So pick between BM3, MHD, or MG Flasher.

Then use the appropriate unlocker (Mission unlocker supports all)

Purchase flash license from platform you chose. Purchase OTS Map Pack from platform you chose. Purchase straight from the actual platform you chose to not have to pay stupid markup fees from 3rd party vendors.

You can flash it yourself at home, just purchase the appropriate wifi dongle or use a ENET cable.

 

[Thraxbert]

You'll receive many opinions about this, but this is mine after using BM3, Ecutek, and MHD for over 18 months each.

MHD all the way.

1. MHD has the right easy compatibility with other parts in the ecosystem that are needed should you ever wish to exceed ~600WHP. Ecutek has this, BM3 presently does not (their alternative is less good, but why settle?).
2. Has a good phone app for flashing and changing settings. BM3 can do this, but it doesn't have benefit #1 at this time, so this capability suddenly becomes useless over a certain power level. Ecutek needs a PC and DRM dongles to do anything.
3. There are OTS maps that you can buy to get started quickly. BM3 has this, Ecutek does not.
4. MHD is more difficult for the tuner than BM3 or Ecutek, but that's not a burden passed onto you. There are good tuners for all three tuning platforms.

As an owner, I have ultimately found that MHD fills the sweet spot on the venn diagram of all the different compatibilities and options you might want to use sooner and later.

If I could do it all over again, I wish I had just gone MHD from day one and stayed there. Ecutek was annoying because you ALWAYS needed a laptop and they nickel'n'dime tuners and users alike. BM3 was annoying because it didn't have the compatibility I needed to help me achieve bigger power mods.

YMMV. Given that you have a 2020, you might even be able to unlock and flash straight from your phone. My 2020 DME was never bench unlocked, and I am the only owner. I was able to unlock and flash with BM3 from the comfort of my driveway (at the time). MHD or Ecutek could do the same if you have the right SW versions (don't know until you try).


Long story short:
I left BM3 for Ecutek because BM3 didn't have the compatibilities I wanted or needed. And I left Ecutek for MHD because Ecutek was just frustrating to use and hostile to owners/tuners in a way the other solutions are not.

 

[Jeremehh]

Yes pretty much. I would pick what platform you want first. Ecutek doesn't have OTS maps so that nix's that. So pick between BM3, MHD, or MG Flasher.

Then use the appropriate unlocker (Mission unlocker supports all)

Purchase flash license from platform you chose. Purchase OTS Map Pack from platform you chose. Purchase straight from the actual platform you chose to not have to pay stupid markup fees from 3rd party vendors.

You can flash it yourself at home, just purchase the appropriate wifi dongle or use a ENET cable.

Thanks for the info! Never heard of mission unlocker and I just googled it. It says you can bench unlock at home without a shop and or sending the ecu in by using that? guess i'm pretty outdated

 

[razorlab]

Thanks for the info! Never heard of mission unlocker and I just googled it. It says you can bench unlock at home without a shop and or sending the ecu in by using that? guess i'm pretty outdated

Yup, you can do it at home. I did. Costs same if not much more than paying some vendor to do it and also have the unlocker if you ever need to do it again.

https://missiontuning.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/MLink/pages/688383/M-Link

 

[Jeremehh]

You'll receive many opinions about this, but this is mine after using BM3, Ecutek, and MHD for over 18 months each.

MHD all the way.

1. MHD has the right easy compatibility with other parts in the ecosystem that are needed should you ever wish to exceed ~600WHP. Ecutek has this, BM3 presently does not (their alternative is less good, but why settle?).
2. Has a good phone app for flashing and changing settings. BM3 can do this, but it doesn't have benefit #1 at this time, so this capability suddenly becomes useless over a certain power level. Ecutek needs a PC and DRM dongles to do anything.
3. There are OTS maps that you can buy to get started quickly. BM3 has this, Ecutek does not.
4. MHD is more difficult for the tuner than BM3 or Ecutek, but that's not a burden passed onto you. There are good tuners for all three tuning platforms.

As an owner, I have ultimately found that MHD fills the sweet spot on the venn diagram of all the different compatibilities and options you might want to use sooner and later.

If I could do it all over again, I wish I had just gone MHD from day one and stayed there. Ecutek was annoying because you ALWAYS needed a laptop and they nickel'n'dime tuners and users alike. BM3 was annoying because it didn't have the compatibility I needed to help me achieve bigger power mods.

YMMV. Given that you have a 2020, you might even be able to unlock and flash straight from your phone. My 2020 DME was never bench unlocked, and I am the only owner. I was able to unlock and flash with BM3 from the comfort of my driveway (at the time). MHD or Ecutek could do the same if you have the right SW versions (don't know until you try).


Long story short:
I left BM3 for Ecutek because BM3 didn't have the compatibilities I wanted or needed. And I left Ecutek for MHD because Ecutek was just frustrating to use and hostile to owners/tuners in a way the other solutions are not.

Yoooo. Thanks for all the useful information and recommendation. I had no clue you could bench unlock from home without stepping foot in a shop and without having to take out the ecu and sending it in. Currently I really don't plan on going passed 600whp but we all know how that goes...I say that now but eventually will get the urge for more power I'm sure. As of right now tho, I don't think I will do much more to the car besides maybe an exhaust, flex fuel and a tune. This is also why I'm wanting to go the ots tune route instead of a custom tune. It's faster, cheaper, and I figure I don't need much if I only have your basic mods. I'll probably shoot for MHD now with all the info you provided. That being said, There isn't an online one stop shop where I can get all of these is there?

 

[Jeremehh]

Yup, you can do it at home. I did. Costs same if not much more than paying some vendor to do it and also have the unlocker if you ever need to do it again.

https://missiontuning.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/MLink/pages/688383/M-Link

Well Damn. This will save me the time and hassle of getting it unlocked. Pretty clutch information

 

[razorlab]

Well Damn. This will save me the time and hassle of getting it unlocked. Pretty clutch information

Happy to help.

If you go MHD or BM3, just purchase the license and OTS map packs straight from their respective websites. Some vendors charge more for the exact same thing.

Either platform supports up to approx 700whp, after that, MHD is better (for now) as it supports aux fueling better.

 

[Jeremehh]

Happy to help.

If you go MHD or BM3, just purchase the license and OTS map packs straight from their respective websites. Some vendors charge more for the exact same thing.

Either platform supports up to approx 700whp, after that, MHD is better (for now) as it supports aux fueling better.

I think I'm gonna shoot for MHD. So to update and confirm my process now that I don't need to find a shop.
>Purchase Mission Unlocker to be able to bench unlock from home
>Purchase MHD License
>Purchase MHD Dongle
>Purchase MHD OTS Maps (All from MHD Tuning website)
>Flash in maps

and thats all she wrote. That quick and easy and good to go?

 

[razorlab]

I think I'm gonna shoot for MHD. So to update and confirm my process now that I don't need to find a shop.
>Purchase Mission Unlocker to be able to bench unlock from home
>Purchase MHD License
>Purchase MHD Dongle
>Purchase MHD OTS Maps (All from MHD Tuning website)
>Flash in maps

and thats all she wrote. That quick and easy and good to go?

That is correct. If you feel you want to datalog the car, you can purchase the monitoring license as well, OR, get that plus OTS Maps + Flash License with the super license and save a couple bucks.

 

[Thraxbert]

Try to unlock your car with MHD from your phone before you buy the external tool. Many 2020s can be unlocked from the comfort of your driveway with no special equipment. My car is an example. I sat in my driveway, hooked my phone up to OBD, and unlocked it right from the BM3 app. No bench unlock ever.

I recommend the pink THOR brand dongle for flashing with MHD. Good dongle to have as a BMW owner overall. I'm sure the MHD one would work too, so pick whichever one is less expensive at the time.

 

[razorlab]

Try to unlock your car with MHD from your phone before you buy the external tool. Many 2020s can be unlocked from the comfort of your driveway with no special equipment. My car is an example. I sat in my driveway, hooked my phone up to OBD, and unlocked it right from the BM3 app. No bench unlock ever.

I recommend the pink THOR brand dongle for flashing with MHD. Good dongle to have as a BMW owner overall. I'm sure the MHD one would work too, so pick whichever one is less expensive at the time.

I was going to suggest the same thing. However, an easier check would just seeing if it has full screen carplay or not.

 

[Jeremehh]

I was going to suggest the same thing. However, an easier check would just seeing if it has full screen carplay or not.

Oh wait what? I don't even need to buy the mission unlocker and could unlock for free with just the mhd dongle and app? and wait...isnt that thor obd dongle kinda the same thing as a obdlink cx. I have that and wonder if that'll work? What do you mean by check if it has full screen apple car play, what am i checking and looking at?

 

[Thraxbert]

Oh wait what? I don't even need to buy the mission unlocker and could unlock for free with just the mhd dongle and app? and wait...isnt that thor obd dongle kinda the same thing as a obdlink cx. I have that and wonder if that'll work? What do you mean by check if it has full screen apple car play, what am i checking and looking at?

This is a BMW platform and it's a common joke that we all have 5 or 6 dongles kicking around our glove boxes. But it's kinda true. The OBDlink CX dongle is good for Bimmercode/Bimmerlink, but will not work for flashing tunes to the transmission or ECU. The Thor and MHD dongles are much more capable as a general-purpose device, but MHD and Thor don't work for Bimmercode. Then there are some apps that you may want to use that only work with a physically wired Ethernet ("Enet") cable. There are less of those these days, but it still happens. And that's why I always have Enet, OBDLink, and a Thor adapter in the car. ? Welcome to the pain.

If you have an iPhone and plug it into the car, one of two things will happen:

1) Apple CarPlay will only consume half of the available screen size. This vehicle software version can almost certainly be unlocked from your driveway with nothing special.

2) If Apple CarPlay takes up the entire screen, that is a newer software version on the vehicle. The car will almost certainly need a Mission (or other bench) unlock.

 

[Jeremehh]

This is a BMW platform and it's a common joke that we all have 5 or 6 dongles kicking around our glove boxes. But it's kinda true. The OBDlink CX dongle is good for Bimmercode/Bimmerlink, but will not work for flashing tunes to the transmission or ECU. The Thor and MHD dongles are much more capable as a general-purpose device, but MHD and Thor don't work for Bimmercode. Then there are some apps that you may want to use that only work with a physically wired Ethernet ("Enet") cable. There are less of those these days, but it still happens. And that's why I always have Enet, OBDLink, and a Thor adapter in the car. ? Welcome to the pain.

If you have an iPhone and plug it into the car, one of two things will happen:

1) Apple CarPlay will only consume half of the available screen size. This vehicle software version can almost certainly be unlocked from your driveway with nothing special.

2) If Apple CarPlay takes up the entire screen, that is a newer software version on the vehicle. The car will almost certainly need a Mission (or other bench) unlock.

Oh man what have I gotten myself into lol. Had no clue it was a common thing/joke. Guess I gotta get to collecting them dongles lol. So when you say plug in my iphone, you actually mean with the usb cable right? I've only ever used the apple carplay through bluetooth. Guess I'll have to find out soon if its full screen or not.

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