How to update Idrive Software in E66

I have a pre Facelift E66 with a couple of questions.

How do I know if my iDrive software is updated?

Is updating the software something I can do on my own or will I have to take it to an INDY to get it done?

If your not going to program a lot of bummers just go to dealer or a good Indy. Dealer will update all computer with the latest software

Im taking mine to the dealer.

I think only the Dealer or INDY can do it, if you're wanting to get the latest and greatest that is.

Oh and you can find out the version you have by looking in the iDrive, I know there is a thread on here that shows how to do it (too lazy to look for myself lol) and I'm notwhere close to my care at the moment. I think it's under the settings menu in the iDrive

This may be a silly question but what exactly does updating the software do? Is it just a cosmetic change as far as how options are displayed on the Idrive screen or does it change how your car drives or performs?

I have a pre-facelift too and the idrive "theme" from 2002 is getting boring to me, Ive been looking at the same one for 4 years. And how much do dealers normally charge for this?

Originally Posted by Johnhampton

This may be a silly question but what exactly does updating the software do? Is it just a cosmetic change as far as how options are displayed on the Idrive screen or does it change how your car drives or performs?

I have a pre-facelift too and the idrive "theme" from 2002 is getting boring to me, Ive been looking at the same one for 4 years. And how much do dealers normally charge for this?

Good question. I didn't know anything about it until I was told that an outdated idrive can be the reason my Bluetooth Adapter is not working correctly.

Sent from my PC36100 using Bimmer App

Guys,
To check current Software Version, follow these steps.

1. In Basic Menu display (N,S,E,W), press down the iDrive Controller for 6 seconds.
Hint: The help text flashes briefly when it is ready.
2. Turn Controller 3 increments clockwise. (Increment means click)
3. Turn Controller 3 increments counter clockwise.
4. Turn Controller 1 increment clockwise.
5. Turn Controller 1 increment counter clockwise.
6. Turn Controller 1 increment clockwise.
7. Press Controller to confirm.
8. Enter "MOST Devices" menu.
9. You will see a sub-menu (Item number, Hardware number, Coding index, Diagnosis index, Variant index, Date of manufacture, Name of manufacture, Message- catalog version, the finally SOFTWARE VERSION).................

As of today, this is what my iDrive unit reported;
ASK: 7.6.6 hex
KOMBI: 6.11.16 hex
FOND MMI: 6.87.0 hex
MMI: 6.87.0 hex
CD CHANGER: 6.4.4 hex
AMFM TUNER: 6.9.4 hex
AMPLIFIER: 8.6.0 hex
SPEECH REC: 7.9.0 hex
TV TUNER: 6.9.26 hex
MM CHANGER: 6.4.0 hex

Keep in mind that I have the rear entertainment option and some of the items on above list might not be available.

Also, i'm not sure if I have the most current software version but if you all take time to check out yours and post 'em here we can compare.

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by pkathee

Guys,
To check current Software Version, follow these steps.

1. In Basic Menu display (N,S,E,W), press down the iDrive Controller for 6 seconds.
Hint: The help text flashes briefly when it is ready.
2. Turn Controller 3 increments clockwise. (Increment means click)
3. Turn Controller 3 increments counter clockwise.
4. Turn Controller 1 increment clockwise.
5. Turn Controller 1 increment counter clockwise.
6. Turn Controller 1 increment clockwise.
7. Press Controller to confirm.
8. Enter "MOST Devices" menu.
9. You will see a sub-menu (Item number, Hardware number, Coding index, Diagnosis index, Variant index, Date of manufacture, Name of manufacture, Message- catalog version, the finally SOFTWARE VERSION).................

As of today, this is what my iDrive unit reported;
ASK: 7.6.6 hex
KOMBI: 6.11.16 hex
FOND MMI: 6.87.0 hex
MMI: 6.87.0 hex
CD CHANGER: 6.4.4 hex
AMFM TUNER: 6.9.4 hex
AMPLIFIER: 8.6.0 hex
SPEECH REC: 7.9.0 hex
TV TUNER: 6.9.26 hex
MM CHANGER: 6.4.0 hex

Keep in mind that I have the rear entertainment option and some of the items on above list might not be available.

Also, i'm not sure if I have the most current software version but if you all take time to check out yours and post 'em here we can compare.

Hope this helps.

Great Idea. Here is what mine is showing.

As of today, this is what my iDrive unit reported;
ASK: 7.6.5 hex
KOMBI: 6.11.16 hex
MMI: 6.87.0 hex
CD CHANGER: 6.4.4 hex
AMFM TUNER: 6.9.4 hex
AMPLIFIER: 7.5.0 hex
SPEECH REC: 7.5.0 hex
MM CHANGER: 6.4.0 hex
TELEFON *6.4.D hex*
NAVIGATION *8.4.4 hex*

Originally Posted by djdecko

Great Idea. Here is what mine is showing.

As of today, this is what my iDrive unit reported;
ASK: 7.6.5 hex
KOMBI: 6.11.16 hex
MMI: 6.87.0 hex
CD CHANGER: 6.4.4 hex
AMFM TUNER: 6.9.4 hex
AMPLIFIER: 7.5.0 hex
SPEECH REC: 7.5.0 hex
MM CHANGER: 6.4.0 hex
TELEFON *6.4.D hex*
NAVIGATION *8.4.4 hex*

It seems like we certainly have identical updates other than the following; ASK, Amplifier and Speech Rec.

Also, from your list I am missing the Telefon and Navigation options. And you are missing Fond MMI and TV Tuner per my list. Seems like BMW may have used different most device names........

Anyway, let's have a different 7 owner who believes he/she has the latest software. That way, we will be able to tell how bad we need the updates.

Originally Posted by pkathee

Guys,
To check current Software Version, follow these steps.

1. In Basic Menu display (N,S,E,W), press down the iDrive Controller for 6 seconds.
Hint: The help text flashes briefly when it is ready.
2. Turn Controller 3 increments clockwise. (Increment means click)
3. Turn Controller 3 increments counter clockwise.
4. Turn Controller 1 increment clockwise.
5. Turn Controller 1 increment counter clockwise.
6. Turn Controller 1 increment clockwise.
7. Press Controller to confirm.
8. Enter "MOST Devices" menu.
9. You will see a sub-menu (Item number, Hardware number, Coding index, Diagnosis index, Variant index, Date of manufacture, Name of manufacture, Message- catalog version, the finally SOFTWARE VERSION).................

As of today, this is what my iDrive unit reported;
ASK: 7.6.6 hex
KOMBI: 6.11.16 hex
FOND MMI: 6.87.0 hex
MMI: 6.87.0 hex
CD CHANGER: 6.4.4 hex
AMFM TUNER: 6.9.4 hex
AMPLIFIER: 8.6.0 hex
SPEECH REC: 7.9.0 hex
TV TUNER: 6.9.26 hex
MM CHANGER: 6.4.0 hex

Keep in mind that I have the rear entertainment option and some of the items on above list might not be available.

Also, i'm not sure if I have the most current software version but if you all take time to check out yours and post 'em here we can compare.

Hope this helps.

Now.. the question is
What is the latest firmware that we should have?
and if I have 2006, I dont think I can update it to 2012 firmware... right???
Thanks.

Yeah i'd like to see what does the latest versions fix. No sense updating to just update

Originally Posted by umermariner

Now.. the question is
What is the latest firmware that we should have?
and if I have 2006, I dont think I can update it to 2012 firmware... right???
Thanks.

Does anyone know what the latest firmware is?

BTW thanks for this, mine was almost a decade out of date. I will post the updated versions tomorrow.

what does updating the Idrive acuatlly do? I have an 04 and if I update the i drive will it look like the facelight Idrive screen with more color and all that? Or is it just a system update.

Originally Posted by drecoop

what does updating the Idrive acuatlly do? I have an 04 and if I update the i drive will it look like the facelight Idrive screen with more color and all that? Or is it just a system update.

System programming.

i'm trying to buy an e66 here in hong kong, pre-facelift models. i hope it already has an update on the one that i might buy coz you really need a bit of a fortune to get to talk to ANYBODY of BMW Hong Kong

I've had all of the software updated. Some versions were really behind. Seems to now shift smoother, accelerate smoother, and shifting from p r d back p the thump is gone. And when starting car in cold from p to r that thump is gone. This is day 2 could be just a fluke though.

I just had my 06' 750li at the dealer on the 19th of Dec for the soft door recall and while it was there the stealership said that they would check my software for the latest versions. so here is what I came away with.
ASK: 9.7.7
KOMBI: 6.15.2
MMI: 6.A6.0
CD CHANGER: 6.3.38
AMFM TUNER: 6.8.B
AMPLIFIER: 8.6.0
SPEECH REC: 7.F.1
MM CHANGER: ----
TELEFON: 9.6.8
NAV: 9.3.C
As far as I know theses are the latest up dated versions...(according to the stealer-ship) I hope this info helps....