It's already here. The only reason I can do my own work on my N20 engine BMW is because they implemented really bad and vulnerable car DRM that can be trivially defeated, but they have improved on that in latter models.
Or install a replacement part without taking it to the BMW dealership and having them code it to the car. Why is it only don't work on cars or pollute like no tomorrow? There is a middle ground and a lot of people are screwed by DRM like this because of it.
>Why is it only don't work on cars or pollute like no tomorrow?
Who said it was? The comment mentioned working on the engine specifically, there's not much DRM that can interfere with working on the engine unless you're trying to tune your ECU.
It's not like the N20 is going to check your pistons and connecting rods for authenticity before starting after all.
There are not even that many parts in BMWs that are VIN-locked, and much fewer with actual DRM. Usually the parts referred to with that, the BCMs are VIN-locked by most manufacturers (I know GM and Mercedes both do the same)
I'm sure you can come up with some outlier parts for specific models, but in general, complexity of newer cars it the enemy of repair, not some active attempt to get you into a dealership.
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In fact, I'd almost say the opposite is true of brands like BMW. They make a lot of money of leases with "maintenance included".
As they caught on to how brilliantly leases were paying off they started to stretch recommended service intervals to keep people out of the dealership as much as possible.
The N52 engine will refuse to start if the iDrive system is not working (if the car has this feature), the iDrive system is an expensive replacement, on top of the work required to code it to the car. All of the in-car systems signals go through the computer that controls the iDrive system since it is a fiber ring network through the car, terminating at the amp in the trunk and the iDrive system in the front.
How does iDrive being VIN locked become, "I can't work on my engine"?
Also definitely want a source on the N52 requiring iDrive to start, because obviously not all the cars with the N52 even had iDrive...
It sounds like you're oversimplifying it.
iDrive probably fails in a specific way that causes a problem for the car's network, not BMW intentionally had the car stop working because your music couldn't play.
That would be exactly in line with what I said about complexity being the issue, not some concerted effort to get you into the dealership. It's confusing a bad design with malice.
I'm sorry, but you are not correct. My head unit (which is required to do stuff like check the oil level, no dipstick) is VIN locked. That's stupid. It's nothing more than a money grab because they can.
I have zero desire to do any performance or emissions changes.
For anything (well not anything, but it feels like anything and certainly quite a few parts) with electronics, I can't buy a real OEM BMW made part that is an exact match to the replacement and install per their specs without the dealership authing it. The car will throw an error and tell me to go give BMW more money so I can use it.
