// BMW · Mini

Which adapter actually works with BimmerCode

BimmerCode is the easiest way to code a BMW from your phone. The part people get wrong is the adapter: buy one that isn't on the app's supported list and you get connection errors instead of folding mirrors.

The short answer

Buy an adapter that appears on BimmerCode's own supported-adapter list, on the developer's website. The vLinker BM+ Bluetooth is on that list for all series, on both iPhone and Android. It is the adapter we stock for BMW app coding.

Why the list matters. Coding writes to modules, which needs a stable connection and full protocol support. Many cheap ELM327 clones implement only part of the command set or drop the link under load. The app either refuses them or the write fails part-way, which is exactly what you don't want.

BimmerCode vs BimmerLink

 BimmerCodeBimmerLink
PurposeCoding: change how modules behaveDiagnostics: faults, live data, some service functions
Typical useFolding mirrors, start-stop default, needle sweepReading faults, watching boost or temps, battery registration
AdapterThe same supported adapter works for both

Both apps come from the same developer. Plenty of owners run both from the one adapter.

What people code

Depending on model, year and fitted equipment, common changes include:

As always with coding, the hardware has to be there. Coding switches on what the car's modules already support.

Expert mode

Expert mode shows a module's raw coding parameters instead of the curated on/off list. It is how people make changes the app doesn't offer as a simple toggle.

It is also the easiest place to break something. BimmerCode keeps a backup of the original coding; don't delete it. Change one parameter at a time, write down what you changed, and keep a battery charger on the car while coding.

Laptop tools instead?

If you want dealer-depth work on a laptop, that is a different route: the K+DCAN cable with INPA and NCS for E-series cars, or an ENET / DoIP interface for F and G-series. See the BMW tools page. For phone coding of the common retrofits, a supported Bluetooth adapter and BimmerCode is the simplest path.

Questions people actually ask

Will any Bluetooth OBD2 dongle work?
No. Use one from BimmerCode's supported list. Generic ELM327 clones are the most common cause of "cannot connect" and failed codings.
Does the vLinker BM+ work on Android too?
Yes. BimmerCode lists the vLinker BM+ Bluetooth for all series on Android as well as iOS.
Can coding damage my car?
A wrong value usually shows up as a feature misbehaving or a fault light, and restoring the backup fixes it. The real risk is a write interrupted by a flat battery or a dropped connection, so keep a charger on and stay close to the car.
Do I need the paid app?
To apply coding changes, yes. The developer sets the pricing; check the app store listing.

The adapter this page is about.

vLinker BM+ Bluetooth, on BimmerCode's supported list. €55, shipped free, 2-year warranty.

See it in the shop → All BMW tools