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Magic Motorsport have released version 8.0.0.0 of their FLEX tuning tool which now to allow a Bosch MDG1 ECU unlock directly on the bench without having to ship the ECU off for a specialist unlock service. This process was known as the RFT service, which stands for ‘Ready For Tuning’. This update covers selected Bosch MD1 (diesel) and MG1 (petrol) units built around the Aurix TC2xx microprocessor, fitted across VAG, BMW, Stellantis, Kia, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover and Porsche platforms, plus recent Ford Super Duty trucks. Once the ECU is unlocked, you can then get a full read and write access in bench mode for tuning, cloning or recovery work.
At Paramount Performance, we use the Magic Motorsport Flex platform daily on customer vehicles, so we wanted to share this significant Bosch MDG1 ECU unlock workflow.
Why Bosch MDG1 Has Been a Problem for Independent Tuners
Bosch MD1 (diesel) and MG1 (petrol) ECUs have strict factory security settings which historically meant that unlocking a locked MDG1 unit meant sending the ECU away to a specialist bench service, then waiting for it to come back before any tuning work could start. This process wasn’t just time consuming but costly as it meant a customer’s car would sit in the workshop for days taking up a space that another vehicle could take while work wasn’t being carried out.
The new Boot Glitch mode is a resolution to this problem because it unlocks compatible ECUs directly at the bench, in the workshop, with no shipping and no waiting on a third party to unlock and send the ECU back.
Which ECUs the Update Covers
The Boot Glitch update targets Bosch MDG1 units running the Aurix TC2xx microprocessor.
Coverage so far includes:
- VAG: Bosch MG1CS011 (TC298) and MD1CS014 (TC299)
- MAN: Bosch MD1CE100 (TC299)
- BMW: Bosch MD1CS001 (TC298), covering the 220d and 420d mild-hybrid diesels (2020/2021MY)
- Porsche: Bosch MG1CP007, MG1CS047 and MG1CS008 (all TC299), including the Cayenne GTS, 911 Carrera (992) and 718 Boxster GTS
- FCA: Fiat Ducato (2021MY)
- Ford: the 2023 Super Duty platform’s Bosch MDG1 unit managing the 6.7L Power Stroke
Petrol and diesel variants across Stellantis, Kia and Hyundai are also on the list, and Magic Motorsport has added new compatibilities every few weeks since the Boot Glitch mode launched. Magic Motorsport are continuously updating their vehicle compatibility list, if you aren’t sure if your vehicle is covered, check this directly or give us a call where one of our team will be happy to help.
If you have a vehicle that you need tuning support with, find out more about our ECU remapping services page. We offer tuning and ECU remapping services for a wide range of vehicles that is not limited to Bosch MDG1 ECUs, including BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and Porsche’s.
Bosch MDG1 ECU Unlock In-House: How-To
This is a breakdown of how to unlock Bosch MDG1 ECUs in house:
- Unlock the Bosch MDG1 in Boot mode
- When complete, the ECU switches to Bench mode
- In bench mode, you can read, write and run checksum operations on internal flash and EEPROM
Magic Motorsport quotes connection times of 10 seconds to 25 minutes depending on the ECU variant, with a full flash read taking around two and a half minutes and a write taking about two minutes. Most jobs, from a straight backup to a tuned write can be completed within a 30-minute bench session.
Boot Glitch isn’t included with every Flex licence. It needs either the Flex Full Master (FLS0.5M) licence or the Flex Full Slave (FLS0.5S) licence tied to a Master unit. Workshops already holding one of those licences get the update free through the Flex software client.
Why Choose Paramount Performance
We’ve been tuning cars since the 1980s, and we run the same Magic Motorsport Flex hardware we’re writing about here on customer vehicles at our Bidford-on-Avon workshop. Paramount Performance now handles Bosch MDG1 Boot Glitch unlocks in-house, so if you’re weighing up whether to invest in Magic Motorsport Flex tools yourself or want a workshop that already runs this workflow, our team can talk you through what’s involved. So far we have unlocked the ECU to tune a BMW M2 and a 118 (73 plate).
About The Author
Paul Busby, CEO, Paramount Performance
Paul is responsible for Paramount Performance’s overall business growth and operations. He’s an experienced vehicle engineer who has worked in post-production defect investigation, new vehicle derivative homologation. He won Entrepreneur of the Year in 2012 and The Queen’s Award for VIEZU in 2014.
Paul regularly presents live tuning webinars alongside VIEZU’s technical team, including walkthroughs writing tuning files in ECM Titanium and a full diesel tuning breakdown on a VW Tiguan 2.0 TDI using WinOLS, as well as fielding live dealer Q&A sessions on tuning tools and support.
Bosch MDG1 ECU Unlock with Magic Motorsport FLEX FAQs
What is the Magic Motorsport FLEX boot glitch unlock?
Boot Glitch is the ‘unlock mode’ Magic Motorsport built into the Flex platform for Bosch MDG1 control units running the Aurix TC2xx microprocessor. It bypasses the factory security that used to force independent tuners to send these ECUs to a specialist service before they could work on them. Once the Boot Glitch unlock is done, the ECU stays in Bench mode for read, write and checksum operations, so the whole job, from unlock to tuned write, happens in the same workshop session.
What does RFT stand for?
RFT stands for Ready For Tuning. It refers to a specific paid service and license offered by Magic Motorsport where tuning technicians traditionally had to physically ship locked control units (such as Bosch MDG1 ECUs) for a certified unlock procedure before they could be programmed.
With the release of FLEX version 8.0.0.0 the “No RFT” update signifies a new software solution that allows users to perform these unlocks directly in their own workshops (using a boot/glitch method via the Flex tool) without needing to ship the unit away or rely on the RFT mail-in service.