BMW FSC code explained
What the FSC code does, Lifetime vs one-time codes, codes vs FSC files, and how to get the right one for your BMW.
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Enter your VIN to see which map and FSC activation your car needs, and the price. Checking is free.
What is a BMW FSC code?
FSC stands for Freischaltcode, German for "activation code". It is a 20-character code generated from your car's VIN for a specific map. When you install new maps from a USB stick, the navigation unit only accepts them once the matching FSC code is entered.
That is why the map files on their own are not enough: they can sit on the USB stick, but without the code the car will not install or unlock them. Because the code is tied to the VIN, it is unique to your car and cannot be reused on another BMW.
- Generated from your VIN
- Tied to the map family and version
- Required to install new maps
- Will not work on another car
Easier than ever
Which map does your BMW need? Just type your VIN.
We have made it easier than ever to find the right map and confirm it is compatible with your navigation unit. Type your VIN into the search box at the top of this page and we will show the unit your car was built with, the map it needs and the price. Checking is free.
Lifetime FSC code vs one-time code
There are two kinds of code. A Lifetime FSC code lets you update the maps as often as you like for the life of the car, including future map versions, without paying again. A one-time code covers a single map version, so the next update means buying another code.
We supply a Lifetime FSC code wherever your unit supports it. When a new map version is released, email us and we send it at no extra cost. Over a few years of updates, that is where most of the saving comes from. See our BMW sat nav update cost guide for how it compares with a dealer update.
Typed FSC code or FSC file?
Older BMW navigation units take a typed code that you enter in iDrive. Newer units take an FSC file instead, which goes on the USB stick next to the maps. The table shows which applies to your car:
| Map family | Navigation unit | Activation |
|---|---|---|
| PREMIUM | CIC (High) | Typed FSC code |
| MOTION | CIC (Mid) | Typed FSC code |
| MOVE | CHAMP2 / Business | Typed FSC code |
| ROUTE | EntryNav | Typed FSC code |
| NEXT | NBT | Typed FSC code |
| EVO | NBT EVO ID4 | Typed FSC code |
| EVO | NBT EVO ID5 / ID6 | FSC file |
| WAY | EntryNav2 | FSC file |
| LIVE | MGU (iDrive 7/8) | FSC file |
| JOY | Newer MGU units | Archive of FSC files |
Not sure which unit you have? The VIN check above tells you before you pay, or decode the car first with our free BMW VIN check.
How to get an FSC code for your BMW
You can get a genuine code from a BMW retailer (usually as part of a dealer map update), through BMW's own USB map update in the ConnectedDrive Store where it is offered for your car, or from a specialist. With us it takes four steps:
Check your VIN
We identify the unit, the current map and the latest version.
Pay once
£39.99 for PREMIUM, MOVE, MOTION, ROUTE and NEXT, or £59.99 for LIVE, WAY, JOY and EVO.
Receive everything
The FSC code or file for your VIN, the map download links and the guide.
Install and activate
Copy the maps to USB, install them and enter the code or add the file.
How to enter a typed FSC code
On units that use a typed code, iDrive asks for the FSC code during the map update. Enter it exactly as supplied, then let the update finish with the car parked in a safe, open place. If the code is refused:
- Check the VIN the code was made for
- Letter O, not digit 0
- Letter I, not digit 1
- Map version matches the code
A typing slip between O and 0, or I and 1, is the most common reason a correct code is refused. If everything matches and it still fails, the navigation unit may have been retrofitted rather than fitted at the factory. Contact us with the exact message on screen and we will help.
Free FSC code generators: why to avoid them
Searches for a "BMW FSC code free" or "FSC code generator" lead to tools and forum posts that promise a code at no cost. They are risky for a few reasons:
- Codes made for the wrong map version
- Updates that fail part-way through
- Tools that patch the head unit software
- No one to help if it goes wrong
A genuine code made for your VIN and map avoids all of this, and with a Lifetime FSC code you only buy it once.
BMW FSC code FAQ
What is a BMW FSC code?
FSC stands for Freischaltcode, German for activation code. It is a 20-character code generated from your VIN that tells the BMW navigation unit it may install and use a particular map. Without it, new map files on a USB stick will not be accepted.
What is a Lifetime FSC code?
A Lifetime FSC code lets you keep updating the maps for the life of the car, including future versions, without paying again. A one-time code only covers a single map version. We supply a Lifetime FSC code wherever your unit supports it.
Can I get a BMW FSC code for free?
Not a genuine one for an older car. The code has to be generated for your VIN and map, which BMW, dealers and specialists charge for. Free code generators exist, but they are a common cause of failed updates and some rely on patching the head unit software.
Can I use an FSC code from another BMW?
No. The code is generated from the VIN, so it only works on the car it was made for. A code from another car will be rejected.
My BMW says the FSC code is invalid. What should I check?
First check the VIN the code was ordered for. Then check the typing: a common mistake is entering the digit 0 or 1 instead of the letter O or I. If both are right and the code is still refused, the navigation unit may have been retrofitted rather than fitted at the factory; contact us and we will look into it.
Do newer BMWs use an FSC code too?
Yes, but as a file instead of a typed code. NBT EVO ID5/ID6, EntryNav2 (WAY maps) and MGU (LIVE maps) take an FSC file that you copy into a folder called FSC on the USB stick with the maps.