⚠️ Early Access Modding Notice
Current Status: My Winter Car launched into Early Access on December 29, 2025. Modding support is community-driven and unofficial. The game lacks official modding tools at launch.
Important: Mods may break with game updates. Always backup your saves before installing mods. Use at your own risk - mod-related save corruption is not supported by the developer.
Future Plans: Full official modding tools are expected in Q2 2026 (unconfirmed community report). Current modding uses BepInEx framework.
⚖️ Is Modding Allowed in My Winter Car?
📋 Official Stance (As of January 2026)
Status: No official modding support or explicit prohibition exists. The developer has not released public statements endorsing or forbidding mods.
Community Consensus: Modding is widely practiced and tolerated. No ban reports or developer actions against modders have been documented.
Similar to My Summer Car: The predecessor game had a thriving mod community using similar tools (MSCLoader), which was accepted by the developer.
Is Modding Safe?
From a technical perspective:
- ✅ My Winter Car is single-player only - No anti-cheat system, no multiplayer ban risk
- ✅ Mods from reputable sources (Nexus Mods) are generally safe - Community-vetted, virus-free
- ⚠️ Save file corruption is possible - Especially with save editors or incompatible mods
- ⚠️ Game updates may break mods - EA receives frequent patches that can cause mod conflicts
⚠️ Use Mods Responsibly
- First Playthrough: Consider experiencing the game as intended before modding. The challenge is part of the design.
- Backup Saves: ALWAYS create save backups before installing mods. Save location:
C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\LocalLow\Amistech\My Winter Car
- Read Mod Descriptions: Check compatibility, known issues, and installation requirements on each mod's Nexus page
- Update Carefully: When game updates, wait for mod authors to confirm compatibility before updating
What Can Mods Do?
| Mod Type |
Examples |
Impact on Gameplay |
| Cheat Mods |
Infinite money, god mode, noclip |
⚠️ Completely removes challenge |
| Quality of Life |
Save anywhere, backpack, bolt size display |
✅ Reduces tedium, preserves difficulty |
| Visual/Audio |
Better headlights, custom textures |
✅ Cosmetic only, no gameplay change |
| Save Editors |
Edit money, stats, vehicle parts |
⚠️ Varies - can fix bugs or enable cheating |
🔧 Mod Loader Installation - BepInEx Setup
A mod loader is required software that allows My Winter Car to recognize and run community-made mods. For MWC, BepInEx 5 is the primary and most widely supported mod loader.
Why BepInEx?
- ✅ Most compatible: 180+ mods on Nexus require BepInEx
- ✅ Actively maintained: Stable version 5.4.23.4 released and tested
- ✅ Community standard: Recommended in all official tutorials
- ❌ MSCLoader does NOT work: The My Summer Car loader is incompatible with MWC (an updated version 1.4 is reportedly in development but not yet released)
🚫 Critical: BepInEx vs MelonLoader Conflict
You CANNOT run BepInEx and MelonLoader simultaneously. Installing both will cause conflicts and break mod functionality.
Recommendation: Use BepInEx only. Most MWC mods are designed for BepInEx, and MelonLoader has limited mod support as of January 2026.
BepInEx Installation Guide
Step 1: Download BepInEx
- Visit the BepInEx GitHub Releases page
- Scroll to Assets section
- CRITICAL: Download
BepInEx_x64_5.4.23.4.zip (or latest x64 version)
- DO NOT download x86 version - it will not work with My Winter Car
Step 2: Locate Game Directory
- Open Steam library
- Right-click My Winter Car
- Select Manage → Browse Local Files
- This opens your game folder (typically:
C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\My Winter Car)
Step 3: Install BepInEx Files
- Extract the
BepInEx_x64_5.4.23.4.zip file
- Copy ALL contents (4 files + 1 folder) into your My Winter Car game directory
- Files to copy:
changelog.txt, doorstop_config.ini, winhttp.dll, plus the BepInEx folder
Step 4: Generate Configuration Files (CRITICAL)
- Launch My Winter Car through Steam
- The game will attempt to start but likely crash or close immediately - This is normal!
- This failure is intentional - it forces BepInEx to create necessary folders
- Close the game (if it didn't auto-close)
- Check your game directory - you should now see a populated
BepInEx folder with subfolders including plugins
🔴 CRITICAL STEP - Config File Edit
Without this edit, BepInEx will NOT work!
Step 5: Edit BepInEx Configuration (MANDATORY)
- Navigate to your game directory
- Open the
BepInEx folder
- Open the
config subfolder
- Find
BepInEx.cfg file
- Right-click → Open With → Notepad (or any text editor)
- Scroll to the bottom of the file
- Find the section:
[Preloader.Entrypoint]
- Locate the line:
Type = Application
- Change it to:
Type = MonoBehaviour
- Save the file and close
✅ Verify BepInEx Installation
Launch My Winter Car. If BepInEx is working correctly, you will see:
- A console/command prompt window appears alongside the game
- Console shows messages like:
[Info : BepInEx] BepInEx 5.4.23.4 - My Winter Car
- Messages about "loaded plugins" or "registered keybinds"
If you see these, BepInEx is successfully installed!
Installing Your First Mod
- Download a mod from Nexus Mods (usually a
.dll file or a zip containing one)
- Extract the mod if it's in a zip file
- Navigate to:
My Winter Car\BepInEx\plugins\
- Copy the mod's
.dll file into the plugins folder
- Launch the game - the mod will load automatically
- Most mods use F1, F5, or K to open their in-game menu
💡 Linux / Steam Deck Users
BepInEx works on Linux via Proton with a launch option workaround:
- Right-click My Winter Car in Steam → Properties
- In Launch Options, paste:
WINEDLLOVERRIDES="winhttp=n,b" %command%
- Follow normal BepInEx installation steps
See BepInEx Proton Documentation for details.
💰 Cheat Mods - God Mode & Infinite Resources
⚠️ Gameplay Impact Warning
Cheat mods fundamentally change the game experience. My Winter Car is designed to be challenging, with survival mechanics and permadeath as core features.
Recommendation: Experience the game as intended for at least a few hours before using cheat mods. You'll appreciate the survival mechanics more if you understand them first.
Popular Cheat Mods
MWC CheatBox
Cheat
Most Popular
Description: All-in-one cheat menu providing comprehensive control over game mechanics. Inspired by My Summer Car's BetterCheatBox.
Features:
- Money Control: Add money in customizable increments OR enable infinite money mode
- Survival Cheats: Disable hunger, thirst, fatigue, temperature, Problem Bar
- God Mode: Invincibility, no fall damage, ignore vehicle collisions
- Teleportation: Built-in location presets (PSK, Fleetari's, home, etc.)
- Noclip/Fly Mode: Pass through walls, explore the map freely
- Item Spawning: Spawn tools, parts, consumables instantly
- Vehicle Management: Teleport cars, repair vehicles, refuel instantly
- Skip Jail: Remove jail sentences immediately
Default Keybinds:
- K: Open CheatBox menu
- V: Toggle noclip mode
- P: Grab mode (manipulate objects)
- Note: Keybinds are configurable in mod settings
💡 Recommended Usage
Balanced approach: Use "Add Money" instead of "Infinite Money" for semi-realistic gameplay. Enable specific cheats only when needed (e.g., disable permadeath for stress-free exploration).
FL2S BOX
Cheat
Most Powerful
Description: Widely considered the "most broken" cheat mod for MWC. Built from scratch for maximum control, designed for players who want to bypass all survival/challenge mechanics.
Features:
- Money Hack: Unlimited funds, instant wealth
- Infinite Stats: Never need to eat, drink, sleep, or stay warm
- God Mode Options: Complete invincibility, no vehicle damage
- Permadeath Toggle: Disable the death system entirely
- Noclip/Fly: Free-camera exploration mode
- Teleport System: Built-in location presets + custom coordinates
- Item Spawning: Spawn any object instantly
- Add Cigarettes: Manipulate addiction mechanics
Default Keybinds:
- F5: Open FL2S BOX menu
- V: Toggle noclip
- Keybinds editable via:
%appdata%\MelonLoader\MelonLoaderUserData\fl2s_box_bindings.txt
⚠️ "Game-Breaking" Warning
FL2S BOX removes ALL challenge. Intended for players who:
- Want to experiment with game mechanics without consequences
- Focus only on car building, ignoring survival
- Speedrun or test scenarios quickly
Not recommended for first playthrough - you'll miss the core gameplay loop.
MWC CheatBox vs FL2S BOX - Which One?
| Feature |
MWC CheatBox |
FL2S BOX |
| Control Level |
Comprehensive |
Maximum (most options) |
| Interface |
Clean, organized menu |
Feature-packed, denser UI |
| Skip Jail Feature |
✅ Yes |
❓ Unconfirmed |
| Popularity |
High (community standard) |
High (known as "most broken") |
| Compatibility |
❌ Conflicts with FL2S BOX |
❌ Conflicts with CheatBox |
💡 Choosing Between Them
Pick one, not both - using multiple cheat mods causes conflicts.
- Choose MWC CheatBox if: You want balanced control with cleaner interface
- Choose FL2S BOX if: You want maximum power and don't care about preserving any challenge
Community consensus: Both are excellent. Try one, and if you don't like it, uninstall and try the other.
✨ Quality of Life Mods - Convenience Without Breaking Gameplay
These mods reduce tedium and frustration without removing the core challenge. Recommended for players who enjoy the survival mechanics but want to eliminate repetitive tasks.
SAW - Save AnyWhere
Quality of Life
Essential
Description: Save your game anywhere with a single keypress, no bed required.
Why It's Essential:
- ✅ Prevents frustration: Lose hours of progress because you forgot to sleep? Never again.
- ✅ Respects your time: Quick save before risky actions (driving on ice, Rivett testing)
- ✅ No gameplay impact: Doesn't make the game easier, just more forgiving
- ✅ Lightweight: Zero performance impact
Usage:
- F5: Quick save (default hotkey)
- Save appears in normal load game menu
- Use strategically: Before long drives, after completing builds, before experimenting
✅ Highly Recommended
This is arguably the most universally praised mod. Even players who prefer "vanilla" gameplay use SAW because losing progress to crashes or mistakes isn't fun.
ShowBoltSize
By quurt77 / bassman81 (sources vary) |
Nexus ModsDescription: Displays required wrench size when aiming at a bolt in bolt mode. Eliminates trial-and-error wrenching.
Why It's Useful:
- ✅ Saves time during Rivett assembly (200+ bolts to manage)
- ✅ Especially helpful for recessed bolts where visual inspection is difficult
- ✅ Preserves the building challenge - you still have to assemble correctly
Controls:
- 2: Enable display
- 1: Disable display
- F5: Open settings menu
- Mouse wheel to adjust text size
My Winter Backpack
Quality of Life
Utility
Description: Adds a backpack system allowing you to carry up to 10 items simultaneously.
Features:
- Capacity: Hold 10 loose objects (tools, beer bottles, parts)
- Visual Inventory: On-screen display of stored items
- Mouse Wheel Navigation: Scroll through inventory
- Configurable Keybinds: Customize open/close controls
- Physics-Compatible: Works with any grabbable loose object
Why It Matters:
Without this mod, transporting items means countless trips between locations. The backpack saves massive amounts of time without trivializing gameplay - you still need to plan your loadout.
💡 Compatible with BepInEx or MelonLoader
This mod works with either framework, making it flexible for different mod setups.
Headlamp
Quality of Life
Visual
Description: Adds a toggleable headlamp for better visibility in dark garages and during night work.
Controls:
- G: Toggle headlamp on/off (default)
Why useful: Working on the Rivett in the garage at night is nearly impossible without this. Essential for nighttime builds.
Other Notable QoL Mods
- MWC Advanced Steering: Mouse steering for vehicles - smoother control on ice
- Object Grabber: Enhanced object manipulation (grab, move, rotate with precision)
- Noclip (Standalone): Free-fly mode without cheat menu (exploration only)
- New Optimization Plugin: FPS boost via LOD optimization, reduced draw distance
💡 Mod Compatibility
Safe Combinations:
- ✅ SAW + Advanced Steering + ShowBoltSize
- ✅ Backpack + Headlamp + Object Grabber
Incompatible:
- ❌ Two save mods (choose one)
- ❌ Multiple cheat mods (FL2S BOX + CheatBox = conflicts)
💾 Save Editors - Direct Save File Manipulation
Save editors allow you to manually edit your save file data outside the game. Useful for fixing bugs, recovering from glitches, or enabling specific cheats.
⚠️ HIGH RISK - Backup Required
Save editors can permanently corrupt your save file. ALWAYS create a backup before editing:
- Navigate to:
C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\LocalLow\Amistech\My Winter Car
- Copy the entire folder to a safe location (Desktop, Documents, etc.)
- Create multiple backups with timestamps
Available Save Editors
MSC Editor (Partial Compatibility)
Save Editor
Status: Designed for My Summer Car but works partially with My Winter Car due to similar save file structure.
What Works:
- ✅ Player stats (money, hunger, thirst, temperature)
- ✅ Teleportation (move player to locations)
- ✅ Some vehicle manipulation (Sorbett, Bachglotz confirmed)
- ✅ Basic save file repairs
What DOESN'T Work:
- ❌ Rivett parts editing - Most Rivett-specific data not recognized
- ❌ Wiring/electrical system edits
- ❌ Some MWC-specific mechanics
- ❌ Weather system control
How to Use with MWC:
- Download MSC Editor from Nexus Mods
- Extract and run
MSCeditor.exe
- Click File → Open
- IMPORTANT: Navigate UP one folder level from default "My Summer Car" folder
- Select the "My Winter Car" folder
- Open
savefile.txt (or defaultES2file.txt)
- Edit desired values carefully
- Save and exit
💡 Common Edits
- Add Money: Edit "PlayerMoney" value
- Remove Alcoholism: Set "playeralcoholism" to
0 (turns Problem Bar into normal Thirst)
- Reset Jail: Set jail-related variables to 0
- Fix Body Temperature: Adjust temperature values if stuck in hypothermia loop
MWC Editor (In Development)
Save Editor
Status: Community member Marcinosky is updating MSC Editor specifically for My Winter Car compatibility.
Current State (as of January 2026):
- ⚠️ Alpha/Beta quality - not all features functional
- ✅ Most basic functions restored
- ⚠️ Some texts outdated, warnings may be missing
- ❌ Wiring system not handled yet
- ❌ Item spawning not tested, tables not updated
⚠️ Use at Your Own Risk
MWC Editor is a work-in-progress. Save corruption is possible. Developer notes: "The application is stable but not all functionalities are updated to fit the new data."
Recommendation: Use MSC Editor for now unless you need MWC-specific features and accept the risk.
When to Use Save Editors
| Scenario |
Save Editor Solution |
Risk Level |
| Forgot ATM PIN code |
Edit PIN variable in save file |
Low (safe edit) |
| Stuck in jail unfairly |
Reset jail timer to 0 |
Low |
| Lost Rivett part in snow |
❌ Cannot spawn with MSC Editor |
N/A (use mods instead) |
| Want to experiment with car builds |
Add money, then buy parts legitimately |
Low |
| Hypothermia death loop bug |
Reset body temperature stat |
Medium |
📦 Finding Mods on Nexus Mods
Nexus Mods is the primary community hub for My Winter Car mods. As of January 2026, approximately 180-182 mods are available (count increases daily).
Getting Started with Nexus
- Visit Nexus Mods - My Winter Car
- Create a free account (required to download mods)
- Browse mods by category, popularity, or recent uploads
- Read mod descriptions carefully before downloading
- Check Requirements tab (some mods depend on others)
- Download mod files (usually
.dll or .zip containing DLL)
- Install according to mod-specific instructions
Mod Categories on Nexus
- Gameplay: Mechanics changes, balance tweaks
- Cheats: CheatBox, FL2S BOX, trainers
- Utilities: Save editors, tools, quality of life
- Visuals: Graphics improvements, textures
- Audio: Custom music, sound replacements
- Vehicles: Pre-built cars, vehicle mods
💡 Using Vortex Mod Manager (Optional)
Nexus offers Vortex, a mod manager that automates installation. However, for My Winter Car:
- ⚠️ Manual installation is often simpler (just copy DLL to plugins folder)
- ✅ Vortex useful if managing 10+ mods
- ⚠️ MWC modding is new - Vortex integration may not be fully mature
Recommendation: Start with manual installation. Learn Vortex later if needed.
Evaluating Mod Quality
Before downloading, check:
- ✅ Endorsement count: High endorsements = community-approved
- ✅ Last update date: Recently updated = likely compatible with latest game version
- ✅ Posts tab: Read user comments for bug reports and compatibility issues
- ✅ Requirements: Verify you have all dependencies (e.g., BepInEx version)
- ⚠️ Bugs section: Known issues listed by author
🔧 Troubleshooting Common Modding Issues
BepInEx Not Loading
Problem: Game launches but no console window appears
Solution 1: Wrong BepInEx version downloaded
- Delete all BepInEx files from game directory
- Re-download x64 version (NOT x86)
- Re-install following instructions above
Solution 2: Config file not edited
- Verify
BepInEx.cfg shows Type = MonoBehaviour
- Check you edited the file in
BepInEx\config\, not the main folder
Mod Not Working After Installation
Diagnosis Checklist
- Is BepInEx loaded? Console window should appear on game launch
- Correct folder? Mods must be in
BepInEx\plugins\, not root game folder
- File type correct? Should be
.dll file, not .zip
- Mod conflict? Disable other mods one-by-one to test
- Game version mismatch? Check mod page for compatibility notes
- Read console output: Error messages in console window reveal issues
Game Crashes After Installing Mods
Step-by-step debugging:
- Remove all mods from
plugins folder
- Launch game to verify it works without mods
- Add mods back ONE AT A TIME
- Launch game after each mod
- Identify which mod causes the crash
- Check that mod's Nexus page for updates or bug reports
Save File Corruption
Symptom: Game won't load save / Error messages
Solution:
- Restore from backup (this is why backups are critical!)
- If no backup exists, try loading an autosave
- As last resort, use save editor to repair file (risky)
BepInEx and MelonLoader Conflict
Problem: Mods not loading / console errors
Cause: Both frameworks installed simultaneously
Solution:
- Choose ONE framework (recommend BepInEx for MWC)
- Completely remove the other:
- Delete MelonLoader files (
MelonLoader folder, version.dll)
- OR delete BepInEx files
- Reinstall chosen framework cleanly
📋 Best Practices & Safety Guidelines
✅ Golden Rules of Modding
- ALWAYS backup saves before modding - Cannot be overstated
- Read mod descriptions completely - Many issues come from skipping instructions
- Use one mod loader only - BepInEx recommended for MWC
- Install mods one at a time - Makes troubleshooting easier
- Check compatibility before updating game - Updates break mods
- Keep mods updated - Check Nexus after each game patch
- Don't use MSC mods in MWC - Different games, different code
- Scan downloads for viruses - Nexus is safe, but always verify
Recommended First-Time Setup
Conservative modding for new players:
- Play vanilla for 2-3 hours to understand mechanics
- Install only BepInEx (no mods yet)
- Add SAW - Save AnyWhere first (prevents progress loss)
- Add ShowBoltSize when you start Rivett assembly
- Add My Winter Backpack when inventory management becomes tedious
- Only add cheat mods if truly frustrated (consider if challenge is the point)
💡 Performance Considerations
Mods impact on FPS:
- ✅ Quality-of-life mods: Negligible impact
- ⚠️ Visual mods: May reduce FPS slightly
- ⚠️ Multiple heavy mods: Can cause slowdown
- ✅ Optimization mods exist: New Optimization Plugin helps FPS
If experiencing FPS issues: Disable mods one-by-one to identify culprit.
⚠️ Version & Disclaimer Information
📅 Content Version Notice
This guide is based on: My Winter Car Early Access v.260102-01 (January 2, 2026)
Last Updated: January 6, 2026
Mod Ecosystem Status: Rapidly evolving - new mods released weekly
Expected Changes:
- MSCLoader 1.4 with MWC support may release (currently in development, unconfirmed timeline)
- MWC Editor will receive updates to improve Rivett part editing
- Official mod tools potentially in Q2 2026 (unconfirmed)
- BepInEx may update to version 6 (currently version 5 is standard)
⚠️ Disclaimer
This is an unofficial, community-created guide. Information is provided as-is with no guarantees.
- Modding is done at your own risk
- Save file corruption, game instability, or other issues may occur
- The developer (Amistech Games) does not officially support mods
- Always backup your saves and verify game files if issues occur
- Mod compatibility is subject to change with game updates
For official support: Visit My Winter Car Steam Discussions