Making sense of INPA, EDIABAS, NCSExpert, NCS Dummies, DIS/GT1, EasyDIS, & Progman

all these cheap cables might READ and CLEAN you codes but i would be VERY careful to use them
for coding function ( Progman or GT1 )

OK. Well, I thought I set everything up correctly including successful ATI test; however, on my first attempt I couldn't even read the car. I read somewhere about modifying latency and com settings for OBD cable with directions in this folder C:\EDIABAS\Hardware\OBD; however, my directions are in German and can't figure out how to translate them.

What happens is I plug the cable into my computer and open INPA. I get the fast blinking circles on the left but the battery/ignition circles remain unfilled. Thoughts?

Update: Figured it out. Plugged in cable. Then right-clicked on computer, selected manager and then selected USB (?) for the cable. Went to properties, select advanced and changed latency to 1 and selected com1. Now black circles. Tried opening up NCS expert and when I went to load profile I got a pop-up saying application stopped working and to close or close and look for solution online. Specifically, NTVDM.exe has stopped working. I'm not making headway in finding an answer but still looking...

Update 2: Needed to use "Windows XP mode" in virtual operating machine.

Hi Guys,

Hats off for a lot of useful information. I could not have even thought about messing with my bmw without forums like these.

I just bought the DCAN/KCAN (inpa compatible) cable. I can see that INPA can see the ingition when I switch the car on. However version 4.4.7 of INPA does not have support for E9X.

I have tried running some of the other diagnostic options such as special tests but it errors out.

What are my options at this time to get INPA to work?
1) Update INPA with the datens files for E92(where do I get these from and how do I update them)
2) Update INPA to a newer version and hope that it has the daten files for E92 in it.

Please help. Have spent a huge amount of time already without much success. I know this forum is for E39's. Unfortunately I haven't found much information about E92's anywhere

I haven't tried my setup on an e90, but did run across a thread where you may be able to find your solution. Have you tried this package: http://bmwcoders.com/forum/bmw-gt1-o...tool-winkfp-1/

Can't figure out if I need to remove pin 8 or not: '08 e60.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-K-DCAN-D...15813958886848


I bought these cables and just realized I have the PACMAN connection under the hood!!! NOOOOO, I believe I read if i use a adaptor such as the one below that it still works fine?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-20-Pin-M..._Tools&vxp=mtr

Hi - I have installed DIS v57 and SSS v32 but can't get them to start. According to my installation instructions the file 'other.vmx' should start DIS v57 and the file 'Windows XP Professional.vmx' should start SSS v32 in VMWare, but when I try to open these files I get the message 'Windows cannot open the file 'other.vmx' it needs to know what program created it. What am I doing wrong? Thanks

Originally Posted by Gtemco

Hi - I have installed DIS v57 and SSS v32 but can't get them to start. According to my installation instructions the file 'other.vmx' should start DIS v57 and the file 'Windows XP Professional.vmx' should start SSS v32 in VMWare, but when I try to open these files I get the message 'Windows cannot open the file 'other.vmx' it needs to know what program created it. What am I doing wrong? Thanks

Did you download those VM files or did you make your own using the files and instructions in the first post titled "3rd EasyDIS 1.0 (which is DIS v44) and the READTHISFIRST document from DavidMC" (under heading #4)?

Sounds like he downloaded an already made virtual machine, and probably hasnt even downloaded VMware.....

I confirm : .vmx files are virtual machine "ghost" that can be installed from Vmware menu "import / export" than "virtual appliance".
I got one from a russian uploader and will try it in a few days.

Speaking about Vmware, I installed an hacked version of Vmware Workstation 7.0.1.
Is it something that can also be used for the UNIX emulation for DIS?

heres a place to decode some of PA softs HEX/DEC codes

http://bmw.bonesi.ch/pasoft/

There is an incredible amount of information here (an all way above my capabilities).
I have a 2012 X5 35D - is there somebody in Philadelphia area who can do coding on my model (for a fee).

I would like to get the automatic sideview mirrors fold/unfold, fog lights active with high beams, disable disclaimer, and may be some other valuable upgrade - but I do not want to disable my X5 of void warranty.

Any professionals in my area?

Thanks
Vladimir

http://www.professional-diagnostic-t...ace-p-375.html

Is this the cable set up I would need for a 97 528i? If I can get a definite answer I will PayPal the man with the correct information 5 Dollars. I have a serial to USB cable. Also can anyone point me in the direction of where to get the proper software? Please pm me with any information you have that would help. Thanks in advance

Originally Posted by 96 GGM 528I

http://www.professional-diagnostic-t...ace-p-375.html

Is this the cable set up I would need for a 97 528i? If I can get a definite answer I will PayPal the man with the correct information 5 Dollars. I have a serial to USB cable. Also can anyone point me in the direction of where to get the proper software? Please pm me with any information you have that would help. Thanks in advance

This appears to be the place everyone gets "reliable" cables from. Not sure if this is the correct cable, though. May need to look around/shoot e-mail. For some reason, I don't see the two cables they were offering... http://www.one-stop-electronics.com/...&product_id=17 I had purchased one about half price, which didn't work, and now I ordered/waiting on one from there...

And, the software is noted on page 1...is it not?

Thank you for the information. This forums always helps

Originally Posted by grimloktt

the software is noted on page 1... is it not?

It is indeed!

And, it took about a month of multiple people's efforts to collect it all together like that (many hours of labor).

So, nobody should need to ask 'where' the software is if what they're looking for is the E39-era stuff which is suggested in this thread.

For me the only real confusion arose when reading about the differences due to the fact that the car I drive is a 97 with a round port under the hood as well as the odbII port under the dash. Also the fact that all of the round pacman plugs I found have a serial cable end. Now I dont know if you have any expierence with serial to usb converters but they are very troublesome. I use jackel to tune other cars which is a open source software put on a ostrich converter which is soldered to the pc board in the ECU. However on most computers I cannot get the serial to usb converter to work well. This ostrich works on most cars with a EPROM chip. Now the fact that I can move it from car to car and burn custom chips after fine tuning with the ostrich which allows on the fly tuning, creates issues when using multiple computers and cars to utilize the product. No matter what ports I assign it to or anything. It is a common problem with the converter cables noted on the tuning boards I frequent. That is where my questions stemed from. There are 5 million post on this form with people asking the same things about there car loosing coolant, there ccv, vacuum leaks, VANOS issues, Head Gasket issues. I have not ever started a thred on thise topics and there is probably those issues reposted multiple times on the first few pages. If somone ask you a question to avoid clutter via PM a simple answer would be nice to help avoid crowding of stupid questions on this board.

I'm not sure if hats a rant or a questions disguised as general frustration, but maybe I can offer some insight. I apologize on advance if I misunderstood your post.

1. I too am very familiar with the use of Ostrich on Honda ECU's, and I can tell you that the goal of this thread is very much different than cases where a romulator may be used. Think performance vs diagnostics.. not much flashing going on here, just simple interfacing with the stock DME to retrieve better info than what is offered via the OBD communication stream. You can also add coding and programming to that as well.

2. I successfully used a usb to serial converter in both Honda and GM applications. Hondata, Chrome, LS1Edit, EFILive all worked flawlessly after installation via trial and error. I have NOT managed to get he same usb converter to work with a BMW, in either DIS or INPA. I decided not to invest any more time into the task and decided to just go with a laptop dedicated for this purpose, equipped natively with a serial port.

3. For your car, like all or most up to late 2000 MY, you must resort to using the connector under the hood. The OBD connector in the cabin is limited in what it can do for our model years, in both reading and writing to certain modules, and from my experience, I just chose to not even bother with it any longer. You can also leave the cable on the engine bay for on-to-go datalogging, running a 10ft serial extension through the passenger window.

I would love to be able to flash different fuel and timing maps onto these cars, both custom and aftermarket..

I have sucessfully loaded up the Dis V44 onto my computer...I have gotten the connection bar lights to light up fully for the computer connection on the bottom but for the life of me I cannot get the obd cable to work and light up the other indicator ontop and connect to the car...I have changed all the parameters in Ediabas.ini file for the TCP/IP configuration. and the interface is set to STD:OBD...Can someone help me that has gotten a D-can cable working! I am stumped here...I have no issues connecting with the cableto my car with INPA and NCSexpert...What am I missing here?? Please advise for those who have this connection with INPA cable setup....What needs to be done to get the cable to connect DIS...

Originally Posted by cn555ic

I have sucessfully loaded up the Dis V44 onto my computer...I have gotten the connection bar lights to light up fully for the computer connection on the bottom but for the life of me I cannot get the obd cable to work and light up the other indicator ontop and connect to the car...I have changed all the parameters in Ediabas.ini file for the TCP/IP configuration. and the interface is set to STD:OBD...Can someone help me that has gotten a D-can cable working! I am stumped here...I have no issues connecting with the cableto my car with INPA and NCSexpert...What am I missing here?? Please advise for those who have this connection with INPA cable setup....What needs to be done to get the cable to connect DIS...

I've yet to get mine to work--just got new cable today and will try my set-up. However, from the reading, you have lots more...
- Load correct cable driver and then change its settings
- After going into DIS administration, clicking on black area and pressing necessary button combination to get into UNIX to ensure/change IP stuff as needed
- Change Ediabas process for VM to not start and others to start. (don't think you'll have indicators light up)
- Run IFHSvr prior to starting DIS
- Run API Test in DIS to see if you get successful result
- This is also considering you properly set-up VMware...

Originally Posted by grimloktt

I've yet to get mine to work--just got new cable today and will try my set-up. However, from the reading, you have lots more...
- Load correct cable driver and then change its settings
- After going into DIS administration, clicking on black area and pressing necessary button combination to get into UNIX to ensure/change IP stuff as needed
- Change Ediabas process for VM to not start and others to start. (don't think you'll have indicators light up)
- Run IFHSvr prior to starting DIS
- Run API Test in DIS to see if you get successful result
- This is also considering you properly set-up VMware...

Good points. I would go back and double- and triple-check the listed instructions because it seems like you may have missed a large portion of the setup. It's cumbersome at first, but once its set up, it lasts forever (assuming you back up the VM images so the primary one doesn't get corrupted like it did on mine!)

OP - Nice summary! I really should visit this forum more often.

Originally Posted by David Mc

OP - Nice summary! I really should visit this forum more often.

Thank you.

That's quite a compliment, coming from you, the most esteemed of the diagnosticati.

Credit goes to the team, who, working together, each adding & improving where their skills applied, revised the original post scores of times before it locked up. Folks like RDL were always on hand to correct & advise. People like Quick99si downloaded the software, tested it, improved the summaries, and made the software kits available to others.

And, of course, we borrowed liberally from the existing diagnostic web reports from you (DavidMC), Dracon, & Randomly.

With all your help, even I could (almost) understand what was needed to set up a BMW diagnostic station in the garage. And, 'that', is an accomplishment!

This thread is one of many showing how the well-honed team helps all users, of all skill sets, and all personalities.

So if i want to reprogram a used EWS module to work in my car, i would need WINFSC and DIS? I know DIS aligns the EWS and DME but I was reading that the EWS still needs to be coded for the information of the car. So either progman or that WIN(something) word? or am I off base here? I want to buy a used module with transponders instead of a new dealer unit just because i dont want issues that I've been reading about the ews 4.3 module not fully syncing with the DME and after a week has to be resynced.

Thank you very much for a brilliant guide to EasyDIS installation!
Here is my contribution to the community. I have made a very simple and cheap ADS interface that works great with RS232 and INPA/DIS and have working battery and ignition detection.
Parts list:
1 - CD4053 switching circuit
3 - BC547 NPN transistor (or any other NPN signal transistor with minimum HFE of 100)
2 - 1 kohm resistors, min 0.25W
5 - 10 kohm resistor, min 0.25W

You will also need a COM cable with a female connector (just cut the male plug off a standard RS-232 cable) and a round 20-pin BMW "Pacman" diagnostic connector. A little piece of Vero with round pads is good for building the circuit.

I now have this working on two laptops. One with a real RS232 port and one with a PCMCIA adapter. To make the PCMCIA work I used this great tool:
http://blog.jaroslavklima.com/2011/0...th-pcmcia.html
The ADS port tool changes the COM port and hardware address that is hardcoded in the ADS driver file and makes it possible to use INPA and DIS with all serial communication interfaces that has a COM port and a physical hardware adress. USB will not work, since a USB port don't have an hardware adress in Windos.

To set up the ADS port, go to Control panel/system/hardware/device manager. Open the properties for the COM port you want to use and go to the "resources" tab. Note down the first number in the I/O range, mine is FEE8 for the PCMCIA port.
Change the COM port number under Port settings/advanced if nessecary. I use COM1, but any ports should work.
Open the ADSport tool. Make backup of original driver.
Select the COM port of the hardware port and write the first number in the I/O range in the adders field.
Press patch, and hopefully you have get a confirmation that the driver was patched succesfully. If not, check that the ADS driver is installed. Installation script is under /ediabas/hardware/ADS/ADS32. Run ADSSETUP.EXE.
You will also need to select ADS port in the ediabas.ini file to make it work.

This is a very good solution to make INPA and DIS work with without having to use an ols PC with a serial port on older BMW's up to 1996 that only have the round 20-pin diagnostic connector and uses ADS on some of the modules. It sould work on all models up to 2007 when they started using CAN interface. Most newer laptops have a ExpressCard port, and a RS232 expresscard converter is 10$ on DX. I have not tested this yet, but it should work just as good as a PCMCIA converter.

Edit:
I have also added a simple RS232 to OBD interface that works fine for cars without ADS or CAN. This interface also have working detection for battery and ingition. This schematic also has the wiring needed to make a 16pin to 20pin OBD adapter.