How to connect/use/read LED from BMW ICOM B

What is ICOM B:

BMW ICOM B is a diagnostic head unit for all BMW cars with MOST optical port. It is connected with USB cable to a ICOM A1, A2, NEXT A diagnostic head. Used for diagnostic faults, error clearing, coding and programming units.

On a side note, BMW ICOM A is a diagnostic head unit for all BMW cars and motorcycles. It is connected with network cable to a computer and by OBD connector to a car. Used for diagnostic faults, error clearing, coding and programming units.

How to connect ICOM B module with car:

Put the ICOM B at the USB port from your ICOM main interface.

Open the optical port on ICOM B and connect it to the car. For example on a E92 it is a little bit more right to the diag plug under the steering stock (a black plastic plate should be removed).

Here you can see the optical plug, remove the lenscap before you use it.

The location can be found in ISTA and is depending on the cars type you are working.

How to use ICOM B for initial use:

Before flashing anything with a new ICOM-B for the first time, I recommend doing a stress test with Tool32.

Configure Ediabas to most async ab 625, open Tool32 and cicr.prg.

Then select job fs_lesen

and then from Tool32 top bar, select “play”.

This will make the “read error memory” job run on repeat.

If it can do it for 30-60 minutes, then the head is probably ok.

Obviously the ICOM emulator must be connected to the CIC.
When you make a flashing , you can confirm data communication in task managers.

And, ICOM B, green flashes on and off.

How to read LED info from ICOM B:

The ICOM B includes a (2) two LED display. These LED|s displays the following information

and warnings:

• One 2-color LED label SYSTEM for the general status:

Off ——————————– no power or problems with power supply

Yellow —————————– initializing ICOM B

Red flashing ———————- problems with booting/initializing

Green —————————– ready

Green flashing ——————– communication

• One 2-color LED label MOST for the status of MOST communication Ethernet:

Off ——————————— no light at MOST

Red ——————————– no lockable light

Green ——————————stable LOCK

Yellow *—————————- no stable LOCK

* Yellow = the relevant LED lights up simultaneously red and green.

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BMW Programming with ICOM ISTA/P, not ISTA+

There are different systems for vehicle diagnosis (ISTA) and programming (ISTA/P) used. This means it was necessary to change systems several times when repairing a vehicle using software.

ISTA+ has been expanded so that all the required programming functions for the series F, G and I are integrated.

E-series vehicles still have to be programmed using ISTA/P!

The functions relevant for programming can be accessed via the following menus:

Vehicle treatment

• Software update o Comfort – as per the suggested measures plan

o Advanced – with broadened scope

o Additional software (range of functions is not active yet)

• Control unit replacement o Before exchange (preparation) – control unit read-out for the exchange

o After exchange (subsequent evaluation) – control unit configuration after exchange

• Vehicle modification o Retrofit

o Conversion

o Conversion (only coding)

o Backfitting

o Immediate measures

So, what for E series coding/programming?

For Exx- Series:

Interface = K+DCAN Cable (OBDII to USB) or ICOM

ECU Data Files = SP-Daten

NCS Expert = Coding Software

WinKFP = Programming (Flashing) Software

EDIABAS = Low-Level ECU Communication Software used by NCS Expert & WinKFP

For Coding, you need NCS Expert / SP-Daten for E-Series

All Diagnosis and Coding can be done with a cheap K+Dcan cable

For Programming (Flashing ECU’s with new Firmware), then you need ISTA/P for for E-Series, or you can use WinKFP for it. And you will need a BMW ICOM cable (ICOM A2/ICOM A3 or ICOM Next)

YOU HAVE TO KNOW before you buy ICOM A2 or ICOM A3 or ICOM Next:

ICOM NEXT vs the old ICOM

-> much faster in BMW F and G series ..

-> supports gigabit Ethernet too to be future proof, there currently is not gigabit Ethernet protocol defined yet for autos. Also it has USB3.0 instead of USB2.0 and a better wifi card.

So, Icom next a works much better.

ICOM NEXT A vs ICOM A2

-> more stable during programming

-> be necessary for the future Gbit cars

-> faster start-up times and high throughput

-> through high-performance,low-power ARM SoC

-> improved handling

-> more flexible OBD cable

-> lighted button for logs

…

In sum, Icom next wins!

ICOM A3 vs ICOM NEXT

Both of these have the same hardware. None of them are clones of anything also. A3 is fully china version of ICOM, there is no original version looking like this crap. NEXT is just looking as genuine NEXT, but with old A1/A2 hardware inside, like A3.

I recommend buying an Icom next. It is priced roughly at 500 euro. Take in consideration that you will probably work on cars that are worth 30-40k euro or maybe more and if your chinese icom fails you even once, you will be spending a lot of money on a bricked ecu.

ICOM A vs ICOM A2 vs ICOM A3

Modified ICOM A2 for vehicles with OBD access receives a significantly more powerful processor and more storage capacity. And robust aluminium case will help to avoid damage when using in harsh environments. It works better in cooling, runs faster and works more stable, not easier broken than older ICOM A.

ICOM A3 can program all units for all BMW series expect media system, and work more stable and has stronger compatibility than ICOM A2, A1.

In short, ICOM NEXT A+B+C works perfect; it’s the best option.

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Free Download and Install BMW E-series Coding Tool SP-Daten

Here’s little tutorial on BMW E-series coding programs installation.

Disclaimer: The document was translated from Korean. You are at your risk.

Part I. Required files

1. INPA

2. BMW Coding Pack

3. BMW Coding Tool

→ Download E_coding.zip

Unpack and use

4. SP-DATEN

→ Download and use the data file for BASE and car  https://mega.nz/#F!ukQzzBwb!bH9cRXpvW4xiTLr-N10CjQ

! iAJg_VqYENXBCaGLS-AvFvhPSNEae2mp-aWtuYOHGv8 (E_coding.zip decryption key)

Part II. Install the INPA program

1. Materials

(1) Coding required cable: BMW INPA K+DCAN cable

(2) Programs required for coding: INPA / NCS Expert

(3) Own vehicle information file (SP-Daten, SP-Daten capacity of 30 ~ 40GB per vehicle)

2. INPA program installation

(1) INPA / K + D CAN drive installation

If you unzip it, there are three folders in Step 1, 2, 3, and there are installation instructions, a description PDF document,

1) Copying the entire EC-Apps under the 01_Step1 directory to C: /

2) Run NFS / Entpackt / disk1 / SETUP.exe under the directory 01_Step1

Install

If not, copy all of these NFS directories to C: / and install them)

Note 1. In Windows 8.1 32bit, copy the file under disk1 to C; /

NTVDM automatically download and run)

Note 2. If the program fails to install again after the installation fails, copy the previously copied C: / EC-Apps

Clear all and copy again

Select Window XP on the screen

The remaining selection values

User mode / Parametrienen einer neuen Configuration ohen Dafer / OBD / KeinApi-Trace / Kein IFH-TRACE / Komfor (.IPO) selection

The first time you install regsvr32, the two * .ocx files will fail to register, but if you uninstall and reinstall the program you just installed from the control panel, the ocx file will be registered normally.

In particular, the message “The program is not installed properly” appears on Windows 7/8. Select the program installed correctly ”

3) Run INSTALL / Instprog.exe under the directory 02_Step2

(Copy and run under C: \ temp, but not on other drives)

Select “ENGLISH” on the screen, press Continue / Continue and never change the folder or drive to install.

In the Configuration window

Select “Bmw Group Rectification programs UK” → Continue

EDIABAS 6.4.3 → Update

INPA 5.0.1 → Update

NCS Expert 3.0.8 → Check Complete → Continue

4) INSTALL / Instprog.exe under the 03_Step3 directory

(Copy and run under C: \ temp, but not on other drives)

3) in the same way

Old verstion delete → Yes

5) Overwrite inpa.ini under c: / EC-APPS / INPA / CFGDAT with inpa.ini in the INPA folder.

3. Cable connections and port settings

(1) Plug OBD cable into USB port and select manual drive installation

1) Install it as a drive under the drive under the INPA folder, and when installed, recognize USB Serial Port

2) In the USB Serial Port property, set Port Setting / Advanced / Com Port No. 1, Response Time 1

(2) Run Drive_D_CAN_USB / OBDSetup.exe under INPA directory and reboot

INPA installation complete

(3) Confirmation of installation: Execute c: /EC_Apps/INPA/BIN/inpaload.exe and Battery / Ignition

If you see two black dots on the installation succeeded

Part III. Installing BMW Standard Tool from BMW Coding Pack

1. When unzipping, four folders with numbers 1 ~ 4 are created, and BMW Standard Tool 2.12 installation

(Be sure to run the program under \ BMW Coding Pack \ folder)

(1) Before running the program, open the Compatibility tab in the properties of the installation file

→ Change Compatibility by selecting Windows XP Service Pack 3

(2) Installation file Click “English” in English / German selection window.

(All installation programs will be deleted when English is selected)

(3) Select German / Weiter (Next) “Ich akzeptieredie Vereinbarung”

→ Press “Weiter” 3 times to set the directory (set to 4 folders default) and add 1 folder

(4) Zus? Zliche Aufgaben ausw? Len

→ Check out two of the above four check boxes: “Datensicherung” (data backup)

(Leave the other two checked and press the next one to pop up a popup window)

(5) Leave the STD: OBD default value on the next Hardware Interface screen

(6) COM port number checked in Device Manager 1 Select “COM1” and then USB auf Serial

Adapter Check

(7) Click Next and then click Installer to start the installation

Select “Ignore” if error screen appears and select “Ignore” if error screen appears (error 2)

2. When the installation is complete, go to the 3-UPDATE folder and add three folders (EC-APPS, EDIABAS,

NCSEXPER) whole

Copy to C: \ → Overwrite existing file with latest English version)

3. After copying the update file, copy the “BMW Coding Shorcuts” folder 4 to the desktop

Part IV. Installing BMW Coding Tools and SP_DATEN

1. Unzip the file into C: / windows / system, C: / windows / system32, C: / windows / Syswow64

Copy comdlg32.ocx, mscomctl.ocx under BMW Coding Tool folder

2. Open a command window in administrator mode and type

(Enter the Windows program app and right-click command to run as administrator)

“Regsvr32 comdlg32.ocx”, “regsvr32 mscomctl.ocx” → After registry registration succeeded

Close the command window and run BMW Coding Tools

3. Press the “Select SP-source” button on the right “SP daten” to find your vehicle information daten file

Select ah Select

4. Click the “UPdate SP-source” button on the right “SP daten” to link and copy the daten file

5. Down the received dummy profile (NCExpert Profile / NCSDUMMY4.PFL) to c: / NCSEXOER / PFL

copy

All programs for E series coding installation is complete.

It is not easy. You must follow each one step by step.  Keep the order …

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BMW Ncs Expert Software CABD Error Solution

When I go to work today, I open my laptop and connect BMW K+Dcan cable to my car, but I get an error when I try to read another module other than CAS of ECU module…

I have a problem with the ncs expert program, but I do not really know where the problem is.

Error:

“Ncs Expert Error in CABD! Look at CABLERR and ERROR.LOG!
COAPI-2000: EDIABAS or SGBD error
SYS-0005: OBJECT FILE NOT FOUND.”

The problem is that the file version of daten is old …

And I ran INPA to see if the value was correct …

Result:
version do not match
Malfunction possible
SGBD version:3.000 (in INPA)
SGBD version:7.050
INPA version: 1.030

inpa also gives an error message … ㅡ.

There’s a connection to the car, but something went wrong to proceed.

And just came home and found the latest version of daten and downloaded it once.

I want to test it by connecting directly to the car, but I have to endure it again next weekend.

It was a little hard to find, but I must be satisfied that I found the daten file for E89 …

This is the first time you have completed coding. It takes more time than I thought …

For reference, I found that the daten version for e89 (e90) is 47.1 …

If you unzip the downloaded sp-daten file, there are 3 folders besides daten, cfgdat, ecu, sgdat …

I updated it all …

Below is the header part of the e89at.000 file …

// Auftragsdatei: E89AT.000

// -350-

// Erstverw.Klog .: 61.35

// Ident-Nummer: 6 933 698.5

DATUM 31.05.2012

//

// Kurzz. Datum Name

// Bearbeiter: EE-82 Obrman

// Geprueft:

// Verantwortlicher:

// Verantwortlicher:

//

// Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft

// Wiedergabe sowie Vervielfaeltigung dieser Unterlage, Verwertung und

// Mitteilung ihres Inhalts nicht gestattet, soweit nicht ausdruecklich

// ZugStanden. Zuwiderhandlungen verpflichten zu Schadenersatz. Alle

// Rechte fuer den Fall der Patenterteilung oder Gebrauchsmuster-

// Eintragung vorbehalten.

//

//

// Verteiler:

// EE-82

// TD-433

// TI-430

//

// Aenderungsdokumentation:

// NAEL- Zeichn. xmal /

// Nr. Index Seite Kurzbeschreibung Datum Name

//

//

//

DATEINAME E89AT.000

//

Disclaimer: Thanks to blitzguy providing the solution. You are at your risk.

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How to Find BMW E-series ZB Number when Flash Module

This post will show you how to easily find the ZB number when flashing an E -series module.

Programs:

The programs used for Ecu Flashing are Winkfp (E-series), E-sys (F-series) and ISTA-P (ALL).

Definition of Flashing:

Flashing an ecu means to write new software to a module (ecu).

The purpose of flashing can be updated to a later (newer) software version.

You know! (Update to latest version data)

ZB Number: The assembly identification number and easily program data set.

Winkfp needs to know zb number for flashing.

The ZB number of each module can be found easily through INPA software. Below is the method.

1. Select INPA to select the model. (ex .: F4 E60, F8 E90)

2. Select Chassis → Functional Jobs.

3. Select the F3 User Information Field (UIF).

4. In the UIF contents, each module is visible and the middle ZB No. is displayed. It is a 7-digit number,

Flashing in Winkfp.

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(02.2018) ISTA+ 4.09.33 Standalone SQLiteDB's Download Free

(Feb. 07th, 2018) Free download ISTA+ 4.09.33 Standalone and SQLiteDB’s on Mega.

ISTA 4.09.33 the standalone version

HW checks removed and includes separate link for the NOFASTA patch.

Standalone 4.09.33

https://mega.nz/#!TNsA3apK!iCQkYHxOYHvMsKIZHFRPeoCMToodBWgON9_rZo-k3xY

RheingoldSessionController_NOFASTA.dll

https://mega.nz/#!zQlizLYZ!fwnvetLxNwUCisWeKeDMhQWEoliev1TQKr9BeEMt36s

ISTA 4.09.33 installation files on Mega:
https://mega.nz/#F!pb5U0ATC!Oadp9zVx3SDpcjbQZQM-pw

Files:
BMW_ISPI_ISTA-META_4.09.33.xml
BMW_ISPI_ISTA-APP_4.09.33.21392.msi
BMW_ISPI_ISTA-META_SDP_4.09.30b.xml
BMW_ISPI_ISTA-DATA_DELTA_de-DE_4.09.30.istapackage
BMW_ISPI_ISTA-DATA_DELTA_en-GB_4.09.30.istapackage
BMW_ISPI_ISTA-DATA_DELTA_4.09.30.istapackage
BMW_ISPI_ISTA_DELTA-SDP_4.09.30.istapackage
BMW_ISPI_ISTA-BLP_4.09.30.istapackage

Password: NOT required!

Security: Unknown – TRY ON YOUR OWN RISK!!!!

Installation tutorial:

http://blog.obdii365.com/2018/01/23/install-bmw-ista-for-diagnostic-programming/

Suggestion: you need luck with ISTA+ 4.09.33 as it’s not tested yet by professionals that safety is unknown. And luck also is needed because of the uneasy installation. Hope the installation guide is helpful but note that it would be kind of different from versions, in terms of steps. If you’re not good at this, just buy a cheap HDD or SSD with software inside. A lot of Chinese have crack software with internal disk. Jut buy it with relief.

Look here: 2017.12 BMW ICOM Software HDD ISTA-D 4.08.12 ISTA-P 3.63.0.400 with Engineering Software

Src: http://www.obdii365.com/wholesale/v2017-12-bmw-icom-ista-hdd.html

Tested 100% and confirmed to work

They offer professional tech support – that’s the most important for newbies!

http://blog.obdii365.com/2018/02/08/bmw-ista-4-09-33-standalone-sqlitedbs/

K+DCAN cable with switch pin 7&8: What, Why, How to use?

What is K+DCAN cable with switch:

It’s a BMW K+Dcan usb cable, the 2018 version.

In detail… Look here:

A new switch is added, compared to the traditional Dcan cable.

the switch on this cable to LEFT is for 7 pin, to RIGHT for 8 pin
8 pin for K-LINE communication (old DCAN cables cannot do it) for BMW from 1998 to 2008
Upload images…

Traditional Dcan cable:

http://www.obdii365.com/wholesale/bmw-inpak-can-with-ft232rl-chip.html

New K+Dcan cable with a switch pin 7 &8 and FT232RQ chip:

http://www.obdii365.com/wholesale/bmw-inpa-k-can-with-ft232rq-chip.html

Why do you need K+Dcan pin 7&8?

I assume the reasons being that on DCAN cars one pin is used for a ethernet connection and the other to the K data line – on K line cars, both pins are connected to K data lines and that creating a switch mode circuit would cost more than the interface is worth. The 2 most sensible options are both hardware-related:-

1. Use an adapter (such as the one sold by One Stop electronics) which internally bridges pins 7 & 8 or…

2. Mount a small switch on the OBD plug end of your adapter, which can bridge (for K line) or separate (for DCAN) the connection between pins 7 & 8.

How to use/switch/connect to K-Line or Dcan pin 7&8?

Q: So you have to physically connect (K-Line) or disconnect (DCAN) pin 7&8?

A: Yes, I think connection by soldering is a bad option as it limits the usefulness of the interface, I have an adapter but consider a switch to be a better option.

Q: Is there anything else to do for switching from K-Line to DCAN then disconnecting pin 7&8? Unfortunately I don’t have a DCAN model available.

A: As soon as you connect the interface to the car and your computer, run DCAN.exe to configure the comms rate. I have only used my K+DCAN interface with DCAN cars.

Q: Is it necessary to do so every time I want to use DCAN or is the interface staying in DCAN mode once I ran DCAN.exe?

A: You only need to run it when you are switching between modes. If you run it the first time you connect to a DCAN car, your computer will retain the settings.

Q: How do I switch back to K-Line? Just by connecting the two pins or is further action on the computer required?

A: Earlier e39 had both the OBD port in the cabin and the round 20 pin connector under the hood.

The OBD port only allowed access to limited modules, I think only the DME in fact.

I always switch my K+D CAN adapter between K and D CAN protocols as I need to, depending on the car that I’m connecting to.

I use the DOS version of the DCAN utility. As mentioned if you only use the adapter on the e39, run the utility once and set the adapter to K CAN and leave it at that.

In fact thinking about it I use the same adapter for INPA, DIS and ISID.

With these K+DCAN cables there are two subtle different versions, one with pin 8 enabled, one with it disabled. The one with it disabled is ideal for e90 newer than 03/07 & that era, these leads often come with a black adapter to re-enable the pin 8 (by just tying it to pin 9) so it will also be suitable for e46/e39/e63 etc. The ones with pin 8 active are just older versions of the cable. Worst cast scenario you just need to modify the cable & stuck a switch on it to toggle pin 8 on/off as needed.

Finally there are a lot of rubbish adapter cables out there. Finding a good one can be tricky.

Q: I have a 2003 E39 so there is no OBD1 anymore. How do you switch the modes physically? Do you use such a adapter to connect Pin 7&8?

A: If you don‘t plan to use the cable on any cars that have DCAN(2007+) then you can pop open the case and solder a jumper between them. When you do this the DCAN functionality will no longer work though.

Where to download & How to install BMW INPA software for K+Dcan cable:

Look here:

BMW INPA Ediabas v5.0.2 v5.0.6 v6.4.7 download: http://blog.obdii365.com/2017/01/18/bmw-inpa-download-install-on-windows-xp-vista-7-8-10/

How to install INPA software on Windows XP, Windows Vista 32bit, Windows 7 32, Windwos 7 64bit, Windows 8, Windows 10 users.

(click on the Operation System to get the how-to guide directly).