Brake bleeding solved with Ista-D

[Effduration]

Boma ....Which year and model do you have ? I believe the process may be different for the early cars, using DSC5.7 and later cars using DXC8 ?

The OP has a later E53..using DXC8..

Originally Posted by boma23

PS - there are no BMW dealers or indies anywhere near me - I live on a tiny islands population 4000, otherwise I would have sent this to a shop by now!!

No, but there are apparently decent European car specialists in Tortola and elsewhere in BVI...any decent tech with an Autel or similar scanner can activate your ABS ... I just had a local general tech near me bleed my brakes with his scanner.

[andrewwynn]

I bought a foxwell nt-510 for such operations. I was not interested in the hodge podge of 30 yr old software on a 20 yr old operating system.

[PalmSpringsE534.6]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

I bought a foxwell nt-510 for such operations. I was not interested in the hodge podge of 30 yr old software on a 20 yr old operating system.

I ordered a Foxwell 510 scanner yesterday to replace my 520. It seems the software on the 520 is either missing functions in the 510...or are so hidden I cannot find them. So, I will use the 520 for the other cars and the 510 for the E53.

[Bdc101]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

I bought a foxwell nt-510 for such operations. I was not interested in the hodge podge of 30 yr old software on a 20 yr old operating system.

Does the Foxwell have what you need to bleed brakes?

[boma23]

It's a 2007 E83 X3 2.5Si, a JDM import (actually an EU spec car as that's what was shipped to JDM markets). All software recognises it as the DXC8. I know I should be in the X3 forum but this thread showed exact same procedure and same screens in ISTA.


I have been looking at the Foxwell NT510, 520 and I think the latest is the 530 for BMW - however, there seems to be a mixed bag of reviews on them. It will be annoying if I have to, as already have 2 decent Autel scanners (which can't do BMW), and getting hacked off if I have to buy another!

My concern is that I've now got 2 different versions of INPA and one version of ISTA working (both VMs and straight live instals on W10x64), and all of them seem to otherwise work fine, and can talk to the vehicle for everything else, except to activate the ***** DSC bleed procedure!

So can't help wondering if there is something unique to my car that would also stop the Foxwell from working!



Effduration, even the big shop mechanics in the BVI have a somewhat chequered reputation - I know of several much newer and more expensive BMWs all laid up because no one can deal with them. I do all my own auto work (except where ramps or special tools needed), and work in IT, so am a little worried that if I can't get this sorted, will just end up with a big bill for someone else to hand it back to me.

There are two big auto dealers who I would consider, one is Mercedes/Mazda/Suzuki/Jeep main dealer, and the other is VW/Ford, but neither specialise in BMW. Both of them are a $130 barge ride away from VG to Tortola, before even looking at it (driving there with just a handbrake), or possibly paying $600/day each way for it to go on a transporter. I may give one of them a call very soon anyway, as car can't be used as is, and wife is getting pretty unhappy.


Sadly this will be the last BMW we own whilst living in the Islands, as when even simple jobs like replacing lines have become a PITA needing specialist software, then I can't afford the risk of things going wrong, and this car is at the mileage 118k and age where all the gaskets are next inline (valve cover already gone), and this generation seems to have made everything 10 times more complicated and involved to work on.

Just put new shocks and springs on immediately before this, and took me longer to get through the rear trunk plastic trims than it did to actually fit the hardware itself!

And as for the design of the ABS - Master brake line that failed, well the less said about the idiocy of that design, the better! *rant over*

[Bdc101]

Is there really not a BMW dealer in the entire virgin islands? That seems crazy. Not even an indie mechanic who can take care of you?



Maybe this is my chance to live in the virgin islands. I could give up the day job and be the local BMW indie. Wonder if the wife would go for it.

[andrewwynn]

Originally Posted by Bdc101

Does the Foxwell have what you need to bleed brakes?

Absolutely.

Not aware of any needed maintenance task it can't do. It can't code much (though you can edit idle speed).

My think diag let me code my new key function though (so all doors unlock). Foxwell can't do that.

[andrewwynn]

Originally Posted by PalmSpringsE534.6

I ordered a Foxwell 510 scanner yesterday to replace my 520. It seems the software on the 520 is either missing functions in the 510...or are so hidden I cannot find them. So, I will use the 520 for the other cars and the 510 for the E53.

The only difference I saw was the loss of the reset button and the 520 can add Mercedes.

It can be maddening to try to find a module. Do an auto scan to try to learn what to look for.

Even after I've used a module I'll forget where the hell it was located. Eg trying to find where to look for engaging the AC compressor. The are 2-3 different locations.

[andrewwynn]

[mention]boma23 [/mention]

Get yourself a foxwell. nt-510 or 520. You will be able to work on almost any BMW maybe even resolve the problems on those newer ones mentioned.

Redneck cure in the meantime: you can get abs bled by getting it to activate. Might be difficult if too much air you can't get the brakes to function at all but you can bleed the lines by cracking the fittings on the ends.

Then what people have done is find some sand and do some hard braking to get abs to kick on and then some fast braking (hit pedal hard) to get Emergency braking to activate. It won't be perfect but you might get useful if spongy brakes while waiting.

I help maintain a dozen or so cars including a handful of BMW and there foxwell or my think diag have always been able to access the needed function over the past six years or so.

[boma23]

Originally Posted by Bdc101

Is there really not a BMW dealer in the entire virgin islands? That seems crazy. Not even an indie mechanic who can take care of you?



Maybe this is my chance to live in the virgin islands. I could give up the day job and be the local BMW indie. Wonder if the wife would go for it.

You need a work permit so would need to strike up a deal with a "belonger", in order to get int to the territory - I can put you in touch with the owner of International Motors though - the big Suzuki/Mazda/Jeep/Mercedes dealer!

I'd be the first to buy you a cocktail on the beach