Foxwell NT510 Elite not able to cycle ABS/DSC pump or valves/solenoids. Help?

[BenFenner]

I am learning so many things lately. Like how these cars like to rot out the rear brake hardlines requiring ~34' of new lines to be bent, flared, etc.
Well, I finished all of that and I'm at the point where I am bleeding the brakes.
I was warned this would be difficult, but I figured I'd be okay with my Foxwell NT510 Elite scanner with BMW-specific functionality loaded.

Well, as it turns out, I can't get it to run the ABS pump, nor open/cycle the solenoids. I tried picking my year/model from the built-in list, and also did the VIN autodetect (which did give much better results). But even so, the unit fails when trying to activate any of the ABS/DSC module functions.
Maybe I need to enter the VIN by hand? I've heard that sometimes is a solution to some issues with this scanner...

Oh, and I had the car on a 5-amp battery charger (Noco Genius5) at the time. I've read I might need as much as a 10-amp charger to keep up with demands. So maybe I just need to try with the engine running to get enough power to get things to work? Or maybe this module only works with the engine running anyway?

I'll post exact error messages tomorrow, but if anyone has any advice I'd appreciate it. So many posts on this forum show people having huge success with this tool. Maybe I should be in the OBDII menu and not the BMW section (I doubt it)? Maybe my ABS module is dead (I doubt it)? I might have to resort to the manual method of rear tires on, front tires off, car in gear on jack stands, press brakes to activate ABS...

Please someone save me from that madness.

[workingonit]

My Foxwell NT510 Elite has both BMW and General Motors programming downloaded on it. I have used the ABS autobleed function on a 2008 Cobalt, but not on the X5 (I haven't even looked for it there). The ABS autobleed function was found in the GM-specific special functions, so I assume it would be the same for the BMW.

I've never had to manually enter my VIN for the X5, nor for my four GM vehicles, so I haven't had that problem.

Two months ago, while fiddling with multiple OBD cables/switches to hookup the Foxwell and my OBDLink LX bluetooth dongle (for Android diagnostic apps) at the same time (only one would bee activated at any time, so I could leave both always connected inside the X5...the LX dongle goes into a sleep mode), I let my battery drain too low, and the Foxwell didn't function too well.

I sometimes switched from Foxwell to Android app before either was ready, or tried to back out of a Foxwell function before it was ready, and it would lock-up on me. And, after that happened, I couldn't start the engine until the battery was above 12.5? v, and I learned that I should always use my Foxwell with a steady voltage supply, and never interrupt it while it was hesitating.

I normally maintain my X5 battery everyday 24/7/365 with a Battery Tender 1.25amp unit, but I'll be using my Schumacher XCS15 smart charger while testing from now on. I can use it on 2/10/15 amp settings (whatever it needs), so my future long-duration testing sessions will get enough power,

[BenFenner]

I got it working. I'll post more about it later, but essentially I went through the brake bleed menu (failed), then the brake line mix-up menu (failed), then the only other menu option in this part which is the steering angle setup process or whatever. Initiating that process had the tool report back there were some fault codes with the steering angle sensor or whatever, and would I like to continue? I said "no", and then it reported that all DSC codes had been cleared, which is a very odd thing I was not expecting.
Then I tried the brake bleed procedure option and wouldn't you know it, the ABS pump kicked on for ~15 seconds and I think I'm in business!

I'm headed out now to see how good of a pedal I can get. I've read all of the tips and tricks. I'll see what it takes.

Edit: The same thing, or nearly so, happened a few more times throughout the night of bleeding the brakes. One time it was clearly because I had started the car and cycled the ignition and the left the key in the "accessory" position, not the "on" position. I'm quite sure the key needs to be "on". So there's that, too.

[Effduration]

I am not familiar with the foxwell scanner, but I found one foxwell E39 post that said it this way:

"... Once the scanner identified my car. I went to maintenance. Then chassis and from there to precharge pump and ABS...."

This video might also be of help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbFBih1wPEE