Im looking for ISTA or INPA Software. Need some advise.

[Johnny_5]

Does anyone know if the phone software ones are worth it? I figured it would be good and convenient? If using a laptop is better Im fine with that too but anyone know of any good source to download from?

For cables are these the latest types?

https://www.amazon.com/OHP-Ethernet-...58&sr=8-1&th=1

Or should I stick with usb switch type?

https://www.amazon.com/AntiBreak-Edi...3&sr=8-11&th=1

Needing to get one as Im having issues with Self Leveling Suspension Inactive and wanted to see if I can see whats going on with the scanner.

Thanks in advance.

[EODguy]

I know that I sound like a salesman for them, but getting a Foxwell nt-510, nt-520 or even the nt-710 is the best item in 95%+ of the cases and the best part is you can leave it in the car 24/7, 365 without worry. Mine has survived without problem for 3+ years and air temperatures here hit over 140f and I don't park in the shade....

Sent from Embassy network using Tapatalk

[workingonit]

I'm in agreement with EODguy concerning the use of Foxwell scan tools. I use the NT510 Elite regularly (it also has General Motors software loaded, so it works on most all my vehicles...1 BMW + 4 GM...I still need to buy Lexus software for my wife's car), and it's paid for itself many times over.

About INPA and ISTA: I installed INPA successfully on a Windows 11 laptop, but was unable to get ISTA to work, due to not having enough ram (mine only has 4gb, and less than 2gb available for ISTA...a no-go situation). It wasn't easy to find and install the work-arounds neccessary to make INPA work, and since the Foxwell has been working well enough for my X5's problems, I've barely delved into INPA, so far.

I used something called "Mike's Easy BMW Tools" for the initial downloads of INPA, NCS, WinKfp, etc. I haven't even tried to open the latter three, since I'm not coding anything. I watched a Youtube video by Evan Goyuk to get me started, but had to do a lot of research to get it loaded on my ARM64 Win 11 laptop (it'd be no problem on a regular Win 10 device, especially if it's got 8gb ram). I got the ISTA download from the BIMMERFEST software sub-forum, but as I said, it wouldn't work for me, so I uninstalled it.

As for the cables you proposed: since your X5 is a 2004, you only need a K-line cable (with FTDI chip). I bought and use this one (it also works with my Android tablet or phone, if I use an OTG adapter with it.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by EODguy

I know that I sound like a salesman for them, but getting a Foxwell nt-510, nt-520 or even the nt-710 is the best item in 95%+ of the cases and the best part is you can leave it in the car 24/7, 365 without worry. Mine has survived without problem for 3+ years and air temperatures here hit over 140f and I don't park in the shade....

Sent from Embassy network using Tapatalk

+1 on this. I have the Schwaben equivalent to the NT510. It is in the car at all times. It will do just about everything you will need from the laptop programs 95% of the time.

[victell]

Originally Posted by EODguy

I know that I sound like a salesman for them, but getting a Foxwell nt-510, nt-520 or even the nt-710 is the best...

What is the difference between the nt-510 and the nt-520? I've searched but haven't found anything yet. I already have a nt-530 but it sounds like the 510 and 520 have more functions.

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by victell

What is the difference between the nt-510 and the nt-520? I've searched but haven't found anything yet. I already have a nt-530 but it sounds like the 510 and 520 have more functions.

I bought my NT510 Elite in January '21, after researching bi-directional scan tools for BMW, which I didn't even get until 4 months later (I bought it with General Motors software, which I needed to use first, then bought the BMW software when I got the X5).

I read many posts on all the BMW (and some Porsche) forums, and saw that the Foxwell NT5xx models were favored as the best bang for-the-buck units. But, depending on the date purchased and location of the purchaser, the Foxwell units had different model designations, different software offered for them, and slight differences in functionality.


When I got mine, there were 3 choices I was debating:

• 1) NT530, from a third party source, via Amazon (don't remember the name),
• 2) NT510 Elite, from OBDZON (listed "as the rights owner of FOXWELL") via Amazon in Jan '21, and
• 3) "Schwaben by Foxwell", from ECSTuning (from what I've read, it's a NT510 Elite, in grey, with the same functions as the above, but more expensive; I wasn't sure if it would accept GM software, so I went with the NT510 Elite)

As far as I can tell, there are NT510, NT510 Elite, and NT510 Pro models, NT520 and NT520 Pro models, and the NT530 in the NT5xx series. What (if any) differences between plain, Elite, and Pro designations there are, I don't know. I've looked up E53 functionality on their websites (there are at least two, and possibly more sites for sales & support), and they seem to be the same functions.



My NT510 Elite is supported by https://www.foxwelltech.us/ (or www.foxwelltech.com), and isn't even listed on the https://www.foxwelldiag.com/ site. Go figure.

Overall, I think the NT510's & 520's might have a little more versatility, but I've no way to reliably say for sure, but it looks like the newer NT710 model beats them all, and is what I'll get next (I'll talk the wife into agreeing to buy one, so I can work on her "new-to-her" '14 Lexus ES350 (I've read that they'll let you move my other already-purchased software over to it, when I buy it with Toyota-Lexus software).

[victell]

Originally Posted by workingonit

...As far as I can tell, there are NT510, NT510 Elite, and NT510 Pro models, NT520 and NT520 Pro models, and the NT530 in the NT5xx series. What (if any) differences between plain, Elite, and Pro designations there are, I don't know. I've looked up E53 functionality on their websites (there are at least two, and possibly more sites for sales & support), and they seem to be the same functions.

...Overall, I think the NT510's & 520's might have a little more versatility, but I've no way to reliably say for sure...

This seems to be what I've found as well. At this point I don't feel confident enough that the 510 or 520 will have more functionality than my 530. Guess I'll stick with what I have for now. Thanks for the thorough reply.

[Salty B.]

Are there iOS apps compatible with E53? I have BimmerCode/Link for my F30 I use with an ethernet connection, but the E53 isn't supported. I have an Ancel OBD BMW-specific unit for this old bitch but was not aware of any apps that would support E53.

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by Salty B.

Are there iOS apps compatible with E53? I have BimmerCode/Link for my F30 I use with an ethernet connection, but the E53 isn't supported. I have an Ancel OBD BMW-specific unit for this old bitch but was not aware of any apps that would support E53.

I use three diagnostic apps on my Android phone & tablet, with one that's BMW-specific (Bimmer-Tool) and two for generic/all brands vehicles (Torque Pro & OBDLink). Another app, DeepOBD is probably better, but it's a bit too complicated for me.

I mainly use the Torque app as a data display on my dash-mounted tablet, since I have a Foxwell NT510 Elite. Bimmer-tool doesn't display as well, and the OBDLink display is similar to Torque's.

I bought my first smartphone (reluctant at first to do so, as I loved my Samsung Rugby2 flip-phone...I sorta made the best of it by getting the Samsung Rugby Pro smartphone) back in 2012-2013? just because I wanted to use Torque Pro as a diagnostic app in my vehicles (I didn't even get a stand-alone scan tool until 2016, an Innova 3100i). I am old-school, and finally had decided that I needed to get with the times, I guess.

I had read that Torque functioned on Android-only phones, so Android it was. As far as I can tell, it still is Android-only, but OBDFusion for I-phone is similar (it and OBDLink are clones). I investigated all the BMW-specific apps after I got my E53 in '21, but only Bimmer-tool (Android-only) and DeepOBD will work for me.

As for IOS and E53, my searches online have only turned up Carly app working for BMW E53 specifically, though limited in scope. Maybe a search on your i-phone will turn up more apps.

A personal note: I've had friends & co-workers with iphones that have had me use my Android phone and Torque app to diagnose their cars in the past (2013-2016), because they weren't able to find apps that would work on IOS to diagnose, on their own. Perhaps the situation is better now, but once you've gone Android....

[crystalworks]

Third for the NT 510 or 520. Don't get the 530 as that seems to be better for the newer Bimmers. I need to buy another 520 actually as I sold mine to get a 530... should have kept both.

If you are going to use ISTA, you can go the emulation route with one of the K/DCAN cables like most do... but I've found it much more reliable to use an ICOM. The one I bought is a clone from Ebay, but works well. Used it for ISTA D and ISTA P (though if doing programming, also use a good power supply).