Car/Key Memory settings: dealer only?

[AzNMpower32]

Are BMW dealers the only places where you can change car/key memory settings for the older BMWs? I've checked out a few indy BMW shops, and even the one today only had computer equipment that can read and diagnose error codes, but not change actual settings.

[Meiac09]

My indy says that the computer equipment for the BMW is so expensive/quickly obsolete they won't go near it, but YMMV...
Too bad its not like the VW's, but I thought they were developing the BMW version of the VAG-COM...