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

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.

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....

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2004 needs K-line cable
 

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.
Attachment 83882

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.

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).

Android vs IOS apps for the 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....

Is it possible to use esys and do FDL coding with the e53?

I need to get rid of the door unlock and lock beep. It was one of the first things I had to do with my f30 was code that out. It'd be cool if that works on the e53. So far I've just found that the enet cable doesn't work, so I can't get it to connect to ISTA for initial diag scan yet, but I will order the cable linked above thank you. I get confused with all this icom/d-can stuff as I don't know what any of it is. It'd be nice if they didn't change the part numbers every 5 minutes.

Fourth for a Foxwell 520 Pro! Best tool I bought for my X5.

As per the OP question, does anybody have the software they would be willing to share with me?

I already have the Foxwell scan tool but it doesn't do everything.....

Ta :thumbup:

Thanks for all the posts. I dont believe the Foxwell 520 has the capability to do Self Leveling checks and other things like that? Correct me if Im wrong? I have a basic scan tool that I use for most which is great, as well as a Bluetooth type but when I want to start looking into more in depth I believe I need the ISTA or INPA. ISTA is the newer of the 2 if Im not mistaken and easier to read and use.

I ordered the BMW Scanner 1.4 which was cheap anyways but even that is limited so I also just purchased a BMW K+DCAN cable as well. Advised not to use the software that comes with either of them!

So if anyone can assist with pointing me in the right direction for the BMW Scanner 1.4.0 Software as well as the ISTA Software would be greatly appreciated!!!