Tool Exasperation...
 

Have been through numerous threads, forums & FB groups but :dunno:

Over a year ago, bought an Ebay OBD2-USB cable with links to BMW Tools E-Z Install package, ISTA, etc. Never got it to communicate with vehicle despite three complete, from-scratch installations & all the config/ini/com port shenanigans. Could be a bad cable...

Go the Schwabben Foxwell tool on special & has sufficed for most of my BMW/Mini needs, but I still need more serious diagnostics & coding ability.

ProTool was my next thought, but without support for E39, E53 & R53 would still be lacking needed capability.

Got a link on bimmerpost for a guy selling preconfigured VM, but can't get forum email validation to work, so can't request it. :rolleyes:

What's the German word for exasperated?

Exasperation solver.....
https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sh....php?t=1023698

Appreciate the feedback, but already have been through that thread.

I’m a moderately tech savvy guy, at least I think so, and I’ve had the same problems. What I’ve learned (I think) is that there are different drivers for different cables. I’ve had mixed success. When my truly tech savvy friend set it up for me it worked perfectly with his cable, and then when I bought my own I never had the same success. Hit and miss on connectivity, programming, etc.

Let me try to use it in a sentence: I occasionally exasperate myself when I consider investing on a PC with ISTA.

Currently, I have my X5 and family members' e46 and e90s running well without CELs. Though, they have some errors like light bulb warnings and sensors throwing codes.

I'm been using iCarly on my phone. When I had the paid $50 subscription, I was also able to code a few features like navigation warning off and folding mirrors when locking.

For now, using icarly as an OBD tool is working fine. It can also pull info like fluid temps including the transmission and coolant. It helped me out when it gave me a specific code for a slow pumping water pump on an e91.

Try this and just update for the E70 https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1220039


If you have any doubt about your cable, this is the one I use https://www.amazon.com/LZLRUN-Diagno...5468636&sr=8-1

Not sure what you guys are doing wrong. I've had three successful installs from my link, about to a fourth.

Me either, but finally got a link for a VM so if that doesn't work I'm more convinced it's the cable.

Appreciate it, that will be my next move if the VM doesn't work.

Verzweiflung :)

:rolleyes:Oh good grief...spent days getting VM downloaded (was sent wrong links, had to upgrade drive, then get another tool to move partitions around on the clone to have enough room), installed & of course the old laptop I'm using is totally inadequate to run it.

:( back to square one once I obtain an adequate laptop. After my third install/config attempt with Mike's easy tools I put the project on a shelf for over a year while working on hardware vs. software (and a lot of work travel).

Honestly I'm ready to dig into the 540 E39 timing guides & valley pan for my son, so maybe a better option will come along in the meantime.

Verzweiflung!