BMW Service Technology – The Evolution of Diagnostic Equipment

Not just has BMW electrical architecture changed over the last decade, but so has the equipment to service them. The gear has evolved, the interfaces have changed as well as the complexity of setup and use.


Early tools

Within the 1990’s, the Group Tester One (GT1) was introduced. There was a few versions, like DIS Plus (stationary setup), though the GT1 is easily the most common and is also what’s going to be referenced here. The GT1 can be a portable device which contained a chargeable battery. It provides a touchscreen display screen for easy use. It contained software for Diagnosing and also had software called TIS (Technical Information Display) which is Service & Repair Information. Early versions of Diagnostics also contained software called Coding, Programming & Individualization (CIP). So in the same tool, you could Diagnose the problem, look up the way to switch the component after which carry out the needed initializations for your new part. Two interfaces were used: EDIC (yellow interface) as well as the OPS (orange interface). Later versions with the OPS were called OPPS, simply because they carried additional diagnostics for the Byteflite system and so they were also yellow, but much bigger compared to the EDIC. Authentic GT1s take presctiption the portable touchscreen unit. There are lots of “cloned” units available, adapted to be effective on a PC. Either genuine or cloned, the interfaces work the same and fasten by using an Ethernet port.

Later versions of the GT1 software removed CIP, and moved it with a separate computer (for storage), but still accessible from the GT1. This new software was called Progman (short for Program Manager). This new software contained all the CIP functions and added new features like multiple car programming and dual channel programming for every car (DIAGBUS and many bus simultaneously).

Third Generation equipment

Skip forward about 2008 if the Third Generation (3G) of equipment was launched: ISIS. The contents of ISIS are extremely large, that server colocation are set up on the dealership. An internet version can be obtained for the aftermarket for a small fee, called OSS. It may be available at connect ista rheingold using ediabas ini settings enet. With the introduction of ISIS comes a fresh interface, called ICOM. Previous interfaces (EDIC & OPS) won’t work with ISIS. ISIS includes a few parts, as it completely replaced GT1 & Progman. The main part of ISIS that is used inside the shop is known as “ISTA”, which may be further separated into a double edged sword: ISTA/D for Diagnosing vehicles and ISTA/P for Coding, Programming & Individualization.

Comparison

GT1s is found almost anyplace, including eBay for inexpensive. BMW remarked that the tool was easily cloned and sold worldwide. Many degrees of security have already been put in the roll-out of ISIS to prevent this, in both resident servers and internet based versions. This makes it much harder for non-dealer shops to operate about the newer cars. One could feel that since the GT1 was discontinued in 2009, you might keep by using their for many more years before newer system became more available, however, BMW stayed a stride ahead! Whenever a car is programmed with all the new ISTA/P, it upgrades the application at night degree of what Program can recognize. That means, after a car continues to be updated with ISTA/P, you cant ever use Progman onto it again, rendering the “cloned” versions useless with that particular car. Also, whenever a new module is installed, the application which is pre-installed with that module can also be newer than Program can recognize, which can steer clear of the entire programming process, forcing the car being programmed by ISTA/P.

Just what exactly does which means that for your BMW owner? Due to the newer systems, many BMW owners can no longer repair the cars themselves. Many aftermarket shops may also be sending the cars to dealerships consequently. However, not all aftermarket shops have fallen behind. There is a limited number of BMW specialty shops that remain on surface of manufacturer technology, in order that no car is beaten down! When searching for a place to service your BMW, make sure they are able to do Every aspect of repair, including Diagnostics and CIP!

One such shop is Auto Specialties of Lake Norman: Auto Specialties of Lake Norman. If you are searching at a potential shops website, search for signs that they will have the most recent equipment. BMW Repair centers that can’t “do it all” can often cause increased expense and time once they learn everything has been incorrectly diagnosed or parts installed now need programmed or initialized.
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