INPA/software updates?

[Zack]

Hey all I was using Mikes Easy BMW tools for scanning/coding. It has been a while since I have last used the software and I now get an error and the scanner will not connect with the car, is there an update I need to download? Drivers not working? something I am missing? I am not nearly as computer literate as most others so any help is appreciated!

[Tbonem3]

No, no update needed. Most likely issue is that the odb2 cable is no longer set to "Com 1". Go to Device Manager in Windows and look for USB or printer COMs or FTD wherever your USB cable pops up. Make sure you've got the recent FDTI drivers and that, under properties, it's set to COM 1.

Or maybe your cable magically went bad or maybe one of the pins in your obd port got bent or ruined? The switch for bridging pins 7 & 8 can affect communications, but it would still show up in INPA, you just might not be able to access a certain module.

[Zack]

Okay that's helpful, I will give it a shot, Trying to reinitialize my rain sensor as the intermittent wipers are INOP at the moment!

[uberchris]

I recently encountered a weird issue where windows changed the latency timer setting of my com port from the correct setting (1), back to the default (16) which caused a bunch of weird connection issues. Might be worth checking: https://weedtech.com/helpfiles/html/portlatency.htm

[fattycharged]

where is Mikes Easy BMW tool available for download today?

[Tbonem3]

Bimmergeeks was forced to stop sharing a little while ago, but there are still lots of links floating around.

Bimmerfest.com forums seems to be the largest collection of software packs. E46fanatics has a nice pack put together you can find fairly easy through searching. This one is great for E46 guys, but not if you have other models to connect to.

Reddit has a page with good resources that is a common search result when looking for these standard tool packs.

https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/mikes-easy-bmw-tools-package.879366/

When I was looking for the best pack, any of the "Mikes" packs I downloaded just didn't work too great - no translations for INPA and funky behavior like the black dots not working properly. My best pack was the one I found through reddit, and then I updated with the latest daten files (though that's for my e90, e46 doesn't have any more updates).

Here it is:https://www.reddit.com/r/E90/comment..._bmw_software/

Also have ISTA there if you want.

[Zack]

Bimmergeeks was forced to stop sharing a little while ago, but there are still lots of links floating around.

Bimmerfest.com forums seems to be the largest collection of software packs. E46fanatics has a nice pack put together you can find fairly easy through searching. This one is great for E46 guys, but not if you have other models to connect to.

Reddit has a page with good resources that is a common search result when looking for these standard tool packs.

https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/mikes-easy-bmw-tools-package.879366/

When I was looking for the best pack, any of the "Mikes" packs I downloaded just didn't work too great - no translations for INPA and funky behavior like the black dots not working properly. My best pack was the one I found through reddit, and then I updated with the latest daten files (though that's for my e90, e46 doesn't have any more updates).

Here it is:https://www.reddit.com/r/E90/comment..._bmw_software/

Also have ISTA there if you want.

Might try the bimmergeeks stuff from reddit you posted, Having the separate driver software might help?

[Tbonem3]

I don't follow you. Do you mean the FTDI drivers (cable) or Ediabas firmware? You should def get the latest FTDI drivers, which are pretty easy to find and dl. The E46 seems to communicate just fine with a good ftdi chipped cable even without the ediabas firmware unlike the E9x mss60 which requires it (for flashing, not coding).

I can't think of any other drivers, but I'm no expert by any means.

[Zack]

I don't follow you. Do you mean the FTDI drivers (cable) or Ediabas firmware? You should def get the latest FTDI drivers, which are pretty easy to find and dl. The E46 seems to communicate just fine with a good ftdi chipped cable even without the ediabas firmware unlike the E9x mss60 which requires it.

I can't think of any other drivers, but I'm no expert by any means.

Oh dude I am way less of an expert than you I can assure you! I am pretty sure the FTDI drivers are installed automatically on Mikes BMW tools pack correct? I was thinking perhaps my driver for the USB is not working correctly. However, honestly I am not exactly sure where to check and I have had no time as of late in order to delve back into getting INPA to work. Most of what you are asking me is definitely alien language to me haha!

[Tbonem3]

FTDI is for the USB cable, not for Ediabas based software (INPA, tool32, ncsEx,winkfp). Then, every time you start up the laptop and plug your car in, go to device manager in windows, find the com port (might even say ftdi), and go to the advanced properties to set communication to COM1 and latency to 1ms.