[Aevintiri]

I did a quick search on the forums and couldn't find a comparison or any really in depth explanations. I already have ISTA/D installed for the factory service manual and diagnostics but I was under the impression that ISTA-P was the programming and coding application, however on most the coding stickies and posts, everybody is just using ESYS. So what exactly is the purpose of ISTA-P and how does it differ from ESYS?

I have windows 10 successfully booted from and external HD and running dual boot on my MacBook. I also have an ENET cable as well. I want to begin programming soon but want to know exactly which program to use. Thank you!

[Aevintiri]

Bump

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by Kyle_Figueroa

I did a quick search on the forums and couldn't find a comparison or any really in depth explanations. I already have ISTA/D installed for the factory service manual and diagnostics but I was under the impression that ISTA-P was the programming and coding application, however on most the coding stickies and posts, everybody is just using ESYS. So what exactly is the purpose of ISTA-P and how does it differ from ESYS?

I have windows 10 successfully booted from and external HD and running dual boot on my MacBook. I also have an ENET cable as well. I want to begin programming soon but want to know exactly which program to use. Thank you!

Complete Software & Interface Overview

• ISTA+ programs, but only with ICOM.
• ISTA-P and ISTA+ only encode (ie VO coding). If you want to FDL-code, use E-sys.

[Aevintiri]

Originally Posted by Almaretto

Complete Software & Interface Overview

• ISTA+ programs, but only with ICOM.
• ISTA-P and ISTA+ only encode (ie VO coding). If you want to FDL-code, use E-sys.

Okay thanks! I'll just stick with ESYS from what I read then. Seems like ISTA-P is fairly useless unless you're a dealer. Correct?

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by Kyle_Figueroa

Okay thanks! I'll just stick with ESYS from what I read then. Seems like ISTA-P is fairly useless unless you're a dealer. Correct?

Fairly useless unless you have ICOM and are programming an E-series BMW.

[Aevintiri]

Originally Posted by Almaretto

Fairly useless unless you have ICOM and are programming an E-series BMW.

Thank you! That's what I needed! Guess I installed the 100+ gig on my hard drive for no reason. Lol oh well

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by Kyle_Figueroa

Thank you! That's what I needed! Guess I installed the 100+ gig on my hard drive for no reason. Lol oh well

The is from where PSdZ comes. You can use to program with ENET and E-sys.
You can also use ECU data with Tool32.

[Aevintiri]

Originally Posted by Almaretto

The is from where PSdZ comes. You can use to program with ENET and E-sys.
You can also use ECU data with Tool32.

Okay so it wasn't all for nothing haha! I'm not new computer programming but I am new to all of this. If you don't mind... I know there are dangers in coding, but as long as you back up all the original data from your ECU like it says in one of the stickies here. Can you actually permanently brick your ECU or can you always flash it right back to your factory data back up?

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by Kyle_Figueroa

Okay so it wasn't all for nothing haha! I'm not new computer programming but I am new to all of this. If you don't mind... I know there are dangers in coding, but as long as you back up all the original data from your ECU like it says in one of the stickies here. Can you actually permanently brick your ECU or can you always flash it right back to your factory data back up?

Bricking is possible, but more likely with programming than coding. To restore ECU's, you just VO code them.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by Kyle_Figueroa

Okay thanks! I'll just stick with ESYS from what I read then. Seems like ISTA-P is fairly useless unless you're a dealer. Correct?

ISTA is not useless as it is great for checking codes on the car and looking up remedies. I use Esys for coding but hook up ISTA to get the best checking of codes as I have found my JB4 and Carley to not be as accurate and specific.

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by jgoens

ISTA is not useless as it is great for checking codes on the car and looking up remedies. I use Esys for coding but hook up ISTA to get the best checking of codes as I have found my JB4 and Carley to not be as accurate and specific.

ISTA-P is not for checking errors.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by Almaretto

ISTA-P is not for checking errors.

Ahhh..didn't know there were different ISTA's...guess that is what the P stands for, programming?

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by jgoens

Ahhh..didn't know there were different ISTA's...guess that is what the P stands for, programming?

Correct.

ISTA-P for flash programming.
ISTA+ = Rheingold = ISTA-D for diagnostics.

[Aevintiri]

Originally Posted by Almaretto

Correct.

ISTA-P for flash programming.
ISTA+ = Rheingold = ISTA-D for diagnostics.

Okay thanks! You've been a huge help!

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by Kyle_Figueroa

Okay thanks! You've been a huge help!

[CharlieF576]

Hi there, I have a question too if you don't mind

I've been programming with E-sys/enet cable and until now it's been great, retrofitted 6WA and now I need to diagnose why my cruise control stopped working

Is this something I can diagnose with ISTA? Do I need a different cable? I have a feeling I need to update firmware, is that possible?

Any help will be appreciated

[atzebmw]

Originally Posted by CharlieF576

Hi there, I have a question too if you don't mind

I've been programming with E-sys/enet cable and until now it's been great, retrofitted 6WA and now I need to diagnose why my cruise control stopped working

Is this something I can diagnose with ISTA?

Yes, possible.

Do I need a different cable?

No

I have a feeling I need to update firmware, is that possible?

No, i don't think.

Did the problem occur right after the retrofit?

[CharlieF576]

Originally Posted by atzebmw

Yes, possible.

No

No, i don't think.

Did the problem occur right after the retrofit?

Yes it did, I saw on another thread that it happens when the modules have too mismatched firmware, maybe that's it

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by CharlieF576

Is this something I can diagnose with ISTA? Do I need a different cable? I have a feeling I need to update firmware, is that possible?

Any help will be appreciated

Firmware mismatch. Most likely FEM_GW.

[CharlieF576]

Originally Posted by Almaretto

Firmware mismatch. Most likely FEM_GW.

Thanks for the advice, I've requested PSdZData full from shawn (I think I need it to flash ecus?)

Can I use esys to flash the ecu? Anything I should know before I attempt a flash?

Sorry for a lot of questions but I need to research how before I'm comfortable attempting it

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by CharlieF576

Thanks for the advice, I've requested PSdZData full from shawn (I think I need it to flash ecus?)

Can I use esys to flash the ecu? Anything I should know before I attempt a flash?

Sorry for a lot of questions but I need to research how before I'm comfortable attempting it

Yes, Full PSdZData is needed for flashing.

ZGW can be tricky. You may need router or program that serves as one.

Never apologize for asking questions before flashing; there is much risk involved and you should be knowledgeable and prepared.

[CharlieF576]

Originally Posted by Almaretto

Yes, Full PSdZData is needed for flashing.

ZGW can be tricky. You may need router or program that serves as one.

Never apologize for asking questions before flashing; there is much risk involved and you should be knowledgeable and prepared.

I had a bit of a delay making a larger partition on my boot camp drive to accommodate the full psdzdata.

So two things:

- power supply, I understand I need to keep the voltage up whilst coding but can't have the engine running. A power supply I need is quite expensive, could I keep another car running and use jump leads to power mine?

- router. You mentioned I need a router to flash a gateway, I'm guessing it's a normally configured router and it's the DHCP server I need. My question is the connections. Do I go from the car into the router, and from the router into the laptop?