Question:

BMW ICOM A3 Program ok but diagnose with no luck, device fail to connect. How to do?

bmw icom diagnosis

Possible reason:

The hardware version is too low to do diagnostic job.

Solution:

Update firmware to the newest version, e.g fw 1.40.05/01.25.02

To get BMW Diagnostic Tool ICOM, ICOM A1 and common ICOM A2 run with the newest ISTA-D Rheingold ISTA-P, user is required to update firmware to the newest version

Firmware current system Image version: 01.25.02

Firmware current application Image version: 01.40.05

What ICOM hardware APPLICATION 1.40.05 and SYSTEM version 01.25.02 is compatible with?

Take www.worldobd2.com for example, all of following available ICOM is tested working fine with APPLICATION 1.40.05 and SYSTEM version 01.25.02:

Perfect version ICOM A: item NO SP168-BA and SP168-BO

Step – by –step procedure:

1.Please use internet cable to connect ICOM (including all available ICOM) with computer, and plug 12V power adapter to super ICOM A2 to supply power or connect ICOM to BMW vehicle for power.

2.Unzip perfect ICOM A1 A2 fw 1.40.05 upgrade files.

1) Perfect version ICOM A: Open IE Internet Explorer, enter address http://169.254.33.45:60080/, log in with username/password: root/NZY1150263

2) Common version ICOM A2 A1: browse http://169.254.92.38:60080/ and username/password: root/NZY11502.

Following picture is perfect version ICOM A fw 1.40.0/ 01.25.02 login inform.

For the following operation procedure, both common BMW ICOM Next and super version ICOM are the same.

3）Click “Update Firmware”, you will see ICOM firmware version information.

4）Click “Browse” to select file “ICOM-BootImage-01-25-02.bin”, set image type as “SYSTEM”, click “Send the file”.

5）When you get message “Write the image file to the flash?” click “Yes”, then ICOM indicator light will turn red.

6）When you get message “The SYSTEM IMAGE update was successful”, click “Update Firmware”.

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7）Choose ” ICOM-ApplicationImage-01-40-05.bin”, set image type as “APPLICATION”, click “Send the file”, it will cost several minutes please be patient to upload.

8）When you get message “Write the image file to the flash?” click “Yes”, then the OBD-II scan tool ICOM indicator light will turn red for the second times.
When it finish upgrading, click “reboot”.

9）Click “Home” – “Update Firmware”, you will find ICOM A2 firmware update to the newest version:
Current SYSTEM IMAGE version: 01.25.02
Current APPLICATION IMAGE version: 1.40.05

Additional Note:
Please be sure your computer is to obtain IP address automatically.

Learn it from an experienced technician.

I consulted ICOM A2 from the professional technician mainly because I read much information in BMW forums telling that the only difference between ICOM A2 & ICOM is the hardware.

Actually, ICOM A is the first generation bmw scanner.

ICOM A is the basic component. In physical terms, it would provide the vehicle diagnostic interface OBD II interface, and provide adaptive integration to the repair shop network interfaces required. Voltage is provided by KL30 by vehicle interface. ICOM A requirement of the electrical operation of a minimum voltage of 8V. Only the supplied voltage exceeds the minimum limit in order to ensure a stable function.

ICOM B is the external ICOM A MOST (Multimedia Transmission System) interface. It is  connected with ICOM A through the USB cable. Voltage is provided by ICOM A through USB. Only when the lowest of the ICOM A supply voltage of 8V, ICOM B would only be ready to run the electrical side of the vehicle through a standard ICOM B MOST interface.

ICOM C is an intelligent interface that allows OBD II socket and BMW round match. As the lengthening of the auxiliary module, it will help to connect ICOM A and non-OBD II vehicle interface. Voltage is provided from the vehicle side of the circular socket by KL30 provided. ICOM C electrical operation provides for a minimum voltage of 8V. KL30 on the voltage sent to the OBD II device on the inside, and thus to Auto Scanner Tool ICOM A power supply. Only when the vehicle’s battery voltage exceeds the minimum limit in order to ensure stability of the two devices interact.

Compared with ICOM A+B+C, BMW ICOM A2+B+C has the some special features. The modified ICOM A2 for vehicles with OBD access receives a significantly more powerful processor and more storage capacity. Robust aluminium case will help to avoid damage when using in harsh environments. To protect the MOST connector, the ICOM B for vehicles with optical MOST access will be equipped with a soft cover made of rubber instead of the former plastic cap. The ICOM C for old series with a diagnostics socket will be additionally equipped with an approx. 20 cm long cable, which facilitates the connection of the ICOM A2 and makes storage in the engine compartment easier.

I have installed New BMW ICOM software ISTA-D (3.48) on my laptop. It works well and could read the error codes and perform tests.

It seems though that the readings and the tests results (i.e. the operations) are not saved anywhere on my laptop so they cannot be reviewed at a later date. In operation list, when I chose and click on a finished one I get the message: “order data processed on a different device and could not be downloaded from the IPS service”. So my question is:

1: Are these actually saved somewhere else and I could not find them?

2: If they were not saved, is there any setting change to be done is in ISTA-D so that these operations can be saved?

Around the two questions I search answer on forums and I do find a solution which was surprisingly worked for me. Here I would like to share with you.

Solution: You have to enable FASTA in ISTAGUI.exe.config file – see first key value set to true, leave everything else as is. This should enable Operations Logs in ISTA. Not 100% sure that this is the reason the operations report populates, but it never did before and also saves the progress of actions so that it can be started again (Once vehicle is ID’d, click on Finished). Try and see. To be successful in saving, I think you will need at least one action performed (either FUB or ABL, doesn’t really matter). Because its Standalone, the Transfer part of my ISTA will stay “In Progress” and doesn’t go anywhere.

Below is my PHP code:

They’re saved in FASTAOut folder. To read them outside of ISTA you need OrderDataViewer.

Some friends told me it seems that the newer Rheingold 3.56 can save the error codes and the Auto Scanner Tool. I find some information in this blog, hope it helps someone.

Days ago, I used the new ENET cable to manage to do some coding on BMW F22 M235i. Then, i share my coding adventure on forums. And here is one of useful feedback. Put them here and it works.

My post:

“Finally had enough time off work to get all the software installed onto my laptop (over 7GB of files). Once installed I took my new E-SYS cable and connected to the OBD II port in the car. Note, if you haven’t found this connection yet it took me a while. My old E92 had a little plastic door right above the hood release, not on the F22. Everything being black I had to take a flashlight up under the driver side before I found it. No cover on it, just sits along the side kick panel above and back from the trunk release button.

Fired up the car (you can put your car on battery tender instead) and connected my new cable to the port and into the laptop. Fired up my new software (without the needed token files) and hit “connect” and prayed it would work. After two or so minutes of files loading and the bmw diagnostic scanner connection establishing communication with the car I had an active connection

Not having all the software fully licensed for use yet I did some simple looking around and check to see if my car was supported with the default F20 file set. I was able to the read my cars VIN and populate all the internal settings in the software configuration. Really cool! I now have access to all the internal data settings stored in my ECU. Save a copy of the original settings (will back them up to be safe) and shutdown. Once i get the token files I will begin finding and coding the different settings.

Pretty exciting stuff that I get to be my normal computer geek self and play with my favorite toy at the same time. Will keep this thread updated with my experience as I proceed.”

Useful feedback:

“You don’t need to be a computer software developer to install and use the software, but that won’t hurt either. The reason you are finding it difficult to find all the required information and setup in one location, as best I can tell, is that a lot of what is being done could be consider in violation of warranty and/or software rights. I think the people who have ventured into this are vary worried about being exposed to the powers to be, or worst held in some legal contempt for helping others change computer settings in someone else’s vehicle.

I had to make contact with no less than 3 individuals who have experience with the process and access to the software before I could even get it started. Now that I made it pass the initial issues I feel pretty good about performing these changes to my own car. I guess we will see shortly as I now have my token to perform

This is the instruction on how to change vehicle order (VO) with NCS Expert, on BMW vehicles except F series.

VO modify tools:

ICOM A2 NCS Expert

(for BMW F series, you need ENET cable + E-sys)

steps to modify VO:

1.In NCS Expert, load the Expertmode profile.

2.Press F1 or the VIN/ZCS/FA button.

3.Press F3 or the ZCS/FA f. ECU button.

4.In the Choose CHASSIS pop-up window, choose the E89 chassis and press the OK button.

5.In the Choose ECU pop-up window, choose the CAS ECU and press the OK button.

6.The model (CHASSIS), VIN number (FG), and VO (FA) should be displayed in NCS Expert.

7.Press F2 or the Enter FA button to modify the VO.

8.In the Choose CHASSIS pop-up window, choose the E89 chassis and press the OK button.

9.In the Enter VIN pop-up window, verify that the Vin listed is the correct VIN number for the vehicle. The last digit attached to the VIN number is a checksum. You should not have to change anything on this step. Just verify and press the OK button.

10.In the Enter FA pop-up screen, for the Attribute text field, input the SA or Service Code. After typing in the code, press the Add button, and verify that the code was listed in the list of FA codes. After verifying, press the OK button.

-SA codes will begin with a “$”
-Service Codes will begin with a “+”

11.Press F6 or the Back button.

12.Press F4 or Process ECU button.

13.For the Choose ECU pop-up window, select CAS and press the OK button.

14.Press F2 or the Change job button.

15.From the Choose job pop-up window, select FA_WRITE and press the OK button.

16.Under “get coded:”, verify that CAS is the ECU selected to get coded. Also verify the JOBNAME is equal to FA_WRITE, and then press F3 or the Execute job button.

17.After the job has ended, we need to also write the new VO to the LMA ECU so that it will be both wrote to the CAS and LMA ECU. Press F1 or Change ECU button.

18.From the Choose ECU pop-up window, choose the BMW Engineer Software and press the OK button.

19.Under “get coded:”, verify that LMA is the ECU selected to get coded. Also verify the JOBNAME is equal to FA_WRITE, and then press F3 or the Execute job button.

20.After the coding has ended, you can exit out of NCS Expert.