User:Kitchen
Not only has BMW electrical architecture improved more than the final decade, but so has the tools to support them. The tools has transformed, the interfaces have modified in addition to the complexity of set up and use. More info Integrity First Automotive.
Early equipment
Back from the 1990's, the Team Tester Just one (GT1) was released. There were a handful of versions, like DIS Moreover (stationary setup), nevertheless the GT1 is considered the most widespread and is also what will be referenced here. The GT1 is often a moveable machine which contained a rechargeable battery. It's got a touchscreen screen for easy use. It contained application for Diagnosing as well as experienced software package known as TIS (Specialized Facts Screen) that's the Assistance & Repair Data. Early versions of Diagnostics also contained application called Coding, Programming & Individualization (CIP). So from the same tool, you could Diagnose the problem, look up how to replace the component and then perform the needed initializations for the new part. Two interfaces were being used: EDIC (yellow interface) and the OPS (orange interface). Later versions of the OPS had been known as OPPS, since they carried additional diagnostics for the Byteflite system and they had been also yellow, but much bigger than the EDIC. Authentic GT1s are on the portable touchscreen unit. There are many "cloned" units out there, adapted to work on a PC. Either genuine or cloned, the interfaces work the same and connect via an Ethernet port.
Later versions of the GT1 software package removed CIP, and moved it to a separate computer (for storage), but still accessible from the GT1. This new software program was termed Progman (short for Program Manager). This new software package contained all of the CIP functions and added new features like multiple car programming and dual channel programming for each car (DIAGBUS and MOST bus simultaneously).
Third Generation equipment
Fast forward to about 2008 when the Third Generation (3G) of equipment was released: ISIS. The contents of ISIS are so large, that dedicated servers are installed at the dealership. An online version is available to the aftermarket for a fee, termed OSS. It can be found at BMW's tech website. With the introduction of ISIS comes a new interface, known as ICOM. Previous interfaces (EDIC & OPS) won't work with ISIS. ISIS consists of a few parts, since it completely replaced GT1 & Progman. The main part of ISIS that is used within the shop is identified as "ISTA", which can be further broken down into two parts: ISTA/D for Diagnosing vehicles and ISTA/P for Coding, Programming & Individualization.
Comparison
GT1s can be found just about anywhere, including eBay for very cheap. BMW realized that the tool was easily cloned and sold worldwide. Many levels of security have been put into the creation of ISIS to prevent this, in both resident servers and online variations. This makes it much harder for non-dealer shops to work on the newer cars. One particular would think that since the GT1 was discontinued in 2009, you could just keep using that for several more years until the newer system became more available, however, BMW stayed one step ahead! Whenever a car is programmed with the new ISTA/P, it upgrades the computer software beyond the level of what Program can recognize. That means, once a car has been updated with ISTA/P, you can NEVER use Progman on it again, rendering the "cloned" variations useless on that particular car. Also, when a new module is installed, the computer software that is pre-installed on that module is also newer than what Program can recognize, which can stop the entire programming process, forcing the car to be programmed by ISTA/P.
