XSeries-forum

Hi All,
I am new to BMW’s and have just purchased a 2012 X5. What is the best diagnostic tool so I can program some features, and reset adaptations, have used VW kits before but not sure which kit to buy , any recommendations.
Thanks

Bimmercode, BimmerUtility, Carly, the BMW suite (INPA/ISTA/EDIBIAS/NCS Expert) to name a few. It depends upon what hardware you want to use - laptop & cable or tablet/phone and Bluetooth/wireless dongle.

It also depends upon how confident you are making changes as errors can (and have) bricked cars - probably the same as can happen with VCDS if misused.

A number of utilities will tell you that you can code all sorts of wonderful things, until you try it and find that actually you can’t because the functions work in some markets but not in others.

As an aside, those wanting to play and code cars built from 2023 will be out of luck. BMW has started locking down coding options and for now you need a token that is only provided by BMWs servers in Munich. No access, no token, no coding possible! That and the new over-the-air (OTA) updates wipe coding out every time there’s an update! 2012 will be fine though

Thanks for the reply, was planning on using a lap top and cable setup, seen a few cables on Amazon, and found a ISTA download, will give this a go