INPA Diagnostic Help (Cable/Drivers)

N

NickFrance

Member
Hi everyone,

I've recently joined the forum to help a friend with his Z4 (early model E85, 2.0), I've been tasked with getting it back on the road after a less than careful previous owner has let it develop quite a few little faults. Although I have driven it a bit recently and I love it! (thinking of getting my own after finishing his...)

The thing I need help with currently is 4 yellow warning lights on the dash (ABS, Handbrake, Brake and DSC), also has the tyre pressure light (old style sensors) on, but after cleaning the front wheel sensors it has gone off.

I have some general mechanical knowledge, mainly working on MGs and Jags, which leads me to suspect a wheel speed/ABS sensor somewhere being out of order (as mentioned above, cleaning the front sensors has already got rid of the type pressure light).
I haven't had the chance to remove the rear wheels yet and clean/check the rear sensors as the previous owner lost the locking wheel key (of course he did...) and I'm waiting on the order of a new one.

In the meantime I would like to try diagnosing with computer software (INPA?) as I have done previously with my Jags.
I'm not completely new to using a pc with a USB-to-OBD plug but I've only ever managed to get to fired up correctly with my Jag and their software.

I've quickly tried downloading the software and I'm pretty sure it has installed correctly, but I'm having trouble with the cable being recognised.
The cable I have was for the Jaguar software, it's called a mongoose pro, although I'm quite sure it's a Chinese knock-off, it worked fine with the jag, I just had some trouble getting the correct driver for my pc to recognise what the cable actually is.

Firstly, any clues if my cable will be able to work with this? Is there a specific cable needed for BMW/Z4 reading? Any characteristics I should look for?
Secondly, are there any specific drivers I'll need for this to work? Are they specific to the cable or the software?
Lastly, is there any other setting I should be looking for on my pc that might cause the cable to not work correcty? In particular, the guides showed setting "port latency" to 1, but I can't seem to find this setting anywhere on Windows 10.

Sorry for the long post (trying to provide all the background info) thanks so much for helping with this, if all goes well, hopefully I'll be one of you soon!
 
Save yourself a lot of time and hassle by just ordering a cable and full diagnostics install suite from somewhere like BMcables (do a google search).

The errors you have left are likely to be either ABS pump (sorted for about £200 from ECUtesting) or steering angle sensor calibration (INPA).
 
That's what I thought would end up happening, but was wondering if there was any way to check if my current cable is up to it, thanks for the advise!

I imagine I will eventually get the correct setup, will INPA definitely be able to diagnose the exact problem?
Are there any other low tech ways of checking the pump or steering angle sensor?
 
I would buy a INPA setup from BMCables, it comes with a CD, Interface and cable, you will need a 20pin to 16pin OBD cable for some models like Z3's that have the 20pin Diagnostic socket in the engine compartment, some of these models also have 16 pin OBD socket inside the cabin but that only connects to engine and transmission modules, the 20pin round pacman socket in the engine bay connects to all modules. Z4 just has the cabin 16pin OBD socket. The interface from BM Cables comes with a usb cable. The driver for the software will be on the CD but you can find it as a download on the web.
INPA is a pain to install despite what people say about one click install but BMCables seemed to be the best when I installed it. Its important to use Windows 7 or XP for this software you could try running it on Win 10 but run it in compatibility mode with Win 7 or XP.
The port to use is Port 1 USB latancy timing set to 1 and the software needs to be installed to your C: drive.
Good guide to install here and links to driver install if you need it https://www.facebook.com/notes/obd-innovations/bmw-k-can-d-can-obd2-interface-bmw-tools-driver-software-installation-guide/690838324387581/

If it all gets too much consider BMW Scanner 1.4 which is far easier to set up and has the ability to connect to all modules your car has and ability to do a lot of the jobs INPA can. It is far less clunky to use, I use it on my Z3 and Z4, anything it can't do then I fire up INPA which I also have on the Win7 Laptop I keep purely for diagnostics. All the software and kit available on ebay.
 
I've come to the conclusion that my software setup is okay, but my cable just won't do the job, which is why I can't find the latency setting in Windows.
Obvious choice seems to be buy from BMCables, but Amazon do seem to have cheaper/faster shipping on what I'm 99% sure are the same pieces of plastic.
 
Ebay Bcables here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-DIAGNOSTIC-SOFTWARE-CABLE-EDIABAS-INPA-DIS-SSS-OBD-LEAD-V44-V54-V57/401995096116?hash=item5d98c66034:g:394AAOSw2Whd1WPc
Amazon suppliers got all the same kit, spoilt for choice when it comes to it. For ease of use try BMW Scanner 1.4
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OBD2-Version-1-4-Diagnostic-tool-Fits-BMW-E38-39-E46-Code-Reader-Car-Scanner-UK/392534565474?hash=item5b64e22262:g:PGYAAOSwnY1dzBW-
It works on Z4 and Z3 even though it dosn't show the models on the description.
 
Back to update everyone! (always hate when people don't update after solving the problem...)

I got a silver cable from one of the many amazon sellers, all hooked up perfectly.

It took me an hour or so to get used to the navigation on the software, but with some searching found that I needed to re-calibrate the ABS pump valves (is that correct?) and did that through INPA.

After a few very scary seconds of hearing the pump buzz and whirr it stopped and all my lights went off shortly after!
I've taken the car for a drive and nothing has come back on, very happy!

I still have a yellow brake wear light on, but I assume that's a damaged sensor/wire.

Thanks for the help!
 
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