Diagnostic program:INPA(newbie)

[Edvinac]

Hello guys. I have a few questions about the diagnostic program called INPA. I am also very new to all of this.

I am considering of ordering a cable which I could use with INPA and my e39. It has the old round 20pin connector, so I will need a cable which goes from 20pin to the 16pin connector and the diagnostic cable itself.

For the questions:

1.Does it really matter which one I order from ebay? Do they have any diffrences? They seem to be all identical from the looks.
2.Is it ok if I use INPA on my everyday computer?(heard people having seperate PCs for this)
3.Does it work on windows 10?(also heard it's best on winXP, but I don't have the money to buy a seperate computer for this program)

I would really appreciate the help. (bad englando sorry )

Thanks!

[328 Power 04]

1. It kind of matters, they're not all the same. I find that the green-board INPA K+DCAN cables are better. The 20-pin adapters are the same, as long as they have many sales.
2. Yes you can have INPA on everyday computer.
3. Yes it works just fine on Win10. I dislike Win10 because of forced updates (tends to break driver configurations on cables iwth FTDI chip), and so much telemetry sent to Microsoft. But if you are OK with computers you'll figure it out.

[Edvinac]

1. It kind of matters, they're not all the same. I find that the green-board INPA K+DCAN cables are better. The 20-pin adapters are the same, as long as they have many sales.
2. Yes you can have INPA on everyday computer.
3. Yes it works just fine on Win10. I dislike Win10 because of forced updates (tends to break driver configurations on cables iwth FTDI chip), and so much telemetry sent to Microsoft. But if you are OK with computers you'll figure it out.

Oh thanks. Do I need the disc that some sets have included? Or I could just buy these two and be ok with them?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/For-BMW-MI...0AAOSwAk9ZpjAE
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OBDII-20-P...MAAOSwRZRZdb0s

[328 Power 04]

Those cables look fine.
No disk needed. The software packs they include are crap anyways.

Keep in mind, you will not be able to reach instrument cluster (dashboard) and ABS/ASC with this, as these cables only read K-line.
KOMBI and ABS/ASC are on L-line and you would need ADS with a true Serial port for those 2.

[Edvinac]

Those cables look fine.
No disk needed. The software packs they include are crap anyways.

Keep in mind, you will not be able to reach instrument cluster (dashboard) and ABS/ASC with this, as these cables only read K-line.
KOMBI and ABS/ASC are on L-line and you would need ADS with a true Serial port for those 2.

Can I get a better explanation on that? So what do I need to access something like abs, speed sensors, coding US turn corners, seeing live data, making the red dot dissappear off my cluster(a.k.a. getting my mileage on my new cluster which I changed recently), etc.?

[328 Power 04]

Uum, hmm.. You have some reading to do.
These OBD2 cables only read K-line (and CANBUS) modules. Mid to late 1990's BMW had K-line modules mixed in with the older L-Line diagnosis modules. L-line was from the late 80's, and remained through some cars, mixed in with K-Line modules.
Engine, airbag, ews, IHKA, general body module are on K-line.
Most KOMBI, ABS/ASC (but not all), and some others, are on L-line.

L-line (also known as 'ADS' on forums) needs an ADS interface, which usually requires a computer with a true Serial RS232 port.

L-line is pin 15 of 20-pin port, while K line is 17 and sometimes 20.

[Edvinac]

Uum, hmm.. You have some reading to do.
These OBD2 cables only read K-line (and CANBUS) modules. Mid to late 1990's BMW had K-line modules mixed in with the older L-Line diagnosis modules. L-line was from the late 80's, and remained through some cars, mixed in with K-Line modules.
Engine, airbag, ews, IHKA, general body module are on K-line.
Most KOMBI, ABS/ASC (but not all), and some others, are on L-line.

L-line (also known as 'ADS' on forums) needs an ADS interface, which usually requires a computer with a true Serial RS232 port.

L-line is pin 15 of 20-pin port, while K line is 17 and sometimes 20.

I really appreciate the information man! Also, is there a way to see what's my module? Like is my abs is on L-line or K-line?

Sent from my Redmi Note 4 using Tapatalk

[Edvinac]

I really appreciate the information man! Also, is there a way to see what's my module? Like is my abs is on L-line or K-line?

Sent from my Redmi Note 4 using Tapatalk

UP

[328 Power 04]

There isn't a real easy way to know because there was a mixture of modules used by BMW based on the options the car has.

My 96 328is without ASC (traction control), just ABS, has "ABS MK4G" module which was a K-Line module. I reach this with USB cable just fine.
E36 with ABS/ASC has a module that is only L-Line. This included M3, 323, 328, late 325. ADS Only.
E36 Z3 without ASC was K-Line.
E36 Z3M USA with S52US with ABS/ASC had a K-Line module. ASC5 module (*this was the same part number as early Euro E39 523i*, S52US Z3M was the only US car to use E39 ABS/ASC)


So there. It gets complicated.