BMW Coding Guide

The Beginner’s Guide to

Coding With NCS Expert

Rev. 2011.04.23

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Contents

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Part I: Intended Audience .......................................................................................................................................................... 3

Part II: Scope of This Document ........................................................................................................................................... 3

Hardware ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4

Installation ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Part I: Download Software ....................................................................................................................................................... 4

Part II: Drivers ................................................................................................................................................................................... 5

Part III: BMW Standard Tools ................................................................................................................................................. 6

Part IV: Datens ................................................................................................................................................................................. 7

Coding ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

Part I: Reading .................................................................................................................................................................................. 8

Part II: Writing ............................................................................................................................................................................... 10

Glossary ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 11

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Introduction

Part I: Intended Audience

This guide is intended for individuals who wish to learn to use the BMW Standard Tools software
suite with a D-CAN cable to code the various modules found on late model BMW vehicles. It is
assumed that you have at least a basic understanding of the following concepts:

● Common PC hardware and software terminology

● Installing hardware and hardware drivers in Windows environments

● Working with common file archive formats

● The BitTorrent protocol and associated software

● BMW chassis designations and common automotive terminology

Furthermore, it is imperative that you understand that by modifying your vehicle using the
procedures in this document entails a potential risk to your vehicle and possibly your warranty.
The information in this document is provided as-is, and by using it to modify your vehicle in any
way you assume any and all associated risks. Read this document carefully before attempting any
of the procedures contained herein.

That said, learning how to code your vehicle can be a very rewarding endeavor. These cars are
packed full of features that are deactivated or locked-out from the factory, and learning to unlock
that functionality can make owning and driving your car a much more enjoyable experience.

Part II: Scope of This Document

The BMW Standard Tools suite and diagnostic cables have a myriad of uses. Readers are
encouraged to seek-out additional ways to make use of the software and hardware employed in
the techniques covered in this document. However, the focus of this document is strictly to teach
you how to set up and use BMW Standard Tools (primarily NCS Expert) to code the modules
found on BMW vehicles. There are several resources online detailing other ways to use BMW
Standard Tools and diagnostic cables to get the most out of your car.

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Hardware

In order to use BMW Standard Tools to re-code your car, you will need the following hardware:

● A PC (preferably a laptop) running at least Windows XP SP2. Windows 7 is

recommended. Many of the underlying programs used by BMW Standard Tools were
designed to run on legacy (very old) systems. For this reason, setting-up a dedicated
environment using virtualization software is recommended. However, this is an advanced
topic and will not be covered in this document.

● An INPA/EDIABAS K+DCAN USB Diagnostic cable. These can be

found on eBay and other online retailers. Expect to pay around $100
for the cable and shipping. It should look something like the image to
the right.

Installation

This is by far the most complicated and error-prone part of the whole process. Remember, these
programs are either a) very old or b) designed to work on very old systems. It is easy for a
novice to make a seemingly trivial mistake that will render the entire software suite unusable.
Follow the steps below carefully to ensure you wind up with a stable environment.

Part I: Download Software

This guide is distributed as part of an archive that contains 4 sub-folders:

● BMW Standard Tools 5.0

● Datens (v38)

● Drivers

● Misc

The total size of the archive is just over 706MB. If you de-selected certain chassis in the Datens
folder, your download will be smaller. Verify that you have all 4 components before you continue.
Make sure these files are easily accessible in a working directory.