How to choose BMW Diagnostic tool for E9x/E82, ISTA D/P, INPA, DIS?

There are many BMW diagnostic tools in the market, like ICOM A2 with ISTA D/P, K+DCAN cable with INPA, and OPS with DIS or SSS. This is about how to choose a proper BMW diagnostic & programming tool for E9x / E82 chassis.


Model:
2011 E9x / E82 chassis

Optional interface:
INPA with K+DCAN cable
ISTA D ISTA-P with ICOM A2 + B+ C emulator
DIS & SSS v41 with BMW OPS

Purpose:
program/reset steering angle sensors, adaptation

Suggestion of diagnostic and programming tool for 2011 E9x / E82:
DIS and SSS are massively outdated, replaced in 2008 with ISTA.

You can "technically" hack up SSS to support newer vehicles, but that's a massive gamble.

If you want the proper tools for diagnostics, you can use a K+DCAN cable with INPA and ISTA/D rather easily. It does well in reading & deleting errors, adaptations, driver programming, applu coding, etc.

Programming is another game, you can program basic modules like the DME, etc. But anything on the MOST (fibre optic bus) like the navigation system, etc. you really want an ICOM A+B along with ISTA/P and a good stable power supply, otherwise you risk seriously screwing up your car by bricking ECUs.

NOTE: BMW ICOM A2 Emulator, or INPA K+DCAN cable? (click to get it)

2016.2 ISTA+ ICOM A2 ISTA-D 3.53 ISTA-P 3.57

2016.2 BMW ICOM A/ A2 Rheingold is released with STA-D 3.53.30 ISTA-P 3.57.4.003 without USB dongle supporting engineer programming and working well on the newest BMW G series vehicles, and also, in this version, ISTA+ is added.

Operating system:
Windows 8

Workable tool:
ICOM A
ICOM A2 emulator

New information:
Support BMW G series
Add new software ISTA+

Optional languages
Diagnose and programming: Multi-language
TIS diagram circuit:  Chinese, English and German

2016.02 BMW software display
ISTA+ news (newly added in ICOM software)
ISTA version 3.53 - contents, notes, diagnosis
ISTA version 3.53 - new contents for repair literature
ISTA version 3.53 - contents, notes, non-electrical diagnosis (NED)
ISTA usage notes

ISTA-D 3.53.30.15828 subsystem version

E-sys 3.26.1
- Engineer Software for F series (available for programming and coding)

ETK 3.1.20
EPC information
Cd version: 2/2016
Database version: ETK 3.1.20
Data from 20.01.2016

ICOM Configuration Manager
Device information
Device: ICOM FW: 03.14.03
Mode: ISPI-NEXT

Device configuration

WLAN setting

ITOOL RADAR
- Used to recognize ICOM, activate or release ICOM Port

ISTA/P 3.57.4.003
- Diagnostic and repair guide, including Diagrams and disassembly Figure

ISTA/P ISPI-NEXT information
- Programming and coding software system

KSD2
- Work software

BMW ICOM A2 Emulator, or INPA K+DCAN cable?

One BMW car for one ICOM? NO! Many fresh BMW owners are new to vehicle diagnosis and have incorrect opinions that ICOM is the most ideal scanner. Here are some suggestion for some new to BMW repair.
If you just want to scan for faults, clear them and do diagnostics and maybe some light coding you don't need an ICOM. A K+DCAN cable is good enough with either BMW Standard Tools or BMW Rheingold. But this is mainly for cars from 1998 to 2008, some new cars also.
Good K+Dcan inpa cables: (click the pic for more detail)
http://www.obdexpress.co.uk/wholesale/bmw-inpa-k-can-obd2express.html
 
Bad K+Dcan cable:
 
RHEINGOLD is ISTA-D and runs natively on windows with K+DCAN interface. It's very good dealer diagnostic software. Pretty much does every function you'd ever need.
ICOM emulator is really needed when updating software on the vehicle where a stable and reliable connection is required over several hours. Almost all BMW cars are listed in, both old and new.
BMW ICOM A2+B+C scanner:
http://www.obdexpress.co.uk/wholesale/wifi-bmw-icom-a2-b-c-diagnostic-programming-tool.html