F30POST
F30POST
2012-2015 BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > Technical Forums > F30 DIYs and Coding Discussions > New to coding: looking for recommendations to create standalone laptop with SW
Studio RSR
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      06-16-2021, 03:14 PM   #1
cfm56d7b
Lieutenant General
United_States
5849
Rep
10,229
Posts

Drives: 2017 440i Gran Coupe & 2015 X5
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Orange County, CA

iTrader: (2)

New to coding: looking for recommendations to create standalone laptop with SW

I am very new to coding.

Overview of the project:

- Plan to get a basic Windows 10 laptop with 1 GB SSD / 16 GB of RAM, newer processor
- I will be coding two vehicles: 2017 F36 and 2015 X15
- What ENET cables do you recommend? Happy to pay extra for high quality cables
- What software is required? From what source?

Appreciate all feedback. I will learn quickly.

Last edited by cfm56d7b; 06-17-2021 at 11:15 AM..
Appreciate 0
      06-16-2021, 03:27 PM   #2
Billfitz
Lieutenant General
Billfitz's Avatar
United_States
8170
Rep
15,963
Posts

Drives: '15 328iX GT
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: New Hampshire

iTrader: (0)

Unless you're going to flash or do VO coding make life easier and use Bimmercode.
Appreciate 1
cfm56d7b5849.00
      06-16-2021, 04:37 PM   #3
cfm56d7b
Lieutenant General
United_States
5849
Rep
10,229
Posts

Drives: 2017 440i Gran Coupe & 2015 X5
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Orange County, CA

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Billfitz View Post
Unless you're going to flash or do VO coding make life easier and use Bimmercode.
Thanks for responding, Billfitz. I do need flash capability.
Appreciate 0
      06-17-2021, 10:09 AM   #4
capt_slow
Captain
capt_slow's Avatar
United_States
552
Rep
906
Posts

Drives: 2017 F31 328d
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
I bought a old-ish Dell E4310 from Craigslist for about $200, then spent some more $$ to dump a 500GB SSD to store the full PSDZ data and ISTA files. Something like this and this.

If you're going to flash your ECUs, you're going to need a ICOM unit as I dont think you can do it over ENET. You're also going to need a external power source to power all the ECUs while programming. This is done using a specialized programming charger or having a second running car connected via jumper cables.
__________________
2017 328d xDrive Sports Wagon: Estoril Blue, Black Sensatec, M-Sport Pkg
2020 i3 Rex: Capparis White, Giga World
Appreciate 1
cfm56d7b5849.00
      06-17-2021, 10:46 AM   #5
atzebmw
Colonel
Germany
588
Rep
2,302
Posts

Drives: Tesla Model 3
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Germany

iTrader: (0)

You can flash over ENET if you are using E-Sys.
E-sys has the advantage to flash single ecus.
With some special and newer versions of ISTA you can also flash over ENET.
Appreciate 0
      06-17-2021, 11:14 AM   #6
cfm56d7b
Lieutenant General
United_States
5849
Rep
10,229
Posts

Drives: 2017 440i Gran Coupe & 2015 X5
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Orange County, CA

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by capt_slow View Post
I bought a old-ish Dell E4310 from Craigslist for about $200, then spent some more $$ to dump a 500GB SSD to store the full PSDZ data and ISTA files. Something like this and this.

If you're going to flash your ECUs, you're going to need a ICOM unit as I dont think you can do it over ENET. You're also going to need a external power source to power all the ECUs while programming. This is done using a specialized programming charger or having a second running car connected via jumper cables.
Thanks for the recommendation and links to suitable laptops.

Can you recommend a specialized programming charger? Where can I get one?

Is there a source where I can purchase ISTA+ with an easier installation process?
Appreciate 0
      06-17-2021, 03:07 PM   #7
ST3VO
New Member
ST3VO's Avatar
England
9
Rep
6
Posts

Drives: F30 330d M Sport LCI
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: UK

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by cfm56d7b View Post
I am very new to coding.

Overview of the project:

- Plan to get a basic Windows 10 laptop with 1 GB SSD / 16 GB of RAM, newer processor
- I will be coding two vehicles: 2017 F36 and 2015 X15
- What ENET cables do you recommend? Happy to pay extra for high quality cables
- What software is required? From what source?

Appreciate all feedback. I will learn quickly.
I've been using a Dell 32GB Inspiron with 4GB RAM for my car programming. I have Fiat, Audi and now eSys on there and it's very adequate, although it's eMMC drive is near full.

You really only need a low end laptop. The most important thing really is battery life. The Inspiron I have lasts a good 8 hours, due to the low end specs. It also has no LAN port. I use a USB to Lan dongle and a cheapo ENET lead from china with no issues.

Last edited by ST3VO; 06-17-2021 at 03:30 PM..
Appreciate 1
cfm56d7b5849.00
      06-17-2021, 09:45 PM   #8
capt_slow
Captain
capt_slow's Avatar
United_States
552
Rep
906
Posts

Drives: 2017 F31 328d
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by cfm56d7b View Post
Thanks for the recommendation and links to suitable laptops.

Can you recommend a specialized programming charger? Where can I get one?

Is there a source where I can purchase ISTA+ with an easier installation process?

The Schumacher
is the one I'm aware of, but really any DC power supply capable of delivering 13V at 70A+ will do the trick.

You can find ISTA download links around the Internet or even in the coding forum. The install process is a bit intimidating, but its not that bad.
__________________
2017 328d xDrive Sports Wagon: Estoril Blue, Black Sensatec, M-Sport Pkg
2020 i3 Rex: Capparis White, Giga World
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
coding

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:44 PM.




f30post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST