I am Mario Perez and I specialize in creating useful software applications for many purposes. I am an automotive enthusiast and have many years of programming and systems integration experience. I had been away from BMW maintenance for a number of years and after I moved to Europe with my wife, I got back into the BMW scene.
I began marketing these tools in 2013, and through the beginning of 2019 have sold several thousand copies to people around the world on both eBay and via my website.
My tools always work, the tools to install and configure the BMW software were written by myself and no one else, and because of my years of experience I can always help determine solutions to almost any issue related to making the BMW diagnostic software work!
NOTE: I am an online presence only, and my home is Washington State. I can be reached though my US phone number and via email, though due to time zone differences I may not be able to actually answer your call so please leave a message.
Because long ago I when I had an E32 I found that there were ways to communicate with the car, diagnose or change the car parameters without going to the dealer using factory and dealer diagnostic Software. I found the raw software, found instructions from those who had done it before, followed them (after experimenting to figure out why there were often contradictory directions from install to install) and then used the software packages. As I had friends with similar issues, and because I then knew how to, I helped out installing copies of my own DIS and SSS, configuring the EDIABAS and making it work on their systems. What I discovered was that no one set of instructions covered all the systems out there and there are a lot of 'facts' that are not entirely true. And I learned that there were things that could determine how each computer would need to be configured for the specific version of Windows installed.
Because with the advent of newer versions of Windows I found that many of the old tried and true methods of making the BMW diagnostic tools functional were no longer so easy to manage for most people new to the tools. I thought I could apply the tools and methods I had created to create a universal Windows installer for the BMW tools that would work for any user no matter what version of Windows they were running. That is of course, as long of course as the basic hardware and software requirements were met.
At the end of 2017 I added in the BMW wiring diagram system (WDS) offering. It too is a tool that was designed for Windows back in the late 1990's and had some severe issues with modern versions of Windows. I found the shortcomings, programmed around them, created a DVD installation process that would allow the WDS to work on any Windows computer no matter which operating system was installed. In 2021 I finished rewriting the code that the BMW WDS runs on to fix one major issue that kept it from working on modern versions of Windows. And then I created a downloadable version of the WDS, which is currently available.
For the BMW diagnostic system I created a universal installation system that looks at the computer, the hardware and the operating system. Then it runs the install using all the parameters that are correct and work for that combination. The only requirements are a computer with adequate disk space for the install, Windows XP Professional, Windows Vista 32- or 64-bit, Windows 7 32- or 64-bit, or Windows 8.1 32- or 64-bit (however NOT Windows 8.0). It does work with Windows 10 (32- and 64-bit) as well as Windows 11 (64-bit), but there are lots of potential issues with the operating systems due to Microsoft update policies, so we prefer not to recommend it currently. The software is specifically designed to work with a "Real" RS232 Serial port OR connected using USB as well as the factory BMW diagnostic multiplexers (DK - German initials for "Diagnostic Head" or as they say "Dianosekopf" and popularly called a "Yellow Head", as well as the OPS and OPPS).
The only other issue is the computer - a older Windows based desktop computer is generally fine, if it meets the technical requirements and you have a place to use it near the car. Most people use a notebook (or laptop) which allows you to use it in the car. The screen on the laptop must have a minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768 as the DIS and SSS are designed to work on that resolution. If you have a greater screen resolution (1280x800, 1280x1024, 1440x900 etc.), no problem. However this is a case where newer and larger is not always better.
The best OS to use for maximum compatibility when you need ADS vehicle support is Windows XP with SP3 and .NET 3.5 as it has the least amount of adaptations needed to let the EDIABAS software work. For non-ADS cars I prefer Windows 7. However our installation will install on Windows XP, Vista 32- or 64-bit, Windows 7 32- and 64-bit and Windows 8.1 32- and 64-bit as well as Windows 10 32- or 64-bit or even Windows 11 64-bit (but Windows 10 and 11 include potential complications so we still do not recommend either of them).
The host computer should ideally be a clean install and MUST NOT contain any modern anti-virus or extra firewalls installed (though the Windows Firewall is fine). The only modern AV programs that work with the BMW software successfully are the "Windows Security Essentials" (XP through Windows 7) or "Windows Defender" (Windows 8 - Windows 10). All other AV programs WILL cause issues with connecting, diagnosing and coding. However, as your host computer will be used for maintaining your car not surfing the net, a working network should not be necessary. It is important to understand, that a working network connection is needed during the installation process, and then is not needed AFTER the install is complete. To be clear, the installer registers the system and may require the download of some packages from the Internet during the install process, so until that is complete the host computer does need Internet access.
The above is approximate, different factories may have changed on different dates. The above is generally accepted for the USA/Canada.
This table provides hard-to-find OBD-II connector locations starting in 1995 with the 750iL (E38); all others start from 1996.
MODEL | CONNECTOR LOCATION |
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E36, E39, E46, E52, E53 | Driver foot-well area. |
E38* | Center of the console next to the cup holder. The trim panel snaps off the center console. |
Z3 | Right side of center console. |
*E38 and other early OBD-II models may have a cosmetic cover and a fastened DLC cover. |
Compatibility:The pss-autosoft EasyInstall BMW and Mini EDIABAS diagnostic software is specifically set up for the serial port version. However, once installed we include a utility to easily switch to any other supported cable type.
OEM Diagnostic Multiplexers:Not everyone can afford or needs one, but if you are going to be using one of the BMW DK "Yellow Head" multiplexers, understand that it is designed to work with pre-DCAN cars (but not all); for later K-Line cars with MOST or DCAN cars you will need an OPS or OPPS (depending upon your specific car model). This is a limitation built in by BMW.
DK "Yellow Head". For use with DIS using OBD: | DK "Yellow Head". For use with SSS Progman using OBD: |
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OPS/OPPS. For use with DIS using OBD: | OPS/OPPS model series list for SSS Progman. For use with OBD Socket: | OPS/OPPS model series list for Progman. For use with M.O.S.T interface: |
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Note:Using an OEM OPS OPPS head sometimes will not allow you full use of the software depending upon the limitations of the head. For example, using an OPS with an E46 makes it so that you can only use the DIS or the EDIABAS applications. The SSS Progman requires an EDIC interface (i.e. a DK "Yellow Head") and will not link if an OPS is used. This is one advantage to using an after-market cable as it gets around this limitation as we have modified the SSS Progman (hard coded) to connect and display either an EDIC interface, OPS interface or to automatically recognize the OEM interface type. And since we support ALL BMW interfaces, we have added a tool inside the SSS Progman to easily change which interface the system recognizes at will. Note that we’ve also ensured that the dreaded “12.4Volt” issue in Progman is addressed to any non-OEM type interface.
The advantage to the OEM type heads is that if your car supports the DK, OPS/OPPS and/or has M.O.S.T. support then the system performs much faster as the communication speed between car and computer is multiplied.
This listing is believed correct, however if you find an error please let us know.
There are three interface types our system supports. ADS (Aktiven Diagnose Stecker or Active diagnostic connector), K-Line (also called "double K-Line" or sometimes simply "KK-Line"), and finally DCAN. There is a fourth interface that was introduced in 2008 or 2009 that we have zero support for, that is the E-Net interface, which requires completely different diagnostic software and was used with F-, G-, and I-Series cars.
ADS equipped cars started in about 1987 and continued until about 1997 (some models, such as SOME Z3’s and E38s continued to use ADS until 1999 or later in some markets). ADS cars require an ADS serial cable, not the EDIABAS/OBD serial cable that are (with some exceptions) commonly found on ebay or Amazon. Currently there are only three vendors we are aware of that offer the ADS cable. As of 2018 two of these vendors have added a USB version of the ADS cable, it seems to work fine with the early EDIABAS software.
K-Line cables come in several formats. There are serial combination K-Line cables that support ADS and K-Line, serial K-Line cables that only support K-Line cars, USB cables that support both K-Line and DCAN and USB cables that support only K-Line. The good vendors include the correct adapters for the type of cable you purchase. Early K-Line cars share the same 20 pin DLC as the ADS cars, however it is wired differently. So K-Line cars with the 20 pin DLC require a 20 pin adapter for the standard 16 pin cable or the BMW software will not work correctly. The combination K-Line/DCAN cables (often called “K+DCAN) require an additional adapter for all K-Line cars that do NOT have the 20 pin DLC. This is because the later DCAN cars have only a single date line and the connection point for the second K-Line is blank and the adapter fixes this issue. These cables are often marked “INPA Compatible”.
The last non-OEM interface type we support is the DCAN interface. The DCAN interface was introduced in 2007 officially (03/2007 build dates for the majority of BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce models). There are exceptions however as some cars with 2006 build dates have been found to have DCAN.
The DCAN interface always uses the in-car 16 pin OBD connector and therefore looks just like all the other cables. However currently this cable is ONLY offered as a dual-mode cable that supports the K-Line and DCAN. There is a special software tool we provide (as do most cable sellers) that allows the K+DCAN cables to work with both types of cars, which is in addition to the physical hardware connection differences.
All DVD's are 100% data-checked prior to shipping, but if somehow your DVD is damaged we will make it good. (Currently 04/2020 we are only offering a download version of all systems!)
*Note that all information is gleaned from a variety of sources, and we cannot verify all of data presented here. Information was pulled from sources including BMW documentation, and after-market diagnostic system providers.
pss-autosoft.net is not affiliated in any way with BMW Group of Companies.
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