With the born of newest BMW ICOM A3 pro + V1.40.05 diagnostic programming tool, BMW ICOM series including ICOM, ICOM A1 and ICOM A3 get most people confused, they have no idea which one to buy.
FYI, BMW ICOM A3 pro + V1.40.05 comes with a internal WIFI chip, just get one wireless adapter and plug into the computer, then the wireless adapter will communicate with the wifi chip and perform diagnostic and programming function on all BMW vehicles e.g BMW Cars, BMW Motorcycle, Rolls-Royce, Mini Cooper.
Part 1: Similarities- BMW ICOM, ICOM A2 and ICOM A3 Comparison Table
1.BMW ICOM Packed Software (In details)
BMW ICOM, ICOM A2 and ICOM A3 share the same software version, for the detailed autorized software
2.ICOM A2 update:
Firmware update
icom firmware is able to update, tak ICOM A2 V1.40.05 for example, here are on how to update BMW ICOM A2 firmware to V1.40.05
icom a2 firmware v1.4 bootimage bin free download how to update icom a2 firmware to v1.4
Software update:
BMW ICOM software is able to update when the newest version is tested ok and released, you are required to pay the newest software.
Part 2: Differences among ICOM A2, ICOM A3 and ICOM A3 Pro+
ICOM A3 V1.40.05 with WIFI outlook and ports
ICOM A3 V1.38 mux outlook and ports
ICOM A3 V1.38 with software
ICOM A3 V1.38 without software
ICOM A3 V1.38 has no software in package. Users can buy it in addition.
BMW ICOM A2 V1.37 mux outlook and ports
Part 3: BMW ICOM Rheingold ISTA-D ISTA-P issues and solutions:
Question: When EasyConnect is processed done?
Answer: Only you get following picture can it means EasyConnect is processed done.
Question: ICOM or ICOM A2 fails to work on old BMW (one system or new car)
If you find ICOM or ICOM A2 fail to work on old BMW or one system or new car, just disassemble ICOM and test this 39K resistance. Another reason is unstable voltage.
How to reset the language you want:
Reset the language is possible, some customer feedback they receive the ICOM hardware and find the language is not they want, but don’t know how to reset. Jjust open diagnostic software ISTA/P, and then click this “Tool” icon to reset shown as follows.
Using 2015.8 Windows7 BMW ICOM HDD (Item No. SS151-8B), get error message “The screen resolution is insufficient to run this application”, how to fix?
Solution:
After open ISTA-P, click “Reset settings”, then close, open again ISTA-P, click “ Reset Settings” then reset “Resolution”.
Check your computer system resolution setting, make sure it is as the same as the ISTA-P resolution setting.
Using ICOM 2015.7 ISTA-D 3.50.10 ISTA-P 3.56.1.002 (Item No. SS151-7) and these function displays gray, ISTA-D is working, ISTA-P is not working, how to do?
Possible reason: Your exit ISTA-P then directly turn off the computer, it results in the software is damaged.Normally, you are required to exit the software then follow the general procedure to turn off the computer.
Solution: Now, the solution is to send the software back to repair.
Q: Buy BMW ICOM External or Internal Hard Drive
A: As we all know, ICOM is available with both external and internal hard drive, which version to choose, it is specific to individual users. In the following parts, I would like to sort out their advantages and disadvantages.
External hard drive of BMW ICOM A2 is a much more versatile solution, and it was my initial choice. If laptop broke, you could just plug it into another machine.
Only downside is it’s a lot slower than running it from disk, because of VMWare overhead.
Now I have it loaded on a machine-specific hard drive (internal hard drive) which I have installed in the machine. Much faster.
If you use it 2 or 3 times a year, a VM solution is perfectly fine. I did that for a few years myself.
If you use it quite a bit (with 3 MB’s in the house hold, I use it all the time) then go machine-specific hard drive.
Also remember the external hard drive hangs off the machine and can be damaged as you move the laptop around. If you pick up the laptop, the USB drive unplugs, then it will fall to the ground and you’re cooked.
Internal is so much nicer because now I just have the multiplexer and laptop to carry to the car. Nothing to unplug or fall off.
Q: Buy SSD or HDD
