Tick everything below before your scheduled session. If a single item is missing
we cannot start coding safely. Allow about 10 minutes for setup.
1 · Vehicle
Park in a safe, well-ventilated spot.Indoors or off-street. Engine OFF, ignition ON (push Start without pressing the brake — twice for most BMWs).
All doors closed, key inside the cabin.Prevents the car going to sleep mid-session.
Disable Auto Start/Stop and Comfort Access if possible.Only relevant on F/G chassis — we'll guide you live if unsure.
2 · Battery & power
Battery voltage above 13.5V for the full session.Connect a battery maintainer / smart charger (CTEK MXS 5.0, NOCO Genius 10 or similar) directly to the battery terminals or jump-start posts. A standard trickle charger is not enough.
Mains power available for the maintainer and your laptop.Extension lead if needed. Laptop must stay plugged in throughout.
Turn off all heavy consumers.Headlights, AC/heater, heated seats, infotainment audio — all OFF before we connect.
3 · ENET cable (mandatory)
Genuine ENET OBD-II to RJ45 cable (F & G series).For E-series cars use a K-DCAN USB cable instead. Bluetooth and WiFi OBD adapters do NOT work for coding.
OBD-II port located and accessible.Driver-side footwell on most BMWs, behind a small flap below the steering column.
Cable plugged in firmly at both ends.OBD plug clicks into the car, RJ45 fully seated in the laptop. No USB-to-ethernet hubs — direct connection only.
4 · Laptop & internet
Windows 10 or 11 laptop, fully charged and on mains.Mac via Parallels/Bootcamp also works but Windows native is recommended.
Antivirus & firewall temporarily paused.They can block the OEM diagnostic protocols.
Stable internet connection.Home WiFi or 4G/5G hotspot. Minimum 5 Mbps up/down. Phone hotspot is fine.
Remote access tool installed.We'll send the AnyDesk link once your booking is confirmed. Do not install anything else.
5 · Information to have ready
Full 17-character VIN.Bottom of windshield or door jamb sticker.
Exact chassis & build date.e.g. F30 LCI, 03/2017. Helps us pre-load the correct profile.
List of features you want coded.Be specific — "video in motion", "digital speedo", "M-view", etc.
Why an ENET cable?
BMW coding (E-Sys / ISTA) communicates with the car over an ethernet link directly to
the OBD-II port. Wireless adapters cannot speak this protocol. If you don't have a
cable, message us before booking — we can recommend one for your exact chassis.