Any interest in guide to doing ISTEP update yourself?

[Tsuki8]

Does ISTA care about CEL(DP related)? I'm no sure if there will be any issues due to that.
Also, is a steady wifi connection required during update, or is it all local to the PC?

The newer versions don't care as much, just clear codes before updating.
WiFi is optional I believe, only for FSC activation (adding/retrofitting functionality) and reporting.
Update process is all local to PC/Laptop.

Any update on the extraction?

Its S18T-23-11-542.

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[calmeda1]

The newer versions don't care as much, just clear codes before updating.
WiFi is optional I believe, only for FSC activation (adding/retrofitting functionality) and reporting.
Update process is all local to PC/Laptop.

Perfect, I'm going to try it this week. I believe my car has the OG factory version, because I'm pretty sure my toyota dealership lied about doing the recall. I took it in a year ago for the recall, and when I got it back it still had all of my presets and bimmercode settings. Absolutely no difference. I questioned them and they insisted they performed it, but after looking at reviews it appeared they were notorious for lying about working on cars. I then took it to another dealership so they can verify if the recall was actually done, but they said they don't know how to do that......

 

[calmeda1]

Just finished the update, and it's easy as the others mentioned! The only confusing part for me was understanding Techstream, but after that everything was pretty straightforward.

I used the recommended Powermax charger and monitored the voltage. In my case, I did notice the voltage dropped below 13, but gladly that was before I started the update. 1 hour before, I left the charger connected and monitored it to ensure it wouldn't fluctuate, and after a few tweaks it stayed at ~13.6v

Once the update starts, you'll hear the car making some weird noises but it's all part of the process. Update took around 30 minutes. After that I took the car for a quick spin. I didn't feel much of a difference, but I only drove the car for 5 minutes. Tomorrow I'll definitely test how it feels.

Overall easy process, just make sure to monitor the voltage

 

[razorlab]

The only confusing part for me was understanding Techstream,

Yup, Techstream is a pile of garbage that probably hasn't been updated since 1992, or they hired @concept and some other boomerz to build it last year.

So... did your dealer lie and you didn't have the update? What was your ISTEP version?

 

[calmeda1]

So... did your dealer lie and you didn't have the update? What was your ISTEP version?

The previous version was S18T-21-07-519, which seems to be post-recall. I took the car in mid 2023, so I would've expected them update it to the latest version at that time. I'm still sure they lied, since the car still had all my presets and bimmercode stuff afterwards. Also, I bought my car used in April 2022, so now I suspect that the previous owner did the recall. What I don't understand is why did they call me saying I have a recall, just to not do anything.

Whatever the truth may be, I'm not trusting dealerships anymore.

 

[BMWAF]

Whatever the truth may be, I'm not trusting dealerships anymore.

This is a lesson you only need to learn once.. fuck dealerships.

 

[Kennith82]

I'd recommend using Toyota GTS if anyone faces any struggles with Techstream. Not sure if it's any different, but all I really had to do is register as an "independent repairer".

I contacted through the toyota-tech website and they said just to choose Albania from the country options when you launch GTS+. Your real country is stored in the profile you make anyway.

Again, not sure if it's any easier than Techstream, but with GTS+ all I really had to do was install the program, and log in with the toyota-tech account. After that, installed ISTA+ and it ran just fine. PSdZData is in the ISTAJ29 folder instead of the ISPI folder, if you plan on using ESYS.

 

[calmeda1]

Drove the car today and I feel a difference. Maybe it's placebo, but I feel like the car's slightly less jerky. It feels more a bit responsive when accelerating from a dead stop. Downshifts are definitely smoother. Haven't experienced any hesitation yet.

Overall, I haven't seen a difference on the Head Unit. No new settings. I saw a couple new things on the maps, but who uses that anyways? The one thing that makes no sense to me is that my Android Auto MMI is a lot faster now. How can it be faster if it's its own separate hardware with a screen pass-through? No idea why that worked, but no complaints at all! I read from a thread that a person noticed a sound quality difference; I find it to be the same as before.

I'll keep an eye out for anything new that I notice

 

[razorlab]

I'd recommend using Toyota GTS if anyone faces any struggles with Techstream. Not sure if it's any different, but all I really had to do is register as an "independent repairer".

I contacted through the toyota-tech website and they said just to choose Albania from the country options when you launch GTS+. Your real country is stored in the profile you make anyway.

Again, not sure if it's any easier than Techstream, but with GTS+ all I really had to do was install the program, and log in with the toyota-tech account. After that, installed ISTA+ and it ran just fine. PSdZData is in the ISTAJ29 folder instead of the ISPI folder, if you plan on using ESYS.

GTS+ is techstream basically. GTS = GlobalTechStream, and yes, you just need to configure it, then it's ISTA from there on.

 

[Tsuki8]

New version!
Toyota ISTA:

Version	BMW iDrive
4.34.41	S18T-22-03-535 (March 2022)
4.37.31	S18T-22-07-550 (July 2022)
4.39.34	S18T-22-11-553 (November 2022)
4.42.31	S18T-23-07-505 (July 2023)
4.44.32	S18T-23-11-530 (November 2023)
4.45.34	S18T-23-11-542 (November 2023)
4.46.43	S18T-24-03-519 (March 2024)

 

[lolinternets]

Interested in going through all this and updating the software. I do have a question for those of you who have done this. Does ISTA allow you to code/program new modules to the car? For example is this the same software that the dealership would use to program a new ecu to the car?

 

[Kennith82]

Interested in going through all this and updating the software. I do have a question for those of you who have done this. Does ISTA allow you to code/program new modules to the car? For example is this the same software that the dealership would use to program a new ecu to the car?

Not 100% sure but I think the version of Toyota ISTA is the one only used for diagnostics. I'm pretty sure you'd need to use ESYS. However, that's my only experience. I couldn't find the coding options usually available in BMW ISTA. I've used ESYS to get a second hand cluster to work.

 

[lolinternets]

Not 100% sure but I think the version of Toyota ISTA is the one only used for diagnostics. I'm pretty sure you'd need to use ESYS. However, that's my only experience. I couldn't find the coding options usually available in BMW ISTA. I've used ESYS to get a second hand cluster to work.

That’s exactly what I’m wondering, if this version of Toyota ISTA would let me get a cluster or ecu to work. I don’t want to ever deal with Toyota service ever and rather just do everything myself.

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