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BMW K+DCAN USB Tech specs & Installation

What you need

  1. OHP K+DCAN OBD2 USB cable.
  2. The software included with the cable (installer CD in the package, or the BMW Standard Tools 2024 package (includes the DCAN tools) at bit.ly/Bim-Standard-Tools-2024).
  3. A laptop running Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 or 11.

Step 1: Identify K-line or D-CAN and set the switch

Your car uses either K-line (older cars, roughly before 03/2007) or D-CAN (roughly 03/2007 and newer). Find your model below, then set the K/D-CAN switch on the cable to match.

Always unplug the cable from the car before flipping the switch.

K-line models

  • 1 Series E87 (before 03/2007)
  • 3 Series E46
  • 3 Series E90 (before 03/2007)
  • 5 Series E39
  • 5 Series E60, E61 (before 03/2007)
  • 6 Series E63, E64
  • 7 Series E38, E65, E66
  • X3 E83 (before 09/2006)
  • X5 E53
  • Z Series E52, E85

D-CAN models

  • 1 Series E81, E87 (from 03/2007)
  • 3 Series E90, E91, E92, E93 (from 03/2007)
  • 5 Series E60, E61 (from 03/2007)
  • X3 E83 (from 09/2006)
  • X5 E70
  • MINI R56
  • F-series models, including X3 F25

Not sure? Email info@ohptools.com with your model and build date.

Step 2: Driver and COM port (Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and 11)

  1. Plug the cable into your laptop's USB port while connected to the internet. Windows usually installs the driver automatically within 1 to 2 minutes.
  2. If Windows did not install it, get the driver from our USB driver page. Backup: download directly from FTDI.
  3. Select the latest Windows release. Choose 64-bit or 32-bit to match your version of Windows. Most computers running Windows 10 are 64-bit, and Windows 11 is always 64-bit.
  4. Open Device Manager (on Windows 8.1, 10 and 11, right-click Start).
  5. Expand Ports (COM & LPT) and find USB Serial Port (COMx).
  6. Right-click it and choose Properties > Port Settings > Advanced.
  7. Set COM Port Number to a port between COM1 and COM4.
  8. Set Latency Timer (msec) to 1, then click OK.
  9. Unplug the cable and plug it back into the same USB port. Check that USB Serial Port shows the COM number you chose.

Step 3: Run the DCAN Utility (D-CAN cars only)

All D-CAN cars: run the DCAN Utility every time the cable is powered up, before you connect to the car. K-line cars do not need it.

The DCAN Utility comes from the BMW Standard Tools 2024 package (includes the DCAN tools): bit.ly/Bim-Standard-Tools-2024.

  1. Plug the cable into your laptop.
  2. Open the DCAN Utility from the BMW Standard Tools 2024 package.
  3. Follow the on-screen steps, then close it before starting your BMW software.

Step 4: Connect to the car

  1. Make sure the switch matches your car (Step 1).
  2. Plug the cable into the car's OBD2 port and into your laptop.
  3. Turn the ignition ON (engine off is fine).

Step 5: INPA / ISTA settings

  1. Install the BMW Standard Tools (EDIABAS, INPA, NCS Expert, WinKFP) to C:\. On Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and 11, right-click the installer file and choose Run as administrator together with compatibility mode.
  2. Open C:\EDIABAS\Bin\EDIABAS.ini and check that the interface is set to STD:OBD.
  3. Open C:\EDIABAS\Bin\obd.ini in Notepad. Set Port= to the same COM port you chose in Device Manager (for example Port=Com1). Save and close.
  4. Start INPA. Two solid black dots next to Battery and Ignition mean the car is connected.
  5. For ISTA, choose the EDIABAS / STD:OBD interface in its connection settings.

*Special thanks to ResearchDesignLab and MKAutoTech for the video guides. Subscribe to their channels for more helpful videos.