Replacing a BMW battery might seem straightforward, but registering the new battery to your vehicle’s computer is a crucial step for optimal performance and battery longevity. Using apps like Carly for BMW coding is a popular method for DIY enthusiasts. Recently, I encountered an interesting situation while registering a new battery on my E93 M3 using Carly, which led me to explore other BMW diagnostic tools like INPA, ISTA/D, and ISTA+.
My journey began a few years prior when I replaced the battery in my 2012 E93 M3 and registered it using Carly. I assumed everything was correctly configured. Fast forward to another battery replacement just recently. Being more acquainted with BMW-specific tools, I decided to investigate the battery registration status before making any changes. I used INPA, expecting to see a history of battery replacements. While INPA correctly displayed the battery capacity, surprisingly, it showed no record of previous battery registrations. The mileage logs for the last four battery changes were all showing “0.00” km.
After installing the new battery, I proceeded to register it again with the latest version of Carly (as of August 16, 2021). However, upon re-checking with INPA, the battery replacement log remained empty. I then verified with ISTA+, and the result was the same – no registration record.
To further investigate, I attempted battery registration using both INPA and Tool32. Both tools indicated successful registration with an “Okay” message. Despite this confirmation, neither INPA nor ISTA+ showed any logged battery replacement. The mileage fields remained at “0.00” km. I even tried waiting after turning the car off, thinking there might be a delay in recording the changes, but still no update.
Finally, I used ISTA+ to register the battery. This time, the battery change was successfully recorded with the correct, current mileage. I could now see the logged replacement in both INPA and ISTA+. This experience suggests that while Carly and Tool32 might seem to register the battery (and they may indeed perform some level of registration), they do not appear to update the mileage log for battery changes, at least in my case. ISTA+, on the other hand, successfully registered the battery and updated the mileage log.
It’s worth noting that I used both the Bimmergeeks Pro cable and an ICOM B interface during these tests, and the results were consistent across both. For BMW owners looking to ensure a complete and properly logged battery registration, especially when considering “Carly Bmw Coding Battery” solutions, my experience indicates that ISTA+ provides a more thorough and verifiable registration process compared to Carly and Tool32.
