INPA is a BMW diagnostic application used with EDIABAS and vehicle-specific diagnostic scripts. It gives access to ECU identification, fault information, status values and available tests according to the installed script, ECU data and vehicle.
Where it sits
INPA is the user-facing application; EDIABAS and its controller descriptions handle diagnostic jobs, and a suitable hardware interface connects to the car. BMW's Standard Tools FAQ describes separate INPA scripts, configuration and SGBD data, so installing an application alone is not evidence of correct vehicle coverage.
Reading a result
Record the vehicle, control-unit identity, fault status and operating conditions. Script text may use German terminology and older data may not match later modules. A communication or script error points to the tool chain and is not automatically a vehicle fault. Actuator tests can physically operate components and should be used only under the appropriate workshop conditions.
INPA is not the same as the guided test plans and service information in ISTA; Tool32 gives a lower-level view of available jobs. Both are commonly encountered within Standard Tools.
Sources
Curated reference notes. Applicability follows the cited sources; hardware testing by this wiki is not implied.
- BMW Group FAQ: EDIABAS, INPA and ToolSet. BMW Group/ESG engineering FAQ, independent mirror; Standard Tools, installations and diagnostic data. Source revision FAQ version 2.12, 26 October 2009; accessed 2026-11-10.
- BMW Group FAQ: EDIABAS controller files and jobs. BMW Group/ESG FAQ, independent mirror; controller description files, jobs and Tool32. Source revision FAQ version 2.12, 26 October 2009, especially pages 48–49; accessed 2026-11-10.