What is PSdZData?
The data pack E-Sys cannot work without: what is in it, Lite or Full, and which version your car needs.
PSdZData in one paragraph
PSdZData is BMW's data for its programming system (PSdZ). E-Sys reads it to understand your car: which modules exist for each series, the settings files (CAFDs) for every module and version, the rules that decide which settings fit your car's vehicle order, and, in the Full pack, the software files used for flashing. Without PSdZData, E-Sys can connect to a car but cannot read or change its coding.
Lite or Full?
| Pack | What it is for | Size |
|---|---|---|
| PSdZData Lite | Coding: reading and writing module settings, the vehicle order, the module list. Enough for almost everyone. | Smaller |
| PSdZData Full | Everything in Lite plus the module software, needed for flashing (programming) modules and some retrofits. | Many times larger |
Which version does my car need?
Every BMW leaves the factory with an I-step (integration level), a code such as F020-17-03-503 or G020-23-07-550: the series, the year and month, and a number. Dealer updates move it forward. Your PSdZData must be at least as new as your car's current I-step. If the pack is older, E-Sys may not know some of the car's module versions, and reading or coding those modules fails.
A newer pack always works for an older car, so the simple rule is: use a recent pack. You see the car's I-step in E-Sys after reading the vehicle order (FA) and the module list (SVT).
Telling E-Sys where it is
E-Sys looks for PSdZData in the folder set in its settings (in config\Esys.properties this is Path.PsdzHome). After you add or replace a pack, restart E-Sys so it reads it again. The E-Sys MAX launcher finds the packs on your PC by itself and shows, for every installed E-Sys version, which PSdZData it uses.
Why newer PSdZData does not name settings
Since around 2016 BMW removes the names of the settings from the PSdZData it publishes. Older packs still had them; current packs show a dot (.) for most settings. G-series modules were created after that change, so no public BMW data names them at all. A newer pack makes your car supported, but it does not bring back names.
That gap is what E-Sys MAX fills inside E-Sys: English names for thousands of settings, explanations of what a setting is linked to, ready-made changes for your car, and a way to name a setting yourself and share it.
Questions
Is PSdZData included with E-Sys MAX?
No. PSdZData and E-Sys are BMW software. E-Sys MAX adds to the E-Sys and PSdZData you already have and finds them on your PC by itself.
Do I need PSdZData Full for coding?
No. Lite is enough for coding. Full is only needed to flash (program) modules.
Can I keep several PSdZData versions?
Yes. Each E-Sys version can point to its own pack. The E-Sys MAX launcher lets you pick the PSdZData for each E-Sys version.
E-Sys says it cannot find a CAFD for a module. Why?
Most often the PSdZData is older than the car's I-step, so it does not know that module version yet. Use a newer pack and restart E-Sys.
Make sense of every setting
E-Sys MAX names the settings BMW leaves as a dot. Try it free for 3 days.