Originally Posted by
GERMANIKS
The product came out 7 years ago to replace DIS, about time you ask the question :-)
Anyway ISTA/D came out in 2009 to replace DIS and was totally revamped about 2 years ago. Exactly same interface, menus etc, but the whole product was redeveloped from the inside as it was bloated from the beginning. The development code of the BETA program for the new version was called RHEINGOLD. Rheingold is a Beta and cracked version of then about to release ISTA/D 2 years ago.
RHEINGOLD is regularly maintained by some guys on the internet and many download it and use it to run diagnostics. The product does not code or flash anything. But yeah as Mark said this is basically the latest and the greatest.
Many Irish garages use the official online version from BMW by paying a subscription.
BMW like any other car manufacturers for years, been required by law to make their diagnostic tool available to professionals outside the official dealerships. So BMW, Mercedes, Audi etc, all have online versions available to independent garages. Costs a few thousands, but it is here and does the job.