What gear needed to "scan for codes"?

onebluemcm · 07-15-2023, 03:12 PM

I'm looking to get some paint work done and the paint shop, which has a great reputation for the paint work part of things, is quoting to scan it before and after the work, to the tune of $350, which is like 15% of the total cost of the work.... They will have to disconnect the 3rd brake light for the work. I gather they want to know if it has any error codes before they do anything, and if they have triggered anything when they are done.

So in regard to what their goal is, on a 07 M coupe, what exactly is required to do this? My understanding is that disconnecting the 3rd brake light will trigger an error in the LCM but no major fault, and it will go away when the light is plugged back in, makes sense to me.

If I can satisfy their needs by having a friend with a scanner do this, I'd sure like to keep that $350 in my pocket.

pungo · 07-15-2023, 03:41 PM

ISTA+, NCSExpert, windows laptop, $15 OBDII cable, will provide scanning, diagnostics and coding capabilities, powerful tools.

onebluemcm · 07-15-2023, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pungo

ISTA+, NCSExpert, windows laptop, $15 OBDII cable, will provide scanning, diagnostics and coding capabilities, powerful tools.

Thanks. I'll get familiar with ISTA+ and NCSExpert, just haven't had the need for or gotten into scanning or anything else ECU or programming wise on this car, yet.

Clearancediver · 07-15-2023, 04:25 PM

Honestly…. If they are worried that they might have introduced an error/fault code… they are going to scan/reset as a matter of course.

Let them do the repair… ignore their quest for “$350” in profit. The scan.. if done is part of their fixed labour cost quoted for the job. It’s not an extra…

07-15-2023, 03:12 PM	#1
onebluemcm Captain 42 Rep 632 Posts Drives: '07 Z4MC Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Richmond, VA iTrader: (0)	What gear needed to "scan for codes"? I'm looking to get some paint work done and the paint shop, which has a great reputation for the paint work part of things, is quoting to scan it before and after the work, to the tune of $350, which is like 15% of the total cost of the work.... They will have to disconnect the 3rd brake light for the work. I gather they want to know if it has any error codes before they do anything, and if they have triggered anything when they are done. So in regard to what their goal is, on a 07 M coupe, what exactly is required to do this? My understanding is that disconnecting the 3rd brake light will trigger an error in the LCM but no major fault, and it will go away when the light is plugged back in, makes sense to me. If I can satisfy their needs by having a friend with a scanner do this, I'd sure like to keep that $350 in my pocket. __________________ \|=.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-.=\| Silbergrau A08 / Sepang Brown LSD6 / Carbon Leather 4MY (1 of 3, this combo) RAC RG63 \| Conti EC-DW \| GC/Koni-Dinan \| Rogue RSM \| Arqray \| Autosolutions \| BMW brace \| Pinnacle tint
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

07-15-2023, 03:41 PM	#2
pungo Colonel 880 Rep 2,547 Posts Drives: Z4MC-X3-35i-525i, Corrado G60 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: MD iTrader: (5) Garage List 2011 BMW X3 x35i [0.00] 2001 BMW 525i [0.00] 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe [8.76]	ISTA+, NCSExpert, windows laptop, $15 OBDII cable, will provide scanning, diagnostics and coding capabilities, powerful tools.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-15-2023, 04:25 PM	#4
Clearancediver Lieutenant 90 Rep 406 Posts Drives: 2004 Z4 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Victoria, BC Canada iTrader: (0)	Honestly…. If they are worried that they might have introduced an error/fault code… they are going to scan/reset as a matter of course. Let them do the repair… ignore their quest for “$350” in profit. The scan.. if done is part of their fixed labour cost quoted for the job. It’s not an extra… __________________ Sent from my smart phone...
	Appreciate 0 Quote