OBD-II scanner recommendations?

[EenyBear]

Hi,

Any recommendations for an OBD-II scanner?
I see some "handheld" units and some USB "interface to laptop" units on eBay. I guess I want something that provides clear comprehensive information about a potential problem without spending a lot of money.
What has your experience been?

Thanks in advance.

[gferil]

I use the Peake Research line of products, although I'm not sure if that's what you're looking for...might not be detailed enough:

http://peakeresearch.com/peake/produ...&products_id=3

[gcochard]

Cheaper one:

http://peakeresearch.com/peake/produ...&products_id=2

Won't work with pre-2002 vehicles though.

[gferil]

Good call cliffhopper, yeah the one I linked works with a wider range of years, which is helpful for me since I have a 2000 model year in the family as well

[mjposner]

If you have an android phone, get a cheap bluetooth elm 327 from ebay device and the program Torque.

[txz4]

Originally Posted by mjposner

If you have an android phone, get a cheap bluetooth elm 327 from ebay device and the program Torque.

this looks pretty cool. More info on this please.

[Mirko]

Originally Posted by txz4

this looks pretty cool. More info on this please.

I'm looking into it as well. Downloaded Torque free version on tablet and looking for the bluetooth device. Don't know if it will read codes though but would be cool for the other data.

Guy claiming it read a fault code on his M5. Post #12
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e60...b2-tool-2.html

BMW specific fault codes... not sure how useful for us .. but there is it
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39...criptions.html

[mjposner]

Yes it reads fault codes. The only negative is that BMW limits the amount of info over obd II so you can't get all gauges you would want to monitor.

The other minor issue is the location of the obd II port. Its left of your knee and the bluetooth adapter hangs down, so I often hit it leaving the car.

[EenyBear]

So, taking advice from above, I moved to order a Peake OBD reader ... the R5/FCX-3-16 meets my needs,

I noticed that they did not guarantee that the R5/FCX-3-16 scanner/reader would work with model year 2007 (late 2006 assembly) BMWs. THAT was interesting... so I inquired and received this email today:

Hi Ian,

2007 is on the edge of compatibility for our current tool. If it is a late 2006 or early 2007 production, there is a chance (but the tools are not returnable, so it is risky). Also keep in mind, your 2007 would have the CBS system instead of the basic SI system of the older cars, so it does not have the oil service/inspection light system. The CBS system takes over that in the newer cars and our tool can't reset the CBS (no oil light reset).

We are working on a new tool that will not only get us past the 2006/2007 incompatibility issues (hopefully up to 2011) but it should also be able to reset the CBS system. Unfortunately, I don't have an exact release date yet, but believe it will be within the next 6 months. I would probably wait for the new tool on your particular year and model UNLESS you have other BMWs in the family and would get other use out of the current tool.

Thank you for your interest and if you have any other questions, feel free to contact us anytime!

Roxann Brink
Peake Research
800-231-6861
www.r5tool.com

So, I guess I won't be ordering the Peake just yet. Betting $150 on "maybe it will work" is too rich for me.

The "BMWhat" app is promising (includes all BMW proprietary codes). Seems to need a WiFi dongle instead of Bluetooth but I'm getting clarification on that.

I'll report back unless someone with experience wants to jump in....

Cheers.

[gcochard]

Originally Posted by mjposner

Yes it reads fault codes. The only negative is that BMW limits the amount of info over obd II so you can't get all gauges you would want to monitor.

The other minor issue is the location of the obd II port. Its left of your knee and the bluetooth adapter hangs down, so I often hit it leaving the car.

What can you monitor over the OBD II port in the z4?

[rkstar9]

Id like to testify I bought a china obd wifi connector ($70) off ebay to use with my Iphone and rev / Fuzzycar and dashcommand

it took me a while to get it to work but it did successfully read codes and clear my check engine light on my 2003 z4 2.5

As far as reading rpms, mpg, or anything else it had about a 5 second lag which made it useless for that purpose. Upon more research I discovered that is because our cars ecu uses a protocol that is super slow (KWP2000)

That being said it's still a very good cheap way to read and clear CEL

The codes show up as "p1314" it will not give you any BMW specific info on the code. You are better off looking it up online once you have the code anyway.

I also tested it to work fine with Volkswagen.

the best app was rev and Fuzzycar.


Dashcommand on the other hand was laggy and buggy

this is the device you can find it on ebay

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/43...VICE_hot_.html

And yes our ecu does not give out a whole lot of information besides rpm

[udme86m]

I have the Peake worked well for my 330 to do basic stuff but looking up the codes in the book is a hassle and functionality is limited. I used Durametic[http://www.durametric.com/default.aspx] for my Porsche and it is awesome - can do everything even monitor whole car while running! In looking for a similar tool the Z4M came across this:

http://www.bavariantechnic.com/

Same concept as the Durametric in fact the site is skinned the same and product looks the same even though companies are in different states. I plan on getting one feature matrix for the E85/E86:

http://www.bavariantechnic.com/model...atrix.aspx#e85

True it is much more than the Peake tool - but with the extended functionality in the software, downloadable upgrades for more features later, and ease of using a laptop instead of looking up in the book worth it IMO.

The cheapest way is to go to Autozone they will ready your codes for free.

[Kgolf31]

Depends what bluetooth OBDII sensor you get.

If you cheap out and get ebay brand, it will lag alot. If you get Kiwi or similar known bluetooth modules, the lag is virtually not there

[msh441]

I'm seriously considering the iPhone app, BMWhat.

Terrible name and very expensive for an iPhone app ($50 the price of a OBD wifi transmitter)... but it looks like it goes well beyond the OBD2 codes and is all BMW specific.

Maybe not quite one of the full USB laptop diagnostics programs. But pretty damn handy all the same (if it works as advertised).

Anyone here tried it yet?

[EenyBear]

I just received my OBD wifi interface. My iPhone4s sees it but none of the apps do. When I get this sorted I'll report on BMWhat.

I agree it looks promising. There's a YouTube vid that demos the app.

Clearly they are using a PLX wifi device in the demo vid (probably Kiwi). That's $150 ... which is $100 more than I spent.

If mine is crap, it's a bad lesson but the specs clearly state it works with BMW and my iPhone can see it. More investigation required, I guess.

[EenyBear]

Hmmm...
1. got the WiFi sorted out
2. have talked to the developer of "BMWhat?" app
3. it seems that some current BMWs do not allow "pass though" of data
4. not sure what "pass through" mode is, but my Z4M doesn't have it
5. as a result, the "BMWhat?" app, excellent as it may be for other BMW models, provides only a very few rudimentary OBD-2 type codes
6. I am investigating further.

Peake is non-committal about how well their devices may or my not work with my 2007 Z4M. 2006... yes. Early 2007... yes. Later 2007 and 2008... meh.

[EenyBear]

As mentioned above, the Rev2 app is interesting in that it wil read/clear codes.

Also, you can monitor fuel trim, and a few other things as well as watch an alternative speedo and tach. But seriously, the track day settings and recording features will interest some folks with ET, skidpad, g-force, etc.

It seems that BME limits the info pass through the OBD port using a standard connector. I have seen documentation that describes jumpers and other devices that mimic the factory jack.

This secrecy isn't even functional protectionism. It just pisses people off. The less-than-one-percent of owners who want to fix their own car would be well served by BMW to enable access the error codes instead of holding them hostage. 99.9% of owners couldn't care less but the reputation of BMW would be enhanced considerably if they provided access.

$0.02

[-c-]

Try Bavarian technic I just ordered mine.

Here's their website.
http://www.bavariantechnic.com/default.aspx

[XMetal]

As much as the WiFi option is interesting, I'm not sure I want to do anything with it that requires coding or recoding. What happen if you lose the WiFi connection in the middle of coding or recoding? I will only consider the WiFi option for monitoring stuffs only.

You can try the PA Soft => http://www.bmw-scanner.com/?page=bmw..._v140&lang=eng There are knock-off of the PA Soft on Ebay for 1/10th of the price.

[Finnegan]

I have the PA Soft knock-off. Works really well, lets you read and clear codes, and actually allows you to make changes to a few things too (DRLs, etc.), unlike the Bavarian Technic. I haven't had time to mess around with it a lot, but I like it better than the Bavarian (which I also have). Plus, you're not limited to 3 VINS (which I why I got the PA Soft knockoff in the first place).

If you have patience and win-skills, an even cheaper head unit plus downloaded software will also do the trick.

[Shipkiller]

Fin,

I have the Autoenginuity Laptop Software, with does everything (ALL MODULES) except coding.
Can you PM me you PM Soft knockoff info?

[sabbanick]

Originally Posted by Shipkiller

Fin,

I have the Autoenginuity Laptop Software, with does everything (ALL MODULES) except coding.
Can you PM me you PM Soft knockoff info?

Me too