New Z3 and Diagnostic scanner?

[TraceyP]

Hi all, am getting a Z3 on Wednesday, it's a 1997 Boston Green (I think) roadster automatic.....can't wait! I've bought the car with a fault - this is how the seller described it on another forum :-

'The issue is when I try to start the car. When I turn the ignition key one 'click' all my electronics lights on the dashboard light up as normal, but as soon as I turn the key one more 'click' in the ignition barrel the lights die, the car alarm goes off and the engine doesn't even attempt to start. However, it's a muted version of the alarm that sounds rather than the extremely loud (and still funcntionally normally) alarm.

Turning the car alarm off using the 'off' button on the key fob does nothing to stop the muted alarm'

The answers basically said to check the key fob batteries and the car battery which he said he did, obv i will be checking that when I get it as it does sound like a battery issue, but if not, what else could it be?

Also, am thinking of buying a diagnostic scanner for the car (not necessarily for this fault -just handy to have) but the ones I have seen say from year 2000 onwards, are there any for earlier cars?

Thanks so much for any help and a big thankyou to @Geoff Crispin for giving me the link to the car in the first place!

 

[DavidM]

Can’t help with this but our experts will know and be along shortly I’m sure.

 

[BMBabe]

#,Zedshed @Lee

 

[BMBabe]

Congratulations any pics

 

[TraceyP]

Can’t help with this but our experts will know and be along shortly I’m sure.

Thankyou!

 

[Jack Ratt]

A pre facelift car will require require an ADS compliant system such as INPA.. Pre facelift cars use a different system to facelift ones and only some modules of older cars are accessible with facelift compatible scanners

 

[TraceyP]

Congratulations any pics

Thankyou! Only one pic at the mo - its arriving on Wednesday so I'm

sure there will be hundreds then!

 

[BMBabe]

Nice colour bet you are dead excited

 

[TraceyP]

A pre facelift car will require require an ADS compliant system such as INPA.. Pre facelift cars use a different system to facelift ones and only some modules of older cars are accessible with facelift compatible scanners

Thankyou Jack, I'm gonna nod knowledgably and pretend I know what you're talking about ;-) I'm assuming the INPA thing is when you link it to a laptop?

 

[TraceyP]

Nice colour bet you are dead excited

Can't wait! Have wanted a Z3 for years

 

[Jack Ratt]

Thankyou Jack, I'm gonna nod knowledgably and pretend I know what you're talking about ;-) I'm assuming the INPA thing is when you link it to a laptop?

https://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/f99/bmw-inpa-diagnostics-idiots-guide-getting-started-t85220/

This will give you an insight into it, but there may be a forum member near to you who has access to the system

 

[TraceyP]

https://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/f99/bmw-inpa-diagnostics-idiots-guide-getting-started-t85220/

This will give you an insight into it, but there may be a forum member near to you who has access to the system

Fantastic thankyou

 

[Ianmc]

Best colour, well done.

 

[TraceyP]

Best colour, well done.

Are you biased by any chance ? ;-) I agree though, was looking for a black or blue one but then i saw this one and that was it!

 

[Ianmc]

Are you biased by any chance ?

No bias at all, fully rational. I'm sure all other members will concur

 

[TraceyP]

No bias at all, fully rational. I'm sure all other members will concur

Ha ha!!! Yep..I'm sure they will....

 

[t-tony]

First points of call for me would be check battery terminals clean and tight. Battery test. Main engine earth connection clean and tight.
How did this condition come about?

Tony.

 

[TraceyP]

First points of call for me would be check battery terminals clean and tight. Battery test. Main engine earth connection clean and tight.
How did this condition come about?

Tony.

Very good question! He inherited the car and dont think it was driven much before, now it's been parked up and when he tries to start it it won't. I dont know anymore, but for the price I paid it's worth the gamble!

 

[TraceyP]

Sorry for the embarrassing newbie question but what's the switch to the right of the gear stick?!

 

[t-tony]

Sport Mode.

Tony.

ps. What's the aftermarket red LED on the centre console for?
Is it possible the car had an aftermarket alarm/immobilized fitter at some point? If so that could explain the non starting if the battery has been allowed to go dead flat.