OBD Fault diagnostic lead and software

[dt7734]

Hi all
Can anyone recommend anyone who can supply an OBD lead and fault diagnostic software for the Z3?
I current use a licensed Rosstech lead and software for my Audi ( which covers all the VAG group) and I'm looking for similar setup to check for faults on the Z3.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Jack Ratt]

http://www.bcables.com/

Try these

 

[Jack Ratt]

Cheap as chips but works best on a facelift car. If your car is pre facelift you need to get an old laptop with an RS232 port and then get the appropriate ADS interface.

 

[dt7734]

Cheap as chips but works best on a facelift car. If your car is pre facelift you need to get an old laptop with an RS232 port and then get the appropriate ADS interface.

Hi and thanks for your replies.
Just checked mine and it has what looks to be an OBD socket under the steering column.
So I take it the later cable for the facelift version is for me?
Has anyone used the software that comes with it to diagnose faults etc?

 

[Redline]

Cheap as chips but works best on a facelift car. If your car is pre facelift you need to get an old laptop with an RS232 port and then get the appropriate ADS interface.

You can get USB to RS232 converters. Even Tesco on-line sell them.

 

[Jack Ratt]

You can get USB to RS232 converters. Even Tesco on-line sell them.

Tried one of them but still doesn't work on mine. According to the guys on Bimmer you can't read ADS through a USB port. It has to be through an RS232

I should have made it clear that the ABS module in particular, on a pre facelift car cannot be accessed through a USB port.

The other modules are accessible through USB

Logically, a USB to RS232 converter should work, but for this application it doesn't

 

[Jack Ratt]

Hi and thanks for your replies.
Just checked mine and it has what looks to be an OBD socket under the steering column.
So I take it the later cable for the facelift version is for me?
Has anyone used the software that comes with it to diagnose faults etc?

Your car is a facelift model so you will be ok with this set up

 

[Redline]

Tried one of them but still doesn't work on mine. According to the guys on Bimmer you can't read ADS through a USB port. It has to be through an RS232

I should have made it clear that the ABS module in particular, on a pre facelift car cannot be accessed through a USB port.

The other modules are accessible through USB

Logically, a USB to RS232 converter should work, but for this application it doesn't

You will need a fully active device with correct drivers on the USB by the sounds of it. The only reason it wouldn't work is if the interface isn't RS232 compliant and the code addresses the pins directly or the current cannot be supplied from a standard 5V 500mA USB 1/2 interface. Been a very long time since I built any RS232 hardware I'd be hard put to remember the standard.

 

[colb]

The ODB 16pin socket under the steering wheel will only read the engine module using INPA. Plugging in to the round pacman socket under the bonnet using a round to 16pin cable adapter will read all modules in INPA.

 

[dt7734]

The ODB 16pin socket under the steering wheel will only read the engine module using INPA. Plugging in to the round pacman socket under the bonnet using a round to 16pin cable adapter will read all modules in INPA.

Hi
So which lead and software do I need to buy from http://www.bcables.com/ to be able to access all modules on the car as advised above.
My laptop is running windows 7ultimate if that makes any difference???

 

[DaveP]

RS232 ? Wow a blast from the past. 4800 baud 8 bit no parity. Xon/xoff about all I can recall as well as looping pins if the signal needed it. Damn I feel old

 

[colb]

K-LINE Cable Adapter Set (Blue Cable with Round Pacman Adapter)
BMW Software comes with it, can be a bit of a faff to install it but once done it gives you access to all modules.

 

[dt7734]

K-LINE Cable Adapter Set (Blue Cable with Round Pacman Adapter)
BMW Software comes with it, can be a bit of a faff to install it but once done it gives you access to all modules.

Thankyou