OBD reader options

[jonnymac]

I'm looking for a little advice

My first year of Carly is nearly up and they've sent out a subscription renewal reminder. While its been fun coding in a few different options, it's diagnostics is not all I could wish for and I'm looking for something a bit more compressive might be needed in my future. Is bimmergeeks the way to go or should I look at connecting my laptop and using some type of windows/Linux software?

[matsmith749]

What were you missing from Carly? IMHO bimmergeeks tools are along similar lines, maybe a little mode into the detail (but not by much).

Bi-Di controls is often the next step up, but all depends on what you couldn't do (but wanted to).

[DonDon]

I've been wondering much the same thing. All I have is a very cheap ELM 327 Pro adaptor and the Torque app.

I see that there are lots of app options and I wondered if there was a decent write-up that compares their features and pricing, together with the ODB adaptors they work with. I am very new to this, so I don't know what it is that i don't know

[jonnymac]

I was watching a guy fix his e89 broken roof the other day on youtube and he was able to drill down to the particular roof sensor and manually flick the sensor open and closed by hand and see the live data on his handheld reader of that sensor open and close.

I also thought it might be handy to have a recorded base line of all sensor data with the engine running (hot&cold)as well. For example, I had a MAF sensor error in the future I could look back at the old saved data and have idea of what it's output should look like vs what it currently looks like.

[DonDon]

@jonnymac Please could you fix the title to OBD Options, simply to help anyone in the future searching for a topic like this.

[matsmith749]

OK - I like that ambition!

You know there are a metric s**t ton of sensors & data from this car... that's such a huge thing to undertake.

The good news, is that a large number of readers will provide decent depth of live data that works just as you describe. I have an Autel mk808bt that does exactly this, plus graphs & alsorts else. And it is bidirectional - hence the unit can actually run tests against the electronic systems of the car.

Probably lots of other do the same if you want to spend less - equally others out there do a lot more (but the sky is the limit - you can spend a lot!)

[jonnymac]

OK - I like that ambition!

You know there are a metric s**t ton of sensors & data from this car... that's such a huge thing to undertake.

The good news, is that a large number of readers will provide decent depth of live data that works just as you describe. I have an Autel mk808bt that does exactly this, plus graphs & alsorts else. And it is bidirectional - hence the unit can actually run tests against the electronic systems of the car.

Probably lots of other do the same if you want to spend less - equally others out there do a lot more (but the sky is the limit - you can spend a lot!)

I like the look of the Autel mk808bt but its pretty expensive considering how little use it will get (touch wood!!!!! )

[B21]

I use ISTA on my laptop which is free bar a USB to KCAN adapter..

Most of the time I use Bimmergeeks Protool..it’s got most of the functionality of ISTA but in a handy portable package aka an android phone..I use a ruggedised Chinese android phone for £70..

So if yiu have an issue on the road it’s no issue to diagnose an issue…

To use a phrase it’s bi directional so it’s pretty good at more in depth issues…

It’s a one of payment with updates quite often and excellent technical support..

Not a user friendly as Carly but much more powerful..

Tried most of them including some Foxwell products..

Obviously there are high end products but the licensing can e quite punitive..

[birdy_z4]

Old laptop bmw tools ista, inpa and ncsexpert