Diagnostic Software and Interface

P

peddy

Veteran
 London
Hi,

i've been looking into this for quite some time and now thinking of getting the following...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-MINI-DIS-v57-SSS-v32-and-BMW-TIS-v8-/190386015645?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item2c53e40d9d

with...

http://doitauto.de/product/en/BMW-Diagnostic/ADS-OBD-Ediabas-Inpa-Interface.html (review: http://www.repairdynamics.com/do-it-auto_ADS-OBD_interface_review.pdf)

or something similar (and cheaper) on eBay such as...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Ediabas-INPA-4-BMW-100-compatible-OBDII-Interface-/170478376042?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item27b14d946a

Would appricate your thoughts and suggestions.
 
I know nothing about this... Ed Butler and Mr Whippy are probably your best bet. I think Ed's even taken to re-programming his own car!
 
I really got interested in this a year back and was messing with various interfaces and at the time Carsofts software.
Can't speak for this set up but a couple of observations:

The PCMCIA card adapter is generally a weak point and it's best to use an old laptop with a serial port.
The Z4 seems to have limited success Vs other models. seems the software gets sorted for the common lines first.

My exploits got me running alsorts of virtual environments, part GTA software, Carsoft and in the end I was able to reset any codes (except the one I wanted of airbag) read most of the modules and change a few settings. Could even do stupid things like open the windows from the laptop.

End result was I couldn't do any serious programming and once I'd read the mileage, knew the engine temperature, etc I ran out of interest.

One thing I would look at is the latest Carsoft software. I believe it's a lot better.

Be interested to hear how you get on.
 
cj10jeeper said:
The PCMCIA card adapter is generally a weak point and it's best to use an old laptop with a serial port.
Click to expand...

I know it's a different end device, but I'm using a Maplin Serial > USB adapter for my G-Tech. I did need to adjust the port number and speed settings to put them in range of the device, but it's serving me very well so far!
 
Thanks for the help so far! :thumbsup:

Excuse my ignorance, but what's the actual difference between the ODB-II interfaces... i.e. the cheap eBay one and the more expensive Do-It-Auto one? Don't they both server the same purpose and just hook up your computer to your car with the DIS software to control it? I don't actually see the reason why the do-It-Auto one is so much more expensive?
 
ediabas/inpa package above is basically an ediabas cable to plug into the obdII port, and the inpa is the software BMW use to do stuff in dealerships.

However, BMW use GT1, which is a kinda 'skin' that sits over inpa and makes it all nice to use with presets and step by step processes, but ultimately it all works through inpa underneath.

I can read/reset all codes on my car including airbag (not got rid of it yet because there is actually a fault)

I use a good quality belkin USB > serial adaptor running FTDI drivers...

Plug in adaptor, boot computer (XP), set adaptor to com1, leave plugged in, reboot, then it'll work ok on com1. Auto-detect/assign com port doesn't seem to work nicely.


Ideally GT1 is what you want, so you can re-program stuff nicely. INPA can do it, but it's things like 16byte blocks of data and unless you know what to write in, then you can't change it nicely. GT1 'layer' will do all that for you by having the programs in-built I assume, so you can swap stuff and change things :)

Dave
 
OK, I see... I did see GT1 get mentioned in my Google searches. :)

Can I install GT1 software on my laptop? Where can I get it relatively cheaply? I've checked eBay and I see figures in excess of £400! :o

So what's the difference between DIS and GT1?

Thanks!
 
Ha ha peddy - you see what a can of worms you just opened up for yourself. Not as easy as ebay sales would have you believe.
 
peddy said:
OK, I see... I did see GT1 get mentioned in my Google searches. :)

Can I install GT1 software on my laptop? Where can I get it relatively cheaply? I've checked eBay and I see figures in excess of £400! :o

So what's the difference between DIS and GT1?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I think DIS might be the name for the software, GT1 the interface, a bit like inpa nad ediabas...

You can turn ediabas into a GT1, apparently, but it needs to think it's running on a virtual machine, and then install and run DIS/GT1 via the ediabas.


To be honest, bynkaay do them
http://www.bynkaay.com/

I've used them before so they are legitimate.

380 euro for a fully setup gt1 kit and an external hdd with everything set up properly on a basic windows install.

Considering the cost it's probably worth getting that. I'd like to see GT1 in action first, but assuming it makes INPA nicer to use and makes the programming elements useable at all, and enhanced diagnostic features, then for the money I'd buy it.


Dave
 
Mr Whippy said:
You can turn ediabas into a GT1, apparently, but it needs to think it's running on a virtual machine, and then install and run DIS/GT1 via the ediabas.
Click to expand...
By doing something like this? http://robmw.altervista.org/dis/

TBH I'm not really willing to pay more than £150 all in. If the steps in that link work then I think I can keep to within my budget no? i.e. no money wasted on expensive GT1 hardware. What do you think?
 
I have INPA with Ed's help but am struggling, mainly due to mine being a facelift model I believe as the software available is to old. :(
 
peddy said:
Mr Whippy said:
You can turn ediabas into a GT1, apparently, but it needs to think it's running on a virtual machine, and then install and run DIS/GT1 via the ediabas.
Click to expand...
By doing something like this? http://robmw.altervista.org/dis/

TBH I'm not really willing to pay more than £150 all in. If the steps in that link work then I think I can keep to within my budget no? i.e. no money wasted on expensive GT1 hardware. What do you think?
Click to expand...

No idea to be honest...

This is the problem, the moment you experiment you have no idea what combinations work or don't work, so it might be lots of messing about and buying weird wires etc, to have a pile of wires and software that won't work :(

Dave
 
peddy said:
Mr Whippy said:
You can turn ediabas into a GT1, apparently, but it needs to think it's running on a virtual machine, and then install and run DIS/GT1 via the ediabas.
Click to expand...
By doing something like this? http://robmw.altervista.org/dis/

TBH I'm not really willing to pay more than £150 all in. If the steps in that link work then I think I can keep to within my budget no? i.e. no money wasted on expensive GT1 hardware. What do you think?
Click to expand...

I have tried the above, it's not the easiest thing in the world to setup and along with others I have run into issues thaty nobody has answers for. :(
 
Considering the power of the GT1, and ability to do mates rates work on BMW's etc, you could make the extra money back on a cloned Chinese GT1 within a year or so vs doing it all on the cheap and spending ages getting the right bits working...

Has anyone on here had GT1 working and had INPA working? Is it literally the same kinda stuff but a nicer interface/editing layer?

Still tempted to buy a GT1 myself (from China) if it is really that good vs INPA :D

Would be nice to be able to do decent programming on LCM's etc, sure there is plenty of odd job beer token money in it to do all those little random jobs :)

Dave
 
I've also seem this on eBay. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190385290617&_trksid=p2759.l1259

You could then convert that into a VMWare image. They're based in the UK, so a bit easier to give it back if it doesn't work or you run into problems, etc.
 
I have no idea how it all works.

For me, time is money, and money is easier to come by than time to a certain extent :D

£400-500 isn't so bad if it saves you about 3 weeks worth of evenings just messing with random settings to get it working. I know someone on Pistonheads who got it running in a similar way and it took them a few months of odd evenings etc, and they are a VMWare network person by trade hehe :)

As above, it's all about your free time etc... I'd prefer to just buy it working but if you are so inclined to try, then it is possible, but you will be doing LOTS of trial/error to get every last thing working right :D

Dave
 
I'm with MrW on this and had my fill of fun with Vmware and virtual machines, various interfaces and rebuilding old laptops to make it work. My Carsoft set up is perfect now to just check error codes, reset most things, but I can't programme keys or roof opening, etc.

You really have to decide if yuo're going to spend £400 and get something that might work or do a lot of research, trial and error and messing.

Next decide if 5 trips to a dealer or say 10 to an Indy to programme will ever be recouped.
 
Thats where INPA was worth £50 for me... I found the fault in my car and I know what to fix now by having the proper readouts from the car (ie, specific fault, when it happens, when it started happening (day I swapped seats) etc etc)
BMW or a good indy would have charged £50-£80 just to try clear the code and then not tell me what specifically is wrong, or let me sit and mess about in the car with plugs to try make it work again.

If you can do mates rates for say £10 to reprogram roof opening stuff, maybe light persistence on ign off, opening sequence on key fob for doors, indicator flashing or beeps on lock/unlock and ALL that kinda stuff, then you only need to do maybe 20 cars, and save yourself two trips to BMW or an Indy, to almost make up the difference just buying one that works for £400 ish :D


I'd pay someone £10, or even £20, if we could sit down, have a chin wag about Z4's, and tinker with a few settings and stuff to see what we like, rather than pay £50-£100 to do the same with no ability to tinker around at a dealer etc... :)

Dave
 
I want to at least have a stab at it, but I'm stuck at the first hurdle...

From what I can tell to get a proper (but DIY) GT1 setup I need...

EDIABAS cable
USB to Serial adaptor
INPA software
DIS/GT1 software
VMWare

correct?
 
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