OBD recommendation

D

dodge586

Member
 Oxford
Can anyone recommend a good, ideally cheap and easy to use OBD error reader? Seen a few on eBay but not sure what to go for.
 
I presume OBD is On Board Display? Not heard of one but do you mean something that plugs into the port on the car and hooks into your laptop?
 
on board diagnostic... a small port you can plug into and read errors from the ECU. Typically a little gadget you plug in but a lot of the BMW ones seem to interface with a laptop.
 
I've got a friend in Naples that might know, let me give him a shout and see if he has any current leads on something for you.
 
Well I tried the Carsoft interface and software off Ebay (serial port ot my oldest laptop ) - total waste of time and had it fully refunded. At best it could tell me my chassis number and mileage off the LCM.Still waiting to find something at a reasonable price that works on Zeds
 
dodge586 said:
Yes I had looked at the Car soft ones on eBay, thanks for the tip, will avoid!
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To be fair to them they never specifically list the Z4 in when they copy application lists onto their ebay listing, but often say 'all BMW's' in the advert. It seems that the majority of aftermarket readers cannot read the Z4. Those that can are limited in functionality.

I think Shipkiller has a good, if expensive set up.
 
I am very perplexed about the subject of OBD 2 code readers. I have used one very cheap reader for years on my US made vehicles. A Cadillac and Chevy truck. They gave me a code which I looked up when a check engine light came on. I was able to find the problem and correct the problem very easily. The reader is less than $100.00 in the US.

All vehicles imported into the US must be OBD 2 compliant. So I am not sure how that relates to Zeds that are outside the US. I have not as yet had an occasion to use the OBD 2 reader on my Zed as the one light I had was corrected under warranty. I was planning on using the same reader on the Zed if needed as the unit does plug into the port, HOWEVER, Shipkiller told me as I remember that it will not work on BMWs because of something special that is needed. I can not remember what that is but I yield to his expertise. He is currently on assignment in his work, but if you contact him, he may be able to help you. He has helped me in the past.
 
The cheap $100.00 hand held code readers work well on all the mandatory ODB-II engine and emission codes on the Z4. Before I upgraded my laptop software for use on the BMW's, I had threw a CEL code and took my car to AutoZone (car parts store) to have it read for free. They used the Accton hand held code reader. Told me I had a intermittent O2 sensor error, but was unable to clear the code. Had to pull the battery cable for that....
 
I use the Accton reader as well. Cost less than £100 and works on all three of my cars, it doesn't give all the information on the onboard systems such as bluetooth and cruise but it's fine with engine diagnostics and it sucessfully clears codes as well as other useful functions such as recording and displaying information as you drive etc .
 
Curtis said:
I use the Accton reader as well. Cost less than £100 and works on all three of my cars, it doesn't give all the information on the onboard systems such as bluetooth and cruise but it's fine with engine diagnostics and it sucessfully clears codes as well as other useful functions such as recording and displaying information as you drive etc .
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Curtis - will it clear airbag/SRS codes? - That's the one I'm after and would gladly spend £100 if it did
 
I'm not sure to be honest, I've never had an airbag/SRS light come on. It does struggle to recognise some of the body systems on my Alpina but it does OK with the 330. I don't know if it's worth the risk, you may spend £100 and find it does everything except what you need it to do. The good news is that if you can get into the airbag system like I can on the 330 then all the functions including erasing codes within that system are available to you. If your ever near Bristol you could give mine a try before you commit to buying one.
 
Curtis said:
I'm not sure to be honest, I've never had an airbag/SRS light come on. It does struggle to recognise some of the body systems on my Alpina but it does OK with the 330. I don't know if it's worth the risk, you may spend £100 and find it does everything except what you need it to do. The good news is that if you can get into the airbag system like I can on the 330 then all the functions including erasing codes within that system are available to you. If your ever near Bristol you could give mine a try before you commit to buying one.
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Bristol - 'middle of nowhere' sometime in the future it is then :thumbsup:
 
Well to be honest it's the village of Yatton which is 15 miles below Bristol and really is in the middle of nowhere! Sometimes that's a good thing though, peace and quiet and low insurance rates!
 
I read the posts noting the 6.5 Carsoft interface may not be able to change the ZKE memory of BMW Z4 E85

There may be a work-around...

It may depend on knowing if the limitation is in the software options or a hardware problem.

Please see this discussion regarding hardware problems and possible fixes...

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?p=13991584&posted=1#post13991584

Does anyone know if Carsoft in Belgium can clarify if their earlier version 6.5 software changes ZKE in the Z4?

Thanks.
 
Hi Schwab and welcome to the board.

I was rather unsuccessful in getting Carsoft 6.5 to work. I eventually returned it to the supplier for a refund. I'd tried different copies of the software and many different workarounds and on a laptop and a base station. I could get into my X5 without issues, so assumed the Z4 was not covered by the software. All I ever managed to do was recognise that I had a Z4 and the mileage of it, so clearly it was connecting. No tests or resets ever worked.

I've not really looked into it since but if you do get something working let me know or post up here

Edit - emails by me to Carsoft were never responded to. :thumbsdown:
 
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