obd diagnostic software. what do you use?

Matt82

Matt82

Matt82

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Ive used vagcom on my vag stuff for yours and now ive got a bm. I want to see fault codes and log/monitor things. What do you have?
 
Matt82 said:
Ive used vagcom on my vag stuff for yours and now ive got a bm. I want to see fault codes and log/monitor things. What do you have?
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Something like Carsoft would probably be sufficient on a 94 E36, the range of diag functions available on a car of that age is quite limited and sadly nothing like as good as on the later E36's and the newer models.
 
Carsoft is pants and a complete waste of time.

I use Torque for Android, or Inpa, or DIS and now I am moving onto ISTA but it will take some time for the last one.

For the E36 INPA will be sufficient.

DIS comes into its own on 02+ BMWs with the test schedule section handy.
 
pepsilol said:
Carsoft is pants and a complete waste of time.
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Until I got hold of INPA I found it very useful and far from a 'complete waste of time'. It has its limitations but was largely excellent for basic fault code reading and clearing and got me out of situations on numerous occasions. Infact the only reason I ended up using INPA was because I made the move to a better cable so I could do coding - for fault finding and diagnosis I never found Carsoft anything other than sufficient. INPA is clearly superior but that doesnt make Carsoft a 'complete waste of time'.
 
[TW]Fox;21290562 said:
Until I got hold of INPA I found it very useful and far from a 'complete waste of time'. It has its limitations but was largely excellent for basic fault code reading and clearing and got me out of situations on numerous occasions. Infact the only reason I ended up using INPA was because I made the move to a better cable so I could do coding - for fault finding and diagnosis I never found Carsoft anything other than sufficient. INPA is clearly superior but that doesnt make Carsoft a 'complete waste of time'.
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It does when both are so readily able.
 
How are you running ista? Do you have the special head?

The only version of INPA I can find is part English, part German.
 
Will this bluetooth thing work on my 99 integra?

Edit, how do you find out if your car is obd1 or obd2
 
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I used INPA for my 93 e36, and had carsoft. Carsoft wouldn't talk to all the modules in the car, where as inpa does. Think my setup cost me about £40 for the cable, but E36 need ADS interface which needs a serial port.

Bimmerforums have a good section on diagnostics.
 
mejinks said:
How are you running ista? Do you have the special head?

The only version of INPA I can find is part English, part German.
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It requires a special head like DIS.

You will find it on all the BMW forums within the next 3 months or so.

Regarding the part german part, I am guessing you are referring to the installation of BMW standard tools.exe and then afterwards the Instprog_ohne_Endemeldung.exe bit?

If so when you double click that section, you select english, then carry on as per instructions you have.
 
pepsilol said:
It requires a special head like DIS.

You will find it on all the BMW forums within the next 3 months or so.

Regarding the part german part, I am guessing you are referring to the installation of BMW standard tools.exe and then afterwards the Instprog_ohne_Endemeldung.exe bit?

If so when you double click that section, you select english, then carry on as per instructions you have.
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Nah, I followed the instructions to the letter, it installed Ediabas first, which I selected English and UK program and then another installer, which never asked for language selection.

I get by, so far I have managed to reset the retarded battery sensor and the airbag warning light, so not doing too badly, but it would be nice to see all the available options.

Weirdly, it works without a hitch on my E60 and I have a plain kkl VAG com cable. I also bought an adaptor from ebay for the e36, but inpa can't read any modules, whereas Carsoft can. I changed the ediabas.ini file to ADS too :(
 
VAG cable forces the battery and ignition detection no matter what. Especially if its the vag cable where the 2 joints are soldered and not the one with the resistor etc.

Regarding your INPA, get the latest version, by the sounds of it I think you have an old version.

For the E36 do you use the VAG cable and then the round pin?

If so you may have issues with the usb port and the 16pins. With the older cars the older serial ediabas cables and round pin were a lot more reliable for reaching the modules.
 
pepsilol said:
VAG cable forces the battery and ignition detection no matter what. Especially if its the vag cable where the 2 joints are soldered and not the one with the resistor etc.

Regarding your INPA, get the latest version, by the sounds of it I think you have an old version.

For the E36 do you use the VAG cable and then the round pin?

If so you may have issues with the usb port and the 16pins. With the older cars the older serial ediabas cables and round pin were a lot more reliable for reaching the modules.
Click to expand...

Where did you get your English one from? I've downloaded a million of them and still can't find one in full english.

Regarding the E36, yes, thats how I did it.
 
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