Reading BMW fault code

rich_g85 · 31 Aug 2014 at 09:27

Hi all,
What's the cheapest means to read the fault code(s) logged by my car? It's a 2002 BMW 325i.

Is it worth buying an OBD2 device, or just take it to a garage?

If the former, what would you recommend?

Thanks,
Rich

Taff072 · 31 Aug 2014 at 09:47

I have just purchased an OBD2 Bluetooth adaptor from Amazon - cost around £5. Not delivered yet.

Grab the Torque app from Play Store for Android or if you have an iPhone get it from their store. Probably other apps available.

Torque app reads and resets fault codes and has a free trial version.

Total cost £5, don't think you will get cheaper

rich_g85 · 31 Aug 2014 at 13:50

That's just what I was looking for, thanks!

Paul N · 31 Aug 2014 at 14:27

wow, my local garage charges £20 just to plug the machine in. Didn't know about this, thanks.

rodenal · 31 Aug 2014 at 14:53

Generic readers and torque will only give you a readout of the std codes - what you want is a cable specific to the BMW (you can mod a cheap one if you want) and a copy of one of the programmes capable of accessing all the blocks.

There are a few about, I use(d) inpa for reading codes/data logging

Taff072 · 31 Aug 2014 at 14:58

rodenal said:
Generic readers and torque will only give you a readout of the std codes - what you want is a cable specific to the BMW (you can mod a cheap one if you want) and a copy of one of the programmes capable of accessing all the blocks.

There are a few about, I use(d) inpa for reading codes/data logging

By standard codes do you mean the Fault Codes like O2 Sensor fails for instance.

I appreciate Torque won't do stuff like turn on the alarm arming beep or make the doors lock as you pull away.

All I wanted was a simple fault reader and I hope Torque coupled with a Bluetooth adaptor will do this for me.

OliP · 31 Aug 2014 at 17:14

I have a 2008 fiesta ST and i bought a fault code reader of amazon and i use the torque app, it reads and resets fault codes.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006JJZVQE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

rodenal · 31 Aug 2014 at 18:28

You'll get the standard obd2 high level codes yes, so o2 sensor faults etc should flag up - but what you won't be able to do is interrogate any further, sometimes the car will have much more information available to pinpoint the actual issue, you might also struggle to properly talk to the abs system for example

Gaygle · 31 Aug 2014 at 23:00

What is the nature of the fault? How did it come about?

rich_g85 · 2 Sep 2014 at 13:21

Gaygle said:
What is the nature of the fault? How did it come about?

I'm really not sure because there aren't any symptoms of anything being wrong. The car starts and drives perfectly well!

What's strange is that the light can be on constantly for maybe a week and a half, then one day it either goes out, or just doesn't illuminate when I start the car.

I wondered if it could be the petrol I use? It's generally run on bog standard 95 octane from whichever supermarket I'm passing, with an occasional splash of Esso/Shell standard unleaded. Never premium.

*Moangroan* · 2 Sep 2014 at 16:03

rodenal said:
Generic readers and torque will only give you a readout of the std codes - what you want is a cable specific to the BMW (you can mod a cheap one if you want) and a copy of one of the programmes capable of accessing all the blocks.

There are a few about, I use(d) inpa for reading codes/data logging

I agree