Obd2 reader/diagnostic for bmw e61

[John I]

Hi question for the those that fight to keep morderns on the road. 

What reader would the sideways collective recommend for reading basic codes/faults and be able to clear same and reset the system.

We have a 2006 bmw e61 touring 525i. Not as nice as the old Audi allroad we had but with the recent price of petrol it been a lot more economic on the bank account. In this vein I’m trying to do more of the usual maintenance. Have just replaced a coil pack... trial and error to find which one of the 6 as I don’t have a obd reader it was a slow and steady task swapping one out at time until she ran smoothly. Longish process but it wasn’t raining nor cold. 

Now I need to reset the check engine light and when it happens again as it will having a reader would make the task a lot quicker. Not thinking of dealer style diagnostic level but something that is reliable in its advice/data.

Your thoughts greatly appreciated. 

John

 

[RedRooster]

I've got one for the Landy, quite impressed with it. 

https://www.icarsoft-france.fr/marque/bmw/

[Mark]

I did buy one a couple of years ago that could read and erase codes, around £250, can't remember the make. Called the company before the eBay purchase and based on the vehicle model and reg was assured if was compatible. Unfortunately it just wouldn't connect. Contacted the company who requested chassis number and they spoke to the manufactures. Based on the chassis number they confirmed it wouldn't work. Got a full refund. 

So be careful before you commit to buy, and ideally speak to the manufacture, to confirm compatibility.

[JumpingFrog]

Personally, as the owner of a BMW from the same era I'm using two approaches. For basic debugging I have a cheap ELM327 (<£10) bluetooth dongle, this works with a whole load of different apps on a smart phone, personally I use:

• Deep OBD (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.holeschak.bmw_deep_obd): This aims to replicate the core BMW factory/dealer tool functionality, it's a pain to setup and not inuitive to use. But it can read/clear fault codes (with BMW code number), show fault freeze frame data (conditions when fault occurred) as well as display most internal engine parameters. It can do a bit more than this, but I would switch to the factory tools instead.
• Car Scanner (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ovz.carscanner&pli=1): This is a more generic tool, not BMW specific and gives only generic OBD2 fault codes. However, if you pay for the pro version it unlocks OBD2 mode 6 non-continous monitor data, such as misfire counters. I'm yet to find a free app that can give mode 6 data, at least for BMWs.

There are other tools like BimmerLink, that are paid and do what Deep OBD does, but are probably easier to use. I haven't tried so can't recommend.

However, as good as these tools are, there are limitations, so I have a cheap windows tablet with ISTA installed, this is the BMW factory software. It's a little difficult to setup and use, and the user interface is only in German. However, it can do almost everything including test sequences for things like the electric water pump. Cables are cheap (search for BMW K+DCAN), and usually come with some version of ISTA on a disc but I ended up buying a second after my original cable became flaky.

If you're looking for something more generic and integrated, have a look at Autel or iCarSoft, I've seen a lot of garages using them.

Edited March 10 by JumpingFrog

[John I]

On 3/10/2024 at 11:44 AM, Mark said:

I did buy one a couple of years ago that could read and erase codes, around £250, can't remember the make. Called the company before the eBay purchase and based on the vehicle model and reg was assured if was compatible. Unfortunately it just wouldn't connect. Contacted the company who requested chassis number and they spoke to the manufactures. Based on the chassis number they confirmed it wouldn't work. Got a full refund. 

So be careful before you commit to buy, and ideally speak to the manufacture, to confirm compatibility.

Thanks Mark, this is exactly what I was afraid of. Had read a number of cases on a few bmw sites where people experienced the same problem.

[John I]

17 hours ago, JumpingFrog said:

Personally, as the owner of a BMW from the same era I'm using two approaches. For basic debugging I have a cheap ELM327 (<£10) bluetooth dongle, this works with a whole load of different apps on a smart phone, personally I use:

• Deep OBD (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.holeschak.bmw_deep_obd): This aims to replicate the core BMW factory/dealer tool functionality, it's a pain to setup and not inuitive to use. But it can read/clear fault codes (with BMW code number), show fault freeze frame data (conditions when fault occurred) as well as display most internal engine parameters. It can do a bit more than this, but I would switch to the factory tools instead.
• Car Scanner (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ovz.carscanner&pli=1): This is a more generic tool, not BMW specific and gives only generic OBD2 fault codes. However, if you pay for the pro version it unlocks OBD2 mode 6 non-continous monitor data, such as misfire counters. I'm yet to find a free app that can give mode 6 data, at least for BMWs.

There are other tools like BimmerLink, that are paid and do what Deep OBD does, but are probably easier to use. I haven't tried so can't recommend.

However, as good as these tools are, there are limitations, so I have a cheap windows tablet with ISTA installed, this is the BMW factory software. It's a little difficult to setup and use, and the user interface is only in German. However, it can do almost everything including test sequences for things like the electric water pump. Cables are cheap (search for BMW K+DCAN), and usually come with some version of ISTA on a disc but I ended up buying a second after my original cable became flaky.

If you're looking for something more generic and integrated, have a look at Autel or iCarSoft, I've seen a lot of garages using them.

Thanks David for really in depth advice. Now I need to look at your suggestions and see how far my limited IT/smart phone abilities will be able to take me with each.

[Mark]

3 hours ago, John I said:

Thanks Mark, this is exactly what I was afraid of. Had read a number of cases on a few bmw sites where people experienced the same problem

Hi john,

Just to be clear this was for a Citreon, but have heard of similar experiences from owners of other makes of vehicles. Think manufactures can confirm compatability if they have the chassis number, as in my case.

[RedRooster]

As I mentioned before iCarsoft, nice bit of kit. 

[John I]

15 hours ago, RedRooster said:

As I mentioned before iCarsoft, nice bit of kit. 

Thanks Redrooster, will look at those as well. Did you need to give chassis details to manufacture. I’ve seen many conflicting reports from obd users for all the models mentioned, not sure if it’s the plethora of cheap copies around or what. However I will have to dip a toe in the water and my hand into the pocket sooner than later. 

Watch this space 

cheers john

[RedRooster]

No, it does all models Jag and Landrover. 

Just put it on auto scan and it will find the vehicle identification, then run diagnostics.

The amount of things you can look at is impressive. 

[RogerH]

yesterday a current MachineMart catalogue dropped through the door.

Upon browsing through it I found two of these OBD things at apprx £15  -  surely they can't work.

 

Roger

[thebrookster]

41 minutes ago, RogerH said:

yesterday a current MachineMart catalogue dropped through the door.

Upon browsing through it I found two of these OBD things at apprx £15  -  surely they can't work.

 

Roger

From what I have been reading (this thread has me thinking of buying one myself lol) it depends on what you want it to do.

The basic versions (which I guess is what your £15 ones will be) simply read codes and reset them.

The fancier ones can start reading/changing settings and programs in the ECU, but you seem to pay more for that level of access. 

It appears that for my truck I want/need a program called "forscan", which uses a very basic connection lead and lets a pc/laptop do the work. This option lets me change programming etc. Or I can get a Bluetooth OBD dongle and run an app on my phone, but this appears to only allow fault reading and resetting.

For me, it would be a toy really as I tend to throw the truck at a garage if it has issues!

[Escadrille Ecosse]

On 3/12/2024 at 10:36 AM, thebrookster said:

For me, it would be a toy really as I tend to throw the truck at a garage if it has issues!

Quite right. Focus should be on new garage/worksop and the Red Shed.

Or as you were looking for a better name to suit it's new party frock, how about the 'Red Sled' as being a particularly aposite pun on Lead Sled

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_sled