Expensive CE+ABS vs. Peake scanner?

[Ron97M3]

I have the Peake Research R5/fcx CE code reader and service reset tool.
see http://www.r5tool.com/code_tool.htm.

I have a mystery ABS light problem this cheap scanner tool can't handle.
I know there are a lot of reasons why someone would have a ABS light come on so one really needs a scan and some idea of what the ABS scan codes indicate is wrong. I hear you can pay a BMW dealer $100 for a scan, but I fear they wouldn't give you a list of issues and the codes to help you really know what it could be and not be, to then find and fix it. Go figure.

My ABS light comes on only when the car is moving, and is NOT related to pressing the brake pedal. I don't think it requires to press the gas but you must be rolling for a good distance. The light comes on randomly anywhere from 100 feet to 20 miles typically in about a mile or two. I have replaced the rear wheel sensors, cleaned all the sensors and rings, swapped the ABS relay, and brake light switch.

I wonder if it could be a bad connection in the wiring of the ABS pump which I
have read a DIY on that. I wish I had the list of possible ABS faults/codes that can cause the ABS light but I don't.

I know others here have similiar ABS faults they don't have scanner for and I wonder are there other issues which an expensive scanner is required for? What are they?

I know if somebody had a ABS scanner and a ABS fault phrase list I would happily pay them $40? to come to my place or $20? to go to theirs to get my car ABS scanned and get a copy of the code list. I was wondering if I paid for the expensive scanner I could do the same for others here and provide a needed service cheap and easy?

Question-- What other things can a more expensive BMW mechanics code scanner read that you can't do with the Peake scanner? What is it valuable for?

[thejlevie]

A full up diag system, like a dealer or indie shop would have, can interrogate any of the modules on the car. The Peake tool can only interrogate the DME. And on OBD II cars the full-up systems can show live data (mass air flow, engine temp, rpm, fuel trim, etc). And a full up system can code modules, reset adaptation values, place the ABS in bleed mode, etc. In other words they can do lots things that a simple can tool can't do.

Your ABS fault could be a bad front wheel sensor. You could replace those, but without knowing if the fault is for one of them that might turn out to be a waste of money. The best approach would be to have the ABS scanned for fault codes and take it from there.

[Ron97M3]

Lets say you take the car in and they read the ABS codes.

They say it's had a ABS103, ABS110 and ABS203. It could be your wheel sensors, a BS pump or connection or something else. That will not help at all!

On the other hand if I had a ABS scanner manual with the possible codes and
the meanings at least like the peake I can see well ABS203 means a ABS pump line to right front wheel failure. ABS103 means front right wheel sensor failure. etc etc.

So how does one prevent being told like nothing really and figure out what the codes means if they don't have the manual?

[thejlevie]

Ask what the codes mean and what would have to be replaced.