The Z3 Diagnostics Thread: Instructions, Experiences, Discussions, Experimentation

[fmcfad01]

Does anyone here happen to be in San Diego and also have ISTA set up? Sister's Boyfriend just bought a 2017 X5 and figured I'd try to help him have a quick look while I'm out here, but he didn't tell me before I left, so I'm without my tools.

[nevan]

Does anyone here happen to be in San Diego and also have ISTA set up? Sister's Boyfriend just bought a 2017 X5 and figured I'd try to help him have a quick look while I'm out here, but he didn't tell me before I left, so I'm without my tools.

Where in SD are you located?

I'm near FWY 15+56 and happen to have ISTA also.

Pm me if you are still in need.

[Engin]

Hi 328 amazing pack you have put together thanks heaps. I have a e70x5 it’s a 3.0d. I have a Inpa K+DCAN cable with switchable 7&8. I’ve tried every possible iteration. I have an older K+DCAN cable that works with the e39. With both cables I am able to get into some of the modules like the CCC and perform tasks no issues but I can’t seem to get into the engine module. Every time I select the n57tu2 engine it gives me a sys-0012 error. Now I can select some of the other engines and it seems to actually read some of the error codes, though all in German and probably worthless as it’s the wrong engine.

what am I doing wrong here. Do I need a different cable.

[amancuso]

I'm trying (again) to get the CC light to illuminate on the Z3 cluster. Does anyone know what wire to tap from the CC module in the driver's footwell area and which pin/connector it is on the cluster (I forgot, it's been so long).

Al.

[djmhendrix]

Only a few clusters actually have that symbol and if you have it, I believe you will still need to install a dedicated wire into the x16 (or it was the x17) connector. Forgot which one it was but I'm pretty sure the connector has an empty spot for that particular location/symbol. Remove the cluster and check which pin goes to the symbol and you're done.

[amancuso]

Only a few clusters actually have that symbol and if you have it, I believe you will still need to install a dedicated wire into the x16 (or it was the x17) connector. Forgot which one it was but I'm pretty sure the connector has an empty spot for that particular location/symbol. Remove the cluster and check which pin goes to the symbol and you're done.

Mine has the symbol, but I still don't know what wire to tap at the CC module side.

[djmhendrix]

Looks like you might have an OBD2 Z3. In that case, you don't have a separate CC module. Do you see an actuator under the hood, operating the throttle valve? If not, I think you'll need to NCS expert or progman your way through... Can't help with that.

[BimmerBreaker]

Every Z3 is OBD2, they came out in 96
Fwie though, OBD2 E36/Z3 had a CC module until 98 when they went to the M52TU engines

Also never seen one with an illuminating CC light. Didnt even know it was possible. Is it even possible? Who knows

[amancuso]

Yes there is an actuator there.

[djmhendrix]

'Murica!!!
In EU, we didn't have OBD2 until ~1999 in these things. Was introduced with the TU engines.
Anyway, if you have a cc module, try pin 25. If that gives you 12V when cc is actuated, you're in business.

[amancuso]

'Murica!!!
In EU, we didn't have OBD2 until ~1999 in these things. Was introduced with the TU engines.
Anyway, if you have a cc module, try pin 25. If that gives you 12V when cc is actuated, you're in business.

Thanks, I'll keep you all posted.

[choochoopj]

Due to the Crona19 lock down, I got around to working on the wife's 99 Z3. I have had the parts for over 3 years. After fixing 6 issues related to idiot lights being on, it was time to turn them off.
I would like to thank all the members for their support of this thread!!!!!!!
I had purchased the 20 pin adapter and USB cord about 4yrs ago.

"328 Power 04" YOU ROCK !!!! I CANT THANK YOU ENOUGH !!!
I used a laptop running win 10. I followed ALL of the instructions to the letter. MY SET UP WORKED THE FIRST TIME I PLUGGED IN TO THE CAR !!!!!!!!
I reset the air bag light ( worn out seat bushings allowing seat to move)
Also reset check engine light. (vac leak in the PCV system)
Thanks again

[Visegrip]

328 Power 04, great job on this write up and follow up. I am having an issue where I can connect to the airbag module, but cannot connect to the DME. I have the M44 and have been selecting the DME 5.2 option and continue to get "IFH-0009: No Response from ControlUnit. Program will be stopped!" With a variant checking error that says, "Requested control unit: 'DM524DS0' not found. Control unit not found: '???'.

Let me know what I can do to fix this, I am using a switchable K+DCAN cable with the 20 pin adapter. Should be running the latest version of drivers and apps that you have released and using Windows 10.

[daamazin]

328 Power 04- you're the man. Thank you so much for piecing this together! I have a 99' E36 M3 and its been giving me the dual ABS/ASC lights for TWO YEARS!!! Finally got INPA to read today and it's largely due to your post and uploads. THANK YOU.


I'm embarrassed to admit how much time I spent getting this to work over the last s̶i̶x̶ d̶a̶y̶s̶ six months but today I finally got it to read ABS/ASC modules using ADS mode in INPA. Instructions on page 7 of this thread on right on. FWIW, I bought a true serial port laptop on eBay running windows XP, and bought tiny ads.


Two very small additions to the original instructions on page 7; please ignore if these are already posted in previous pages:


1. INPA gave me "API.dll cannot be found" when I launched it. PATH variables never got added and unfortunately PATHeditor program will not work in XP. I had to do it manually. Instructions at the following link were spot on and worked great: https://www.car-auto-repair.com/how-...-not-be-found/


2. The order I attached everything seemed to matter in my case. The combo that ended up working for me was: 1. Connect the cable, 2. Turn the ignition to position II, 3. Launch INPA. If I did it any other way I would get the back and forth blinking ignition/battery lights.


Thanks again guys.

[Dayak]

Hi, french guy here, just registered to the forum to say thank you to 328 power 04. I've got a 2000 e38 730d with ~350000 km (~200000 miles) on it and it suddenly stopped firing. Sorry it's not a Z3, I know. It's my first BMW and I knew nothing about ADS (because it's and ADS one, got pin 15), serial ports, INPA and everything. Spent a lot of time reading various forums, buying cables that weren't the good one, giving up, finally not giving up, etc. Car has been broken for 8 months now (luckily I have an old Volvo that works).

Ended up buying an old windows XP pro SP3 Dell D610 with a serial port on our french craigslist, and a Mycor media ADS interface on amazon. They provided a custom inpa package with it. Got battery and ignition recognition but two things decided me to keep on searching for better softs : constant IFH-0009 errors that I don't know where they come from, and German everywhere that makes troubleshooting really difficult. I work in an underground garage, no connection so I can't translate live what I read. I ended up having a "4704 Vorfoerderduck-Ueberwachung" error while trying to fire the motor, which has something to do with diesel pressure between tank and high pressure pump according to the internet. Maybe it's the root cause, maybe not. Didn't go further yet.

I was thinking it could be a sync EWS issue, because I left her battery disconnected for 3 weeks and she never fired up again after that. So it didn't look like a mechanical breakdown. But after 300 tries, I got a "in der DME ist bereits ein startwert gespeichert" response (among 299 IFH-0009 errors) while doing the EWS sync which should say that there is no sync issue, I think. Still no firing up. She cranks like before but that's all.

Well there is my story, apparently I had to tell someone lol. Anyway thank you again 328 power 04 for this thread, you're giving hope and softwares, which is very cool. I will try again to troubleshot the car this weekend with your softwares and tutorials.

[Dayak]

I just came back from my garage. Success ! Again, thank you, this ADS setup is the cleanest I've tested, and I have tested many. Things that happened to me :
- I had to place the file "Referenz" at the root of the pc (c:\referenz) because install didn't work if I put the file Referenz along with my other BMW files in my documents.
- Path variable wasn't automatically added, like daamazin. Like him, I've got a Windows XP setup, this might be the explanation. I got a warning at the end of the install, added it myself, not difficult.
- Searched forever for the obd.bin, turned out this file isn't created when you select "ADS" during the install.
- In this particular INPA package, my engine (M57) does not appear in the e38 motors. So I began to freak out, but then it worked fine by selecting directly the motor in the motors list.
- My serial port was already set to COM1, I kept it like that. I tried various settings and don't know exactly it it had an impact (you will find out why below), but when it finally worked, i had unclicked the "use FIFO" thing in the advanced settings of my serial port. Kept it like that since it worked fine.

- Now, the last issue I had. After installing three times the software, I still had the IFH-0009 errors all the time. I ended up changing my RS232 cable which was 2 meters long by a 0,50 meter long, no more IFH-0009 errors. The cable between the PC and the car was too long and the signal was lost. Took me ages to figure that out. So I worked with the PC sitting on the motor, less convenient but at least it worked.

In the end the only issue my car seems to have, is a dead immersed pump. (Diesel pump that is in the tank). No other fault codes, I saw nothing really explicit about the EWS unlike what I thought. I uncliped the pump connector, I've got 12v at the connector and the pump is not making any noise. Still have to double check the electric schemes but for tonight I call it a diagnostic. I have absolutely no idea how that thing could have died while there wasn't even a battery in the car, to me it's a mystery. Anyway it seems to be dead.

Thank you again, take care !

[Tett]

Hi Folks,
I joined because of this amazing thread and just want to say thanks to 328 Power 04 for all of the work and explanation. I am in awe of your understanding. I have a new to me 1999 323is and wanted to have diagnostic capability. Because I initially thought I needed ADS, I bought a TinyADS and set up the software from Post 170 on this thread on an old Dell D610 laptop with a serial port that was sitting dormant under our china cabinet for 5+years. It has a whopping 512M of RAM. I just can't tell you how thrilled I am about the whole thing. I don't even have any codes, I just like having the capability. Thanks again so much... you guys have made my night.

[pepsih]

Hi everyone,
just starting with diagnostic on my "new" z3 I bought the car as is, crank but won't start.
its a 1996 1.9L so M44
I believe i need a EWS DME Alignment that can be done via INPA,
The first kkl vag-com cable that I bought from ebay was the wrong one (with ch340 chip)
i went and bought the one from ECS TUNING which supposed to be a FTDI (https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-part...able/vt1a0003/) tried to install the drivers don't work, installed ch340 driver and the driver has been installed so please be aware and don't bother to buy the one from ECS TUNING.
I'm waiting on https://www.ebay.com/itm/FTDI-FT232R...53.m2749.l2649
but it's coming from china ;(

i also have a k+DCAN Cable that I used for my e90 335i from late 2007, pin7 and 8 are soldered together
once i run INPA i give me the IFH-0009 error?
can I actually use that cable ?
is it possible that the reason it doesn't connect is the defective cable ? (last time i used it, it was about 4 years ago on my ex e90)
someone said that they successfully connected the car with that cable https://www.amazon.com/OHP-K-line-Co...omotive&sr=1-1
should i get it ?

[328 Power 04]

The k-dcan cable will work fine. You will need the 20-pin adapter if you don't already have one.
If it's late 2007, then your pins should not be soldered. For Z3, you don't even have to worry, since the 20-pin adapter bridges those two anyways.

Simply make sure the com ports match, and it will work. See the connections troubleshoot pdf

[pepsih]

pepsih said:
Today 09:20 AM
So i bought another cable lol,
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And i have the 20pin to obd 16pin adaptor connected.

Doesn't matter if i plug the K+dcan cable [the old one] or the new
[listed above] i have the same error.
When i plug them directly to the OBD2 port i have IFH-0009
;
BUT when i use the adapter and plug it under the hood i have IPH-0003.

Again as a reminder i never see this car running but its cranking.
I can see the dme and ews physically.
Do you guys think something can be disconnected, bad relay or something like that?

I tried that on 2 laptops checked obd.ini change the com...
Ediabias as well.
Device manager has been changed too.



OK that's weird
so im using theses cables.
I TRIPLE CHECKED THE SETTINGS,
i even used the mprog on the kdcan cable.

On both cables with and without the 16to20 pin converter i have the same error.
is it possible that the DME is fried???

[pepsih]

So i bought another cable l
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And i have the 20pin to obd 16pin adaptor connected.

Doesn't matter if i plug the K+dcan cable [the old one] or the new
[listed above] i have the same error.
When i plug them directly to the OBD2 port i have IFH-0009
;
BUT when i use the adapter and plug it under the hood i have IPH-0003.

Again as a reminder i never see this car running but its cranking.
I can see the dme and ews physically.
Do you guys think something can be disconnected, bad relay or something like that?

I tried that on 2 laptops checked obd.ini change the com...
Ediabias as well.
Device manager has been changed too.



OK that's weird
so im using theses cables.
I TRIPLE CHECKED THE SETTINGS,
i even used the mprog on the kdcan cable.

On both cables with and without the 16to20 pin converter i have the same error.
IPH-0003 with the converter
IPH-0009 without it

is it possible that the DME is fried???



8c47df63-f9a3-43eb-8f3c-09dfa9838fb2.jpeg

[pepsih]

So i bought another cable l<br>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KK0M5CK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc =1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KK0M5CK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc =1</a><br>
<br>
And i have the 20pin to obd 16pin adaptor connected.<br>
<br>
Doesn't matter if i plug the K+dcan cable [the old one] or the new
[listed above] i have the same error.<br>
When i plug them directly to the OBD2 port i have IFH-0009<br>
;<br>
BUT when i use the adapter and plug it under the hood i have IPH-0003.<br>
<br>
Again as a reminder i never see this car running but its cranking.<br>
I can see the dme and ews physically.<br>
Do you guys think something can be disconnected, bad relay or something like that?<br>
<br>
I tried that on 2 laptops checked obd.ini change the com...<br>
Ediabias as well. <br>
Device manager has been changed too.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
OK that's weird<br>
so im using theses cables.<br>
I TRIPLE CHECKED THE SETTINGS, <br>
i even used the mprog on the kdcan cable.<br>
<br>
On both cables with and without the 16to20 pin converter i have the same error.<br>IPH-0003 with the converter<br>IPH-0009 without it&nbsp;<br><br>
is it possible that the DME is fried???<br><br><br><br><img src="https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=673041&amp;stc=1" attachmentid="673041" alt="" id="vbattach_673041" class="previewthumb">

[328 Power 04]

Which exact modules are you trying to connect to when you get those errors?

When you go to full ignition, do you get all the lights on the cluster? Does the engine light illuminate?

[pepsih]

Which exact modules are you trying to connect to when you get those errors?

When you go to full ignition, do you get all the lights on the cluster? Does the engine light illuminate?

01e5a5a4-55b7-477d-98dd-e8356b218c65.jpeg

So this is what I got when I turn the key on. full ignition.

what's weird is that I have a video when i tried to turn it on the 1st time, it showed me the CHECK ENGINE light,but never started
WhatsApp Image 2020-06-15 at 8.22.35 PM.jpeg

Tomorrow I'll connect my cable to my friend X3 e83, let's see if my cables are good...

[328 Power 04]

Check engine not illuminating suggests a power issue to the ecu. Check that you are getting 12V power to it.
Check the fusible link on the power wires after the battery.

This is probably not an ews issue at all.