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

[Kac309]

You are a true magician! My dashboard looks normal again. Now the question is for how long

Thank You Very Much!

[kplima07]

Hey guys, hoping to get some help. I have INPA loaded. Connects to the M Coupe fine and can pull codes/communicate with the ECU. I can not connect to the Air Bag module to reset that light. Any thoughts? We swapped steering wheels so of course it threw the code. I will admit Randy is only 45 minutes from me and I can always use an excuse to go down there. But would like to get INPA straightened out.

I also have an E60 M5 and everything is in German. What did you modify for the E36 file set to get it all in English? I will do some digging on here as well. Thanks in advance.

[E.Hands]

Are you connected thru the round port under the bonnet, by the engine?

[328 Power 04]

I also have an E60 M5 and everything is in German. What did you modify for the E36 file set to get it all in English? I will do some digging on here as well. Thanks in advance.

That's how it is for some newer cars. Newer cars' INPA data comes from extraction from dealer ISTA program, which only contained the 'base' files needed for INPA in German.
Anything that is in English is 100% due to old BMW Development software leaks. They have all these base files in English and in German, and even updated to the newest of the new cars, G-chassis, and even i chassis.
Until there are some freely available English files leaked, it will just be German.

Are you connected thru the round port under the bonnet, by the engine?

Bingo.
(interesting use of British English...)

[Kac309]

Can I use those tools to diagnose and code R50 Mini? I have some problems with airbag and brake pads. How to add R50 to INPA?

[rf900rkw]

Yes, Mini is in the menus.

[kplima07]

Are you connected thru the round port under the bonnet, by the engine?

Yes, I was connected through the round port under the hood

[328 Power 04]

Last time I had no connection to the airbag module on someone's car (through the 20-pin, and everything else worked), it was the airbag module fuse.

[Jay11]

Is this the same and correct cable as the one at page 1 since it too has FTDI FT232RL? I just like the price on this one if they are the same cables.
Has anyone used this particular cable successfully? ==>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/292068310025


IMG351.jpg

[328 Power 04]

Yes it should work. The main reason that it does work is because of that chip.

[1215]

This is a way random & OT question. Wondering if anyone knows of a decent (free) software that will work generally for all OBD-II cars with the USB to OBD cable we use?? I have a laptop with XP & INPA on it. Have a buddy with a Chevy work van with CEL & issues. I just want to be able to plug in the cable and read the general codes (or more, depending on software available). Sorry for the OT question. Thanks.

[rf900rkw]

Nope. There may be a chance that our KKL cables can do iso9141 OBD2 protocol, since it was based on k-line. But GM got a terminal case of "not invented here" and forced their own protocol into the OBD2 "standard". Rather than serial comm on pin 7, GM does PWM, (VARIABLE PWM, at that) on pins 2 and 10.

Buy a $10 elm adapter and put free Torque on your Android.

[1215]

Buy a $10 elm adapter and put free Torque on your Android.

I appreciate the reply --especially since it was not BMW related. Will this work by chance? I'm not really looking to do any tuning. My buddy is a contractor and his vehicle is a Chevy work/panel van. My wife told his wife I have a code reader and offered that I'd be happy to take a look and see what's up. (All I know is van died, does not start and has CEL lol) So now that I'm buying an adapter for a car I don't own, I'm wondering... We can do a LOT between the OBD and 20-pin ports.


I think I might have one of those blue OBD readers I linked and I've got a couple old phones or droid tablets... but if I can't find the adapter and need to go spend $10 on a new one, can I spend $20 or $30 on an adapter or software that would do anything close to what we can do to our cars --either for Chevy only or Chevy + various cars? Thinking about a F350 tow vehicle for my BMW, wondering if it would work there too. Thanks again.

EDIT: Any idea why an E36 cam position sensor code would keep coming on when the old part tests fine and it comes on with new part (Siemens)?

[328 Power 04]

EDIT: Any idea why an E36 cam position sensor code would keep coming on when the old part tests fine and it comes on with new part (Siemens)?

Did your original sensor look like this?

IMG_1773.jpg
(HeliHover's picture)

If yes, I have seen 2 scenarios when this happened.
Scenario 1: shorts burned out a driver inside the DME, and fried the DME. (happened to a car I was helping with, replaced DME and sensor, fixed)
Scenario 2: replacement new camshaft position sensor was bad as well. (odd, but possible)

[1215]

Did your original sensor look like this?

Crap. Can't find photos of it on my phone. I know I have them somewhere. Car runs & drives fine --if sensor and driver inside DME was shot would car be operable? Both new and old sensors test identical. Tester is good. I bet my life on it (rewiring part of my home).

[328 Power 04]

You would need to pull the rubber skirt up on the sensor side connector. My situation it was completely uninsulated, and caused shorts.

Yes, car will work, with fried DME, but suboptimally. It will not go fully into closed loop, and vanos heavily depends on it. Sign of this was that the cam angle was reported ~80degrees in INPA. 80° means no sensor signal reading.

It's supposed to be ~15° with Vanos off, and ~40° with Vanos on.

Keep in mind, the shorted cam sensor damaging a DME can be from past sensors. Test with a known working sensor, if not, look at DME replacement. It's easy and cheap. Cheaper than an OE camshaft position sensor...

[328 Power 04]

Thank you- I'm going to see if I can get a hold of him.

EDIT=> Yes, an S52.

2nd Edit=> I'm looking to upgrade from CarSoft to this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/272615871404...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
I assume that will allow me to do what I need to do... I have another DME on the way, along with a wiring harness (my current motor and DME are M Roadster and it's something I want to change), so I'll have to do the DME-EWS alignment too.

With that setup, you will likely not be able to reach the ABS/ASC Traction module and instrument cluster. For your specific situation.
I wouldn't pay that kind of money for software loaded on another laptop, but that's just me.

What do you suggest then? I'd prefer a Toughbook anyway, but I need/Wang a good software package.

I want to have access to ABS ASC and to code the cluster.

I Soum that since this was the kneelers off where I would be able to do that.

I never worked at a dealership so I don't know how to use the saw for what it's for functionality is..

ABS/ASC + Traction in E36/5 Compact is likely wired to the 'L' diagnostics line (pin 15 of the 20-pin port), which means this requires an ADS interface plus a computer that has a true serial port (nothing else will do) to reach it for diagnosis or coding. (*Some pre-facelift Z3 and Z3M ABS/ASC+T were wired to 'K' line, so a USB-OBD interface + 20-pin adapter is enough. I can't say for sure how 318ti was wired.)


Instrument cluster (KOMBI) is guaranteed wired to 'L' diagnostics line on 318ti, so you need ADS interface to a computer with true serial port.

Everything else is wired to K line on 318ti, which works fine with USB-OBD + 20-pin port.


All the software you would need is right here in the first post of this thread. For diagnostics and coding. If you choose to get an ADS module (such as the TinyADS) plus a serial port laptop (very old), then you would need the old version of INPA, also posted in the first post.






Another, more expensive option is an ICOM interface. This is a dealer diagnostics interface that works with our older cars (and all newest BMWS), all L-line modules, and with the newest INPA pack I posted here.
Most ICOMs that are not from a dealer or a dealer's reseller (ECS Tuning, etc), will be Chinese clones. Some Chinese clones are decent, but you have to do research to find the best quality one (or ask me).
ICOM needs a working ethernet port (or wifi, if a quality one), so new laptops are fine.

[tiMASTER]

Well, I have an antique laptop (ibm A30) with a serial port. The old version of CarSoft (pre dongle) required a serial port. The serial to USB adapters didn't work.

So I have that machine and carsoft with the Chinese cable- plugs in under the hood. I think I have an OBD-II port adapter as well but I never use it.

It scans and prints codes and that's all I use it for. Real time data sometimes but not often.

So, with this, I can install the software I need to have proper control of my car's software? Alignments

[se93]

Hello to all

Can anyone indicate what pins need to be wired for the OBD2 20-16 round adapter to recognize ignition signal? My old one which worked perfectly had to be replaced and my new unit does not recognize ignition signal

Thanks in advance

Regards
Mark


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[328 Power 04]

Well, I have an antique laptop (ibm A30) with a serial port. The old version of CarSoft (pre dongle) required a serial port. The serial to USB adapters didn't work.

So I have that machine and carsoft with the Chinese cable- plugs in under the hood. I think I have an OBD-II port adapter as well but I never use it.

It scans and prints codes and that's all I use it for. Real time data sometimes but not often.

So, with this, I can install the software I need to have proper control of my car's software? Alignments

You would need this interface http://openlabs.co/projects/Tiny-ADS-Interface

And this specific version of the software for your older IBM http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...0#post29024210

[Tim95M3]

Random question. I have a 98 2.8 roady, and the cluster was replaced many many years ago with the chrome-ringed version. The manipulation dot has been on ever since. I have an old Windows 7 laptop and access to dozens of ICOM's at work. Can I use an ICOM with INPA to get rid of the dot? I have zero knowledge on all of this software stuff, so I figure this is a good way to get to learning.

[328 Power 04]

Random question. I have a 98 2.8 roady, and the cluster was replaced many many years ago with the chrome-ringed version. The manipulation dot has been on ever since. I have an old Windows 7 laptop and access to dozens of ICOM's at work. Can I use an ICOM with INPA to get rid of the dot? I have zero knowledge on all of this software stuff, so I figure this is a good way to get to learning.

Yes, the ICOM works perfectly with the INPA pack in the first post. The set up will be slightly tricky (not too hard though), to get the IP address of the ICOM and apply it to the configuration. I use my ICOM all the time with INPA.
Send me a PM with email address or other communication, and I can help.

What car did the cluster come from? Facelift Z3s clusters were K-line modules, so there may be some wiring differences.

[328 Power 04]

Hello to all

Can anyone indicate what pins need to be wired for the OBD2 20-16 round adapter to recognize ignition signal? My old one which worked perfectly had to be replaced and my new unit does not recognize ignition signal

Thanks in advance

Regards
Mark


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pin 16 of the 20-pin port is Ignition +12V. It should go to pin 1 (sometimes pin 2) of the OBD plug.

[Vintage42]

... Note, for the 16 pin to work, the cap has to be on the 20 pin. The cap does the daisy-chain so that you can't have two scanners plugged in at once...

Conversely, I guess that for the 20-pin port to work, there cannot be anything else in the 16-pin port.
That must be why two years ago, my 20-pin Peak tool only showed a - - (double hyphen internal error code) when my Z3 was spinning without starting. I did not know to unplug the console-mounted ScanGauge from the 16-pin port.
The problem was the cam sensor, which I replaced just based on symptoms.

[tiMASTER]

You would need this interface http://openlabs.co/projects/Tiny-ADS-Interface

And this specific version of the software for your older IBM http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...0#post29024210

Thank you!

I've been reading all posts up to here, and will continue to the end. I can check my ETMs and let you know what line the comm is on.

The A30 needs a new battery and has a flaky caps lock button so I'd just as soon throw it out the window at a buck-ten as resurrect it...

Anyway, reading on.