Tool for resetting service indicator - '97 840Ci

[Gary Knox]

I've done a search of this site and several others and can not be sure what is the most economical tool for resetting the service indicator on the MID. Is this one OK?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Car-OBD2-Oil...QAAOSwEzxYdHQq

Thanks for either counsel, or a link to a better approach.

Gary

[Timm]

That won't fit - and a more economical device is 6" of wire - ignition OFF - joint the two sockets marked below on the diagnostic connector:



Ignition to position II (ignition ON but not start) - wait a few seconds - done!

[Gary Knox]

Tim,

My car has OBD2. I'm not sure where the connections you show is on my car. '94 840 Ci, where do I find that? I'm definitely looking for an economical way, so that is very appealing!

THANKS,

Gary

[shogun]

Round 20-pin plug in engine bay. http://www.peakeresearch.com/compatibility.htm
1987 to 2000 20 pin socket under hood. (B)
2000 and later: 16 pin socket under dash (C)
In the early 1990s the US Government mandated that all passenger cars produced 1996 and later must be equipped with the 16 pin, under dash, "C" style plug. So BMW complied and just added the "C" connector.
But they kept the "B" connector in models up to 2000 (2003 on the Z3s) meaning many cars have both C and B.
IMPORTANT: If your car has the B connector, you must plug our tools into the B connector in order to enjoy the full range of functions!

http://www.peakeresearch.com/

[Gary Knox]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU Timm and Shogun. I'm off to 'find the plug location' and reset the service indicator.

Gary

[Timm]

There it is:

[Dash01]

Paperclip works fine, as does hair pin if the plastic coating is removed.

[Gary Knox]

Thanks Timm for the pix. I really appreciate that. I had already found it and removed the cover - inserted the wire to the two sockets, followed the procedure above, but not joy. I did it two more times, being sure I had good contact from the wire (folded it double and squeezed the wires so it was snug betting them into the two receivers), I left the key turned to position 2 for up to 2 minutes, but there was no 'resetting' during that time, or after I turned the key to the off position, removed the wire, put the cap 'plug' back on and then turned the key to position 2. I just had the MID rebuilt a couple of weeks ago, and it works perfectly on all functions.

Puzzled!!!

Gary-

[Timm]

Don't give up yet, try different timings - some are a bit fussy!

[EricinConejo]

http://forum.roadfly.com/threads/114...=1#post1149254

[tangcla]

Check to see if the pins actually have a metal connector inside - we found that with our M60 vehicles, one of the pins doesn't have a connector. So just short the pin to ground.

[Timm]

From the Roadfly link they turn the ignition to position I (accessories) - give that a go instead of switching to position II - it's been a long time since I've done this trick!

[tvjake2]

From the Roadfly link they turn the ignition to position I (accessories) - give that a go instead of switching to position II - it's been a long time since I've done this trick!

Timm in a post further down he corrects it to position two. He said it was a typo.

[Gary Knox]

Thanks Timm, and yes, I also saw that Roadfly contributor corrected it to number II position for the switch. SUCCESS - finally - the oil service indicator is all green now, and the crankcase has new Mobil 1 oil.

My success finally came about when I connected the #7 pin directly to the ground lug on the right side strut. I had verified that # 19 pin was a ground pin about 4-5 times in my different attempts. Always got less than 1 ohm resistance with my digital VOM when I connected it to the large ground lug on the strut. Finally since All the info said #7 had to be grounded, I made that connection to the best ground source in the area. (Thanks Tancia, but I'd jumped to that conclusion before I read your suggestion). BINGO!

I am extremely appreciative of the input you all provided. Extremely helpful, and I have NO CLUE why it reset properly with the lug ground, but not the #19 ground!!!

[tangcla]

I am extremely appreciative of the input you all provided. Extremely helpful, and I have NO CLUE why it reset properly with the lug ground, but not the #19 ground!!!

For what it's worth, we couldn't get it reset with a reset tool or by bridging 7 and 19 either.


Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[Timm]

'Tis a strange thing - pin 19 is meant to be grounded on all models!

http://www.meeknet.co.uk/e31/e31_95.pdf#page=118

[Gary Knox]

Timm,

I agree - VERY strange, since there 19 is definitely a ground on my car, but for some reason it didn't 'seem' to be a ground when connected to #7. Also interesting that the same result was observed in at least one other car - as tancia posted above.