Rocommendations for standalone OBD2 code reader for 04 E46 (USA)?

[WanMan]

Morning All,

My wife's 2004 BMW 325i sedan (E46) has an illuminated Service Engine Soon on. Recently, I had the battery replaced (existing one died) and the injectors cleaned at the local BMW dealership service department. I was ignorant to the need for generating a 'drive cycle' and went from the dealership service department to the emission testing station (Gwinnett, GA) and promptly failed. At the time, the SES lamp was intermittent for about a month but at the time of emission testing it wasn't illuminated.

The emission tester asked if I had the vehicle jump-started recently and of course I informed him of just having the battery replaced the day before. He said there wasn't enough data on the car's computer and that was one of two dings that caused the emission test failure--he was allowed to ignore only one. He said he figured one of the dings was due to the lack of drive-cycle data and wasn't sure what was causing the other.

As I started to leave the emission testing facility the power steering pump went out. Towed the car back to the dealership service department and as feared the pump went out. I wonder if the pump was a LUK LF20 of LF30. With a new pump installed I picked up the car knowing full well I needed to perform a drive-cycle and unlike the week before (all highway miles) I drove about 25 miles on the local roads never exceeding 50 MPH. I will drive another 50 miles before I attempt to re-test the emissions, but before I even consider that I need to grapple with the SES.

I happen to come across another forum more specific to E46's and some folks said that visiting local auto parts shops could not get their code readers to even communicate with their E46's. One guy even mentioned the make/model of the code reader and it is exactly the one I have that I got for my Toyota truck (Actron 9580a), which according to their website doesn't support BMW. So, I am need of a recommendation for a standalone code reader that I could buy locally or via Amazon (no eBay, plz). Anyone got a suggestion?

BTW, this car is clean. The shop at the MW dealership likes it as they've done all the work on it since purchase back in 2004. We've got a '13 335, too, and usually keep vehicles until their hard deaths instead of trading them in. Hope to solve this SES mystery soon so I can re-test emissions and get the tag renewed this month.

[adwebinc]

For my OBDII cars, I have been super happy with the Carly app and dongle. Easy to use and has good BMW specific diagnostics, but you can feature code as well. And for around $150 all in IIRC, it's pretty reasonable too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[WanMan]

adwebinc, thanks for the suggestion. While I do not mind using a wifi-based dongle and software I would much rather have software for a desktop computer than a mobile device like a cell phone or tablet. One of my home wireless routers sits directly above the garage with my primary desktop PC beside it.

[WanMan]

I tried to respond to you post shortly after you posted, but for some odd reason it needs to go through a moderator action. I do not know why. No swearing of solicitation. I guess my just chatting is enough.

[legoman67]

are you looking for standalone? or PC software? im confused now.

If your looking for PC software the easiest to use for E46 is PA Soft BMW Scanner. Its all english and fairly straight forward.

If you want true standalone and want to be able to read more then basic OBD2 PCodes things get very expensive...

[pbonsalb]

Foxwell NT510 is a capable handheld for $150 with free specific module -- choose BMW when you update it after receiving it.

[WanMan]

legoman67, I prefer a standalone unit, but I am willing to consider a wireless to desktop solution. What I am not interested in is a laptop/cell phone/tablet solution.

pbonsalb, the Foxwell NT510 is $180 on Amazon. Where are you seeing this for $150? Do you know if the NT301 would work, too?

[benjaminearle]

Since we're taking OBD2 here I'll ask this:

I'm looking at a car on eBay and the pictures show an illuminated SES light. I questioned the seller and he said "oh, that means it needed an oil change and I forgot to reset it" Dash pic attached. Am I missing something? SES in my E39 is the german version of "Check Engine" (i.e. an emissions problem). Has BMW co-mingled the service indicator and the SES light?

[328 Power 04]

Since we're taking OBD2 here I'll ask this:

I'm looking at a car on eBay and the pictures show an illuminated SES light. I questioned the seller and he said "oh, that means it needed an oil change and I forgot to reset it" Dash pic attached. Am I missing something? SES in my E39 is the german version of "Check Engine" (i.e. an emissions problem). Has BMW co-mingled the service indicator and the SES light?

Don't buy a car from a liar.

[benjaminearle]

I know. I HATE this. The car is 99.9% of what i'd order from BMW Indv. sunroof delete 6mt white over red leather wagon.