1994 E36 M43 Diagnostics, INPA confusion, ADS and OBD

[KyronXLK]

Hello gents,

Recently tried to get into diagnosing my new '94 e36 318i. I've done a lot of research and there's a lot of conflicting information with people adamant on both sides that has me confused.

So at the moment I have a K+Dcan Cable, Laptop with old and new INPA installations on 32bit windows xp and 64 bit windows 10. I had read a pretty in depth post from the user "Joylove" stating that ALL e36 models are enabled with OBD1 globally, and that a true ADS serial port connection is how you read 100% of the modules, and a Dual K line connection can read 80% of them disregarding the KOMBI and ABS. I see now this is probably untrue, pre 96 ~ E36 are L Line(ADS) only supposedly ( I still see people saying this is completely untrue as well though)

Now my question is I've seen the statement that EDIABAS.ini Interface = OBD and in the OBD.ini file Hardware=ADS & Port=COM1,2,3... is supported for USB->RS232->ADS connections. Anyone know if this is true? I'm assuming it means 20 Pin to 16 Pin -> ADS interface > Rs232 to USB cable > Laptop works without having to have a true serial port. (I'm trying to avoid having to source a whole laptop for this on top of having to get an ADS interface)

Secondly does anyone even know where I can get ADS interfaces these days? Can't find them on even on eBay.

And lastly does anyone know of a cheaper faster way to diagnose these early 90s E36's if this is all going to take weeks of sourcing and shipping random bits over? I'm assuming this has been done to death by people before me so if anyone went through it and could info dump that'd be great!

Also is INPA meant to only respond to cable and ignition after restarting the application? My black dots only change if i plug the cable out while the apps open or plug them in and restart it. With the K line cable in my e36 i get solid black ignition when plugged into 20pin even without the ignition being turned on.

Sorry for all the questions, Thanks!

[GarlicBreadon]

In the same boat here but for an E34.

[KyronXLK]

no one seems to bother with these anymore ey, if its any solace foxwells nt510//520/530 can supposedly read the ADS diagnostics in these cars. I bought an autophix clone of a foxwell on amazon because theyre out of stock and it was able to read engine diagnostics but nothing else (clone)