Main Dealer diagnostic scan

[jimjim]

My Mrs 318 compact needs the air bag light and abs light fault codes to be read and reset. How much do BMW charge for this? Cheers

[kieran325]

[fuzzy]

id guess about £70 an hour +. best phone your local bmw and ask but as theres a fault there will be an expensive past they insist on replacing as well.

[Blitz]

A1BMW is close to you. They would be able to do that much cheaper then BMW.

There seem to have a £30 offer.

http://www.a1bmspecialist.co.uk/

[johnt0709]

I have the airbag light and engine management light on - I bought the software of eBay and am waiting on the obd2 cable coming - going to run diagnostics myself, correct fault and reset. No more dry bumming I say.

[jimjim]

Cheers for the input guys. I have been to A1 before and they quoted me £30+vat. Just seeing if the main dealers are alot more expensive as there is only one 1 min down the road from me.

Thanks again guys

[DanThe]

Go to an independent garage, they dont even need to be BMW specialists, most places round here charge around a tenner to read/erase the ECU fault codes

[staley_turbo]

The only thing is with non specialist bmw garages is that they wont have the correct plug. Most garages only have obd connector.

[DanThe]

So only a specialist will have the correct plug? What a load of old tosh! Nearly all 90's BMWs use the same diagnostic plug and software, most scanning tools come with the relevant plugs/software for many manufacturers anyway!

Generally, if a garage has diagnostic equipment it will work on 90's BMWs

[staley_turbo]

Most diag equipment only comes with obd. You have to buy specialist pulgs for older cars. Normal garages will only buy plugs for the common cars. I would advise going to a specialist. They will also have better knowledge of common faults.

[DanThe]

I dont understand where your coming from, are you saying nobody bought diagnostics equipment to use on cars built in the 90's?

[staley_turbo]

If i was buying a scanner, i would buy it to use on common, current cars. I can see were your coming from, but from working in a garage, they have to update there scanner every year and only buy what they will use.

[DanThe]

So when the garage you work at update their scanner does it delete software for older cars? If they are buying an 'update' that gets rid of older software they are obviously a bit silly

[staley_turbo]

By update i mean software and hardware. There not going to have a 20 year old scanner.

[johnt0709]

No they use the current software that I have and a cable to convert the e30 plug to the obdII plug which is the standard plug?

[staley_turbo]

Why would you buy a conversion cable if you never touched e30`s?

[DanThe]

By update i mean software and hardware. There not going to have a 20 year old scanner.

Oh right, so they throw the older stuff in the bin then, makes sense

[staley_turbo]

Im not having arguments, ill stop.

[DanThe]

Your confusing the thread, the guy wants a diagnostic on his E36 compact which can be had at 90% of sensible garages, you dont need to be paying BMW prices for this

[staley_turbo]

Sorry thought this was e30 stuff,

[jimjim]

Had a word with a friend of a friend who works in the dealership near me and he can sort me out saturday on the sly. Sorted

[EVIR]

BMW DIS / INPA software, and the EDIABAS interface with both OBD and the round ADS connectors can all be bought on the bay (for about £50) and made to work on a windows laptop with an RS232 connector.
No more paying the dealer

[bss325i]

BMW DIS is now phased out and ISTA/ISID is now used.

As for the whole lead/obd/90's cars/plugs/etc etc conversation,

I bought a snap on solus pro scanner last year and that has all the leads, connectors for all european makes including all BMW's with the round 20 pin connector and the 16 pin obd connector.

It even reads basic DME fault codes from the motronic on my '89 325i!

Nearly all after market diagnostic hardware i have used came with both BMW leads.

[Blitz]

How much are they?

[bss325i]

Mine was a grand plus vat but i got a deal on it as i bought some other stuff at the same time.