diagnostic code reading tool on the cheap?

[e30-EVN]

Fed up with waiting for people the pull their head out their f***ing arse just to read or delete codes.!!

So I'm trying to find a suitable code reader so I can do it at my leasure instead of having to wait around for people telling me they are busy ect

Seen a few on ebay for like 20 quid with the round connector. Anyone know of any that would do the job and not cost 500-1000 pound?

[E30BeemerLad]

Buy an old lap top with a serial port, buy the connector wires needed and get a copy of carsoft.

[penton08]

^^^^ or cheap old snap on scanner off ebay, the one i have only works on pre 2001 stuff so it was relatively cheap

[e30-EVN]

I will have a butchers now. Thanks

[mr_dink]

Have a look here, lots of useful info and links to software. I'd also look here where it gives details on how to modify a cheap ebay vagcom cable like this to work with BMW's. You'd need an adaptor like this to connect to the 20 pin socket. The vagcom cable has the usb to serial adaptor built in so no need to use an ancient laptop. (Although it seems most of the software won't work on 64 bit systems.)

[327ire]

Iv just got my m52 conversion working but its down on power. Id love to run a diagnostics scan.
This looks good to me... but maybe someone can advise us against it?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-USB-OBD-D ... 3f13aa7039