3rd party Diagnostic software for all systems

bradford · 11-26-2009, 12:54 AM

pardon my Bimmer n00bosity, but I'm coming from a longtime Audi owner standpoint, looking to purchase a 135i.

I'm interested in installing the OEM alarm after I purchase a gently used example, and was surprised to find that people are paying their dealers anywhere from an hour to several hours labor to accomplish this task.

Is there no 3rd party software that allows access to all of the various control modules of the car?

For Audis/VWs, we have VAGCOM, which allows complete analysis and manipulation of all the ECMs in the car - engine, transmission, alarm, SAT radio, navigation, Bluetooth, etc, etc, etc. Anything the dealer can see, pull codes on, and/or manipulate, the owner can do as well.

In the context of my intended alarm install, with an Audi I would be able to install it myself, hook up the VAGCOM and tell the car I just installed it, and then manipulate options such as interior motion detector or vehicle tilt sensitivity at will.

The software and USB dongle costs around $200 IIRC.

Is there no BMW equivalent? That would be a giant PITA to take it to the dealer for these sorts of things. I can see the result now. I take it to them, they charge me $200, and the motion sensor still won't activate unless I crawl through the window into the driver seat. Or perhaps it goes off when a parakeet farts nearby...?

Please tell me there's a proper solution...

EINS · 11-26-2009, 07:22 AM

http://www.bavariantechnic.com/

Technic · 11-26-2009, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradford

pardon my Bimmer n00bosity, but I'm coming from a longtime Audi owner standpoint, looking to purchase a 135i.

I'm interested in installing the OEM alarm after I purchase a gently used example, and was surprised to find that people are paying their dealers anywhere from an hour to several hours labor to accomplish this task.

Is there no 3rd party software that allows access to all of the various control modules of the car?

For Audis/VWs, we have VAGCOM, which allows complete analysis and manipulation of all the ECMs in the car - engine, transmission, alarm, SAT radio, navigation, Bluetooth, etc, etc, etc. Anything the dealer can see, pull codes on, and/or manipulate, the owner can do as well.

In the context of my intended alarm install, with an Audi I would be able to install it myself, hook up the VAGCOM and tell the car I just installed it, and then manipulate options such as interior motion detector or vehicle tilt sensitivity at will.

The software and USB dongle costs around $200 IIRC.

Is there no BMW equivalent? That would be a giant PITA to take it to the dealer for these sorts of things. I can see the result now. I take it to them, they charge me $200, and the motion sensor still won't activate unless I crawl through the window into the driver seat. Or perhaps it goes off when a parakeet farts nearby...?

Please tell me there's a proper solution...

There's nothing even close to VW/Audi VCDS/Vag Com coding capabilities and usability for the price for BMW, regardless of what vendors can tell you.

You will find some tools that tell you that they are capable to code some BMW modules, but in reality they just capable to code very few irrelevant modules and basically what they mostly do is to clear codes and look up values.

The real BMW tools are available at $1500 and up at eBay, and mostly from China. Some of them work, some of them don't. Autologic is the other tool that is capable of doing everything that the OEM tools can do and even slightly more... and it costs $10000+. There are some "underground" tools like NCS Expert -more powerful than even the VCDS and much easier to mess up your car as well if you do not know how to use it- that seems to be real OEM tools from factory reps that somehow end up being copied and downloaded to Torrents and only accessed/found by asking certain members of particular forums.

Some kind of "secret society", no joke...

bradford · 11-26-2009, 10:50 AM

Thanks for the info. So the Bavarian Technic one linked above isn't really all it's website purports it to be?

Technic · 11-26-2009, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradford

Thanks for the info. So the Bavarian Technic one linked above isn't really all it's website purports it to be?

Well, it is but it's not VCDS/Vag Com by much.

MikeinAlexandria · 11-16-2010, 10:41 AM

Greetings.
We all know there are ways to do coding. Let's publicize what is needed to do this! I would like to tweak my car, and being an engineer, I really don't want to pay someone else to do it. The things I want involve function of lighting, semi-auto operation of roof and windows, etc. All things the car can do, but lawyers in the States have decided I can't have because I will pinch my fingers, or other random, stupid, things. I have heard of Bavarian Technic, but the version that one needs for coding is the pro, around $795 for a cable and the software. Not bad if it actually allows you to code modules. I have seen some other apps, will look them up again. Post the apps here, their pricing and how to purchase!

GaryS · 11-16-2010, 03:18 PM

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451145

oops, year old thread

germ · 11-22-2010, 01:08 AM

Very, very interesting thread.

Two questions:

1. So I downloaded NCS Expert (3.1), and in the "DATEN" subfolder there is a list of (presumably) BMW models that are supported. There is no E88. Does that mean that we cannot use NCS Expert on the 135i convertible, or that I need to select another chassis?

2. Where can I get the appropriate cable?

Thanks.

11-26-2009, 12:54 AM	#1
bradford Major 28 Rep 1,035 Posts Drives: 2008 SGM 135i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chicago > * iTrader: (4)	3rd party Diagnostic software for all systems - no such thing for BMW? pardon my Bimmer n00bosity, but I'm coming from a longtime Audi owner standpoint, looking to purchase a 135i. I'm interested in installing the OEM alarm after I purchase a gently used example, and was surprised to find that people are paying their dealers anywhere from an hour to several hours labor to accomplish this task. Is there no 3rd party software that allows access to all of the various control modules of the car? For Audis/VWs, we have VAGCOM, which allows complete analysis and manipulation of all the ECMs in the car - engine, transmission, alarm, SAT radio, navigation, Bluetooth, etc, etc, etc. Anything the dealer can see, pull codes on, and/or manipulate, the owner can do as well. In the context of my intended alarm install, with an Audi I would be able to install it myself, hook up the VAGCOM and tell the car I just installed it, and then manipulate options such as interior motion detector or vehicle tilt sensitivity at will. The software and USB dongle costs around $200 IIRC. Is there no BMW equivalent? That would be a giant PITA to take it to the dealer for these sorts of things. I can see the result now. I take it to them, they charge me $200, and the motion sensor still won't activate unless I crawl through the window into the driver seat. Or perhaps it goes off when a parakeet farts nearby...? Please tell me there's a proper solution...
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

11-26-2009, 07:22 AM	#2
EINS Simply One Great Car! 12 Rep 124 Posts Drives: 135i SGM Coupe Join Date: May 2008 Location: Commerce Township, MI iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 E82 / 135i [0.00]	http://www.bavariantechnic.com/ __________________ '08 135i SGM Coupe delivered in Munich, Nürburgring tested
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-26-2009, 10:50 AM	#4
bradford Major 28 Rep 1,035 Posts Drives: 2008 SGM 135i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chicago > * iTrader: (4)	Thanks for the info. So the Bavarian Technic one linked above isn't really all it's website purports it to be?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-16-2010, 10:41 AM	#6
MikeinAlexandria Lieutenant 47 Rep 567 Posts Drives: 128i M Sport Convertible Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Alexandria, VA iTrader: (0)	Greetings. We all know there are ways to do coding. Let's publicize what is needed to do this! I would like to tweak my car, and being an engineer, I really don't want to pay someone else to do it. The things I want involve function of lighting, semi-auto operation of roof and windows, etc. All things the car can do, but lawyers in the States have decided I can't have because I will pinch my fingers, or other random, stupid, things. I have heard of Bavarian Technic, but the version that one needs for coding is the pro, around $795 for a cable and the software. Not bad if it actually allows you to code modules. I have seen some other apps, will look them up again. Post the apps here, their pricing and how to purchase!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-16-2010, 03:18 PM	#7
GaryS Colonel 37 Rep 2,084 Posts Drives: 2009 135i 6MT Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 135i [6.50]	http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451145 oops, year old thread Last edited by GaryS; 11-17-2010 at 10:50 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-22-2010, 01:08 AM	#8
germ Second Lieutenant 59 Rep 232 Posts Drives: 2008 135i convertible Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Very, very interesting thread. Two questions: 1. So I downloaded NCS Expert (3.1), and in the "DATEN" subfolder there is a list of (presumably) BMW models that are supported. There is no E88. Does that mean that we cannot use NCS Expert on the 135i convertible, or that I need to select another chassis? 2. Where can I get the appropriate cable? Thanks.
	Appreciate 0 Quote