BMW Scanner Interface?

[kanewesley]

Morning,

Just got my 2006 E53 3.0 d sport facelift BMW, to replace Vauxhall Frontera 2.2Dti 2003

For the Vx, I had a software tool called OPCOM.
I am now looking at the Scanner 1.4.0. for the BM.

When I look at them on ebay, the items you can buy are / seem EXACTLY the same...same USB cable..... LOOKS like same interface and LOOKS like same software disk (ok...it'll have BMW software on and not Vx)

My question is.......is the interface exactly that....an interface between the laptop and the OBD connector?

It's not dedicated to BMW is it?.....wouldn't have thought so?

Reason being....If I can use my existing cable and interface, I could maybe download the 1.4.0. software and a few quid?

Any advice??

Thanks !

[kanewesley]

^^^^^^ Bump...


Should read "....and SAVE a few quid ! "

[Steamyrotter]

BMW and Vaxhaul are different protocols

Your OPCOM will not work with the X5 and visa versa.

Tried that with my son in laws Vectra.

[grumpywurzel]

I am probably wrong but I believe the gremlins in the diagnostics plug differ between car manufacturers, so u can't just use a different plug bud

[kanewesley]

But isn't the interface purely that??? a conversion between a usb connector and the OBD II port ?

Obviously the software will be different between Vx and BMW Steamy, I thought ALL OBD II sockets were a universal requirement for all makes of car ?

[X5Sport]

Unfortunately there are things called 'Manufacturers Discretions' on different pins meaning different makers can put different data in different places.

BMW use pin 9 for the engine rpm out.  However GM use it for an 8kbit data signal!

It depends upon what concession each manufacturer has.  Common standard......err........no, not really.

[kanewesley]

OK X5sport . . . . . understood and thanks for that.

Just wonder then, how a universal OBD II code reader works , what'll plug into any car.?

Modern OBD implementations use a standardized digital communications port to provide real-time data in addition to a standardized series of diagnostic trouble codes, or DTCs, which allow one to rapidly identify and remedy malfunctions within the vehicle.

A modern reader can plug into any car which is OBD II ?...just wonder how these manage to work then?

[X5Sport]

They read a generic code or perhaps have an active interface system in the reader that works out what it's looking at?

The generics only produce a generic code which then has to be translated into something more useful, except in many cases it doesn't help at all hence needing the right manufacturers software to decode it.

It is another VHS/Betamax/Video 2000/Blu-Ray/HD-Dvd mess!

[grumpywurzel]

I think the structure of the plug/socket is standard, reading this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OBD-II_PIDs

But I have tried to plug a Volvo OBD into a Ford and it refused to do anything even with the right Ford software

[Steamyrotter]

[quote="Steamyrotter"]
BMW and Vaxhaul are different protocols
[/quote]

As my reply #2...


You wouldn't try to translate french to english using a russian dictionary!!!!

[kanewesley]

Looks like buying the Scanner 1.4.0. then....anyone interested in a Vx OPCOM ????