XSeries-forum

I promised I would keep people up to date with the diagnostic software I am trying to sort so here we go..

Having always previously owned VW/Audi group cars up to now and being a serial car tinkerer, I have always had the VW diagnostic software at home.
So having acquired my X5 I decided I wanted the same facility for the BMW group of cars too.

I started out researching the most popular diagnostics used and narrowed it down to

BMW Ediabas INPA and the Carsoft BMW 6.5

Following the purchase of a cable from eBay which came with a copy of the Ediabas software and a free download of the Carsoft software I set about trying to get it working.

The first problem I have encountered is a common one. The diagnostic cables all tend to use Serial RS232 connections to the laptop. Fine, the little laptop I use for VAG-COM does the same. Trouble is the Ediabas and Carsoft softwares both run on Windows XP or later, my little laptop runs on Win98 still for the VAG-COM to work and as it has 32MB Ram (its old) will not support Win XP!

So I tried it on the work laptop, which runs XP, but has no Serial port. So I bought a USB/Serial port convertor. Doesn't work.

So the next step, short of acquiring a resonable laptop with serial port, is to try an old desktop I have which I can stick in the garage and try running it on that.

No a great start, but I will get there.

Will keep you all posted.

Jay

Jay,

I mentioned the possible Carsoft cable issues to you week......

[quote=""AW8""]There can be some compatability issues in abscence of correct cables - more discussion re this on bmwland - [/quote]


Some have had success going back to basics & using an old IBM thinkpad with built in serial port.

Not going to ramble futther as I.T. def not my strongpoint.

[quote=""g60renshaw""]
So I tried it on the work laptop, which runs XP, but has no Serial port. So I bought a USB/Serial port convertor. Doesn't work.
Jay[/quote]

I had the same problem when trying to update my intravee for the folding mirrors option i bought a USB/Serial port convertor and it didn't work either but then on the intravee forum it said that only certain ones do apparently.
So in the end i sent the intravee up to this compunerd i know (he's a real geeky nerd but knows his stuff)and he then updated it for me.

So slightly off track there for a mo sorry but what i mean is a different lead/USB/Serial port convertor may work!!

I agree with x555, try a different USB/Serial adapter. Specifically get one with a FTDI chipset and not the Prolific chipset. A quick Google shopping search for "FTDI USB Serial" throws up

http://www.tronisoft.com/2455.php?source=googlebase

With is also one recomended by the Intravee people.

Nice one. I will get one of those ordered cheers