OBD II Live Engine Data

Disclaimer: messing with the car's electronics can be harmful for your wallet if you don't know what you are doing. The software can possibly upload new values into the car's modules which can render them unusable. Use with caution.

Since my $tealership here charges £80 for every time they put it on the diagnostics machine, I wondered if I can do it at home. I bought the OBDII cable from ebay for £60 delivered and downloaded the compatible software Carsoft from a link the cable seller gave me. The hardware/software can scan all BMW's up to 2004.

The cable has a serial (RS232) port for the pc connection so I used a USB to Serial converter because my laptop does not have serial ports. 2 installations were required; Carsoft and the USB to Serial drivers (not necessary if you have serial port already).

The hardware:
Serial ---> Interface ---> Usb -----> laptop

Left: Round plug for OBD I. Right: Rectangular OBDII Plug

Now the fun stuff:
First start the program and set the com port to match the windows assigned port for the serial to usb converter. In my case: Com 4

The initial program menus. All sorts of functions!
File menu

Perform Diagnosis menu
 

Erase fault codes menu

Special Functions menu
Reset the service intervals

Live Data - means it reads data in real time.

Adaptation values

Vehicle Coding menu

Now turn the ignition to key position 2 and start using the software. Don't forget to plug-in the interface as well

First of all: Vehicle coding. With this option I enabled autolock when driving and changed the instrument readings from miles to kilometers. I didn't change the consumption because it could mess the mpg needle - don't know if the needle is synch'ed with the digital display.

Special function LCM reading. Reads the LCM and displays KILOMETERS and chassis number
 

DME Coding - don't know what it does and don't want to mess around!!

Time for diagnosis (engine light on etc). You have the option to perform total and individual module diagnosis.

Report is displayed and you have the option to save/prin

Next step... LIVE DATA

it reads all sort of data from the DME..

Live DDE Data (turned off the engine because I didn't want to let it idle for prolonged time)

Interesting eh?