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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > Regional Forums > UK > ebay coding cable and data software. Any Good??



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      01-23-2013, 09:43 AM   #1
Diesel Flash
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ebay coding cable and data software. Any Good??

370740848245 EBay listing.

There are quite a few coding mods I want to do on my 2008 e90 320d, I've looked for coders but they mostly seem to be around London or midlands area, and also charge in the region of £50ish quid a time, or that's the impression I got.

I've seen this coding/diagnostic kit with software, but am very dubious as its all for under £30, and not sure whether is master/understand the software side of it, however they seem a good seller with good feedback.

BTW I'm from Newport south Wales.

Any help on this would be appreciated,
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      01-23-2013, 09:49 AM   #2
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Originally Posted by Diesel Flash View Post
370740848245 EBay listing.

There are quite a few coding mods I want to do on my 2008 e90 320d, I've looked for coders but they mostly seem to be around London or midlands area, and also charge in the region of £50ish quid a time, or that's the impression I got.

I've seen this coding/diagnostic kit with software, but am very dubious as its all for under £30, and not sure whether is master/understand the software side of it, however they seem a good seller with good feedback.

BTW I'm from Newport south Wales.

Any help on this would be appreciated,
This is the one I got - link

Software takes a little setting up (uses a virtual machine) but you get everything and it works fine.
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      01-23-2013, 10:03 AM   #3
Diesel Flash
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Sounds good, can I ask what coding you have successfully done yourself?
I'm really keen on the white speed/rev dials like the m3, not sure if this is capable on my 320d though.
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      01-23-2013, 10:27 AM   #4
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That cable is says:
"This cable has been modified to work with BMW cars using both K Line protocols on all BMW cars built before march 2007 when BMW changed the way the information was read from there vehicles from K-Line to D-Can"

Presumably this means it will NOT work with my 2008 LCI e90?

Does this cable read errors etc too?
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      01-23-2013, 10:54 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Diesel Flash View Post
Sounds good, can I ask what coding you have successfully done yourself?
I'm really keen on the white speed/rev dials like the m3, not sure if this is capable on my 320d though.
Does that not involve changing LEDs? http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=503185
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      01-23-2013, 02:08 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Diesel Flash View Post
Sounds good, can I ask what coding you have successfully done yourself?
I'm really keen on the white speed/rev dials like the m3, not sure if this is capable on my 320d though.
I have done no "coding" as such (you screw up here and you are in BIG trouble) - I have read some faults and cleared them with INPA.
DIS is good in that it is a sort of fault fix wizard - helps you diagnose and fix a fault.
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      01-23-2013, 02:21 PM   #7
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I had a bluefin handset with my Superchip, and that is ment to be a fault code reader and eraser, but haven't had any faults to warrant using it yet, touch wood of course, don't want to jinx myself.

Thanks for the advice though, think ill keep trying to find someone who knows what there doing.

Please please, if anyone knows a decent coder in the south Wales area, drop me a pm many thanks.
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      01-23-2013, 02:40 PM   #8
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This is the one I bought:

http://bmtechnic.co.uk/bmw-diagnostic-cable/

It works perfectly on my 2008 E92, and the software is nicely packaged in an 'installer'

It's already paid for itself in recoding the solar sensor for the wipers, and also checking for errors on my glowplugs
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      01-25-2013, 07:07 PM   #9
ade146
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Autotech in Caerleon have Autologic. Anthony can do run of the mill coding. The dash lighting is hardware of course. They have all the gear in there.
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      01-27-2013, 04:33 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ssc330d View Post
This is the one I got - link

Software takes a little setting up (uses a virtual machine) but you get everything and it works fine.
That's the one I have as well.

Haven't got it working yet but that may be due to software set up. Getting flashing black dots in INPA rather than the steady black dots.
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      01-27-2013, 06:03 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xPETEZx View Post
That cable is says:
"This cable has been modified to work with BMW cars using both K Line protocols on all BMW cars built before march 2007 when BMW changed the way the information was read from there vehicles from K-Line to D-Can"

Presumably this means it will NOT work with my 2008 LCI e90?

Does this cable read errors etc too?
No , this cable is for pre march 2007 build cars only
Yes it does pretty much everything a dealer can do

Quote:
I've seen this coding/diagnostic kit with software, but am very dubious as its all for under £30, and not sure whether is master/understand the software side of it, however they seem a good seller with good feedback.

I also have this cable and software and have coded all sorts of things with it on my car ( realtime speed in dash , folding mirrors off remote , windows power interrupt disable , Brake force display etc etc)

There is a CANBUS version cable on ebay for post 03/07 cars. item 271133770172

INPA is a great tool for reading and clearing errors and measuring values , it does have some very limited functionality regarding changing /coding stuff ( My boss's old E39 touring's suspension was sagging to one side after having a suspension airbag replaced and using INPA managed to add offsets to realign it. Could have slammed it but i'm sure he wouldn't have been too happy about it !

DIS is a good tool to help you resolve errors

NCSEXPERT is the coding tool. ( you must really understand what you are doing with this tool before you 'play' with it because you could end up with a 1.5 tonne paperweight on your drive) ... Don't expect too much help off experts in this area as you say , some are charging £50 to have mods done.

Last edited by 335DEE; 01-27-2013 at 06:50 AM..
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      01-27-2013, 11:51 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by o0timbo0o View Post

NCSEXPERT is the coding tool. ( you must really understand what you are doing with this tool before you 'play' with it because you could end up with a 1.5 tonne paperweight on your drive) ... Don't expect too much help off experts in this area as you say , some are charging £50 to have mods done.
Firstly congrats on getting things coded.

Read your comment and could not resist to reply. Few things to mention;

1- I would not try cheap ebay cables. I'd rather try one which is posted by coopersim. Personally I bought my cable from somebody who started coding many years ago. Though it cost me > £100 (including import tax) just for the cable but results are 100% including updating modules.

So if somebody wants cheap cable, try it on your own risk. Don't expect them to do everything, especially coding or updating module.

2- Your comment 'Don't expect too much help off experts'.
As I started coding thread on UK side, so I thought to clear few things.
I am not expert by any means, however if somebody ask me for help, I always try my best to help them.
I get more PMs from members asking for right cable and right thread than people asking me for coding. And 99% get response from me, though they may not like spending mega money just to buy a cable.

3- Price you mentioned: I guess we all differ. Some of us are proper DIYer and would like to learn everything including coding. You must admit and appreciate that coding does require hell lot of time to learn and practice.

If your car is relatively new and under warranty, you would not risk it and get it coded. Or if you think that spending few days to learn coding and paying for coding kit is not worthy, then you get it coded.

On the other hand, if your car is relatively old and out of warrnty, and you have DIY bug, then you'd try it on your car. Or you take the risk if you know that you have enough money to get it repaired, if you mess up with something.

Coding on your own may still not be economical, especially if you get paid well for your hours, but satisfaction of doing it is way more precious than any price.

Lastly, I guess price depends on what is getting coded, unless I am wrong. I still believe that forum members charge way less than what many other BMW specialists / retrofit specialists charge.
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      01-27-2013, 12:50 PM   #13
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Coming from a background of PLC programming I personally am not scared of this kinda thing. I don't work in the automotive industry but have experience of automation control some years back

I'm a DIY'er who loves to find different things to play with and change/add and i'm totally fascinated with these BMW system , Ok i'm a bit late into this coding game but have learned a lot recently from getting stuck in. For sure it takes a lot of time and effort ( mostly translating German !!)

I'd by all means try to help someone out if I could, but there is always the risk of treading on toes and removing food from children's mouths etc hence why I suggested that help might not be forthcoming from certain areas.

There is some mileage in the 'buy it cheap buy it twice' but again cables such as you have (guessing the BT) were developed a few years back and not mass produced and since then our Asian friends have seized on the opportunity to mass market them ( Same for the Ross-Tech) of which I have a £350 Hex CAN cable sat here for work on VAG stuff but ebay are selling them for 15 quid and do the job amicably.

Down to the OP which way he would like to go , horses for courses n all that.

I just modded my post in coders to show level 2 BFD
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      01-28-2013, 01:31 PM   #14
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Thankyou all for your replies, and I'm definately not competent enough to risk 11k of BMW as was mentioned, maybe towards the end of the cars life I may be tempted, but as car is still fairly new I'm going to shy away. I do however have the DIY bug and think I will aim my focus to the sound systiem next.

Have been in contact with technic in the us, and think the audio side of the car is much more within my capabilities.

P.s someone mentioned a local coder in Caerleon which is only 5mins away, never say never thanks all
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