E36 ODB2 on UK car

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Tony Stanley - 21 Jun 2006 23:58 GMT

I researched as much as possible, but the question still seems to be out
there.

Does anyone know if a UK 1997 E36 has ODB2, ODB1 or is it BMW format (eg
Peake readers)?

It doesn't have an ODB2 socket but some seem to think it has ODB2 and a
suitable lead might work.

I'm trying to diagnose a faulty ABS wheel sensor, I know the BMW dealer can
do this so I should be able to with the right software and lead.

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Tony Stanley ++Always Learning++

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Richard Sperry - 24 Jun 2006 13:30 GMT

It is neither. OBD is USA specific. It wouldn't matter anyway, OBD has
nothing to do with ABS. You would need to have a dealer, or an independent
shop (with the very expensive diagnostic tools) figure it out.

>I researched as much as possible, but the question still seems to be out
> there.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> can
> do this so I should be able to with the right software and lead.

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Tony Stanley - 24 Jun 2006 20:07 GMT

> It is neither. OBD is USA specific. It wouldn't matter anyway, OBD has
> nothing to do with ABS. You would need to have a dealer, or an independent
> shop (with the very expensive diagnostic tools) figure it out.

Well I know enough to say thats wrong. All UK petrol cars from 2001 are
EODB (which I think =ODB2) compliant. Some in the interim (since the US
mandate) are partial ODB.

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Tony Stanley ++Always Learning++

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Dave Plowman (News) - 24 Jun 2006 14:13 GMT

> I researched as much as possible, but the question still seems to be out
> there.

> Does anyone know if a UK 1997 E36 has ODB2, ODB1 or is it BMW format (eg
> Peake readers)?

> It doesn't have an ODB2 socket but some seem to think it has ODB2 and a
> suitable lead might work.

> I'm trying to diagnose a faulty ABS wheel sensor, I know the BMW dealer
> can do this so I should be able to with the right software and lead.

Make that hardware and software.

Besides, OBD(*) is primarily concerned with emissions and doesn't deal
with brake fault codes.

It's possible to find a faulty ABS wheel sensor with a fairly basic DVM.

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*To err is human. To forgive is against company policy.

Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

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Tony Stanley - 24 Jun 2006 20:15 GMT

> > I researched as much as possible, but the question still seems to be out
> > there.
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> It's possible to find a faulty ABS wheel sensor with a fairly basic DVM.

Yes well I'll probably resort to that to fix this problem.

I am an Electronics Engineer, if there is equipment to talk to it is
possible to make / buy aftermarket adaptors to do it, but it helps to know
the protocol used. I wanted to get properly setup to look after my partners
car, and preferably get ODB2 compliant equipment for future diagnosis on
future cars. So I don't mind investing say £100, you'd save that pretty
quickly against dealer charges.

Its a pity equipment doesn't seem to exist to do what the dealer can do
(other than BMW stuff), there must be a barrier somewhere, secret codes or
no market for it.

Signature

Tony Stanley ++Always Learning++

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draugaz@iname.com - 24 Jun 2006 22:53 GMT

> > It's possible to find a faulty ABS wheel sensor with a fairly basic DVM.
>
> Yes well I'll probably resort to that to fix this problem.

It could be tough, as some failures only appear when the car is moving.

> Its a pity equipment doesn't seem to exist to do what the dealer can do
> (other than BMW stuff), there must be a barrier somewhere, secret codes or
> no market for it.

It's both. BMW or any other manufacturer has no reason to publish the
specifications of the diagnostic interface, so it does not publish it.
On the other hand, such 3rd party equipment does exist. For example,
http://www.carsoftinternational.com/

In essence, it does not matter if it is an proprietary BMW connector or
OBD, as they both use the same "K-line" electrical interface. It's just
a different shape of the plug. Strictly speaking, OBD is a mix of 3-4
different electrical interfaces, one for GM, one for FORD, one for
MB/VAG/BMW and so on. There is some minimum functionality governed by
the OBD standard in order to allow the emisions tests, but anything
beyond this remains specific to the manufacturer.

And it is getting much more interesting. The car manufacturers have
just discovered the joys of encryption. I know that some of them are
working on the new generation of the diagnostic equipment which will
require online connection to the manufacturers HQ.

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