e36 OBD port...

[NiceCupOfTea]

Hi folks,

Car is a really late e36 - 99V 323 convertible and has the 20 pin diagnostic connector under the bonnet, but I can't find the 16-pin one in the footwell.

As I understand it all BMWs had the 16-pin one fitted from '96, and the round one under the bonnet deleted from 2000 on.

I have had my head upside down in both footwells with a torch and I can't find the 16-pin connector anywhere - I thought it was a requirement?

I have used the port under the bonnet previously to reset airbag lights, but I have recently acquired a U480 code reader. It works fine and I have pulled codes on my Saab 9000, but I get nothing other than it cycling through communication protocols and a "linking error..."

ETA: did find this in the driver's footwell - any idea what it is?



So, any idea what is going on?

Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Friday 1st August 19:26

[miniman]

In typical PH not answering the actual question style, I might still have an adapter cable somewhere if you want me to have a look.

[helix402]

Your car does not have a 16 pin obd socket. Your picture is a gong.

[TheEnd]

NiceCupOfTea said:

As I understand it all BMWs had the 16-pin one fitted from '96, and the round one under the bonnet deleted from 2000 on.

Yea, that's American only cars.

Half the info you'll find about the older BMWs will be US based and wrong.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Miniman, I already have a 16 pin to 20 pin adaptor that I used for the airbag reset tool - it looks like all the connectors in it are populated. The problem is it's just not communicating - thanks for the offer though!

Not sure what you mean by "gong". Is it some sort of blanking plate? Lifted the pic from somebody else who was wondering what it was...

[TheEnd]

It's the sounder for things like the black ice warning.

[gizlaroc]

Your car may have been one of the last with the older ADS type interface, have a read of this as it explains it far better than I can.....

http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/f99/bmw-inpa-d...

[NiceCupOfTea]

That's super confusing So I may not have OBD2 at all? Seems odd that my older Saab 9000 does but the BM doesn't. My brother has one of those Peake tools for use on his 328i so I may have to borrow that.

Pin 15 is connected on my car if that makes any difference...

[NiceCupOfTea]

TheEnd -> unfortunately my car has no OBC at all, just the crappy 80s analogue clock so there is no exterior temp sensor... Anything else it could be? Buzzer for lights on warning?

[TheEnd]

The warning for leaving the lights on is the clicker relay for the indicators, which is why it makes that horrible sound.

Anyway, your car isn't OBD2, but it should work with an INPA lead.

[gizlaroc]

But you will need an ADS adapter and a laptop with a serial port to access the DME.

About the only thing that will work is the airbag reset tools and a Peake code reader if you don't want to go serial laptop and ads adapter.

[TheEnd]

A regular INPA usb lead will work with most things on that car, I know it'll work with the engine ECU and dash at least, and probably more too.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Thanks chaps. Really can't be arsed with plugging in old laptops so will wait and borrow my brother's Peake reader.

[gizlaroc]

TheEnd said:

A regular INPA usb lead will work with most things on that car, I know it'll work with the engine ECU and dash at least, and probably more too.

You sure?

I have an E36 Z3, one of the few with no OBDII style port under the dash and that won't talk to INPA with anything other than an ADS adapter. It just doesn't connect using a regular usb cable.

[TheEnd]

The ECUs should, I guess it is down to the settings for the USB lead, which are different to the ADS interface.
I've recoded E36 dashboard in car conversions, and can read, write and diagnose the engine ecu without issues with a regular INPA lead.

All of the M52's, the M3 3.2 and the M44 318iS will talk to a USB INPA lead.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Reviving my old thread - I have just bought myself a cheap BMW code reader/diagnostics unit - Creator C310. I did a fair bit of research and it seems to work with the E36.

Just plugged it in under the bonnet using a ODB-16 to BMW-20 conversion cable, but although it powers up it won't communicate. I have no ODB port inside the car.

It has been suggested that I might have a "cheap" cable - but how can I work out what a decent one is? I have read people have got this to work fine (not least on the web page Q&A for the code reader), any ideas?

The cable works for my airbag reset tool.