What scanner do I need?

[Kentish]

Folks; I recently picked up a e39 BMW 523i touring and want to get a scanner to help with DIY maintenance.

Can anyone recommend something that has proper functionality rather than just a reset tool and code reader?

I want to set the air suspension ride height (for example).

Cheers

[Matt Seabrook]

Some thing like this http://www.hickleys.com/diagnostics/bavarian.php would be a good bit of kit. After that for more functionality you will need Autologic or a genuine code reader.

[Dannbodge]

Get yourself a cheapy XP laptop and run a proper INPA, DIS and NCS expert setup using a modded Vagcom cable and free INPA and NCS downloads.

A good working set up of the above will cost around £50 and allow you to do everything (Read and clear codes and program modules etc)

[Matt Seabrook]

Just a warning I know of several hacked buts of kit that have buggered ecu. Do you feel lucky

[Dannbodge]

As long as you get the software from a reputable source it will be fine.

There's nothing you can do with NCS or DIS that cannot be undone.

[Kentish]

Thanks folks.

I have an IBM think pad that I no Ionger use which should be fine, runs XP Pro.

I also have a VAGCOM OBD2 cable!
What's the modification that's needed?

Would INPA alone be ok, you can download as shareware :-)

[TheEnd]

INPA's fine.
The old vagcom lead would just need pins 7 and 8 soldering together as they are two different diagnostic lines.

[Dannbodge]

Read this and you will be good to go!

http://www.bmwforums.info/ecu-diagnostics-tuning-c...