BMW Diagnostics

Banjo013

Guys - anyone know where I can take a 1995 520i just to have a diagnostic check run on it ? Want to retrieve any fault codes etc. If I had a run down of any problems I could do the work myself.

Pref on Dublin Southside and pref not a main dealer - could prob go out and buy a fault code reader myself for what the BMW dealer would charge !

Thanks.

Silvera

There is a BMW specialist in Walkinstown, damned if I can recall his name (visited his garage c.1996, not far from Walkinstown roundabout, in a housing estate?) ?

Failing that, there is a specialist near/in Naas called Roe Autocraft.

Seth Brundle

I have been strongly advised against Roe Autocraft (don't want to explain details!). Down that neck of the woods, I would rather use these:-
Autofix
autofix@iolfree.ie
Rear 2026 St. Bridgets Tce.
Sallins,
Co. Kildare
045 855882 / 086 2549270
However, on the Southside, try
Robert Harrison
Sandyford,
Dublin 18.
086 2552905

lomb

mayb u are better just buying a fault code reader. if u have a laptop then the yoke can b assembled for 75 euro afaik. the software is free i think.
or
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30921&item=7962727407&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVWhttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30921&item=7962727407&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Banjo013

Thanks for this by the way guys.

I tried Halfords in Liffey Valley yesterday for a fault code reader - apparently they don't do one for BMW.

Taking the car to Fonthill NCT centre for the third time this morning. Every time I do a bit of work on the thing I discover something else wrong. This time it's the two motors that operate the dip-beam adjustment - both of them keep running comnstantly - obviously some kind of relay problem.

The previous mechanics solution was to just disconnect them. What a shambles ... some of the work done in the past looks like it was an elephant that did it .... retaining clips missing, delicate items broken, and anything that could remotely take a bit of time to solve was just disconnected.

Very annoying. Think I'll have a beard to my knees by the time I've got everything in order. Still haven't figured out why it's so low on power either.

Must get that diagnostic done !!

lomb

Banjo013 wrote:

T This time it's the two motors that operate the dip-beam adjustment - both of them keep running comnstantly - obviously some kind of relay problem.

its not a relay problem happened to me on a yaris,its basically the potentiometer inside the headlamp thats broken or the pot on the dash switch if its both headlamps. the quick solution is to let it rise to its highest point and disconnect it -this works for the nct as only the zero position is checked. anyway u dont need height adjustment on saloon cars. they are trying to solve a problem that doesnt exist with it. the expensive solution is to buy new headlamps or switch.

Banjo013

Well I'm a stickler for detail and want everything to work the way it should. Therefore I think just disconnecting things that don't work properly is a cop out !

Anyway, passed the NCT this morning at last ... I'm good 'till Jan'07 !

lomb

Banjo013 wrote:

Well I'm a stickler for detail and want everything to work the way it should.

congrats on the test pass, but tbh if u want everything as new i have personally come to the conclusion the only way u can have this is to buy new. from when the car becomes a day old, dings start appearing, paint gets scratched, engines become noisier, electrics fail, sensors fail and all this even with good maintainance. i experianced the worst out of trying to keep a 10 year old 405 breathing. final conclusion-waste of time. if one is going to buy used buy no older than 7 years old and well maintained and keep for 1-2 years depending on reliability etc. after this time the car will be unreliable and could easily leave u on the side of the road and worse still u could wate ur time getting it repaired.
good luck with it anyway.

Banjo013

What does this mean ??!

I asked for a price for reading the diagnostic codes. Was given a price for "Code Read Only", another price for "Code Read plus up to 1/2 hour diagnostic work to inc. live data etc", and another price for "Each hour diagnostic time after that".

Are these some kind of software upgrades or something ? Or does this refer to the work required to put right any fault codes ?

Confused, again !!

AMurphy

I would read it as;
Simple check for stored codes, if there are any record the codes and translate, all of 10 minutes.

You can do additional sensor monitoring, live as the car is heating up and running. Again, 30 minutes is more than adequet to read the Temp sensors, speed, RPM, TPS, O2, both is you have 2. Check the Charcoel canister function, etc.
This might indicate a lazy (slow to respond) O2 sensor or some such.... that's about it.

lomb

ur auto gearbox could b fooked see here http://www.carmechanicsmag.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=buying;action=display;num=1112206568

common problem apparently resulting in limp mode.

another bm horror story http://www.carmechanicsmag.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=diag;action=display;num=1105354324

Banjo013

Stop the bleedin' press ....

Just back in the office after getting the diag check done on the BMW. But fook that - you should see the mechanic that did it ....

Female, Polish or Latvian I'd say, about 30 years old ish, long blonde hair tied up, figure like Liz Hurley and wearing the dirtiest overalls in the world, streaks of grease on her cheeks.

Jesus Christ I love immigrants, especially this one. Hasn't much of a grasp of the ould English, but bloody hell who cares ??! There's definately a market out there for sexy female mechanics .... women take note !!

Think I've just got myself a new machanic !

Seth Brundle

@Banjo013 - tell us more - where is this?

Banjo013

Maybe I should have mentioned that she didn't actually get the diag check done cause of the fact that she didn't have the proper 20-pin connector .... but that doesn't matter ey ??!

I was referred to her by my brother in law. She's based in Clane and just off the boat from Poland I'd say. Don't know if you know Clane, but if you take the road out between the Centra on the corner and the travel agent, there's a housing estate out there about half a mile on the left. She's in there.

Didn't see any sign of a husband or family or anything. Just some young local lad was sweeping the garage floor ... the barest garage I've seen in my life - consisted of a small tool box, a trolley jack and a telephone. She's only just opened shop I'd say .... didn't really talk to her much because her English isn't great and I'm half deaf anyway. Her name is Olga.

Incidentally, I then drove to Autofix in Sallins and had the check done there. Looks like I might have done a dodgy job on the O2 sensor, so I've got to check that over. Also the cam position sensor is throwing up a fault code, so must take a look at that too. Finally the VANOS might be causing a problem ... another thing to look into.

Anyway, the thought just crossed my mind that I should have offered to do a diagnostic check on Olga .... damn, didn't think of it !