Who here owns diagnostic tools?

[evandael]

I thought this thread was about REAL tools like compression testers and leakdown tools.

this thread fails!

You must prefer the abacus to a TI-83.



Newsflash: technology moves forward.

[mikeedler]

Why is it a waste of time?
And the stomp test doesn't seem to work on my car...IDK why.

because there are no codes of any real help to read out of an E30 or a non vanos M50.
what do you think the codes are going to tell you? a multimeter and a compression tester will tell you 1000000000000000000 more than any fault reader will. the ECUs in these cars are too dumb to tell you anything of importance.
so it will tell you if you setting a code of too rich or lean(that is all it is going to tell you).......... you will already know that by the car running like crap.

[Rsully70sev]

http://www.peakeresearch.com/fcx3.htm
This is what I have. Reads codes on all BMWs 87-06.

I have this tool also, the PO of my e30 threw it in for next to nothing. I've used it a couple times out of curiosity just toying around, and so far...in my favor...it's only read "--" (no fault codes!) in the past year.

I keep it in my "BMW Motor Oil/trunk travel bag" (the Velcro one that goes on the trunk's side carpet) just in case something unexpected happens on the road or [::knocks on wood::] a road trip. Hopefully it will never have to be used, but if the time comes I can see it being helpful.

Edit:

Also @Mike, the Peake tool reads a lot more than you described. It's more of a helpful guide to point you in the right direction, it's not meant to serve as a compression tester/etc.

[devon.818]

/thread. lol

got one at the shop im at, also have a older "launch" system, two solus scanners, an older snapon scanner, and a cheesey mac tools scanner for quick pulling codes

[Julien]

vag com (mine) and autlogic (at work).. i've used bavarian tech before, it's ok I just don't like the licensing (3 vin max for x dollars). That said I've made a nifty INPA/Ediabas/ncs expert laptop using a cheap modified vagcom cable (there is a how to on bf.c) that was just as capable for $20 of hardware