BMW E30 Live Data from OBD

Grrrmachine · 03-30-2008, 10:28 AM

I've had a good nose around the archives, and I know that the pre-1996 motor (3-series BMW 325i) does not use standard OBDII (too early). I've also worked out that Carsoft 6.5 can read SOME data from the sensors, but my real question is:

Can you get LIVE oil temp and pressure, voltage and maybe speed from the sensors into a CarPC?

I know there's a few E30 drivers here, but before I fork out cash for the cable and software I'd like to know whether it's been done: I just want to recreate the VDO gauges I have in my current car onto the CarPC screen.

Enforcer · 03-30-2008, 01:13 PM

I have the same question but for a UK spec 1997 E36. (Europe didn't get OBDII till 2000)

Grrrmachine · 03-30-2008, 02:35 PM

That's a shame, you were one of the people I thought could give me an answer!

The Carsoft Specification sheet is rather confusing - take a look here. However, it seems an E36, as long as the DME engine management is v5.2 or later, then carsoft can read Live Data for you.

Enforcer · 03-30-2008, 03:19 PM

Can't see the spec sheet linked to. needs an account.

Grrrmachine · 03-30-2008, 04:05 PM

Should be available now - Im not too good at this file-hosting stuff

Enforcer · 03-30-2008, 04:22 PM

Now I guess I need the software and interface

Enforcer · 04-08-2008, 11:20 PM

BTW Grrrmachine, Traffic Cams now has some Polish cameras

Grrrmachine · 04-09-2008, 12:28 AM

I'll have a look at that then! We don't have that many fixed sites, it's still the boys in blue behind a tree with a radar gun that you have to look out for!

Enforcer · 04-09-2008, 07:20 AM

NO, it's not speed cameras,

it's traffic flow, so you can see if a road is busy or blocked.

Enforcer · 04-09-2008, 05:41 PM

Going back to the carsoft thing, don't suppose you have seen a manula for it lying around on the net have you?

Grrrmachine · 04-11-2008, 07:50 AM

Currently looking for it - as soon as I find anything I'll post it on here for you. Have you got the cable already, or are you just wanting to see what the software can do?

Enforcer · 04-11-2008, 11:14 AM

I got a cable off ebay which came with carsoft.

I have had a basic play but was hoping it would do a little more so I wanted the manual to see what it is supposed to do.

Grrrmachine · 04-11-2008, 12:33 PM

Downloaded a shonky copy of 6.5 (Carsoft wouldnt reply to my emails so if they're reading this, sort your damn customer support services sorted, you slack bastards) and I see what you mean about the included "manual." 16 poorl-translated .gifs that jump from "section 3" to "section 6."

So I nosed around and found this thread on a BMW site:
Clicky for the read

In short summary, the guy has an E36 325i that couldn't have its live data read, despite what the specification sheet says. So there doesn't seem to be any hope for either of us along the Carsoft route. Post #8 in that thread makes this clear.

Enforcer · 04-11-2008, 02:25 PM

I have managed to get some live data.

What I want to do is write my own plugin to grab some of the data, but I need to know what I can get and what I can't.

Oh yeah, I found that guys thread last night and printed off the most useful bits.

Grrrmachine · 04-12-2008, 04:36 AM

What sort of live data did you manage to get? I have to bear in mind that you have the far superior M52 engine whereas Im looking at the old M20 (both six-pot, but the engine management systems are quite different.)

Writing software is well out of my league, so I don't really have the option of reading raw data from the sensors and interpreting them myself.