Awesome tool or junk?

SAPiens · 12-28-2004, 05:29 AM

Hi everyone,

I'm still new here, have been looking through the site for the last couple of weeks though. But I can't seem to find the info I'm looking for.

I drive a 1994 E38 BMW 740IL and am planning to set up a carputer. Of course I want to use the full potential of it. So here's the question:

I don't think the car has ODB-II(haven't found any info for 1994 E38's

) and I don't think the car has an I-bus. If you think it does, please tell me. Now I have found this on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33596
and I'm wondering if it'll do what I want it to do: show speed, fuel consumption, rpms,... the cool stuff(in real time of course). I'll ask the seller as well, but I would rather get an independent advice.

I am planning to set it all up in the next couple of weeks so, pics will be coming.

Gr,
S.

Skipjacks · 12-28-2004, 07:13 AM

It sounds cool, but I'm weary of any auction that has that many mispellings.

Plus it doesn't have a plug, you have to spend $70 and cram bare wires into the diagnositc port.

I'd like to see screen shots of it before I made any purchases.

Look around, there is plenty of OBDII code readers and software out there. Don't jump on this one just because it says it's specifically for BMW's.

dingofarmer · 12-28-2004, 07:45 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by SAPiens

Hi everyone,

I'm still new here, have been looking through the site for the last couple of weeks though. But I can't seem to find the info I'm looking for.

I drive a 1994 E38 BMW 740IL and am planning to set up a carputer. Of course I want to use the full potential of it. So here's the question:

I don't think the car has ODB-II(haven't found any info for 1994 E38's

) and I don't think the car has an I-bus. If you think it does, please tell me. Now I have found this on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33596
and I'm wondering if it'll do what I want it to do: show speed, fuel consumption, rpms,... the cool stuff(in real time of course). I'll ask the seller as well, but I would rather get an independent advice.

I am planning to set it all up in the next couple of weeks so, pics will be coming.

Gr,
S.

OBD II is for 96 and newer car, you probably have obd I.
http://www.obd-2.com , good site though.

And you have a 94 e38 not a 94 e32? Guess there were some changes in that year.

e32 was for sure an obd I, (Your Car)-->94 e38 is OBD I also, in 95 there were a few that were OBDII but as a standard, it wasn't untill 96 that it took effect.

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e38/5845065-1.html

Hope that helped. Check out this forum and www.e38.org, really good info.

John

SAPiens · 12-28-2004, 08:03 AM

Thanks for the info guys, both of you, i'll

up some more on the OBD-I. I don't mind coughing up the 70$ though as long as it works. I'm curious about the reply of the vendor. I'll ask for some screenshots, if i get some, i'll post them here.

I allready knew the E38.org site, it's a great reference for someone like me(experimental newbie).

If anyone else has anything to add, anything could help. btw have any of you tried to mould a screen into a E38 dash? I've seen lots of 3- and 5-series, but no 7-series build-ins. conclusion for now, back on topic: I'm still interested, but need screenshots(I'll make a plug myself if I have to).

Gr,
S.

Skipjacks · 12-28-2004, 08:08 AM

www.bimmerforums.com

Your one stop shopping for all your BMW questions. People on there know BMW's better than you and I know how to breath.

SAPiens · 12-28-2004, 08:14 AM

knew that too

, but it seems not a lot of people drive '94 or '95 E38's anymore. And if they do, they care more about tuning and rims and stuff, for me its more the inside of the car(+added bonus of speed of course

).

I think what the guy is offering does they same as this
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=WDVW&tc=photo
but without the tablet(don't want it anyway). Could be cool to access aircon and windows from PC, i've seen some people trying to do that here as well.

dingofarmer · 12-28-2004, 08:28 AM

Well, your dash is weird, maybe a fold out lcd like the unit from digitalww.com and relocated HU or HU less? tough call, No Prob, BTW, nice car, always loved 7 series, big fan of the 750i, 740 is so confortable.AHHHHH

SAPiens · 12-28-2004, 08:54 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by dingofarmer

Well, your dash is weird, maybe a fold out lcd like the unit from digitalww.com and relocated HU or HU less? tough call, No Prob, BTW, nice car, always loved 7 series, big fan of the 750i, 740 is so confortable.AHHHHH

Thnx, it's an amasing car. Looks have been upgraded to the 2000 model(clear glass, shadow skirts,...), you can't tell its 10 years old. Got a great deal on it too. Dash: yep i'ts a pain, can't buy anything readymade even if I wanted to. Could take out the stock tape deck(1din) and put it in there. Only problem, the digitalww unit is a lot in shipping and i suspect in import taxes. I can get a lilli here(Belgium)for just over 200€ so...
I'm thinking of mounting it on the dash(but clean) and as a second stage in the tape deck.

still reading up on OBDI btw. It seems that the racers on bimmerforums like it better then OBDII cause you can tweak the engine with it. It needs to be hardwired though and that sounds tough.

Skipjacks · 12-28-2004, 11:54 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW

I don't know anything about it, but it says it does OBD 1

Chairboy · 12-28-2004, 01:35 PM

Software only, skipjacks.

Skipjacks · 12-28-2004, 01:40 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Chairboy

Software only, skipjacks.

That's all it says. I think the auction said the hardware was available in other auctions. Email the seller for more information. I just happened across the auction while I was looking for cheap OBD2 interfaces. Thought it might interest someone.

SAPiens · 12-29-2004, 01:26 AM

Wel, I am interested. I'll have a look at it and ask the seller some questions about it. Thanks

Turns out the other item is only for tationary use, to run diagnosis and discover and remove faults. Is still usefull, but it's not what I am looking for right now.

dingofarmer · 12-29-2004, 07:10 PM

OBDI is a better option, I'v got a prelude,new and alot of guys in the import sceen have actually reverted back for some of those reason. I just want to view stats so OBDII will be fine for me. Love to see some pics once you get started. SOunds like that is the only viable option, Lili on stand, for now.

John

SAPiens · 12-30-2004, 03:04 AM

I will defenitly post some pics as soon as work starts. I think all let the idea of OBD integration go for phase one of the project. Unless I happen to come across someone who has done the same thing in an OBD-I E38.
Thanks.