Software questions

SnailTail · 07-13-2008, 11:07 PM

Hello,

I am new to this whole car computer stuff, but find it very interesting and have decided to put a laptop in my car. I have a IBM T40 thinkpad running windows XP and Garmin Mobile PC. I just ordered it and it hasn't arrived yet. I am going to try to build my own stand to hold it up in my 1994 BMW 318is. I have 3 main questions:

1.) What is the best software to make and receive phone calls through my laptop? I have an iphone. I would like to set up a microphone in my car so that when a call comes in I don't have to take my phone out of my pocket, I can just answer it through my laptop. I have been searching the forums for a while and found a lot, but idk what is the best or easiest to use - if there are any free/cheap ones, that would be great too.

2.) What is the best software for me to monitor my car? I want to be able to check engine temp, fuel, etc. I am not too sure what kind of computer my bmw has or anything like that, but would like to get it hooked up to my laptop. What's the best software that will be compatible with my car/laptop?

3.) What about diagnostic software? I know when I brought my bmw to a mechanic, they hook it up to a computer to find out what's wrong with it. Can I permanently hook it up to my laptop to see if anything is going wrong?

If you can only answer some of these questions, it is fine - any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

-Adam Weglarz.

2k1Toaster · 07-13-2008, 11:49 PM

For (1) it doesnt really exist at the moment. FreeFone is good, but all audio through bluetooth through the PC is sort of crappy quality.

For (2) and (3) look into OBDII (which is the connector you are probably referring too). Also I think the bmws have an ibus line that there are PC interfaces for.

And ofcourse

Rick99TAWS6 · 07-14-2008, 07:19 AM

As 2k1 said best check on some BMW forums - OBD II was not required till 1996 so it may not be on your car, could be OBD I which does not carry as much info and is slower, course then the beemers tend to be a little ahead of the game, but there were some different variations of OBD around '94 so software choices could be slim