Laptop based Scanners - what hardware do YOU use .... - Bimmerfest

VP · #1 10-22-2012, 07:27 AM

... and where did you get it?

nl318 · #2 10-22-2012, 08:36 AM

BMW 1.4 scanner from xcar360.com on a windows 7 laptop (with windows xp via vmware). Works great, especially for the price of $30.

VP · #3 10-22-2012, 01:01 PM

XCar360 is a China company, no? I keep hearing nothing but bad about them (stuff from China) ... but not before I purchased the CarSoft6.5 from China ... which does not work. So yours works. Good to know.

nl318 · #4 10-22-2012, 01:07 PM

True it is Chinese, and I had my doubts too. But me, and several others, have had no problems with this particular scanner. Till now I have been able to read abs errors, reset my airbag light several times, and changed some settings without any problems.

numindast · #5 10-23-2012, 11:27 AM

I'm planning to work on getting my setup going soon and will be able to report back. I'll be using the dealer software (INPA, EDIABAS, NCSExpert, etc) and am using a cable from (Bulgaria or Romania, I forget). This'll be on a Dell laptop with win7 x64 running VMware Player to host the virtual machines. Rumor has it x64 drivers are not available for the USB cable, that or the virtual machines won't be able to talk to the USB ports, in which case I have a "netbook" with XP 32-bit on it. I'll report back what works when I get around to it...

VP · #6 10-23-2012, 01:06 PM

I'll be using the dealer software (INPA, EDIABAS, NCSExpert, etc)

Can you tell me about this? I have WinXP Running on my Win7 Pro 64bit laptop. Been able to run the software that I have - CarSoft6.5 and the BMW Scan 1.4.0 - but dont seem to be getting any data though the hardware. My laptop does NOT have a serial port, so I purchased a USB adaptor which "seems" to be working, the drivers installed without any errors. Installed then in both XPMode and Win7. No joy either way.

CaptainTrap · #7 10-24-2012, 08:42 AM

i use carsoft6.5 with the obdII to serial scanner. downloaded it for free via torrents and bought the scanner for $30 on ebay running on a windows xp pro laptop.

i have been using it for years and am very happy with it.

VP · #8 10-24-2012, 10:12 AM

I have the software installed and working. It's the hardware I am having issues with ... BUT ... after searching for other scanning hardware and looking over consumer comments, I found that the device needs to be plugged into the car and the ignition on BEFORE plugging in the USB connector to the laptop. I'll get a chance to try this later today or tomorrow. Hope it works!

nivo · #9 10-24-2012, 01:41 PM

Xcar360 BMW 1.4 scanner which works for most of the coding.
BMWDatalogger for logging runs.

DurbanBMW · #10 10-25-2012, 03:06 AM

I just ordered me one of them BMW 1.4 ODB11 scanners... Will let you know how it works on my E46.

joncahill · #11 10-25-2012, 08:45 AM

BMW 1.4.0 scanner with ebay cables for I think about $70 (had to get the 19-pin pac-man connector for mine as I have a 2000). Works great. Customized my car, cleared errors, and helps me troubleshoot issues really easily. I would not be able to work on my car the way I do without it.