Scan Tool: A must-have

A scan tool is a diagnostic device which connects to your automobiles onboard computer. It runs a system check of all the electronic sensors and helps you diagnose any vehicle issues. If you’re thinking about owning or currently on an older BMW, I highly recommend purchasing one.

Vehicles built since the 1970s are all equipped with ECUs. During the early days, the only way for you to check these devices was through a mechanic, but in the mid-90s, they started making scan tools for the general public. These tools allowed owners to diagnose and fix common problems.

According to the website scanneranswers.com a scan tool can pay for itself with just one diagnosis. A mechanic will charge between $100 and $200 for a single diagnostic scan. That's typically the cost of a mid-range scan tool. https://scanneranswers.com/automotive-scanner-can-save-money/

I currently own to scan devices; one is the Acrontron AutoScanner Plus, https://actron.com/ , which retails for about $100 and is excellent for all my vehicles, not just my BMWs. The second is the Foxwell NT520 plus https://www.foxwelltool.com/ equipped with software specifically for BMWs.

OBD Port

OBD stands for On-board Diagnostics. All vehicles built since the late 70s have a diagnostic port located typically inside the passenger cabin. On my BMW 740i there are two locations. The first is a 15 pin connection; the cable for this connection comes with your Foxwell NT520 Pro, located next to the cupholder pictured below. To remove the OBD cover, gently pull the cover down and out of the way. Then connect the main cable to the port, and the scan tool will automatically power up the tool:

The second location is a 20 pin circular connection and will require a separate cable that does not come with the Foxwell NT520 pro. Both locations will give you a full scan of the vehicle; however, the 20 pin location will allow you to reset the lights on your dashboard, such as oil change, low air pressure, and others.

Remove the OBD cover by gently pulling it down and out of the way. Then connect the main cable, which will power up the tool:

Once your scan tool is powered up and connected to the vehicle, follow the on-screen directions. A full scan takes about 10 minutes.

UPDATES

To update the Foxwell scanner, you will need a computer with windows. Currently, they do not offer updates through mackintosh. Once you’ve registered your scan tool, you’ll be able to update the software for free from their website.

Wrap Up

To wrap things up on this post, I can't stress enough if you're going to own or already own an older BMW, the need to purchase a scan tool. There are hundreds of companies that offer these tools at a reasonable price. In recent years companies are offering scan tools that connect directly to your smartphone, making it even easier to do diagnostics on your vehicle. With prices starting at around $50, there's no excuse not to own one.

If you have any recommendations on other makes and models of scan tools, I would enjoy hearing from you.

In next week's post, I'm going to talk about the pros and cons of owning a variety of late-model BMWs. Until then, happy motoring.