Recently purchased a 520 D estate 2017 and the amber light is on and a message: continue journey and have problem checked used basic code reader and no error codes is there a OBD2 on the market that can pull this information out or is it main dealer. Also have a series 1 BMW and a 2015 Mercedes in the family so would need to be able to read these as well?

Morning Guy

Welcome to the Forum

I have read that iCarsoft have a reader that can have different Manufacturer software loaded check their websiteI have tried iCarsoft for BMW it works quite well however I have BMW ISTA/INPA which allows me Dealer level diagnostics plus gives Workshop information which is much better

There are several others Foxwell, Autologic Maxwell but the more makes on a reader the price will go up I am sure

Good Luck

Dave

Thanks for the reply Dave I am looking at a Topdon artidag eu I will speak with them tomorrow hopefully this can interrogate the module the last thing I want is to put it into BMW.

Morning Guy

Way back (early 80's) when OBD diagnostics were basically simple code generators life was simple. All you needed was a code and some detective work. By the early 90's things had progressed where manufacturers developed their own programs that while allowing a standard OBD reader to access basic information kept many systems dark and unreadable. I started collecting Manufacturer software as I have always worked on my own cars in my home garage I have an old laptop that runs diagnostic software for Volvo, Mercedes Star, VW/Audi, BMW, Subaru and Toyota. My investment was driven by as diagnostics advanced Dealer costs shot up and they stopped repairing things and began replacing complete units ?? My local BMW Dealer labour rate is north of £200 ph the Mercedes Dealer makes that look like a bargain 😅 So after the Warranty period is over all my servicing is DIY plus there are very few repairs I have found that cant be done at home. Both Mercedes Star and BMW ISTA/INPA include Workshop Information with pictures which is a great help

Hope your new software works for you let us know how you get on

Dave