Ebay BMW diagnostic tools: any good? What are they for?

[Warthog]

Keep seeing ads on ebay for some sort of diagnostic tool, some stupidly cheap, others reasonably priced: what are they? A con? a gimmick?

Or might they actually be useful to the DIY type?

 

[bustupbiker]

You need the GS-911. From Hex.... do a google on it.. ace bit of kit.

 

[Tsiklonaut]

If you mean for 1100 (motoronic 2.2) then I got one off the fleaBay, around 20EURos.

Very simple device with 1 led only. It returns you Motronic and ABS fault codes (this is why I bought it), helps you to reset them and also helps to adjust TPS (altough this is better done by a multimeter). But I might need it on the road someday tho...

Ask for english manual if you buy one.

 

[Warthog]

If you mean for 1100 (motoronic 2.2) then I got one off the fleaBay, around 20EURos.

Very simple device with 1 led only. It returns you Motronic and ABS fault codes (this is why I bought it), helps you to reset them and also helps to adjust TPS (altough this is better done by a multimeter). But I might need it on the road someday tho...

Ask for english manual if you buy one.

This could be useful!

My 1100 has an ABS problem, and might need to be reset if the replacement switch does not fix it!

 

[Tsiklonaut]

My 1100 has an ABS problem, and might need to be reset if the replacement switch does not fix it!

This tool is only useful for reading faut codes, the rest you can do without it IMHO. You don't need to buy it for reseting ABS or Motronic. For R1100GS ABS reset, I've used the following and it works:


- Turn off the ignition and remove the seats from the bike.

- Look under the rider seat for a set of three wires that go into a plug (usually blue plug).

- Remove the plug (you will see that it's nothing but an empty piece of plastic!).

- Insert one end of your 30cm strip of wire into the cable plug so it makes
contact with the CENTER wire

- Ground the other end of your wire

- Turn on the ignition and hold down the ABS button for 10 seconds.

- Turn off the ignition, remove your 30cm wire and put the bike back together again.

- Turn the ignition back on and the ABS is reset!

 

[1Rider]

You need the GS-911. From Hex.... do a google on it.. ace bit of kit.

+1

 

[1Rider]

Next time it will be something different you need an answer for

 

[Warthog]

This tool is only useful for reading faut codes, the rest you can do without it IMHO. You don't need to buy it for reseting ABS or Motronic. For R1100GS ABS reset, I've used the following and it works:


- Turn off the ignition and remove the seats from the bike.

- Look under the rider seat for a set of three wires that go into a plug (usually blue plug).

- Remove the plug (you will see that it's nothing but an empty piece of plastic!).

- Insert one end of your 30cm strip of wire into the cable plug so it makes
contact with the CENTER wire

- Ground the other end of your wire

- Turn on the ignition and hold down the ABS button for 10 seconds.

- Turn off the ignition, remove your 30cm wire and put the bike back together again.

- Turn the ignition back on and the ABS is reset!

Sounds like a good plan. I'll clean up the cotacts and then check the sensor clearances before trying it though!

 

[Warthog]

Tried to reset the ABS: no success.....

 

[Steptoe]

Tried to reset the ABS: no success.....

Works best if you ground the earth to the battery earth.

Also does pressing the ABS button stop/alter the flashing ABS lights.

If not the switch doesn't work ( very common, usually corroded inside) ,you can't reset the ABS if the switch doesn't work.

 

[Rob Farmer]

The fault codes on the 1100 can be read with a cheapo analogue multimeter but to be honest the Ebay units look like they simplify things alot. Heres an old post going back to 02 http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1766&highlight=fault+codes

The GS-911 only works with the 1150/1200 bikes. The 1100 didn't have obd2 fault diagnostics built in.

 

[Warthog]

Works best if you ground the earth to the battery earth.

Also does pressing the ABS button stop/alter the flashing ABS lights.

If not the switch doesn't work ( very common, usually corroded inside) ,you can't reset the ABS if the switch doesn't work.

It was earthed to the battery negative terminal.

The switch, if pressed stopped the to flashing ABS lights, and left only the bottom one on permanently.

Funnily, though, if I switch off the ignition and back on again, the ABS lights do not revert to flashing!