Peake Research R5/FCX-3 - BMW Forum

littlecanoe · 06-15-2008, 10:08 PM

I'm presently planning to buy one of these units in the near future. Before I do though, do you guys find that they read all of the factory codes or just most of the codes?

Is there another option out there that isn't a few thousand to buy? The reason that I ask is that a friend who is a VW TDI guy told me that there are some hook-ups and software packages floating around out there for the VW's at very reasonable prices and I thought that there could be something BMW related.

darkhorse737 · 06-20-2008, 11:27 PM

The Peake Reserach tool you are looking at is exclusive for BMW.

But yes, there are several "gadgets" the market that will read and clear codes for a BMW and all other OBD2 equipped cars(1996 upwards)

Cheapest one i have come across is the Actron Pocket Reader... some $30.- or so... there's one from Harbor Freight Tools for about the same price. And then there are programs available for free on the i-net that can read codes using a PC or laptop provided you have a compatible interface(most popular one right now is the ELM 327, i believe) =/- $120.00. The interface translates the pulsess it gets from ur OBD2 port, and communicates that into ur laptop or PC into a langauage that is readable for both you and me.

Of course, if you are the type who thinks that paying top dollar is your way of doing things... there is the Snap-On MODIS or SOLUS.

littlecanoe · 06-21-2008, 10:06 AM

dh,

I'm just planning ahead since I'll be wrenching on this car. I wanna get the most bang for my buck for self diagnostics. My biggest concern about the peak is whether or not it reads all codes or if there are some proprietary codes that only the BMW service center can read.

My cousin runs a NAPA service center. Not enough BMW's in our area for him to justify the Snap-On set-up. Too rich for my blood. If I have the right tool to read and the project gets to be over my head I can have him do the work if I can read the codes.

darkhorse737 · 06-21-2008, 10:48 AM

on't see what year model you have... but if yours is 1996 & upwards:

Actron®

cheapest on is about $35.00 off-the-shelf

If yours is the OBD1 type however, the Peake tool is for you. It should have a manual along with the tool to decipher the codes.

Bimmers also have OBD(on board diagnostics) and it tells you what is wrong by counting the # of blinks on the check engine light, once you activate it. sequence of activating your internal OBD can be found on the Pelican tech pages.

littlecanoe · 07-06-2008, 02:45 PM

Well, I did it. Bought a 1999 528i. Now I need to start figuring out how to do some of the wrenching on my own. I plan on the Bentley manuals. However, I first need to figure out which code scanner is appropriate for my car.

Looks like I need to determine if it's OBDI vs OBDII.

I'm probably beating a dead horse here but it's all totally new to me.

Actron vs Peake reader. I need to have it 'splained to me.