P38A ECU readers

I've got a 2.5 BMW diesel P38. Think its time to get an ECU reader, there is a confusing amount of info on which one to get.

I'm chasing an intermittent air suspension fault atm but looking for a unit that does it all.

I've lived with the air suspension system for about 11 years now and understand it fairly well. I've had it out, repaired and fixed a few times now. I keep the compressor in good order, have a spare and change the desicant filter regularly. I can't decide if I've got a faulty sensor or a sticky valve.

Do yourself a favour and get a Nanocom, it will read all of the P38 systems, whereas generic code readers won’t.

Wasn't there a nanocom for sale on here recently?

I've not yet found mine lacking in any function

Wazzajnr was sellin one back in june 21 it was for a v8,dont know if it can be changed to diesel....

Yes you can buy additional codes for it

OldP38 said:

I've got a 2.5 BMW diesel P38. Think its time to get an ECU reader, there is a confusing amount of info on which one to get.

I'm chasing an intermittent air suspension fault atm but looking for a unit that does it all.

I've lived with the air suspension system for about 11 years now and understand it fairly well. I've had it out, repaired and fixed a few times now. I keep the compressor in good order, have a spare and change the desicant filter regularly. I can't decide if I've got a faulty sensor or a sticky valve.

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Storey Wilson's software for the EAS is free. Datatek will make you a cable and give you all the software for very little money. After that the best value for money is the Nanocom. Other brands like Hawkeye and Lynx do almost as much but are nowhere near as versatile or easy to use. I suspect the free BMW software can be made to talk to the M51. @stustrong would know.

Storey Wilson also has a paid version that comes with necessary cable. It does quite a bit more than just EAS. Been thinking of adding it to my small laptop which would be easy to take along on trips. Anyone using this paid version.
PS: much cheaper than Nanocom

Gord Wedman said:

Storey Wilson also has a paid version that comes with necessary cable. It does quite a bit more than just EAS. Been thinking of adding it to my small laptop which would be easy to take along on trips. Anyone using this paid version.
PS: much cheaper than Nanocom

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Does it do the diesel? I don't think Storey sees many diesels his side of the pond.

Grrrrrr said:

Does it do the diesel? I don't think Storey sees many diesels his side of the pond.

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That I don't know but he does respond to emails, at least the first one I sent him

Gord Wedman said:

Storey Wilson also has a paid version that comes with necessary cable. It does quite a bit more than just EAS. Been thinking of adding it to my small laptop which would be easy to take along on trips. Anyone using this paid version.
PS: much cheaper than Nanocom

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Only does petrol

OldP38 said:

I've got a 2.5 BMW diesel P38. Think its time to get an ECU reader, there is a confusing amount of info on which one to get.

I'm chasing an intermittent air suspension fault atm but looking for a unit that does it all.

I've lived with the air suspension system for about 11 years now and understand it fairly well. I've had it out, repaired and fixed a few times now. I keep the compressor in good order, have a spare and change the desicant filter regularly. I can't decide if I've got a faulty sensor or a sticky valve.

Click to expand...

Here's how I found my dodgy sensor,
Remove the silencer from the valve block and take it on a drive on a dual carriage way or motorway.
If constantly turns the pump on and off and then lowers either front or rear it well may be a sensor. A worn sensor will flicker if you watch it with a nanocom. The live reading will jump around and the ecu follows the sensors readings albeit in a slow fashion. This also leads to the pumps seal wearing every 4-6 months depending on its usage.
A sticking valve can produce the same effect but not all the time... If I remember correctly wammers said if an nrv is jamme open the front suspension can be influenced while the pump is running... Remember correctly
This is based on my own experience with my 38'

Surely you'd expect to see sensors jump about as you're driving? Suspension flexing etc

kermit_rr said:

Surely you'd expect to see sensors jump about as you're driving? Suspension flexing etc

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A little but not massive spikes. Take a trace with the Nonocom and post the trace as zip file.

At the moment my rear sensors are starting to give up, at motorway speed and height setting it will raise the rear and lower it again but at standard height it's as quiet as a mouse. If it was a sticking nrv in thus case it would behave the same in any setting. Hope this helps in some way