If You Need an OBD Diagnostic Cable...

3002 tii · 09-26-2017, 09:07 PM

Just thought I'd pass on a good deal but I found a $7 off coupon for Bimmergeek's pro-KDAN cable. My total price shipped came out to around $40 using promo code BIMMERPOST

Not sure how long the promo is good for but it worked for me as of this past weekend.

Paul95 · 04-23-2018, 12:10 PM

Thanks

BravoJohny33 · 04-23-2018, 12:25 PM

Not to shit on this thread but ebay US sellers cables are only 15 bucks shipped and come with INPA. I have one and has given me no problems over the years.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-BMW-INP...MAAOSw~o5aYDeD

tlow98 · 04-23-2018, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BravoJohny33

Not to shit on this thread but ebay US sellers cables are only 15 bucks shipped and come with INPA. I have one and has given me no problems over the years.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-BMW-INP...MAAOSw~o5aYDeD

These cables aren't offered with any warranty and if you brick something these eBay sellers are like farts in the wind.

For the extra $30 I went with the community-tested bimmergeeks cable. Bimmergeeks has better customer service than any automotive vendor I've ever encountered.

I get that it's worked for you, and likely many others, but I couldn't justify the savings on these units. I looked at them in earnest, too.

Maybe the Old "warm fuzzy" got me here?

3002 tii · 04-23-2018, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BravoJohny33

Not to shit on this thread but ebay US sellers cables are only 15 bucks shipped and come with INPA. I have one and has given me no problems over the years.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-BMW-INP...MAAOSw~o5aYDeD

I’ve used eBay generic ones too but when it comes to flashing or INPA, the speed is noticeably quicker with the BG cable.

BravoJohny33 · 04-23-2018, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlow98

These cables aren't offered with any warranty and if you brick something these eBay sellers are like farts in the wind.

For the extra $30 I went with the community-tested bimmergeeks cable. Bimmergeeks has better customer service than any automotive vendor I've ever encountered.

I get that it's worked for you, and likely many others, but I couldn't justify the savings on these units. I looked at them in earnest, too.

Maybe the Old "warm fuzzy" got me here?

I guess if it makes you feel better but good chance they are all made by the same Chinese company.

mecheng77 · 04-23-2018, 05:02 PM

Post a picture of the internals of your bimmergeek cable, I will link you to my $15 eBay cable that has been working fine

3002 tii · 04-23-2018, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mecheng77

Post a picture of the internals of your bimmergeek cable, I will link you to my $15 eBay cable that has been working fine

Lol not worth the trouble. I was merely passing on a good deal relative to options at the time but if it makes you feel better I’ll believe that your cable is just as good.

For me, having BG remote in and troubleshoot my INPA and ISTA install was well worth the extra $25, and again running diagnostics was cut down considerably shorter.

tlow98 · 04-23-2018, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BravoJohny33

I guess if it makes you feel better but good chance they are all made by the same Chinese company.

For sure.

tlow98 · 04-23-2018, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mecheng77

Post a picture of the internals of your bimmergeek cable, I will link you to my $15 eBay cable that has been working fine

IIRC, I think they have pics of them on their website...

hassmaschine · 04-24-2018, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BravoJohny33

Not to shit on this thread but ebay US sellers cables are only 15 bucks shipped and come with INPA. I have one and has given me no problems over the years.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-BMW-INP...MAAOSw~o5aYDeD

Yes, they are cheaper - for a reason.

If you try to flash your transmission computer, certain DMEs, and other modules on a modern CAN-bus BMW, it will 100% brick those modules (MSS60/65, GKE211/191 - well documented and tested). Probably not worth saving $25 on.

The internals have nothing to do with it (although they are important). The firmware is completely different. It's basically as good as a genuine ICOM cable (which also costs more than $15).

If you brick your DME for example flashing one of my tunes with a cheap $15 cable, I'm not going to be able to do anything for you.. you get what you pay for.

FWIW I also had the same $20 cable for years. I upgraded the firmware myself (not super easy to do). But it recently died on me, which put me in a bad spot for a week or two. I probably use my cables a lot more than most people do..

mecheng77 · 04-24-2018, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

Yes, they are cheaper - for a reason.

If you try to flash your transmission computer, certain DMEs, and other modules on a modern CAN-bus BMW, it will 100% brick those modules (MSS60/65, GKE211/191 - well documented and tested). Probably not worth saving $25 on.

The internals have nothing to do with it (although they are important). The firmware is completely different. It's basically as good as a genuine ICOM cable (which also costs more than $15).

If you brick your DME for example flashing one of my tunes with a cheap $15 cable, I'm not going to be able to do anything for you.. you get what you pay for.

FWIW I also had the same $20 cable for years. I upgraded the firmware myself (not super easy to do). But it recently died on me, which put me in a bad spot for a week or two. I probably use my cables a lot more than most people do..

I don't mind paying more for a cable if it is truly better, I am just skeptical they would setup their own production line for minute differences. It would be very expensive. I couldn't see anything out of place on my cable, I saw all name brand chips. I've coded my car, but have not flashed a module.

I've never flashed one of the modules and I may have to drink the kool aid and buy a better cable to do so.

Here are pics of my board.

hassmaschine · 04-24-2018, 08:39 AM

Pics of the board doesn't mean anything - you can't take photos of the software

For coding, a cheap cable is fine. For flashing modules it can be risky, and in cases that I mentioned above (and there are more), it's 100% fatal. Due to bugs in the firmware, it basically fills the module with garbage data and there's no way to recover them.

mecheng77 · 04-24-2018, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

Pics of the board doesn't mean anything - you can't take photos of the software

For coding, a cheap cable is fine. For flashing modules it can be risky, and in cases that I mentioned above (and there are more), it's 100% fatal. Due to bugs in the firmware, it basically fills the module with garbage data and there's no way to recover them.

For my edumacation:
Why wouldn't the inferior supplier just upgrade the firmware, how hard can that be and isn't it free?

hassmaschine · 04-24-2018, 10:09 AM

No idea, but they don't.

boneheaddoctor · 04-24-2018, 11:24 AM

Most of the knock offs reverse engineer their stuff so it might look identical to an untrained eye. because they replicate the layout and trace routing, but usually inferior PC material AND they rarely ever get it 100% right. some knock offs are pure garbage while some aren't half bad...but in a business when even a penny in cost is shaved per 100 or 1,000 units...they will do it. Even at the cost of quality. They are in the business of making a buck now, so they can move on to make another buck ripping someones elses design off..operating under a different name most likely.

Welcome to NBA Jam · 04-24-2018, 11:51 AM

If you've never bought one: worth it
If you already have an eBay one that works: not worth it
If your eBay one broke: worth it

mecheng77 · 04-24-2018, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welcome to NBA Jam

If you've never bought one: worth it
If you already have an eBay one that works: not worth it
If your eBay one broke: worth it

Well put

BravoJohny33 · 04-24-2018, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boneheaddoctor

Most of the knock offs reverse engineer their stuff so it might look identical to an untrained eye. because they replicate the layout and trace routing, but usually inferior PC material AND they rarely ever get it 100% right. some knock offs are pure garbage while some aren't half bad...but in a business when even a penny in cost is shaved per 100 or 1,000 units...they will do it. Even at the cost of quality. They are in the business of making a buck now, so they can move on to make another buck ripping someones elses design off..operating under a different name most likely.

Uhhuh.. well bg cables are made in china like the rest of them. It is really just a question of what Chinese manufacture bg is buying them from. Nothing stops anyone from buying from the same Chinese manufacture that bg buys from.

hassmaschine · 04-24-2018, 12:24 PM

You are right. But it still won't have the updated firmware on it.

ctuna · 04-24-2018, 12:37 PM

Most of the ebay ones just pirate whatever version of the software is available at the the time they have no interest in updating or verifying it.
You may get a very old version of the software.
Bimmergeeks has an operating business and you can get support from them it may cost something but be extra valuable when you are in a bind.

hassmaschine · 04-24-2018, 01:08 PM

I'm talking about the firmware/software that's inside the cable - not BMW / INPA software.

09-26-2017, 09:07 PM	#1
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2286 Rep 12,565 Posts Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (99) Garage List F15 X5 xDrive35i [8.75] E86 Z4 M [10.00] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.50] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [9.24]	If You Need an OBD Diagnostic Cable... Just thought I'd pass on a good deal but I found a $7 off coupon for Bimmergeek's pro-KDAN cable. My total price shipped came out to around $40 using promo code BIMMERPOST Not sure how long the promo is good for but it worked for me as of this past weekend. __________________ Follow for latest mods Last edited by 3002 tii; 09-26-2017 at 09:19 PM..
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04-23-2018, 12:10 PM	#2
Paul95 New Member 2 Rep 16 Posts Drives: E90 320d Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Lithuania iTrader: (0)	Thanks
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04-23-2018, 12:25 PM	#3
BravoJohny33 Major 310 Rep 1,016 Posts Drives: BMW 2010 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: GA iTrader: (0)	Not to shit on this thread but ebay US sellers cables are only 15 bucks shipped and come with INPA. I have one and has given me no problems over the years. https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-BMW-INP...MAAOSw~o5aYDeD
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04-23-2018, 05:02 PM	#7
mecheng77 Colonel 1006 Rep 2,243 Posts Drives: 2007 328i / 2014 M235i Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Ontario Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] [0.00]	Post a picture of the internals of your bimmergeek cable, I will link you to my $15 eBay cable that has been working fine
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04-24-2018, 08:39 AM	#13
hassmaschine Major General 3973 Rep 7,215 Posts Drives: "NBO" 330i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: earth iTrader: (0)	Pics of the board doesn't mean anything - you can't take photos of the software For coding, a cheap cable is fine. For flashing modules it can be risky, and in cases that I mentioned above (and there are more), it's 100% fatal. Due to bugs in the firmware, it basically fills the module with garbage data and there's no way to recover them.
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04-24-2018, 10:09 AM	#15
hassmaschine Major General 3973 Rep 7,215 Posts Drives: "NBO" 330i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: earth iTrader: (0)	No idea, but they don't.
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04-24-2018, 11:24 AM	#16
boneheaddoctor Private 14 Rep 60 Posts Drives: 2012 E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Northern Virginia iTrader: (0)	Most of the knock offs reverse engineer their stuff so it might look identical to an untrained eye. because they replicate the layout and trace routing, but usually inferior PC material AND they rarely ever get it 100% right. some knock offs are pure garbage while some aren't half bad...but in a business when even a penny in cost is shaved per 100 or 1,000 units...they will do it. Even at the cost of quality. They are in the business of making a buck now, so they can move on to make another buck ripping someones elses design off..operating under a different name most likely. __________________ 2012 E92 335i Black Sapphire Metallic/ Oyster 7" VRSF FMIC,Afe pipes, MHD 2+,xHP Stage3 2017 BMW 328d xDrive Wagon, M Sport package 1987 GMC 2500 6.2 Banks Sidwinder, nv4500 1979 Mercedes 300SD Turbo Diesel Last edited by boneheaddoctor; 04-24-2018 at 12:09 PM..
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04-24-2018, 11:51 AM	#17
Welcome to NBA Jam Is it the shoes!? 3884 Rep 5,112 Posts Drives: (Sold) 2011 E92 335i ZMP 6MT Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	If you've never bought one: worth it If you already have an eBay one that works: not worth it If your eBay one broke: worth it
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04-24-2018, 12:24 PM	#20
hassmaschine Major General 3973 Rep 7,215 Posts Drives: "NBO" 330i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: earth iTrader: (0)	You are right. But it still won't have the updated firmware on it.
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04-24-2018, 12:37 PM	#21
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,103 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	Most of the ebay ones just pirate whatever version of the software is available at the the time they have no interest in updating or verifying it. You may get a very old version of the software. Bimmergeeks has an operating business and you can get support from them it may cost something but be extra valuable when you are in a bind.
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04-24-2018, 01:08 PM	#22
hassmaschine Major General 3973 Rep 7,215 Posts Drives: "NBO" 330i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: earth iTrader: (0)	I'm talking about the firmware/software that's inside the cable - not BMW / INPA software.
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