When is 'comming soon' going to be over?

phil.

 

their task is not easy but it does seem to be dragging on.

 

I don't know what to do with all this spare $$. I want to give it to them really, really, really bad!

phil.

 

Ross-tech has been saying that for a long long long time. I am waiting for it for my BMW and Mini. I used to have one for the VW and it kicked much rump.

 

Anyone (Andy) know exactly how this ties in? Is it a hard wired device into the ECU? What?

 

Diagnostics on your laptop through the OBD port.

phil.

 

So it's software development, and no hardware? Hmm...

 

All i can say is I have seen the beta version of the software. And have used it on my MINI to take some readings for ANDY but the was quite some time ago. I havent heard a word since.

PS Terry From Hampton Roads had the software i went up there to have my car used for testing. Never got the print outs or files myself. But from what i could see. it should be a good tool if ever finished

 

Sorry that it's taking so long, guys. It's coming along, but development has been slow and filled with lots of suprises. I wish I had more info available about it but this thread goes into more detail:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=51515

It will be software that runs on a PC and connects to all of the controllers in the car (engine, abs, airbags, etc) through the diagnostic port via a specialized connector:



As soon as there is a product to sell, we will be advertising on NAM and I'll be blabbing all about it.

 

Ok, I'll try to ask this question in a way that doesn't require proprietary info.

By specialized connector, is that to mean that the software requires the specialized connector, or that the connector reads from the port in a specialized way?

 

Both.

 

Andy, if you have a newer VAG-COM connector will it work on the BIM-COM?

 

Different hardware and software between the VW and MINI, both inside the car and on our end, unfortunately. You can always use the generic OBD-II function in VAG-COM to do, well, generic OBD-II stuff:

http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/tour/obd-2.html

 

I think the question was if you have teh Bim-COM software, will the VAG-COM (does anyone else see the crass nature of that name? ) connector work?

 

Yeah I was just wondering if I could avoid purchasing a new connector, since I still have mine from the VAG COM that looks exactly like in your pic above, but it says VAG-COM. I want the BIM-COM software but was hoping to only have to purchase that.

 

Nope, BiM-COM hardware won't work with VAG-COM software or vice-versa, for the reasons above.

 

Thanks Andy

 

Proprietary

 

Hey Andy...I put Sparco seats in the Cooper. Can BiM-COM perminently extinguish the light without making a jumper plug?

 

It uses something specific to Mini/BMW. The connector is an OBD-II connector, but that spec doesn't use all the pins. Any generic OBD-II logger will get some stuff, but stuff like resetting the air-bag light isn't one of them. BTW, it will clear the code, but it won't make the car ignore a missing air bag. You're stuck with having a jumper to keep it off.

I'm one of the BiM-COM testers, and it's real bitchen. No, this isn't to rub it in, but there are tons of modules in the Mini that COULD be talked to that aren't. Currently it does a good job of engine parameter logging, and one or two other modules. The error codes are really good. It helped me spot a yet to be fixed gas tank sensor error, and I've reset the air-bag light, but it keeps coming back on. Bad wires or connector....

Anyway, it will be worth the wait. If you want some low cost OBD-II stuff to keep you busy until it's released, do a google search on low cost Elm based OBD-II loggers. As a bonus, they'll read and reset engine codes!

Matt

ps Andy, I won't charge anything for the free endorsement!

 

Do you need a 06 tester .

 

Can we expect pricing to be about the same as vag-com?
Will it work with (cheaper) 3rd party interfaces like vag-com? I would expect not if you're saying the hardware has to be different.

 

Pricing hasn't been determined yet, but I wouldn't expect it to be either an order of magnitude cheaper or more expensive than VAG-COM. As far as shareware, no. It will run on dedicated interface hardware with the license inside the connector. That way, you can install the software on as many different PC's as you'd like.

 

I'm definitely interested in BIM-Com when its availible. But does anybody else think it would be alot more practical to also have Pocket PC functionality along with all the best features of a OBD Data Logger/Monitor software thats availible through places like Auterra and such?

I would much rather buy an all in one solution through Ross-Tech than have to buy another Data logger for Pocket PC or Palm seperately. I would love to use PPC or Palm for real time monitoring (think unlimited extra gauges) and laptop for deep diagnostics.

Anybody?

 

do engine diagnostic and OBD-II data logging. They don't do the other subsystems, and for that BiM-COM stands alone.

Matt