Can OBD Readers Cause Problems?

[AussieXer]

Thanks for that. Yes that is a picture of the scanner I used and I had used it on a GM vehicle in the past. Couldn't see a place for a battery but there seems to be a recharging port in the bottom. Well I think you have all answered my first question: yes, some OBD readers can cause problems so before you plug one in make sure it is the right one. Now for the follow up question: what do I do now? Like a lot of the contributors to this forum (and many other forums for different cars) I am keeping a visit to the local dealer as a last resort for reasons that have been well documented in this forum. I also believe that one of the great values of forums such as this is to aid people who want to know more about these wonderful cars and would like to do much of their own maintenance. Neither of these goals are met by the "keepers of the knowledge", the BMW dealer.

[RToth]

We are talking about the battery in your X5, not the Tech 2 scanner. Check that as these vehicles are extremely voltage sensitive. It is possible that disconnecting the battery for a bit will help reset everything.

[Black-Forest]

In this case it basically boils down to the wrong scanner being used. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that it hasn't effected your control units permanently. Oh and put that scanner in the closet ; )

[upallnight]

Get a real BMW Scanner or bring it to a Dealer or Indy and let them scan the car for you. Sometimes it just doesn't pay to do it yourself.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Get a real BMW Scanner or bring it to a Dealer or Indy and let them scan the car for you. Sometimes it just doesn't pay to do it yourself.

[AussieXer]

Thanks for all the responses so far. I thought I would continue my running commentary for the sake of future X5 owners who may have the same problem. I now realise that I definitely should not have used the OBD scanner that I did. I thought that merely scanning for error codes would not have done any harm.
In anticipation of a worse case scenario I rang my local BMW dealer today to see what they would say. When I described the symptoms they said it was most likely that I had damages the FRM (Footwell Module?) and that I would probably need a new one and that would be about $2,500 AUD and that it would probably take 2 weeks to get one out from Germany. I was interested to hear them say that my windows probably would not work but that is not the case. The windows go up and down fine and the headlights still work but not the interior lights. The things that do not work do not seem entirely consistent with a failed FRM. I would be interested in your opinion.

[jopecasa]

.

hmmm......FRM module on E53?







Recommend......Asked again.......OR.......Find another BMW workshop.

[AussieXer]

Footwell Module?

[jopecasa]

Originally Posted by AussieXer

Footwell Module?

AussieXer,

FYI....your X5 do not have this.

You definitely need your X5 scanned with proper BMW Diagnostic software.

See previous replies above....As per recommendation from members here.

It is hard for us here to assist/help you without error codes.

[AussieXer]

Thanks for that.
I think I may have had a bit of a break through. I found an IBM document (http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/BMW_do...lectronics.pdf) which basically describes the function of the "General Module" and all the faults my car is displaying except one (Self Leveling Suspension) are controlled by this module. Thank you to jopecasa who indicated that I had been given a bum steer by the BMW dealer with regard to FRM/Footwell module.
I will keep my fingers crossed that it may be possible to reset this module. I will let you know how I go pursuing this avenue.