AUX fan woes

[UPGrayd]

Originally Posted by Overboost

UPGrayd, a couple of the members here can be annoying for sure but most of us are happy to help fellow X5 enthusiasts any way we can. Just shrug them off.

If I ever doubt my fan is operational, I simply unplug the AC pressure switch shown below with engine running and AC on and the fan will run full song after 5 seconds. This will at least let you know you have an operating fan but may not diagnose your DME controlling it dependant on engine temp. For that you need the cable you have ordered and a copy of INPA installed on a PC. My guess you have a fan out or going out and the quick AC pressure switch test will let you know. Mine is a 3.0L M54 model but I would guess your diesel M57 would have the same AC pressure switch.

Thank you for that info mate. 100% what I needed....I'll give it a run as soon as I get a chance to play with it.

Re: upallnights comment...look I usually shrug that kind of childish passive aggressive bullshit off, but at the moment I'm dealing with a death in the family and I guess just really not in the mood to put up with people slinging shit for no reason other than just to make a dick of themselves or inflate their ego...or whatever he gains from attacking someone completely unprovoked like that.....I mean so I don't have a cable that I haven't needed, for a car I haven't owned for all that long in the scheme of things, and ordered one the moment it became apparent that I was actually going to *need* it...that's the way these things work....you don't have something...until you need it...then you get it...right?

I mean real great reason to come at me...because I haven't needed something, and I'm hoping to not have to wait what could potentially be weeks for it to arrive before figuring out what should be a relatively simple issue.

[andrewwynn]

I got by ok with just an OBD dongle and my phone to read generic codes and reset SES for a couple years, including diagnosis of bad cam sensor and non working AC, but eventually a bmw level scanning solution is needed however, for that to be "expected knowledge" with 30 posts in, well let's just say an experienced poster should know to feel out a newbie for their capabilities before pre judging them.

You were more than correct to guess there might be a usual workaround that can help diagnose the problem without the need of "the cable" ( and the shit sandwich 30 yr old software that goes with it ). (often only in German, barely runs in xp, as sketchy as it comes). Oh and I've gotten by without using a craptop+cable solution as well. I use and recommend a foxwell 5xx series. Also crappy user inteefae and slow as molasses but it'll scan and test most of the cars systems and is way better than lugging an old craptop to the car it fits in the glove box and will do active tests like engage the aux fan directly. (or roll up/down a window to determine if just a switch is failed. It will also show you the status of any switch etc. Recently I used to re-sync a steering angle sensor after and abs module was removed and replaced.

I also do recommend having a WiFi OBD dongle. I've had a few different ones but my latest one is also foxwell brand and It works the best off all: it doesn't need to be unplugged and replugged to reconnect to the phone (read: you can leave it plugged in and just connect phone as needed). I have one in each of my cars to enable me to reset SES or confirm the light is on for a non mission critical reason like a tired cat.

Welcome to xoutpost, it's definitely the best place to get help with an X5.

[UPGrayd]

Thank you, I have a bunch of little generic obd2 scan tools that I use with the taxis...although in the few times I have needed to do something with the X, they have all proved to be more useless than tits on a bull with the bmw lol. I'll definitely look into an obd2 wifi dongle if theres software out there that will prove to be more useful than gear I currently. One of the first things I did with the X5 was install an xtrons headunit and get Ibus up an running so an extra layer of integration and functionality through obd2 with that would fit very nicely and make me a happy camper.

[Bdc101]

I'm a little over four years into BMW ownership, having wrenched for the past 20 years on Japanese cars which never needed more than an OBDII scan tool (or more often, the paperclip jumper to read cars with pre-OBDI code reading systems). So like Andrew I got by with an OBDII scan tool for a couple of years.

I would say the worst part about owning this era of german car is that you don't know what scanning/diag tool solution you need. An OBDII scanner is close to useless. I purchased a $20 airbag scanner first, and later spent weeks of my life trying to get PA soft working, before caving in and spending $150 on a Foxwell NT510. In hindsight the Foxwell is, as far as I have learned, the best diag tool for us as home BMW mechanics. It's really the tool you need if you are going to attempt to diagnose any complicated problem. There are better tools but they are more expensive.

Someday I would like to write (or see someone write) an E53 or generic BMW owner's guide for the new BMW owner. Most of us who are buying these cars are not able or willing to spend $50k on a new BMW, and therefore are also unwilling to go drop a few thousand bucks at the dealership like a new BMW owner might. But we are diaging and fixing these cars ourselves, and there is no FAQ or "owner's guide" directed at new owners like us. Old-timer forum members like the guys responding here have often pointed me in the right direction which might have taken me days or weeks of troubleshooting to figure out.



But that all being said. Buy a Foxwell NT5xx. It should just be the first recommendation for anybody with a problem like this.

[andrewwynn]

It should absolutely be the first purchase when buying a used BMW. Be careful, foxwell numbering system is flawed, 6xx models are not better than 5xx models. 5xx is what is needed.

I've added GM, Toyota, Chrysler to my NT510.

The base scanner is only for emissions codes, not any other modules, so it's not very helpful. The foxwell will send active commands like "engage AC compressor; it's invaluable for finding and fixing problems.

A while ago I had the ABS module out of my wife's X and when I put it back in, it didn't sync back up with the SAS.

Foxwell was able to sync the SAS.

Priceless.

[UPGrayd]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

It should absolutely be the first purchase when buying a used BMW. Be careful, foxwell numbering system is flawed, 6xx models are not better than 5xx models. 5xx is what is needed.

I've added GM, Toyota, Chrysler to my NT510.

The base scanner is only for emissions codes, not any other modules, so it's not very helpful. The foxwell will send active commands like "engage AC compressor; it's invaluable for finding and fixing problems.

A while ago I had the ABS module out of my wife's X and when I put it back in, it didn't sync back up with the SAS.

Foxwell was able to sync the SAS.

Priceless.

From the sounds of it I will be grabbing a foxwell pretty soon then. You mentioned that you have added toyota etc to yours. Do you know if it is as powerful as the toyota techstream software? It would be great to be able to dump the TIS subscription I have if I pick up a foxwell. Especially as the toyota software can be a bit...yeah nah at times.

[andrewwynn]

do not know but it has done everything I've needed. It's more complete on the BMW than the others but it showed me the exact part broken on brother's Camry AC (pressure sensor), the exact parts on other brother's Buick, etc.

[andrewwynn]

Originally Posted by UPGrayd

Especially as the toyota software can be a bit...yeah nah at times.

That’s why I spent $ on foxwell vs the INPA/cord route. They whole thing is "windows Visa" level cringe worthy.

Sounds like you have a cord for the full power access to modules but you'll much prefer then the foxwell for regular maintenance based on feedback from xo members that have both.

[UPGrayd]

Can confirm windows vista level of cringeworthyness.

Cable FINALLY came today, so I got about installing inpa from bimmergeeks and set out to fiddle with the X for a bit to get a feel for how it functions....I'm already just about ready to set the cable on fire and throw it under a passing train. between inpa just being blehh, constant script errors and randomly not being able to connect to different modules it's......interesting to say the least.

In regards to forcing the Aux fan on, is done through inpa, or is there another tool for doing that? I couldnt find anywhere within inpa to switch it on, the only reference I could find to it was under A/C and then status (it shows that the fan is off.....but I already know that by looking at it lol)

[UPGrayd]

Update: found it under activate/digital output. However I get an EDIABAS error when trying to activate it.

ApiCheckJobStatus: Job-Status error:
[ERROR_RELAIS_ZUSATZLUEFTER] instead of [OKAY]!

Any ideas?