FIXED: Return of the P0171 and P0174

[TerminatorX5]

it is long indeed...

but if you will stay in BMWs, the specialized cable and software will prove useful... you can instantly download the software from some sellers on the ebay and buy a cable separately - go to fleabay, and search for INPA, it should bring up a bunch of listings, some of which might be even local to you.

before the fleabay search, look under your hood and look for a round data port - your car is manufacturered early enough that you might have a data port under hood... if you have the data port, then you will also need an round head adapter for the OBDII cable...

[diddy0071]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

it is long indeed...

but if you will stay in BMWs, the specialized cable and software will prove useful... you can instantly download the software from some sellers on the ebay and buy a cable separately - go to fleabay, and search for INPA, it should bring up a bunch of listings, some of which might be even local to you.

before the fleabay search, look under your hood and look for a round data port - your car is manufacturered early enough that you might have a data port under hood... if you have the data port, then you will also need an round head adapter for the OBDII cable...

during your search,

No data port on my vehicle, I have checked.

[diddy0071]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

it is long indeed...

but if you will stay in BMWs, the specialized cable and software will prove useful... you can instantly download the software from some sellers on the ebay and buy a cable separately - go to fleabay, and search for INPA, it should bring up a bunch of listings, some of which might be even local to you.

before the fleabay search, look under your hood and look for a round data port - your car is manufacturered early enough that you might have a data port under hood... if you have the data port, then you will also need an round head adapter for the OBDII cable...

during your search,

has anyone ordered from the guy in Romania? Reason I am asking is, if I can find a D-CAN cable on Amazon (I see one for $30) It would be awesome if someone can burn me a copy of the 2 DVDs the Romanian guy includes and mail them out to me (at my expense of course) that way I don't have to wait a month and I can finally diagnose what is wrong with my poor baby. I need a car that is running otherwise I will be soon unemployed if I can't make it in to work ontime/at all.

Someone, please, help. I am begging at this point.

[TerminatorX5]

a lot of people on this forum ordered from that guy in romania - he must have made a fortune off the xoutpost members!!!

if the only thing that you need is software, you can download it for about $20 from some other guys on fleabay, if you search for INPA, they will pop up... it will be much faster than trying to arrange for a burned copy of a DVD... and will cost the same... well, maybe a bit more, but it will be instant gratification... i don't know if the bluetooth thingy will work with the EDIABAS (ediabas is a communications protocol used by the diagnostic software)... i am not an IT guy, i have hard type with computers as it is ... lol...

[diddy0071]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

a lot of people on this forum ordered from that guy in romania - he must have made a fortune off the xoutpost members!!!

if the only thing that you need is software, you can download it for about $20 from some other guys on fleabay, if you search for INPA, they will pop up... it will be much faster than trying to arrange for a burned copy of a DVD... and will cost the same... well, maybe a bit more, but it will be instant gratification... i don't know if the bluetooth thingy will work with the EDIABAS (ediabas is a communications protocol used by the diagnostic software)... i am not an IT guy, i have hard type with computers as it is ... lol...

The thing is the software seems to be easier to setup with this guys' DVDs. It appears to be setup to run and install seamlessly from the DVDs, as opposed to running and installing individually (if that makes sense). Also, he claims his software works with windows 7. No other one I have seen says it does.

[TerminatorX5]

my INPA works with WIN Vista - i lost my Win XP, and the back ups were Vista, not XP... so, i installed the INPA and it worked...

i got mine a while ago, and his DVDs did not "self-install" back then, so i don't have DIS or GT or whatever, just INPA and the NCS Expert...

[bcredliner]

I read through the entire thread. IMO there has been too much throwing parts at this. It will take some time to get the Romanian software, get it loaded and become proficient.

We can continue throwing parts at it if you don't mind the cost but I suggest taking the X in for diagnosis with a Certified BMW tech before doing ANYTHING else. You don't have to have it fixed there.

We can do some more basic troubleshooting if you have the time but even if we all state your problem is definitely X we might be wrong.

It is logical to conclude you have the same problem as before or you created another problem because of your work but that may not be the case. That is largely the track we have taken.

Some troubleshooting you can do while you wait for software that will be conclusive:

Your symptoms are also consistent with a bad cat as an example. You can test that with a back pressure gauge which you can often rent from a parts store. If exhaust can't get out the engine won't run like yours and will throw misleading codes.

I didn't see in your video if you sprayed carb cleaner on areas there could be a vacuum leak. If you haven't done that it would be a good test.

You can test injectors with a auto-stethoscope or even a long ratchet extension. The good ones will have a louder more metallic click that any that might be bad or failing.

You can test fuel pressure by renting the equipment from auto store. I remember you saying the test you did showed NO fuel pressure--if that was the case it would not run at all.

You can test coils. I am not sure you can rent that equipment. I think some auto stores will do that for you, not sure.

My point is that it is time to go back basic troubleshooting and ground zero, ignoring the past issues or stop all efforts until we have a complete diagnostic readout.

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by diddy0071

The thing is the software seems to be easier to setup with this guys' DVDs. It appears to be setup to run and install seamlessly from the DVDs, as opposed to running and installing individually (if that makes sense). Also, he claims his software works with windows 7. No other one I have seen says it does.

You're absolutely right it is easier to set up from his DVD's, I just installed mine last week within 24 hours on my dedicated laptop. all the pages and pages of threads reading about setting up things with torrents, downloading this and that and the other is NOT what you get when you buy the Romanian guy's stuff. Literally only thing you need to do yourself is configure the USB port, even that has a step by step direction.

I'd send you mine, but the thing is that there is a hardware key and ID that he sends you right when you start the install (you have to send a serial number to him that generates on the install) and without the key and ID from him you won't be able to install them.

Just pm him on ebay (bmwfanatiq) and see if you can get faster shipping with DHL, I chose the expedited shipping option for 12 bucks and still took a week to get to NJ.

[diddy0071]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

You're absolutely right it is easier to set up from his DVD's, I just installed mine last week within 24 hours on my dedicated laptop. all the pages and pages of threads reading about setting up things with torrents, downloading this and that and the other is NOT what you get when you buy the Romanian guy's stuff. Literally only thing you need to do yourself is configure the USB port, even that has a step by step direction.

I'd send you mine, but the thing is that there is a hardware key and ID that he sends you right when you start the install (you have to send a serial number to him that generates on the install) and without the key and ID from him you won't be able to install them.

Just pm him on ebay (bmwfanatiq) and see if you can get faster shipping with DHL, I chose the expedited shipping option for 12 bucks and still took a week to get to NJ.

If you can send me a copy I would appreciate it. I can PM the guy afterwards and see if he can just charge me some amount to get the serial number so I can install it and run a diagnostic.

[diddy0071]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

I read through the entire thread. IMO there has been too much throwing parts at this. It will take some time to get the Romanian software, get it loaded and become proficient.

We can continue throwing parts at it if you don't mind the cost but I suggest taking the X in for diagnosis with a Certified BMW tech before doing ANYTHING else. You don't have to have it fixed there.

We can do some more basic troubleshooting if you have the time but even if we all state your problem is definitely X we might be wrong.

It is logical to conclude you have the same problem as before or you created another problem because of your work but that may not be the case. That is largely the track we have taken.

Some troubleshooting you can do while you wait for software that will be conclusive:

Your symptoms are also consistent with a bad cat as an example. You can test that with a back pressure gauge which you can often rent from a parts store. If exhaust can't get out the engine won't run like yours and will throw misleading codes.

I didn't see in your video if you sprayed carb cleaner on areas there could be a vacuum leak. If you haven't done that it would be a good test.

You can test injectors with a auto-stethoscope or even a long ratchet extension. The good ones will have a louder more metallic click that any that might be bad or failing.

You can test fuel pressure by renting the equipment from auto store. I remember you saying the test you did showed NO fuel pressure--if that was the case it would not run at all.

You can test coils. I am not sure you can rent that equipment. I think some auto stores will do that for you, not sure.

My point is that it is time to go back basic troubleshooting and ground zero, ignoring the past issues or stop all efforts until we have a complete diagnostic readout.

The only parts I have thrown at it was the fuel pump and MAF, both of which were not a huge factor as the Fuel pump was basically an exchange, and the MAF was something I already had from the first time around, but I do agree, I'm not going to keep throwing parts at it and seeing what fixes it. I want a full diagnosis for future reference if I ever encounter an issue again.

I ordered a D-CAN cable from Amazon a few minutes ago that will arrive tomorrow. I will be looking online to download a copy of INPA so that I can run a diagnostic and see what comes up as well as a full version of the code reader I had originally installed. I think a mechanic would give me the same information as the code reader (I'm assuming) so why take it in, if I can diagnose it myself. Also, in the future, these items will come in handy should I ever need to diagnose any other issues (Hell, I can craigslist reading codes for a few bucks).

I want this car fixed and ready to drive without issues, and I agree I need to start back from 1. Something just tells me it is fuel related (maybe the fuel filter was installed incorrectly, or it got plugged yet again). so I am going to run a fuel pressure test as soon as possible.

As usual, I will keep you guys updated because you guys have been helping me along the way and I think it is fair that you guys get closure as well as myself (and hell, for future reference from others who may experience issues)