I never said that anyone should discount other tools, but everyone discounts the generic and powerful OBDII Apps. They are well worth the time and investment.

I am familiar with ISTA, INPA, GT1, BMW Scanner 1.4.0 and ........

I have over $10k in SnapOn, Autel, Launch, BMW, VW and other tools and software.

The problem is TOO MANY people, to include the Pros, bury their head in the sand and think you hook up a laptop or tool and get an answer. It is rarely this simple, but think what you want and everyone else can think what they want.

In your case of DSC and EGS modules causing driveability problems, they can, but in they would also not likely trigger a SES/CEL/MIL light, some transmission problems can and it is sometimes model and manufacturer dependent. If there is not a SES/CEL/MIL on, then a stand OBDII tool will not tell you much other than reviewing Live/Realtime data, assuming you know what to look at and how to understand the data provided.

Same holds true that a bad MAF can cause DSC and EGS lights to come on and appear to be a bigger problem than a basic MAF problem.

More advanced Pro scan tools can and will typically provide data for many of the other modules on the vehicle depending on the tool vendor and what the tool is supposed to do.

Sure it is nice to have ISTA, INPA, GT1, BMW Scanner 1.4.0 or any other software, but for under $20 per car I can put an interface in every one of my vehicles and monitor Live/Real Time OBDII data, read DTC's, Freeze Frame without having to keep a laptop with me all the time or one of my Pro tools that costs 4-5+ times what my laptop costs. I will also have a tool at hand for friends and family if in fact someone needs help and I am driving one of my vehicles.

My point is OBDII is actually VERY misunderstood and underestimated, many people do not understand what it takes to trigger the SES/CEL/MIL and what codes/errors cannot be read with a standard OBDII tool.

My smart phone is the first thing I grab even though I have PLENTY of other toys in my box.

Cool deal.

My DSC EGS module problem also showed a cel.

Do you have an iPhone? If so, what app do you use?

I have a couple different ones but would like to use the best single app so I can remember how to use it.

You want OBDFusion, for the iProducts it is $9.99, for Android is is $3.99.

For iProducts you NEED a Wifi adapter, for Android you can use the Bluetooth adapter.

iProducts adapter - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WPW6BAE/...BWNPO9BZ&psc=1

Android adapter - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WPW6BAE/...BWNPO9BZ&psc=1

So for the basic OBFusion, you are at $30 or less for iProducts and under $20 for Android. Very worth while once you find out what you can do with these Apps.

Another up and coming App is Carly for BMW, for the E53 it is a bit slow to the table with some of the features as they are working on most of the newer models, but it can read most of the modules on the vehicle and it is in a convenient smart phone or tablet form factor.

NOTE, Carly WILL NOT REPLACE OBDFusion, you will want BOTH.

If you think you want to get Carly for iProducts, you should really get the Carly interface.

You can use this discount code for the Carly Interface/Adapter.

Discount code can be added in the cart at check out for the Adapter/Interface at the ivini-tech site - E8FAKM

For users ordering an interface through Amazon UK or US, please contact Carly/ivini-tech before their adapter purchase via [email protected]. They will then receive a voucher code for Amazon directly from Carly/ivini-tech. Provide the above discount code in your email message to Support so they understand what you are requesting.

Visit the Carly web site at www.mycarly.com

The shop Website for voucher code: www.ivini-tech.de/en/

Android interfaces - Android BMW REMINDER - E46, E39, E38 etc REQUIRE USB cable option.

Apple interface - iOS BMW

Thanks for input

Hi Gents,

Sorry for being away for so long. Business trip took me 3 weeks to get back to normal. I really appreciate every bit of advice here. And as I promised, I'll be back with the fuel pressure test results and see if I can rule out the fuel pump/filter/injector issue.

Basically Actron CP7818 gave me a fairly clear reading. Priming (w/o starting) shows 42~46 PSI, upon starting 50~52 PSI steady. Tried both high and low throttle, pressure never go beyond +/- 1 PSI.

So I guess the fuel system is doing fine. I checked the codes again (Dad's been driving it while I left), and he codes still exist, same ones. :dunno:

Also, I did a quick test by disconnecting the MAF while engine running, it's fairly big idling change, so I guess MAF is still working.

Thanks again for all your help again!

Time to get Freeze Frame data, Fuel Trim values and Log the OBDII data stream. This basic information will go a long way to sorting out what is going on.

The other thing is to pull the DISA, inspect and replace the O-ring as well perform a smoke test on the intake and crankcase.

CCV hoses are common air leak areas along with cracked and leaking valve covers and intake boots.

The fuel pump may not be the current source of the problems, but it is likely 14 years old. Testing fuel pressure is only one part of the equation, fuel volume testing is also important. But I would never drive around on a 14 year old fuel pump just because it is 14 years old.

DC brush motors do not last forever.

Time to figure out what ever OBDII App you have and use it. You will find out FAR more about what is going on with the fuel management system and items can either be ruled out or ruled in as possible areas to focus on.

Thank you, sir. I'll see if I can log the data with Torque. Not sure if INPA can do that.

INPA cannot do what I need.

Torque can Log.

Torque Pro crib notes, short version - this is older info so some things may have changed in the software.

Start Torque Pro program on Droid device.

Touch the Droid Menu button.

Choose Settings in Torque Pro.

Find Units, uncheck Use CFM.

Choose Data Logging & Upload.

Select what to log, choose only things you need to log for faster logging.

Select File Logging Interval, start with 1 second unless you have only a few items to log.

Select Log When Torque Is Started.

Select Only When OBD Connected.

Unselect Automatically Log GPS, this is a time and resource waster for OBD logging.

Decide what you want to select for Rotate Log Files.

Select Format Log Files.

Enter User Email Address.

Test Settings

From Realtime Information page, select the Droid Menu, select Email Logs, select what "TrackLog" to email and it should be in the CSV format.

For O2 sensor cold start testing suggest you open Torque get BT connected, you should have everything but OBDII datastream at this point, turn key on but do not start engine until the OBDII datasteam is running.

Start engine from cold overnight rest, do not touch the throttle or drive the car. Capture at 4 minutes of data then stop gathering data.

Capture 4 minutes of warm idle in gear.

Capture 4 minutes of steady highway cruise, 45-60 MPH range on a flat road if possible. Use cruise control if possible.

Set up a DropBox Free account. DO NOT DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL THE DROPBOX SOFTWARE ON YOUR COMPUTER, IT IS BLOATWARE AND WILL CAUSE OTHER HEADACHES IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS. WHEN SETTING UP AN ACCOUNT, THEN IT ASKS YOU TO DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL THE SOFTWARE, JUST CLICK THE BACK BROWSER BUTTON.

Upload the Log files to your DropBox account. Then while in the DropBox account click on the file, choose Share, when the URL pops up, copy the URL and past it back in the forum so I can access the .CSV file. You can choose to either post the Folder URL or the individual file URL.

This will help determine how good the O2 sensors are, then move on and get Fuel Trim figures at warm idle and steady highway cruise.

Freeze Frame info is also very useful. Make sure you get all pages of Freeze Frame data.

This is even more detailed than I got from Torque technician. Thank you. Will do that during the next 2 days.