BMW Diagnostic Equipment Review
Electronic injection truly allows you to work wonders. The USA was the forefather of computer diagnostics. And not only to simplify troubleshooting, but to improve environmental performance. The concept is very simple - a working car has a more environmentally friendly exhaust than a car in which at least the intake air temperature sensor does not work. Although the BMW concern was not the first to get involved in the topic of computer diagnostics, it made a great contribution to its development.
At the end of the 70s of the last century, the OBD1 self-diagnosis system standard appeared in the USA, and closer to the 90s it was replaced by OBD2. And only closer to the second millennium OBD2 comes to Europe. But all these years the Bavarians did not lag behind, having developed their own diagnostic self-diagnosis protocol (ADS) and their own diagnostic software (DIS) and hardware back in the 80s.
Along with the release of the E32 body in 1987, all engine control units began to be produced with the possibility of computer diagnostics and coding, and diagnostic equipment poured into official service stations.
It all started with BMW Service-Test Sun 2013. It was a whole complex of diagnostic equipment, according to the “100 in 1” concept. I had on board: DIS, multimeter, oscilloscope, gas analyzer, power supply for charging a car battery and a printer!!!
BMW Service-Test was good, but it was still a huge closet. Therefore, in 1990, the Mobile Diagnostic Computer (MoDiC) appeared. The chief industrial designer was Dieter Wojciechowski from N+P Innovation Design GmbH.
Over time, it was replaced by MoDiC II with a similar appearance. BMW Service-Test could be used as a docking station for the first and second mod. The latest current software version for all three devices is DIS v13.
In 1992, BMW decided to update the BMW Service-Test and released the BMW DIS as a new stationary diagnostic system. The designer was the same N+P, and the guys from Siemens were responsible for production. On board there was DIS, TIS, an oscilloscope, a multimeter and a power supply for charging a car battery, but the most important thing is that now this is not a cabinet.
In 2000, it was replaced by the BMW DISPlus with almost the same appearance and functionality. The latter, in turn, turned out to be very successful; to this day you can buy copies in good condition without any problems. The latest current version of DIS v57.
Over time, computer diagnostics, coding and programming have developed so much that the small monochrome MoDiC II display is simply not enough to work comfortably with newer bodies. Therefore, in 1997, MoDiC III was released in a tablet form factor and with a huge color touch screen. This device is also marked by the introduction of a diagnostic interface in the form of a separate unit, an orange head, manufactured by Kontron. Based on the principle of client-server architecture.
The device turned out to be not the most successful. There is little information on it, and working copies are practically impossible to find on sale. Latest current version of DIS v30 software.
In 2002, the standard of diagnostic equipment, the Group Tester One complex, was released. It cannot be called MoDiC 4, since, as the name suggests, the concept of “100 functions in 1 device” is used. GT1 is designed to replace all previous diagnostic solutions.
The functionality is similar to the DISPlus station complex, and the multimeter and oscilloscope are placed in the form of a separate measuring unit. GT1 also presented an updated remote diagnostic interface, a yellow EDIC head, working copies of which can be easily buy to this day.
The production was carried out by Siemens, which, on a similar basis, produced diagnostic systems for other brands, for example, VAS 5052. The latest current version of DIS v57 software.
All further diagnostic solutions do not support old bodies, so they will not be considered.