If you want to have greater control over your BMW 7 and save more money on maintenance you’ve made it to the right place. We’ll introduce you to a small yet powerful tool that every car owner needs: an OBD scanner!
With an OBD2 code reader, you will finally know at all times what is going on with your car. And depending on the OBD reader that you get, you can even:
- Make your car more unique through car coding
- Read real-time data
- Avoid costly repairs by performing diagnostics
- Perform your own basic service
- Detect vehicle fraud
The best part is that you can get your OBD2 scanner for your BMW 7 for an affordable price and avoid relying on workshops at all times! Now let’s dive into it to understand what is an OBD2 scanner and everything you can do with it.
What is an OBD2 scanner?
OBD refers to onboard diagnostics. An OBD2 scanner (also called a diagnostic scanner or OBD reader is a car diagnostic device that can be used to read the error memory and data that is recorded on your vehicle systems.
Basically, an OBD scanner allows you to establish a connection between your BMW 7 and a mobile application or diagnostic software. Once the connection is established, if you are using a mobile application, you can quickly and easily access all of your car’s information from your smartphone!
In addition, if you do not own an OBD2 reader for your BMW 7, you can do diagnostics for your vehicle at a mechanic workshop for a fee.
Mechanics usually use a handheld device, advanced scanners, or OBD cables with a computer. But usually, these tools are more complex to use and are expensive.
So, for beginners and even professionals, OBD2 scanners are the most convenient out of all, since they are:
- Pocket-sized (unlike handheld scanners or heavy OBD cables)
- Easy to use
- No additional diagnostic equipment (ex. computer software, cables)
- Let you do more than just diagnostics
Now that you have an overview of what an OBD2 scanner is, let’s show you what you can do with it and how it can help you get more control over your car.
How does an OBD2 scanner for your BMW 7 work?
Every modern vehicle has a ‘fault memory’. This memory is responsible for storing technical defects or any trouble code that arises in your BMW 7.
So with an OBD2 scanner, you can access the data stored in the fault memory, and read out the fault codes in order to correct them.
A common misconception is that all fault codes are bad. But it is quite normal that cars have errors.
Furthermore, there are codes that vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but having them present is normal. There are only a handful of error codes that can lead to serious issues.
The most severe ones are engine codes since the engine is one of the main systems of a vehicle and repairs are usually costly. For example, of a trouble code related to the engine is the check engine light. However, if you perform your own car diagnostics on a monthly basis you can easily save money on car maintenance and repairs.
How can I read my BMW 7 error codes with an OBD2 scanner?
fault codes can be easily read out using an OBD reader and its corresponding app. The error codes will then be displayed on your smartphone screen and you will be able to clear them as well.
In the case of the Carly app, you will also get all the code definitions for every fault and get deeper insights into what they mean.
If you use an OBD2 scanner often and carry your own diagnostics every 2 months, you can save thousands of dollars per year on car repairs.
What can an OBD reader tell you about your BMW 7?
With an OBD2 scanner, you can read out a lot of data. However, the type of data will depend on the OBD2 reader and mobile app that you are using.
The most common data that OBD reader let you read are:
– Diagnostics (fault codes) and/or
– Real-time data
There are some readers that only provide this data related to the engine. This feature is usually called “OBD level diagnostics”. So for example, will only read out engine-related codes such as the check engine light.
However, there are other OBD readers that let your read data for every system of your car, and not just about the engine. This feature is called “Manufacturer-level diagnostics”. So for example, you will be able to read fault codes related to other critical systems of your BMW 7 such as ABS, airbag, transmissions, and more!
Moreover, other OBD readers let you do more than just reading out data. For example, you can customize your car through car coding, perform basic maintenance repairs, and detect car scams.
What does the Carly OBD2 Bluetooth reader and app do?
The Carly app allows you to get a lot out of your car for little money by reading out the data transferred via the OBD scanners.
And in many ways, the Carly Universal Adapter is unlike other OBD2 readers. This is because, besides diagnostics, you can access many other features that are typically only included in a high end or expensive scanner.
Perform a used car check on your BMW 7
For example, the ‘used car check’ feature is always helpful if you want to get a used BMW and want to check if you are not being scammed with mileage fraud. So, with Carly, you can really look under the hood and get a better feeling for the condition of the vehicle, avoiding negative surprises.
Try car coding on your BMW 7
Moreover, with the car coding feature, you can personalize your BMW and make it more unique using your Carly scanner and your phone. You can code the welcome lights, deactivate the start-stop function, and more! With Carly, time-consuming (and expensive) workshop visits are a thing of the past.
Professional insights on your BMW 7
Another extremely valuable feature that that Carly gives you is Smart Mechanic. You can get deep information about your BMW written by expert mechanics. For example:
- Professional fault code description written by expert BMW mechanics
- Direct access to original plans of components, just like the ones used in the workshop
- Detailed repair tips to find the cause of faults and fix them yourself
With this feature, you will really have more control of your vehicle than ever and get independence from car mechanics.
Do your own car maintenance on your BMW 7
With the car maintenance function, you can carry out basic repairs yourself that usually, mechanics can charge you (a lot) for. For example, carrying out a vehicle battery reset is easy if you have the proper guide to follow! And with Carly, this is possible.
Usually, only a professional automotive scanner that costs over $3,000 would include all of these advanced funtionalities. So the Carly OBD2 scanner is much more affordable than the professional scanners that car technicians use.
OBD vs. OBD2
The OBD2 interface is used in newer cars and was introduced in Europe in 2001 and 2004 to have a standard system for cars. In essence serves as an interface between the ECUs of a vehicle and the diagnostic device. However, there is a big difference between OBD and OBD2.
Beofre, only certain diagnostic devices could be used for certain cars. For example, an OBD code reader from BMW only worked with BMWs, because each car brand had a different connection. However, this made it difficult for workshops to make diagnoses for several car brands.
Later, the OBD2 connector was actually introduced in 1996 to standardize the system. Now, with the same OBD2 scanner you can access many different car brands.
How do I know if my car is OBD2 compliant?
Most OBD2 readers can only be used with cars built-in 2001 or later (gas/petrol) or 2004 or later (diesel).
If you have a car from 1996 or earlier, you will need a special extension to use the OBD2 reader.
In the case of the Carly OBD2 scanner, it can be used with most car brands and the majority of vehicles manufactured from 2001 onwards. So, for example, if you own a BMW and a Volkswagen in your garage that was built after 2001 and 2004 respectively, you only need one OBD2 reader instead of two!
Where is the OBD interface located?
The OBD interface, or OBD port, is tipically located under the steering wheel. Butthis varies depending on the car manufacturer.
In older vehicles, the OBD port can also be found in the trunk or near the handbrake. Once you have found the port, you can easily plug the OBD2 reader in and the connection between the vehicle and the diagnostic device will be established.
After that, the error memory can be read out and the different errors will be displayed on your screen.
Can you drive with an OBD reader plugged in?
Yes! It is safe to leave your reader plugged into your car’s OBD port. With other tools such as handheld scanners, you don’t have the option of leaving it plugged into your vehicle.
Which OBD reader is the best?
Value for price
The best scanner tool is the one that lets you access the most features, with accuracy, and at a great price. Some OBD2 scanners only focus on diagnostics, whereas others also include additional features such as car coding and real-time data.
Equipment and Bluetooth
Some OBD2 scanners need additional equipment, such as cables or a computer to run the diagnostics software. However, the best option is to get a wireless OBD2 scanner that can connect to your phone over Bluetooth.
Compatibility with your BMW 7 and phone
This brings us to the next point for choosing your OBD2 scanner! Make sure that the scanner and app that you get are compatible with your smartphone. Some diagnostic scanner apps might only be compatible with Android or Apple devices.
Additionally, ensure that your BMW 7 is also compatible with the scanner since some are only compatible with limited car brands.
Warranty of the OBD2 reader
Finally, one last point to consider is the warranty that is included in your purchase. It is very common for most OBD2 scanners to include a short 1 to 3-year warranty. However, OBD2 readers are meant to last longer than that, so you should get a lifetime warranty.