Diagnostics Software Information

Software for automotive systems can be difficult to locate at times and is quite often specific to individual makes and models. For better or worse there has been no community development of diagnostics software for the BMW models in general or the 650GS in particular, unlike other makes and models of motorcycles.

The PC software for the GS911 is the most developed of the systems available to owners of any of the BMW models. There can be a time lag between model release and support by the GS911, The 650GS models are well supported with read and clear fault codes, component testing and real time logging.

The GS911 WiFi takes the concept to a whole new level. It can be considered as 2 tools in one. The unit can be used in the workshop as per the older models using USB interface as well as via TCP/IP across the home WiFi network.

Out on the road the GS911 WiFi can be used in "off line" adhoc mode via the web interface from any smart phone to read and clear fault codes or use real time logging internal to the unit as a fault finding tool. The WiFi can also be configured to connect to any smart phone or tablet hot spot to take advantage of cloud based maintenance functions.

Those wanting it all out on the road with any of the GS911 models can use the PC software with a Win8 tablet.

There have been a couple of general purpose open source OBDII software projects commenced over the years but none of them have been fully developed. Freediag and pyOBD-2 are projects based on scantool.net and OBDTester.

Both tools are released under GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation

Scantool.net and OBDTester are products from commercial vendors of elm based hardware interfaces. Both are tied to the interfaces but the source code is available to modify and build a customised application from.

Both of these coud be considered as a base to build a 650GS diagnostics tool.