K-Line cable to DCAN cable? Mod?

usifyer · Dec 24, 2022

Hello people,

I own a USB-cable for my BMW E46 year 2002, everything works fine so far incl. INPA & Co.
I will call this "Gen 1" cable in the following (because I do not know the most accurate name as everybody seems to call it differently).
Now I thought give it a try to modify the cable so that it works for the E92 year 2012.

What I found out:
My current "old" cable has PIN 7 and 8 permanently connected (soldered).

The newer BMW DCAN USB cables (I'll call this "Gen 2" cable below) seem to have PIN 7 and 8 open. I know this because there is a manual how to install a switch to make the Gen 2 cable suitable for older vehicles by connecting PIN 7 & 8 with a switch.

The question I ask myself:
Why can't it be done the other way around? I have opened my Gen 1 cable and desoldered PIN 7 and 8. Unfortunately INPA still does not recognize the E92 ... Why, where is the difference? Is the board different so that the Gen 2 cable is backward compatible but the Gen 1 cable is not forward compatible?

Thanks in advance

Bali · Dec 24, 2022

usifyer said:
INPA still does not recognize the E92

How did you test with INPA?
Did you verify with a multimeter that pins 7 and 8 are disconnected?

usifyer · Dec 24, 2022

No I verified by looking at the solder..
previously the PINs of my Gen1 K-line cable were connected like this:

After desoldering like this:

But I found out that probably the Gen 2 cables (called K+DCan) do actually support both using a PIN7/8 switch. But the old cable (Gen 1 / K-Line) I feel simply is not ready for newer cars - probably some electronics missing on the board.

Bali · Dec 24, 2022

usifyer said:
No I verified by looking at the solder..

But I found out that probably the Gen 2 cables (called K+DCan) do actually support both using a PIN7/8 switch. But the old cable (Gen 1 / K-Line) I feel simply is not ready for newer cars - probably some electronics missing on the board.

Check if pins 7 and 8 are still connected using a multimeter.

In post #1 of my software install thread, I always recommend people buy a K+DCAN cable with built-in switch to easily use on older and newer BMWs.

How to Install BMW Standard Tools

This thread describes how I install and configure BMW Standard Tools, the suite of BMW software that includes INPA, NCS Expert, WinKFP, Tool32. I have my own custom way of doing this that is the shortest and simplest steps I could figure out. This set up is for E46 only. What is needed...

www.e46fanatics.com

K+DCAN cable with a switch, for example: Amazon.com: K+DCAN Cable with Switch

I have never tried the older K-Line cable (with pin 8 disconnected) on newer generation BMWs such as E9x, but I would expect it to work fine.

Bali · Dec 24, 2022

For those unaware, hit this post for explanation of the need to have pins 7 and 8 connected for E46.
What’s the cable switch for?

usifyer · Dec 24, 2022

I guess the K+DCan cable have both, KLine and CAN - and just need to bridge PIN7+8.
But I feel, my "old" cable just simply only supports K-Line but probably simply doesnt have any CAN Chip / transceiver on the board.

Bali · Dec 24, 2022

usifyer said:
my "old" cable just simply only supports K-Line but probably simply doesnt have any CAN Chip / transceiver on the board.

No, it should work. Both cars speak the same protocols using the same serial port transceivers.

usifyer · Dec 25, 2022

So you mean to say:
my plan was right - when I use my current K-line cable and disconnect (via de-soldering) Pin 7 & 8 it should work on a E92 year 2012?
Hmmmmm

Bali · Dec 25, 2022

Yes, I would expect it to. Post a pic of the K-Line cable.

K-Line cable to DCAN cable? Mod?

How to Install BMW Standard Tools

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