For BMW motorcycle enthusiasts, maintaining their bikes often involves specialized tools, and diagnostic scanners are no exception. While the GS-911 has long been considered a go-to device, and the Bluedriver scan tool is popular for cars, these options can be expensive and may not be the most cost-effective for DIY maintenance, especially when alternatives exist. If you’re looking for a Bluedriver Scan Tool Alternative that won’t break the bank and still allows you to perform essential maintenance on your BMW motorcycle, you’re in the right place.
This article explores a compelling and budget-friendly bluedriver scan tool alternative centered around the MotoScan app and readily available OBD-II hardware. We’ll delve into why this setup is a smart choice, what components you need, and how it stacks up as a practical bluedriver scan tool alternative for BMW motorcycle diagnostics.
Why Look for a Bluedriver Alternative for BMW Bikes?
While Bluedriver is a reputable scan tool for cars, its functionality and value proposition shift when considering BMW motorcycles. Several reasons might lead you to seek a bluedriver scan tool alternative for your bike:
- Cost: High-end scan tools like GS-911 come with a significant price tag, often exceeding $400. Bluedriver, while more affordable than GS-911, still represents a considerable investment, especially if you primarily need it for occasional motorcycle maintenance.
- BMW Specific Functionality: While Bluedriver offers general OBD-II diagnostics, BMW motorcycles often require deeper, brand-specific capabilities for tasks like ABS brake bleeding, service resets, and fault code reading beyond basic engine codes.
- Portability and Flexibility: Some riders prefer a more flexible and less bulky diagnostic solution than dedicated handheld scanners.
For riders seeking a balance between functionality and affordability, exploring a bluedriver scan tool alternative becomes a logical step.
Introducing MotoScan: A Cost-Effective Diagnostic Solution
Enter MotoScan, an Android application designed specifically for BMW motorcycles. Combined with an OBD-II scanner and an adapter cable for older models, MotoScan provides a powerful and surprisingly affordable bluedriver scan tool alternative. This setup allows you to perform a wide range of diagnostic and maintenance tasks comparable to more expensive, dedicated tools, at a fraction of the cost.
Essential Components for Your MotoScan Setup
To utilize MotoScan as your bluedriver scan tool alternative, you’ll need three key components:
OBD-II Scanner
The heart of this system is an OBD-II scanner. It’s crucial to choose a reliable scanner to ensure proper communication with your motorcycle’s computer. A significant point of caution: the market is flooded with cheap, pirated OBD-II scanners based on early ELM327 chips. These counterfeit devices are often unreliable, inconsistent, and severely limited in functionality. Avoid these cheap scanners at all costs!
A recommended and MotoScan-approved OBD-II scanner is the OBDLink LX. While slightly more expensive than the dubious cheap options, the OBDLink LX is a legitimate, high-quality tool known for its reliability and compatibility. Priced around $50, it’s a worthwhile investment for dependable diagnostics. MotoScan also recommends the OBDLink MX+, which offers broader vehicle compatibility (including advanced protocols for Ford and GM vehicles) but is generally more expensive. The bonus? You can use the OBDLink LX in your cars as well with the manufacturer’s free app.
BMW 10-Pin Adapter Cable (For Older Models)
If your BMW motorcycle is an older model (pre-2017, approximately), it will likely have a 10-pin diagnostic connector instead of the standard OBD-II port found in newer vehicles. In this case, you’ll need a BMW 10-pin to OBD-II adapter cable to connect your OBD-II scanner.
Similar to OBD-II scanners, be wary of cheap, low-quality adapter cables, especially those from unknown Chinese manufacturers on platforms like eBay or Amazon. These cables can suffer from poor pin quality and incorrect wiring, leading to communication issues or even damage. Investing in a known, reliable cable, like the one linked in the original article (costing under $20), is a safer bet to ensure proper connectivity and avoid potential headaches. Newer BMW RT models (2017+) and likely other newer BMW bikes come with the standard OBD-II connector, eliminating the need for this adapter cable.
MotoScan App
The MotoScan app is the software powerhouse that transforms your Android device and OBD-II hardware into a capable bluedriver scan tool alternative for BMW motorcycles. Currently, MotoScan is exclusively available for Android, with no iOS version planned.
The app is free to download, and the free version allows you to test the connection with your OBD-II scanner and motorcycle. For full functionality, MotoScan offers several upgrade levels, purchased within the app. These levels unlock progressively advanced features, such as reading and resetting fault codes, service reminders, ABS brake bleeding, and more. Upgrading is flexible; you can start with a lower level and upgrade to a higher one later by paying only the price difference.
MotoScan Features and Benefits
MotoScan, as a bluedriver scan tool alternative, offers a compelling set of features, especially at its price point:
- Fault Code Diagnostics: Read and clear diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) from various BMW motorcycle systems.
- Service Resets: Reset service reminders for oil changes, brake fluid, and other maintenance intervals.
- ABS Brake Bleeding/Flushing: Perform ABS brake module bleeding procedures, crucial for maintaining optimal braking performance. (Available at Professional level and above).
- Adaptations Reset: Reset adaptation values for various engine and control systems (available at higher levels).
- Live Data Monitoring: View real-time data from sensors and systems on your motorcycle.
- Cost-Effective: Significantly cheaper than dedicated scan tools like GS-911 and potentially more feature-rich for BMW motorcycles compared to general OBD-II tools like Bluedriver in specific BMW tasks.
- Unlimited Bikes: Unlike some dedicated tools, MotoScan can be used on unlimited BMW motorcycles without additional licensing fees.
Limitations of MotoScan
While a powerful bluedriver scan tool alternative, MotoScan does have some limitations:
- ESA Calibration for Wetheads (Newer Models): Currently, MotoScan does not support Electronic Suspension Adjustment (ESA) calibration for newer, water-cooled BMW models (“wetheads”). This feature is available for older BMW models (Hexhead, Camhead). The developer is working on adding this functionality for newer bikes in the future.
- Android Only: MotoScan’s exclusive availability on Android devices might be a limitation for users who primarily use iOS devices.
Why MotoScan is a Great Bluedriver/GS-911 Alternative
For BMW motorcycle owners seeking a capable and affordable diagnostic solution, MotoScan, paired with an OBDLink LX scanner and the appropriate cable, presents a strong bluedriver scan tool alternative and a compelling alternative to the more expensive GS-911.
It provides BMW-specific diagnostic and maintenance functions at a fraction of the cost of dedicated tools. Its ease of use, combined with its expanding feature set, makes it an excellent choice for DIY enthusiasts and budget-conscious riders who want to take control of their BMW motorcycle maintenance.
Conclusion:
If you’ve been hesitant to invest in expensive diagnostic tools for your BMW motorcycle, the MotoScan setup offers a refreshing and practical bluedriver scan tool alternative. By carefully selecting your OBD-II scanner and potentially an adapter cable, and utilizing the MotoScan app, you can unlock a wealth of diagnostic and maintenance capabilities without breaking the bank. Explore the MotoScan app and compatible hardware to experience a smarter, more affordable way to care for your BMW motorcycle.
