Goodbye ENET cable, Hello ENET WiFI!

[aboulfad]

Originally Posted by BloomingtonFPV

I was able to set up the router via dhcp and read the FA in esys. My coding seemed to go OK but I got an error when I wrote the changed value to the car. At this point I chickened out and took my computer out to the garage where it worked fine via a direct connection. The car was off when I went out (I should have left the door open) so it is possible that the car went to sleep while I was trying to code the changed values in esys via the wifi.

Anyway, this seems to work in principle but I'm going to wait for it to get warmer before I try again (my flashing power supply wouldn't even power on until I warmed it up...).

Here's a trick from BMW, fasten the driver seat belt and the car/ignition will remain on. http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...4&postcount=95

If you were able to connect to the car, then you're good to go, Congrats! Given you have a PSU and maybe you intend to flash with Esys, don't do it over wifi.

[psedog]

I feel like such an idiot for not doing this sooner. I had seen this thread when you first posted it too

I taped an old router to the wall. So simple.

[aboulfad]

@psedog , the most obvious simple things stare us in the face +1 for the MB!!! R u running boot camp or a VM?
-1 for the taping, come on use a few screws

[psedog]

The router doesn't have screw holes. Trust me it was my first thought. I'm probably going to put screws above and below it and use some 5150 cord

I'm using Virtualbox. Running Windows in a window is the only way to use it.

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by psedog

The router doesn't have screw holes. Trust me it was my first thought. I'm probably going to put screws above and below it and use some 5150 cord

I'm using Virtualbox. Running Windows in a window is the only way to use it.

Does not have to be pretty to be functional, but I would just make sure router is getting enough circulation.

[packet pilot]

Originally Posted by psedog

The router doesn't have screw holes.

[psedog]

Originally Posted by packet pilot

That's how I have my phone attached to the wall next to my bed :rofl:

[tinuco]

Amazing

[jmciver]

Bringing this thread back from the dead. I thought about posting a new thread, but considering this thread was my "inspiration", it seemed appropriate to post it here...

So while I usually prefer a wired connection when using diagnostic tools like ISTA+, I still wanted to have a good wireless option when working on my car in some circumstances. After finding this thread a while ago, I knew using an old wireless router was not going work for me, and neither was physically hacking into one (although that DIY project was intriguing). Then it dawned on me that I could use some other existing hardware that I had which recently become "obsolete" - at least for me.

A few years ago I tuned my M3 using BM3, and when I did, I used their OBD WiFi Agent device and an ENET cable to connect BM3 to my car using my iPhone. I actually built my own OBD WiFi Agent device as it is just a Raspberry Pi 3B with some specialized BM3 software. BM3 recently updated their iPhone software interface so I no longer use this device. Then I thought why not reprogram it to be a wireless ENET interface. What is great about using a Pi for this purpose is that it is small and can be powered from inside the car via a USB outlet.

I am far from a programmer or Raspberry Pi computer expert. But there is a ton of info on the net about how to use them (and program them) for different tasks. After educating myself a bit on the different types of wireless routers, bridges, access points, etc. (because it matters when building a Raspberry Pi for this specific task), I came across a site that had all of the necessary info to program the Pi. Here is how I did it....

1. First you need to get yourself a Raspberry Pi (or an old BM3 WiFi OBD Agent like I used). The WiFi Agent used a Raspberry Pi 3B, but any model, including the newest model, RaspBerry Pi 4 should work.

2. Load your new Pi with the latest Pi operating system, Raspbian. It comes in several variants, but I decided to use the "Lite" variant as the additional capability of the other OS variants is not needed for this task. More info and how to initially setup the Pi and OS can be found here.

3. Once your Pi is all setup, you want to set it up as a bridged wireless access point. Most modern wireless routers have this capability built in and several other router functions. But since the Pi will be performing a very specific wireless function, which is bridging the ENET connection over a WiFi connection, the programming is important. After searching the net I found a Pi setup guide that worked for this purpose here.

4. Once your Pi has been converted into a bridged wireless access point, plug it into your car's USB port for power and plug in your ENET cable to the car and the Pi. On your laptop, connect to the Pi using the WiFi SSID and password you created and now you have a wireless ENET link between the car and your laptop using WiFi. Below is a pic of my setup in the car...



And then the obligatory garage pic showing my laptop without wires running to my car ....



I tested this configuration with my laptop using E-Sys and ISTA+ and they both connected and operated just like a wired ENET connection. I even connected my iPhone to the Pi (via WiFi) and was able to run the BM3 app, BimmerCode App and BimmerLink app - an extra bonus! There are several different model Pi's, including smaller ones. I am sure a more compact WiFi ENET device could be made using other components - I may try just for fun since none of the Pi's are expensive. There are a few companies that make wireless ENET devices now (I found one for $80), but since I already had the hardware this project was a no-brainer. But even if I didn't already have the hardware, I still would have built one since it would have been cheaper (and more fun - for me at least ).

[shawnsheridan]

I have this, and it works good:

https://www.unichip-tec.com/bmw_enet...less_esys.html

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by shawnsheridan

I have this, and it works good:

https://www.unichip-tec.com/bmw_enet...less_esys.html

Have you tried Thor Wifi Adapter from Bimmer Geeks?

[shawnsheridan]

Originally Posted by Almaretto

Have you tried Thor Wifi Adapter from Bimmer Geeks?

No, haven't tried it.

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by shawnsheridan

No, haven't tried it.

Thanks.

They reached out awhile ago about testing wifi enet, but never proceeded in sending test sample.

[aboulfad]

shawnsheridan , Almaretto hi guys, been a while, hope you are doing well.
On topic, I see many years later there's finally a compact wifi enet dongle, though it's unclear if this Thor dongle works also with ISTA, Esys,... so maybe my never released product is still ahead 😂 (which has been retired to my electronic gadget museum)

[shawnsheridan]

Originally Posted by aboulfad

shawnsheridan , Almaretto hi guys, been a while, hope you are doing well.
On topic, I see many years later there's finally a compact wifi enet dongle, though it's unclear if this Thor dongle works also with ISTA, Esys,... so maybe my never released product is still ahead 😂 (which has been retired to my electronic gadget museum)

I have not tested with ISTA, but E-Sys works fiine.

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by aboulfad

shawnsheridan , Almaretto hi guys, been a while, hope you are doing well.
On topic, I see many years later there's finally a compact wifi enet dongle, though it's unclear if this Thor dongle works also with ISTA, Esys,... so maybe my never released product is still ahead 😂 (which has been retired to my electronic gadget museum)

Yeah, but where is the fun with buying something when you can make it yourself. Making it is the REAL fun part - at least for gadget guys like some of us are .

At least the current/new wireless ENET options on the market are reasonably priced for those who don't want to go the DIY route (I also found the one linked above). After my experience with re-programming my "old" Pi for this new purpose, the tech necessary is not ground breaking, so neither should be the price to get it IMHO....

Next in my DIY diagnostic equipment list is a DIY power supply. I went into sticker shock when I saw how much they are brand new, and then how easy and cheap (and safe) the DIY route can be.

[seattleweather]

Originally Posted by aboulfad

Easiest is to configure the router in access mode if u don't use it for something else using IP static addressing.

When you connect your desktop to the routers wifi network, given DHCP is disabled, the desktop will be assigned an IP address using APIPA in the 169.254/16 range and ZGM will choose the same default IP in that range.

Or use DHCP start addr 169.254.0.10, netmask 255.255.0.0, which could be useful for more advanced stuff.

In both cases, set router static IP in that range, 169.254.0.1, or 169.254.254.254.

I tried the trick, but my's app bimmercode does not recognize the enet connection. Please help!

[seattleweather]

Originally Posted by jmciver

Bringing this thread back from the dead. I thought about posting a new thread, but considering this thread was my "inspiration", it seemed appropriate to post it here...

So while I usually prefer a wired connection when using diagnostic tools like ISTA+, I still wanted to have a good wireless option when working on my car in some circumstances. After finding this thread a while ago, I knew using an old wireless router was not going work for me, and neither was physically hacking into one (although that DIY project was intriguing). Then it dawned on me that I could use some other existing hardware that I had which recently become "obsolete" - at least for me.

A few years ago I tuned my M3 using BM3, and when I did, I used their OBD WiFi Agent device and an ENET cable to connect BM3 to my car using my iPhone. I actually built my own OBD WiFi Agent device as it is just a Raspberry Pi 3B with some specialized BM3 software. BM3 recently updated their iPhone software interface so I no longer use this device. Then I thought why not reprogram it to be a wireless ENET interface. What is great about using a Pi for this purpose is that it is small and can be powered from inside the car via a USB outlet.

I am far from a programmer or Raspberry Pi computer expert. But there is a ton of info on the net about how to use them (and program them) for different tasks. After educating myself a bit on the different types of wireless routers, bridges, access points, etc. (because it matters when building a Raspberry Pi for this specific task), I came across a site that had all of the necessary info to program the Pi. Here is how I did it....

1. First you need to get yourself a Raspberry Pi (or an old BM3 WiFi OBD Agent like I used). The WiFi Agent used a Raspberry Pi 3B, but any model, including the newest model, RaspBerry Pi 4 should work.

2. Load your new Pi with the latest Pi operating system, Raspbian. It comes in several variants, but I decided to use the "Lite" variant as the additional capability of the other OS variants is not needed for this task. More info and how to initially setup the Pi and OS can be found here.

3. Once your Pi is all setup, you want to set it up as a bridged wireless access point. Most modern wireless routers have this capability built in and several other router functions. But since the Pi will be performing a very specific wireless function, which is bridging the ENET connection over a WiFi connection, the programming is important. After searching the net I found a Pi setup guide that worked for this purpose here.

4. Once your Pi has been converted into a bridged wireless access point, plug it into your car's USB port for power and plug in your ENET cable to the car and the Pi. On your laptop, connect to the Pi using the WiFi SSID and password you created and now you have a wireless ENET link between the car and your laptop using WiFi. Below is a pic of my setup in the car...



And then the obligatory garage pic showing my laptop without wires running to my car ....



I tested this configuration with my laptop using E-Sys and ISTA+ and they both connected and operated just like a wired ENET connection. I even connected my iPhone to the Pi (via WiFi) and was able to run the BM3 app, BimmerCode App and BimmerLink app - an extra bonus! There are several different model Pi's, including smaller ones. I am sure a more compact WiFi ENET device could be made using other components - I may try just for fun since none of the Pi's are expensive. There are a few companies that make wireless ENET devices now (I found one for $80), but since I already had the hardware this project was a no-brainer. But even if I didn't already have the hardware, I still would have built one since it would have been cheaper (and more fun - for me at least ).

Can I use router, regular or ddwrt or openwrt to achieve the same thing? Thanks

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by seattleweather

Can I use router, regular or ddwrt or openwrt to achieve the same thing? Thanks

Sure, it should work as long as you can set it up as a bridged wireless access point as I mentioned in my original post.