OBD System Software Upgrade Needed to Pass MA Inspection - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

tmlesko · 3rd April 2006, 18:10

My car failed the MA emissions test Saturday due to a "communications problem with the OBD II System." . . .

I am just off the phone with the Massachusetts Emissions Dept. and their software vendor - here's what I am told by both: I must go to the dealer and have a "Factory Trained Certified OBD Tech" perform a software upgrade to version 43 or higher, then the State's inspection computers will communicate with the M5 OBD system. Let you all know how this goes.

Tom L.

gsfent · 3rd April 2006, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmlesko

My car failed the MA emissions test Saturday due to a "communications problem with the OBD II System." . . .

I am just off the phone with the Massachusetts Emissions Dept. and their software vendor - here's what I am told by both: I must go to the dealer and have a "Factory Trained Certified OBD Tech" perform a software upgrade to version 43 or higher, then the State's inspection computers will communicate with the M5 OBD system. Let you all know how this goes.

Tom L.

Doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but who knows....PM Mass. board member TCM, he has a shop and should be able to assist.
Regards,
Jerry

tmlesko · 14th September 2006, 18:01

Interesting note, just received a letter from BMW explaining a free, voluntary "Recall campaign to reprogram the OBD computer to resolve the communication problem with certain scan tools used at state inspection stations." 06E-A03

Back in June, I reset the codes with the car warm,(secpmdary air problem) did a number of on off cycles and had the car inspected at the dealer, who somehow got their computer to communicate with the OBD and pass inspection. I posted a note about this but can't find it now.

Tom Lesko

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmlesko

My car failed the MA emissions test Saturday due to a "communications problem with the OBD II System." . . .

I am just off the phone with the Massachusetts Emissions Dept. and their software vendor - here's what I am told by both: I must go to the dealer and have a "Factory Trained Certified OBD Tech" perform a software upgrade to version 43 or higher, then the State's inspection computers will communicate with the M5 OBD system. Let you all know how this goes.

Tom L.

ECB · 14th September 2006, 18:28

I just had mine inspected in NC (not at the dealer) and the tech said he couldn't get the computers to communicate on the first try but on the second attempt, it worked. I have not updated my software yet. So, maybe without the update it takes a little more effort for the communication to occur?

CHAP6868 · 14th September 2006, 18:50

that happened to me every time I went to get a sticker at a MA inspection station. So now I just take it to the dealer once a year and they dont have a problem