BMW Scanner 1.4 Review: I Bought It to Add a Key to My E46 Iamcarhacker

Published: April 24, 2026 · Last updated: June 2, 2026

The BMW Scanner 1.4 (Pasoft) is a cheap Windows cable for older BMWs, E36, E38, E39, E46, E53. It reads fault codes, live data, and on many modules it reads EEPROM straight through the OBD port, no opening modules up. I bought it for one specific job: adding a second key to my E46, and it reads the immobiliser EWS data over OBD that other tools make you pull manually. The software looks ancient and it has no coding. Read on for what it actually does, the one thing it’s genuinely good at, and where it stops.

I earn from qualifying purchases and sometimes get tools for free (full disclosure). It never affects my scoring.

Personally selected by Juraj – what he likes

Affordable
Easy to use for BMWs
Supports older models

Things to consider

Limited to BMW
Outdated interface
No wireless connectivity

✗ Global OBD✓ Full system codes~ Full system live data~ Bidirectional~ Coding~ ECU programming

Service functions (5+)

ECU ResetECU Coding / ConfigImmobilizer / Key ProgrammingOdometer ReadingVIN Number

Scores

Diagnostics

6/10

Service functions

4/10

Coding

3/10

Vehicle coverage

5/10

Ease of use

6/10

UX quality

4/10

Speed

6/10

Price / value

8/10

Build quality

5/10

✅These scores come from testing on real cars, solving real problems. How I test OBD2 scanners →

Specs

Tool type	Standalone device
User level	Professional
Vehicle focus	bmw
Free updates	Not included
Subscription	Not required

Photos

Support & resources

Hardware specs	USB connection Sellers say it works only on Windows XP but worked on Windows 7 for me
Supported languages

BMW Scanner 1.46.4/10Check Price →

What it’s actually good at

The headline feature is reading EWS immobiliser data straight through the OBD port. That’s why I bought it. I had only one key for my E46 and wanted to add a second, and most tools make you physically get into the immobiliser module to pull that data. This one reads it over OBD. Into the EWS module, read data blocks, and there it is.

It also reads the rest of the car well for the money. I ran a full scan after a battery change, so it threw plenty of codes, and it clearly marks which faults are present right now (red) versus old stored ones (yellow). That present-versus-historic split is genuinely useful when you’re chasing a live problem.

You can enter any module to read and clear codes individually, and the live data updates in real time, I watched terminal status flip as I cycled the ignition. There’s also a freeze function to hold the values still while you read them.

One more handy touch: a clean VIN breakdown on the home screen with paint code, key type and the factory options list. And in the EWS you can see all key slots and disable a key, useful if you’ve lost one.

Where it falls short

It doesn’t do coding, and that caught me out at first. I thought I was editing coding functions with it, but that was actually one of the programs that comes bundled with INPA, not this tool. BMW Scanner 1.4 is for reading: fault codes, live data, EEPROM. Not for recoding modules.

It’s also clone software showing its age. Sellers say Windows XP only, though it ran fine for me on Windows 7. On install I got a “hardware faulty” error, which turned out to mean you have to be connected to both the laptop and the car before launching the software, otherwise it won’t start.

The interface is dated and bare, and it’s BMW-only with no wireless, it’s a USB cable to a laptop. None of that is a dealbreaker at this price, but it’s not a plug-and-go modern tool.

Who should buy this

Yes, buy it if:

You own an older BMW (E36 through E46, E53) and want to read EWS immobiliser data over OBD for key work without opening the module
You want cheap fault-code, live-data and EEPROM reading on an old Bimmer and don’t mind old software
You’re comfortable running it off a laptop on older Windows

No, look elsewhere if:

You want to recode or program modules, this only reads, it doesn’t write coding
You have a newer BMW, this is strictly for the older E-chassis cars
You want something wireless or modern that just works without setup quirks

How it compares

BMW Scanner 1.4

BMW ISTA (clone)

→ ISTA, the tool for newer F-series and G-series BMWs where this cable can't reach. Pasoft is strictly old-school E-chassis. The comparison shows where the line falls.

Full comparison →

BMW Scanner 1.4

BMW INPA (clone)

→ BMW INPA (clone), the other cheap E-series option, deeper on live data and freeze-frame detail. If you want broad old-BMW diagnostics rather than EEPROM-focused reads, see how they split.

Full comparison →

BMW Scanner 1.4

Launch Creader BMW

→ Launch Creader BMW, the one I'd point most people to as a go-to BMW tool: cheap, effective and simple, without the laptop-and-old-Windows hassle. The comparison shows what you give up for that ease.

Full comparison →

Still deciding rather than chasing a BMW Scanner 1.4 listing? I line up the BMW tools I’ve tested, cheap clones up to easy handhelds, in my [best OBD2 scanners for BMW] roundup. The short version: this one is a cheap specialist for reading old-BMW immobiliser and EEPROM data, but the roundup shows the easier routes if that’s not your specific need.

Final word

The BMW Scanner 1.4 is a cheap Windows cable that does one thing genuinely well: reading EWS immobiliser and EEPROM data over OBD on older BMWs, which is exactly why I bought it for a key job on my E46. It also handles fault codes and live data fine, with a clear present-versus-historic split. But it doesn’t code, the software is ancient, and it’s a laptop-only BMW specialist. If you’ve got an old Bimmer and a specific reading job like keys or EEPROM, it’s great value. For general use, an easier tool makes more sense.

BMW Scanner 1.4

a specialized tool for BMW diagnostics from older models

Check on Amazon ›AliExpress ›

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