A fully assembled and tested Tiny ADS Interface - compatible with BMW's original ADS adapter, and with INPA and DIS and other associated programs. No software is included.
This is a budget interface. It does come fully assembled and functional, however it has no case and is delivered as a bare circuit board with screw terminals for interfacing to the vehicle. In order to use it, you'll need to run some wires from the screw terminals on the interface to the 20 pin diagnostic port on the vehicle.
- female DB9 serial connector (COM port) to PC
- 7-pin screw terminal header to vehicle; 20-pin connector not included
- status LEDs: power, ignition, K, L, receive
- service interval reset switch
- fully compatible with INPA/DIS in ADS mode, including battery and ignition indicators; this is not a carsoft interface
- requires a "real" serial port, as does every ADS interface in existence; will not work with USB-serial adapters
- fully open source - all design files, both for current and future revisions, are and will forever be freely available
- lifetime warranty - if it ever stops working for any reason, I'll fix it for the cost of shipping
As for the 20-pin connector, the best (only?) way I've found to get them is to search ebay for "bmw 20-pin". The quality is variable and generally somewhere between "poor" and "ok" but I've never encountered one that didn't get the job done and, as I said, I don't know of any better source for them.
54 Comments
Roy King
Aug. 30, 2022, 4:27 a.m.
Hi. I am very keen to get 1 of this. Are you still making them?
Jorge
Nov. 16, 2024, 5:28 p.m.
Hello, If anyone is interested I just made a batch of Tiny ADS
DP
Sept. 29, 2022, 6:09 p.m.
So it does not appear that they are maki g these anymore. I have done a small run of the boards and order the parts to build a few units. I am wondering if there is enough interest to have a larger production run of these. I have seen a few comments in different places of people wanting them. Unfortunately the price will be much higher, like double at least and that barely covers cost. Thoughts?
Kenneth
Jan. 27, 2023, 1:17 a.m.
Ik heb wel intresse in 1 . Maar kan je mij eens prijs doorsturen ? En nog wat info ?
James
Jan. 13, 2022, 4:01 a.m.
HI ID LIKE TO PURCHASE ONE PLEASE
MaxWell
Dec. 10, 2021, 4:33 a.m.
Hi. Could I buy this device?
Martin
May 7, 2021, 3:28 p.m.
Found another source for interfaces based on TinyADS:
ADS Interface based on TinyADS
Adam
Nov. 25, 2021, 6:36 a.m.
Is this legit? Have anybody bought from them?
Mario
June 10, 2021, 1:39 p.m.
Hello!
When will Tiny ADS Interface be in stock?
Larry
April 26, 2021, 11:41 a.m.
Hi, when this item will beclme avalable ?
Thanks
Jr
April 21, 2021, 8:19 a.m.
Where can I buy this device or is it permanently unavailable
Alex7
Dec. 20, 2020, 6:24 a.m.
Hello, when this tiny ADS interface will be available? I want to buy one
Coxer
Oct. 30, 2020, 7:24 a.m.
Hello!
When will Tiny ADS Interface be in stock?
Ron Swapp
Sept. 24, 2020, 4:46 a.m.
I ordered one of your Tiny ADS interfaces with cable on eBay, order number: 20-05649-46629.
I've requested numerous times for a status update and to this date I've received nothing.
You've accepted my payment but not shipped my item and it's been almost a month.
At the time of purchase it showed item was still available.
So when can I expect to receive my item?
Gedvinas
Sept. 14, 2020, 9:14 a.m.
Hello, I have bought (paid) for Tiny ADS interface on 2020.08.20 and received confirmation. However I did not receive tracking number nor any other info. I have no money and no product. Nobody replies to emails also.
Максим
Sept. 17, 2020, 11:13 p.m.
Вы получили свой товар?
Sid
Sept. 16, 2020, 1:44 a.m.
Did you receive yours yet? I’m in need of one but don’t want to donate money to peoples bank without receiving the goods.
Gedvinas
Sept. 17, 2020, 4:38 a.m.
Nope, only received confirmation of order but no delivery info. Also no reply from seller, tried to write via ebay when there was an account of seller, also tried to contact some girl which is listed as worker in openalbs.co on facebook still only silence
Jake Barnes
Sept. 8, 2020, 3:25 a.m.
Hi, I ordered one of these well over a month ago, there was a postage label created but no further action. I haven't received any item or any word of any developments with it. What is going on?
Ivaylo Stoyanov
Sept. 8, 2020, 6 a.m.
Same thing with me. I order it on a 29 July 2020 and i'm still waiting for delivery. :/
Steven
Aug. 29, 2020, 11:30 a.m.
I have placed an order on 08/22/2020. It had been a whole week and I have never heard back from you. What is going on?
Steven
Dec. 5, 2020, 9:59 a.m.
It took a long time, and it finally arrived in December. Cheers.
Dennis
Sept. 5, 2020, 9:22 p.m.
Same here, placed order on eBay on 8/20/2020, 2+ weeks later still no response. I'm afraid something happened to the seller.
Steven
Sept. 5, 2020, 10:55 p.m.
I know he is alive because his github had a couple of commits. I wonder if it was due to the hurricane but it was also weeks ago.
Steven
Sept. 4, 2020, 8:34 a.m.
Hello?
felix remacha
April 19, 2020, 4:43 a.m.
buenos dias , compre en esta pagina una unidad para un e31 del 1991 y llevo muchas pruebas sin resultados buenos. he conseguido varias que varias funciones trabajen pero la malloria de otras no, no puedo ver motor,abs...etc, solo veo luces cierres y poco mas. Necesito ayuda.
Gabor Kasza
April 13, 2020, 9:46 a.m.
Hello! Is it compatible for E36 318 and 325 TDS vehicles with Inpa?
Connor Kearney
March 15, 2020, 4:31 p.m.
Hey,
Will this interface work with a BMW 1991 850i? It has the 15th pin populated, just want to be sure before i go ahead and buy it.
Also, is there any recommended max length for the wire used between the board and 20 pin connector? Say, if i wanted to extend it about 3 or 4 feet? maybe More?
Thanks!
benemorius
March 15, 2020, 6:16 p.m.
Yes it's right for that vehicle.
Extending the wires should be fine. I think even 10 feet would probably be ok.
Robin
Jan. 31, 2020, 2:21 a.m.
Hi,
I recently found a way to use your free-ads interface with a RS232-USB cable:
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?2419002-USB-ADS-Interface-Working!&p=30379058#post30379058
Havent tried with your tiny ADS interface, but it should work too I guess.
Denis
Jan. 26, 2020, 1:11 p.m.
Hallo BMW E32M60 Motordiagnosen
Ralf
Jan. 13, 2020, 12:46 a.m.
Hello
Will it work with 1994 e38 730?
Need help
Dec. 8, 2019, 2:58 a.m.
Hello! I bought your wonderful interface for diagnosing my E36 93goda release. Everything was fine, but one day I could not read the car ... Inpa, dis error IFh-010, any attempt to connect, the LEDs light up PWR, IGN, and the L-line flashes. Tell me what could be the problem? what details can be checked in the interface? sorry for bad English))
Marko
Aug. 13, 2019, 1:03 a.m.
Hello, will it work on an 1990 e31 850i?
Giorgio
June 10, 2019, 11:05 a.m.
Ciao ho acquistato ADS e non riesco a configurarlo su INPA mi può aiutare?
benemorius
June 26, 2019, 8:40 a.m.
I have forgotten most of what I used to know about the software half of things, so usually I send people to the place where I learned everything which is here:
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?233-Diagnostic-Software
It's a very good resource but please let me know if you find anything better and I'll pass the word along.
Martin
May 6, 2019, 11:50 p.m.
Hi.
What software can i used for connected on my e36 m3 3.0 euro 1994 ?
benemorius
May 14, 2019, 9:31 p.m.
Generally the only software you want to use with an ADS interface is either INPA or DIS which are the two that BMW wrote themselves. Most of the other softwares use some other nonstandard interface.
can not connect to the car
April 7, 2019, 6 a.m.
Good day. When connected to the car, one LED on the power supply lights up. During this period, the RX indicator blinks. And can not connect to the car.
benemorius
May 14, 2019, 9:34 p.m.
If the RX led flashes then it means some module in the car is receiving messages and is trying to respond, which probably means that the software is misconfigured if it isn't able to interpret the responses.
Jason Mikado
March 31, 2018, 8:54 a.m.
Hi ~ This interface module can work on 1992 e34 525i ?
it shipping to Taiwan ?
benemorius
March 20, 2019, 11:55 p.m.
Yes it works.
I've shipped many to Taiwan.
Reginald Finley
March 11, 2018, 6:57 p.m.
Do you still make this cable?
benemorius
March 13, 2018, 5:42 p.m.
Sure.
Reginald Finley
March 13, 2018, 9:22 p.m.
Cool, I will be purchasing one from you.
Pedro Moutinho
Feb. 9, 2018, 10:12 a.m.
hello, I made a post yesterday, and it disapeared, does this work INPA ON cars with DME 3.1? And m20?
THANK YOU
Naïm Amarsy
July 10, 2017, 5:45 a.m.
Dear Benemorius,
Thank you very much for your projects and your site.
The ADS tiny interface will definitely help me out with my 98 E36.
However, It's very annoying to pay half of the price for shipping, i.e 15$ for France in my case.
By any chance, I have other buyings to do in the US. Four very small and lightweight pieces.
Would it be possible to ship them to you and then ship them to me with the interface in the same packet please?
I would really appreciate your help.
Thank you in advance.
Cheers!
benemorius
March 13, 2018, 5:42 p.m.
I can't really do that, but there are some existing services out there that are designed to do exactly what you describe. I agree the price of shipping from USA to other countries is most frustrating. It has even gone up from $6 a few years ago to $16 now.
Mario
Dec. 7, 2016, 1:39 a.m.
Hi,
I want to ask you if there is a easy way to convert the rs 232 signal into a signal a newer Laptop can use (maybe LAN?) without losing any type of signals \ Information I am getting from my car.
Thank you
benemorius
March 13, 2018, 5:38 p.m.
Yes the data rate is very slow and you can pipe it over LAN or wifi or anything else, but the problem is that the software BMW wrote is only compatible with rs232 ports. You could write new software and then it would work.
Arthur
Nov. 10, 2016, 11:13 a.m.
Hello,
How can I track my order ?
I need to know when I will get it !!!
Thank you
benemorius
Nov. 10, 2016, 4:04 p.m.
You should have received a tracking number by email. It could have been flagged as spam. I can resend the email if you tell me your order number.
Remus Musat
Oct. 13, 2015, 2:03 a.m.
Hy, can you check my order it`s been stuck in Chicago for a while now, LN326287539US, Order ID: 1286, thank you
benemorius
Oct. 15, 2015, 7:17 a.m.
Hello. Chicago is the city where international package leave USA for the destination country, so the tracking updates pause here while the package travels overseas. Depending on the destination country, sometimes the updates resume on the USPS website or sometimes you have to get further updates from your own country's postal service instead.