Calia wrote, on Sat, 03 May 2014 01:33:28 +0000:

Since most BMW owners who work on their own cars use the exact
same software tools that the dealer used in 1997 to 2003, all I'm
trying to figure out is which cable will work at a good price.

Your application is pretty standard for BMW owners.

However, most older bimmer and even the beemer owners actually
used the Windows XP *serial port* INPA & GT1 cables, specifically
tethered to the venerable IBM Thinkpad T30 laptop.

So, while you're using the *same software* as the dealers used
in the late 90's and early 2000s, your laptop is likely slightly
more advanced than what the BMW dealership used up to about 2010.

Even so, you *should* be able to find a bimmer or beemer owner
who has the USB cable, since most would have used INPA, EDIABAS,
NCS, DIS, GT1, and/or Progman on Windows XP to code options, program
modules, reset functions, clear error flags, and read codes.

Maybe try alt.home.repair? Those guys know everything that goes
in a garage. (Ask them about huckleberries, for example!)