My car has recently been throwing up the check engine light - I know what its for and I just want to reset it currently.

I usually end up going to Advance Auto, borrowing their tool and resetting it.

But I was wondering what might be a good tool to purchase if I wanted to buy one.

Everyone here talks about the Peake tool (http://www.peakeresearch.com/fcx3.htm) which retails for about 149.99

While there are a few Actron tools that go for $85 onwards. (http://www.thepartsbin.com/catalog/?...1&mk=BMW&md=M3)

Advance Auto loans out the $160 Actron and it seems to work fine.

I am wondering
a. What is special about the Peake tool that people on this board seem to prefer it.
b. Are there others that I could look at?

I used to have an old tool for my Jetta which hooked up to a laptop through a serial port - that was good enough for that car back then. Now its more difficult to find a laptop with a serial port!