Anyone here have experience with AutoEnginuity's Scan Tool and software?

Impressions?

 

I'll leave you alone on that question...

 

Whats special about it that the Scangauge2 doesn't do?

 

You need the BMW/Mini add-on to really make it useful, so it gets kind of expensive.

The add-on opens up access to a long list of sensors as well as allowing you to reset the airbag light, which most code readers won't do. I haven't tried using the scanguage to reset the airbag light yet, though.

My biggest gripe with it is that I could only get it to sync up with the car (R53) about 50% of the time, and it takes a long time to sync. I haven't tried it on the R56 yet, but I'm planning to soon.

If you're just using it to display a few basic sensor values, the scanguage is a much better approach, IMO.

I want to use ScanTool to compare pre- and post- tune sensor values on the R56 once Dimsport releases the Genius code to tune the R56.

 

terryg thanks for your reply

I was already planning on getting the BMW enhanced interface so I can get the most out of it on both my cars.

I'm a little concerned about you having sync problem with your R53 though. Did you ever contact AutoEnginuity about the problem? I think it would drive me nuts if I spent $480 and it only worked some of the time.

Also, have you tried out the SpeedTracer software that comes with it?

 

does the ScangaugeII handle the airbag reset?

 

I have the AutoEnginuity software. I have used it on several vehicles, one of which is my '03 MCS. I had no trouble hooking it up to the MINI. I did have issues trying to connect to a Chevrolet Equinox though. For some reason it would 'see' the vehicle, then loose it.

Anyway, the software is good, works well and is easy to use. The first time I hooked it up I had an issue though as I did not do one step and was forever trying to get the software to 'see' the vehicle. Once that was solved, it was a snap.

Good luck,
Mike

 

After reading their website it is a more defined method then scangauge2

 

From what I can tell, AutoEnginuity does a lot more than the ScanGauge II. Especially with the manufacturer specific enhanced interface.

However, I'm concerned with the accounts of AutoEnginuity owners (here and on MINI2) who have said they've had trouble connecting or staying connected to a vehicle. I wish they would say which version of the software they have or if they tried contacting AutoEnginuity to resolve the problem.

If I spend this much money on a scan tool I want to know it's gonna work when I need it to.

 

I've used version 5 and 6 of the software. When I contacted the company about the sporatic connection to the car, I was using version 5, and they suggested I upgrade to version 6 (of course ). I had the same issue with version 6. It takes up to 2 minutes to get connected, and then another minute or so to read all the extended sensors. But sometimes it only takes 10 seconds to get connected, which is about the same time as the ScanGauge takes.

The ScanGauge is convenient and cheap, but has no data logging capabilities. It does have the ability to access any sensor on the car via xGauge if you know what data to send to the sensor for a request. I have not been able to find any info for BMW/MINI enhanced sensor requests, though.

The AutoEnginuity ScanTool targets a completely different market, at a very different price point. It doesn't work as well as the ScanGauge for displaying gauges, but it's excellent for doing data logging to diagnose trouble codes or even as a basic device for tuning. It doesn't sample fast enough to replace a dyno, but it can help you pinpoint real world tuning issues that wouldn't show up on a dyno.

I still don't know if the ScanGauge can reset an airbag light. I guess I'll find out if I ever put a JCW steering wheel in the R53

 

I don't think it can....it doesn't even see the code for SRS issues. Eric at Helix had some software on his laptop that would. I need to ask him what it was.

 

Thanks terryg

 

Can Autoenginuity do whatever it is I need done so I can bleed the brakes on my DSC equipped car? Bentley manual says the DSC has to be put in a certain mode for that.

 

Great question... I also wanna know...

 

So I have a DSC-equipped 05 MCS that I totally swapped the brakes on, which ultimately concluded with a brake bleed. I put it in "totally up on jack stands with wheels and brakes removed" mode.
It looked like this:

Did I do something wrong?

 

I've done a full fluid swap on my car multiple times, and switched the brake lines twice, without doing anything "special" - but the Bentley manual says that you must use the BMW/MINI computer tool to put the DSC into service mode to properly flush/bleed the system - I'm assuming this is because otherwise there will be fluid (and, if you ever drain the system dry, possibly air) in the ABS/DSC unit cylinders that won't get flushed out. I'm a little paranoid that I *may* have some air in my unit, since I DID accidentally run my reservoir dry once a while back... the brakes still work well, but panic stops don't seem to engage the ABS as aggressively as they might...

 

I guess it's possible, Paul--so care should certainly be taken when bleeding (I certainly pay attention when I'm bleeding...), but I have never heard of a problem when bleeding brakes without draining the reservoir. Still, it would be nice just to know what the DSC service mode is...

 

I put my '06 in the same 'mode' when I swapped out the brake lines for SST. Then bled them as normal and all is well. Obviously IF there is some kind of DSC service mode it sure is not essential. My brakes work great, I have a nice hard pedal, and it has been to the track since the swap.

So, even if I did not do it properly..... it does not seem to matter. Also, I cannot find any reference to such a mode in the Service Manual.

 

FWIW - I now have the AutoEnginuity 7.3.1 software with the USB-based interface - and this supports putting the ABS in in the "ABS Air Bleed" mode to enable you to fully flush it out while bleeding. Tested it a while ago to ensure they had fixed a bug that was keeping it from working with the ProLine interface and it works - so I'll finally get to do my "full" bleed and see if that makes my brakes any stiffer....

I'm really liking the AutoEnginuity software - I'm having no syncing issues with the 7.x software and USB interface. Just works. And the BMW enhancements give you access to a ton of sensor values and functions you can't get with a generic scantool - screenshots of the MINI-specific stuff are here:
http://www.autoenginuity.com/ScreenC...uationList.htm
bimmerzone has the best deal I found on the package with the base software, USB interface and BMW/MINI extensions.