1) A code scanner. Nowadays, the check engine light is how cars communicate with owners. When someone asks "the check engine light came on, what does it mean?" It means the car has detected some sort of problem and is begging you to scan it to see what's up! Scanners that support "freeze frame" data will even tell you what RPM and engine load the fault occored on. But no matter how good a Mini diagnosticial you ask for help, they'll start with "what codes did you throw?" And without the scanner, you'll just have to look back with a blank stare.
There is one other very important thing you can do with your scanner. You can see what the car THINKS is wrong, and compare it to what the repair shop says. I've seen some pretty crappy info comming back from service personnel. IF you have the codes, at least they'll know your no dip-sh*t, and the chance of getting some BS diagnostic yarn are reduced.

2) A Service manual. There are two out for the first gen new Mini, don't know about the second. The seconds are all under warranty, so it's not that big a deal, but if you do your own work, it's either a service manual, or asking the people on the boards to find your torque values.

one other thing to mention. Spend some time on realoem.com. (no www). you can see parts drawing, get part numbers, and all sorts of stuff.

Now back to your regularly scheduled threads....

Matt

 

Great post Dr. O

hope this gets stickied

 

Great post, Matt.Actually, although you can go to the site without the www, it will add it in anyway, so yes, www is indeed part of the site URL.

RealOEM has become one of my favorite websites. Love it!

 

Does not cover "Smudge". Stops at 10/2006

 

what do you want for free! Sure there's some delay before stuff gets up there, but it makes it.....

Matt

 

I have a manual and RealOEM is bookmarked. Since you're speaking of a code scanner how about offering some suggestions on preferred ones.

 

+1

 

I've got an OTC Genisys. It's a really sweet scan tool, but a bit expensive for the usual DIY mechanic. The only reason why I spent the bucks on it is because I needed it with my old job (auto/heavy equipment mechanic at a gov't motorpool). I only worked on domestics and japanese imports at that job, so I don't have the european software for it. I'm not sure if the euro software covers MINIs, but from what I've heard it covers a bunch of BMWs.

For now I just put it in "generic OBD-II" mode to get the non OEM-specific codes out of my MCS. I don't want to spend the money on euro software until I confirm that it will retrieve and reset OEM-specific codes for the MINIs.

 

the cheapest you can find. These are on sale at places like PepBoys for ~$50 every so often. They will read your codes, and allow you to reset them, but won't contain the text for the brand specific codes (over 1000 or 2000 I think).

The mid prices ones, that will do the same but with freeze frame data. These tend to be a bit more expensive (a bit over $100 or so)

Loggers. These you can use as you drive, and you can use to log data as well. There are stand alone, PCA based on run on a lap top.

There are some variations on this as well. CarChip E/X makes a little unit that does data logging (only a few channels) and can clear codes, but I don't know if it can read them. It's a nice little unit, and if you have teen agers that beat the snot out of your car, it's a stealthy little narc that can see what they really do with the gas pedal! There are high end factory and service devices that go from a couple of K to almost $20k, and can do more than you ever want. And there are some that offer BMW enhancements. This starts to get you the manufacturer specific code texts and logging of non-standard sensors.

This isn't an endorsement, just an example...
http://www.qcontinuum.org/obdgauge/

Google OBD-II and you'll get more hits than you could ever imagine!

Matt

 

I have experience with the ScanGauge2 and a generic reader, both perform the function of reading codes, giving you the code number so you can look them up, the ability to reset them, and the SG2 offers some nice features in the sense that it can "act" as gauges for a lot of things such as Intake temps, manifold pressure, etc.

I did have the Unichip Q with Flux in my R53 and loved that functionality with my Win Mobile PDA. It had the code reader built in, with a "Look up" function so I wouldn't have to reference any manuals etc.

 

scanguage II +1

 

A ScanGuage 3?


Matt

 

No Matt, can't you do math! That's ScanGuage 12! 11 + 1 = 12.

 

And here's a sweety!

http://www.drewtech.com/products/scandaq.html

Only $2500.....

Matt

 

Don't like the colour!

 

Try the Auterra...
Thanks for saying that Matt... Hope this helps to cut down on the redundant questions at this site...Type the name of the site into the url bar and then hit control/enter simultaniously...no need for www or dot com...

 

The Actron brand http://www.actron.com/ has some nice units also.

 

Yes, but my point was that Matt made it sound like the site was definitely not a www site, as though it wouldn't work if you put it in. That's why I clarified it.

 

Matt:

Interesting Post...especially for a Newbe MCSC 07 owner like me.... Are you aware of any source for 07 manuals out yet? Also front shock plates/bars?

Thanks a million for excellent post for us Mini Newbe's...

Bill