Anyone that wants to code an R53 Steering Angle Sensor needs to watch this YouTube video. This Swaben Pro scantool from ECS Tuning will temporarily turn off the dash lights for DSC & TPMS but, when I asked the sales rep.(prior to purchase ) if this scantool will code an R53 Mini Cooper , his answer was a definite yes…

You Tube

 

That Schwaben model (if identical to the one shown) is at least 6 yrs old technology based on date of the linked YouTube video. I bought the similar (perhaps identical functionally) Foxwell NT510 scan tool Nov 2021 on Amazon and wasn't much impressed. Good basic info displayed, however it seems limited on ability to detect and clear some fault codes. For example, my buddy's 2006 R53 JCW Checkmate had a faulty radiator fan (significant rotational resistance blowing 50A fan control fuses) which created a CEL that Foxwell couldn't detect. OTOH, my OBDLink MX+ bluetooth scan tool quickly identified the code (allowing look-up in my Bentley manual) and successfully cleared that, after which the faulty fan was replaced. I now carry the Foxwell, OBDLink dongle and Android tablet in my R53.

 

Mine is a Swaben Pro model but, curious where did you get the OBDLink dongle from? Thanks

 

I bought the MX+ model on Amazon
Or you choose that or other models on Amazon or direct at same price: OBDLink

 

I think they were confused, sorry about that, it will not code. Only a couple select older modules on the BMW side it can recode if new are bought. I use the schwaben tool all the time on my 2 MINI, save me tones of Money and [pretty in-depth (acron aka autozone one i had is horrible and is really only good from OBD2) . For coding you have to use hack software or something like NCS expert (all over the forums) to do so.

 

I appreciate your honesty on this subject , it’s too bad that I was misled by one of ECS sales staff, when inquiring about the coding issue prior to purchase. Oh Well. Thanks

 

To be fair though, unlikely any of the lower cost consumer grade scan tools will "code". Instead, finding and clearing fault codes is their primary purpose as was my objectives. Also agreed, NCS Expert or similar would be required, along with a knowledgeable if not "expert" user behind the coding controls. I still have the former on my laptop used when Adrian tuned my R53, however no time subsequently to learn how to use that software as several others here have done.

 

I didn’t think the SAS required coding? Isn’t it just calibration with INPA?

 

Unsure of the terminology used but, I thought it was calibration after an alignment but, replacement of a “new” SAS would be coding to the car .

 

Nope, you're right. It does say coding necessary in the manual. Time to break out NCS Expert like others said.