I was looking around a few webs sites and searches and could not find an answer to this one... So I will post my question to you all...

Is there a way to find out the number of engine hours one has accumulated while motoring/driving?? On other cars I have also seen this refered to as engine time.

Thanks for the help

 

There used to be an FAQ, I believe on MINI2, that gave info on how to access some additional info from the onboard computer. I thought I had a copy of it somewhere but am not able to find it. I checked on MINI2 and it isn't there any more, or at least I can't find it there. Hopefully someone else knows what I am referrencing and can post a copy or a link.

 

I found what I was looking for but not sure if it's going to give you what you want.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faq.php?f..._obc_functions

 

I assume you are referring to what's known as a Hobbs Meter. This meter is used in aircraft to log the number of hours the Master Switch has been in the "ON" position. It differs from another type of meter known as a Tach Timer.

The Hobbs Meter only shows the number of hours the aircraft's master switch has been in the on position. Thus, it doesn't necessarily reflect the hours that the engine has actually been running, though the master switch must be in the on position for the engine to run. However, I may turn on the master switch to examine the lights of the aircraft and not have the engine running!

The Tach Timer is uniquely linked to the running of the engine at a particular "base" rpm (for aircraft engines it's usually about 2400-2500 rpms). At the base rpm, the timer runs on regular "clock time". Exceed that rpm and the timer runs faster than clock time. Running the rpms lower than the base time causes the timer to run slower than clock time. The resulting accumulated time is a better guide for predicting service intervals than Hobbs time.

MINI (BMW) have tried to simulate the concept of Tach Time in the algorithms they use to determine service interval miles as shown on our MINIs. It isn't exactly like Tach Time, but it does take into account the way we drive.

I suppose there isn't any reason why you couldn't retrofit an Hobbs Meter on your MINI. Check out AircraftSpruce's selection of Hobbs Meters. However, grafting a Tach Timer to the MINI may be a more difficult undertaking.

FWIW,

Theo

 

to answer the question: no
not even with the computers that the dealerships link up to your car wjile they are in the shop