Thanks Barnabas... Actually, your answer raises two questions for me...

First, your description of a "drive cycle" -- are you saying that one has to do "all of the above" to count as a single cycle? Believe it or not, I almost never have the chance to drive continuously for 15 minutes at 40 to 60 MPH. Doing so would take me from one side of town to the other and I would have to go through a few lights! (please take a moment to feel sorry for the poor guy in the small alaskan town)

Second questions.... so what DOES the reset process reset, if not the adaptation values?

 

I believe there are different drive cycles for specific test.

 

So how do I get a GT1?
Edit: This question is dead serious I want to know what its going to take to have acess to all of my cars computer systems.

 

LOL LOTS of $$. We're talking in the thousands hehehe

 

ok so I'll put off mods I save up the cash where do I go to get one?

 

Well you'd have to talk to BMW directly. They don't like giving those stuff away, but by law they have to make it avaialble for aftermarket sales. I'm not sure if you're able to obtain it w/o an aftermarket repair shop, but you can definitely try. I looked into getting one, but wayyyy too much money and plus you'd need the software updates for the machine which you'd have to get a hold of somehow every couple months or so.

It's not worth the money in my opinion, as most things (especially the MINI) can be diagnosed by using common diagnostic skills and a OBD II code reader.

 

Well I figure if its 1k for an MTH (well awfully closef or the package I'm looking at) and this has detail diagnostics (far beyond the regular OBD tool) and I can change those **** programmable options. I figure its worth it if its under 10k, esp. since all bets are off as far as mods go after the warranty periond, I plan on having the MINI well past 500k miles, and at at least $80 an hour I can't see paying the dealer to fix it if this start acting up.
But it is a ways off before I have the $$ and I know it won't be cheap but I just wanted to make sure I could aquire it.

 

Ok from what I know, and this is straight from MINI driveline course book. During each of these scenarios it will test specific emission components.

Engine cold start, idling for about 3 mins it will check the:
secondary air system(n/a on MINI) and evap leak detectio LDP type

constant driving at 20-30mph for about 4mins, checks the:
O2 sensor response time and switching time monitored, close loop established

constant driving at 40-60mph for about 15mins, checks the:
cat efficiency (post cat o2 sensors)

decelerate to a stop, engine idling for about 5 mins, checks the:
evap leak diagnosis with engine off (DTML, n/a to MINI)

The diagnostic test is discontinued when:
engine speed exceed 3000rpm
large fluctation in throttle angle (lots of throttle variations)
vehicle speed exceeding 60mph

Now once a drive cycle starts, it resumes where it last left off. For example, if you get to constant cruising of 20-30mph and your o2 sensors are checked, but you never drive enough to get through the next test (40-60mph), it'll resume whenever you get to the parameters of that test. So if you drive in the city all the time, you may never complete the whole drive cycle, and not get to test other parts of the emission components.

Hope this answers some of your questions

EDIT: I was taught that a completion of all these tests is 1 drive cycle. Please feel free to add anything 002!

 

Just like all things, if you got the money you can get whatever you want!
What is this MTH diagnostic tool you mention? I'm intrigued by it...depending on what it can do.

Honestly the GT1 can only do so much, and with a car like the MINI w/ minimal control modules, GT1 isn't all that necessary. It certaintly helps, but nothing that couldn't be done w/ a decent scan tool and the good ol' noggin. Too much reliance on the GT1 can lead to false diagnosis

 

The gt1's are about 10k for the basic diagnostic and coding. There is a pc version (rumor is it's $2500) from carsoft, but I haven't been able to get a response through email or phone. I actually left a measage saying how much and when. I suspect they are having legal issues. some after market stuff should come out eventually, but getting updated programming will still be hard.

The up side is that the mini has very few modules compared to others. Knowledge of the system and bulletins will get you pretty far with this car.

 

Mth is just a flash not diagnostic.

 

whew $10K? lol I figured about $8k...

Yeah, imagine trying to diagnose intermitten MOST or byteflight problem w/o a GT1! oiy...my worst nightmare....

 

Its more tunning oriented than diagnostic, though I certainly hope it can do that too. Its a german based company that has software and a cable that lets you do complete engine management, with common profiles and from what I understand you can go back and adjust the details to fit your car and driving style. So far seems like the best thing out there, the price has increased almost exponetally over time and the just canged their webpage so I can't find what I was originally looking at. they are a vendor here on NAM and they have a support section, seems like the best (and most reliable) ECU tuner out there though.
True, as will reliance on any one tool. I thought the GT1 also had full control of all the car's systems so I could change everything from the engine mapping to the follow me home lights and everything in between, I didn't realize it was just a hopped up diagnostics tool.

 

Can't you set the parameters and do the flash at home and fine tune the car though?

 

I thought it was just a preset tuning file that you upload to your DME? You tell them what mods you have and they send you a file with the remap and you upload it. Don't know if they actually released a fully programmable software on the user-end.

Yeah GT1 can't change any remaps or anything like that. Those are reserved for the FSEs GT1 can do programmable functions like follow me home lights, auto locking etc, and it's a pretty neat tool. But definitely not a "tuner" tool

 

Ugh, so if I want 1 tool to handle all of the computer systems I gotta come up with my own? Well I guess it'll be cheaper but its going to take a lot more learning. At least I'm getting themyths despelled.

 

Yes you can set all your features, but not tune your car with it. You ca reprogramme all the modules, but you can't write the code. There are also mini specific fault codes and the ability to test and activcate components. It would be great to have one.

Barnabas, the 10k is for an aftermarket version (probably the same manufacturer) It's more like 20k with all the measuring systems. The break out boxes may be worth while, but I haven't checked the cost yet. Those and some "relay bobs" would make life easier.

 

I thought I had seen someone who did this but guess it was anther program/tool. Now I have to start ECU software research and my shift light project is already on hold. This is going to be a long love affair with the MINI.

 

Oh yeah the bobs would be pretty sweet. That is really all you need. BOB and a dvom So what's the dealership stance on letting a tech purchase factory tools for his personal use?

and $20k for gt1 with trolley??! Eek! Might as well just get a Modus for that money! lol nowhere as close to functionality but still decent enough to get things done

 

So anyone know when we're going to see an '05 Bently Manual? Help sort out just where all those wires go. And I think I'm going to need to do more reading up on computer programming.

 

you and me both! hehe There is a stand alone ECU you can get..FULLY programmable but it's alot of work to set up and program everything. But it's definetely worth it since there isn't currently an option to program the DME with user created maps.
http://www.vems.hu/
Unless MTH tells us their secret. hehe

Oh I get rest of my parts for my shiftlight tomorrow! Hopefully I can get it working tomorrow. Project's been going on for too long

 

I have had no problem buying tools before or after I became a tech. As far as I know, anyone can get tools at the parts counter. The hard part will be finding a parts guy that is willing to look up tool/part numbers if you don't have them whe you go in. The bently has the bmw tool numbers at the begining of each section.

 

ugh, is this a universal thing? Are all parts guys just lazy or something?? Every parts person I've known do not want to do anything!

 

VEMS bookmarked, I feel the eyelids slipping. Let me know when its done, I'd love to slip down to Orlando and check it out, I have mine pretty well planned out, but have no $ right now so it'll be May before I jave the time and cash flow to let me make it, by then hopefully I will have decided wether or not I'm going to do the oil temp redline too. ya know if we figure out how to control the ECU 100% we could be sitting on a gold mine, with all the tuners out there.

 

That reminds me I need to look up the tool # for a paper clip, I've been meaning to see what BMW charges.
It's true the tool for aiming the windscreen washers.