I would be interested to know how you go on with BMtechnic. Is that just the cable from the diagnostic socket to your laptop or do you get the interface and software too?
Haha I sure hope so!! :P
Yeah I'm getting a guy in work to drill and tap it for me and will probably use red locktite to make sure it doesn't vibrate loose! Had to put it all on hold this week as been chocca in work and home late most nights... Also still got a stupid noise in the engine bay and it's worrying me after investigating a multitude of things. Also snapped the hex peice off the plastic oil filter cover today whilst re-tightening it... Luckily enough it's on tight so no leaks but when I want to remove it it's going to be a bitch![]()
If I can get boost/vac gauge in the manifold I can hopefully count out a cracked intake manifold or turbo issues... Also just ordered something called 'bmtechnic' after being recommended by some guys on other forums, hopefully get some data from that that's useful!
The switch is taking a back seat for now, but I'll get to it sometime!! :P
I would be interested to know how you go on with BMtechnic. Is that just the cable from the diagnostic socket to your laptop or do you get the interface and software too?
Oct '00 E46 330i. Feb '92 525i (departed)
It's cable with a few different softwares like INPA, sssprogman etc... Just an easy set up version! (I've read horror stories - way too complicated for me!) - I'll let you know how it is... Of course you are welcome to give it a try too if you have the OBDII socket as I didn't order the round adapter (they do have one though). Looking forward to having live data back to be honest, and can compare with my boost gauge once I get it in
IN other news I had a breakthrough last night - turned a/c on and car was making a fair bit of noise and felt like it has about 3bhp! Thought this must be my issue, removed belt and drove again - unfortunately noise is still there between 1500 and 2000 revs. Thinking it must be a pulley on the main drive belt now, or possibly the alternator due to sluggishness when cold, but could be a seized pulley causing resistance too... Really wanted to have it sorted by tonight so I could order parts from ECP (31% off until tonight!) but ran out of time! Can't really take a punt on the alternator as they aint cheap! :P
Got the BMtechnic up and running and I'm very pleased with it at a bargain price! Used INPA briefly to read fault codes and see a bit of live data... I need to learn a lot before I fully understand it though :P I need to learn how to use DIS to fault find though as the car seems to idle a bit rough lately, but I know an engine mounts gone and they are vacuum activated so could be a leak there...
Also, I got my boost gauge hose connector fitted to the swirl-flap blanking plate and just had an absoliute NIGHTMARE fitting it (took a shortcut to avoid taking off the manifold) and it's not registering anything! :O I'm absolutely devistated, I don't undertand it at all. The only thing I can hope for is a snag in the vac line that leads to the gauge but other than that I am totally bewildered... This car is amazing when it's running well but it's really annoying me lately!!!