With less than a thousand miles remaining on my warranty, I will soon be on my own troubleshooting issues with my MINI. For a long time I’ve wanted an OBD code reader to read and reset check engine light issues, but I’ve also wanted the ability to view live data. So it was the right time to purchase the ScanGauge II,
It installs in seconds, plugging into the OBDII diagnostic port under the steering column (and will work just as easily in any modern car). I mounted it to the corner of my dash for easy viewing, especially of real speed. While running my GPS, I’ve noticed my MINI’s speedometers read as much as 5mph fast. The ScanGauage shows real speed and can be further corrected by percentage…I used the GPS to get it as accurate as possible. (Even without a correction factor, it still showed lower speeds, which means MINI is intentionally displaying a higher speed than it is calculating..interesting!)
It has many of the MINI’s OBC functions like live miles per gallon, overall MPG and miles till empty, and also adds gallons per hour, time remaining, and gallons remaining. It tracks all of these by day and trip as well. Most importantly, these OBC values can be calibrated by indicating the fuel pumped in your first few fillups. My MINI’s OBC was mostly useless because it would always read extremely high..sometimes 34mpg for a tank that was really just 28.
Of course there are plenty of nerdy diagnostic gauges to display live as well. Displayed above is MAP pressure (essentially a vacuum and boost guage–values over 14psi are boost) and intake temperature (see how close the intercooler gets the pressurized air down to the outside temp). It can also show RPM, voltage, spark timing, throttle percentage, engine load, loop status, and coolant temperature. It’s fun just to watch, but I’m also hoping the added data might give insight to problems such as the cold start issues with ethanol gas.
No doubt I will mostly be using the SPeedGauge as a more accurate speedometer and toy. But it will prove invaluable when I get a CEL (or for that matter, anyone I know no matter what car they drive). It is even more valuable if you have a MINI without an OBC, or navigation with no temperature gauge.
I first noticed the ScanGauge at one of my favorite stores ThinkGeek, but it is also available at at Amazon. More information is available on their website.
Very nice bit of kit. 🙂
Comment by Paul — July 11, 2007 @ 10:38 am
I concur with my namesake – nice bit of kit. Too bad it doesn’t come in the same led colour as the dials though.
Comment by another paul — July 11, 2007 @ 10:42 am
The LED backlight is actually customizable to 63 colors, however I could not get it exact to the dials” orange, but it is decently close.
Comment by Josh Wardell — July 11, 2007 @ 10:51 am
I saw your comment about warranties at MF.
I use AutoLand exclusively. We have used them on all our cars for the past 10 years.. 4Runner, 3 MINI’s, A4, 325i. Had an engine ($7500-$8000) go on my ’96 4Runner at 150,000 they paid for all but $200, not a whimper from them. I buy mine through my credit union 1st Entertainment out here in Hollyweird. Cost $16-1800 depending on mileage and length of extended period wanted. My MINI dealer offered same company’s contract for $2300.
Hope that helps. RB
Comment by twistybitz — July 11, 2007 @ 6:36 pm
Josh – I am actually curious about the aftermarket mirror stalk you appear to have on your dash. Can you say something about that. I looked through some prior posts but didn’t see any mention of it. Am I seeing things? Taylor
Comment by Taylor — July 14, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
I think that’s an AutoBahn mirror? I like my aspherical mirrors I got at Moss Motors, even though they are a tad under finished.
Comment by twistybitz — July 16, 2007 @ 9:51 am
It is a Sonus Blind Spot Mirror. It works well, I got it after a few instances where merging from an onramp I didn’t see a car in the blind spot. It takes a few days for your brain to get used to it, but by checking both mirrors you never have to turn your head to see everything.
Comment by Josh Wardell — July 16, 2007 @ 10:09 am
Josh, this is a great product. I wrote a review on it in an OBC article that I wrote some time ago.
Comment by murmini — July 18, 2007 @ 10:46 am
Cool dude… I might have to pick one of these up!
Comment by Miles — August 30, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
My personal choice for my Mini blind spot mirror was the Magnum / Hercules Safety Mirror.
Comment by Stephen — November 3, 2007 @ 7:58 am