Retrofit OBC

[Buz999]

How long does it take dealer to reprogramme?

I have been patient and eventually managed to get a cheap replacement indicator stalk to retrofit the OBC with the help of the instructions on this forum. I am aware it will need reprogramming after fitting but the dealers prices are scary! I rang my local dealer, Cotswold Hereford and they said it would be an hours labour at £99 , however they rang me back and explained the mechanic is willing to break the labour down into 5 min segments at £8.25 each. I reckon this is very fair but still need to know how long to expect as a big bill would make the installation unfeasable.
Any help/ideas are welcomed, cheers.

[DaFlake]

Anytime you are dealing with a dealer you are going to pay a high price. I would imagine that you are looking at about 15 min total.

[ONED]

They usually seem to work in multiples of half an hour!

[minicabrio]

How long does it take - 10 mins max

How long will they bill you for? Who knows.

[Buz999]

Thanks for your replies guys.
I think i will speak to the mechanic and try and book it in first thing of a morning then sit next to him in the passenger seat. This way i can see im being billed fairly and also if he is slow i can prod him with a sharp stick

[Jinkster]

I have an OBC fitted - i think (idicator stalk has computer on) but only cycles between speed and temperature.

Does anyone know if this can be fitted to show MPG, range etc? I have spoken to Sytner Mini Sheffield and they say it cannot be done.

Any ideas?

[Capsaisin]

The car has to be simply reprogrammed for the OBC to show anything other than temp and mph on the rev counter. I await the final resonse of buz999 with some interest, as in the past all dealers have refused to carry out the programming .

There was a long thread about this some time ago, and as far as I am aware, not 1 person managed to get it done.

[Buz999]

I am going into the dealers next week to order the proper wiring harness for the retrofit rather than making one up so i will doubley make sure they can reprogramme, then will let you know how i got on.

[Jinkster]

Sytner Sheffield said the car had to be programmed when it was new - however i'd like to disagree, if its missing hardware - fair enough but i think it could be a simple mouse click with the correct computer and software!!

[Buz999]

Collected the cable set (£19.95) from the dealers and they are happy to recode and enable the OBC, so it seems a simple enough task once plugged in to their machine. I would think that if you have a few of the read outs then a dealer could simply enable the missing ones.

Will read the instructions another few times and set about it tomorrow! Let you know how i get on.

[batou]

Thanks for keeping this updated Buz999, I'm very interested to see how this pans out

Both cost wise and ease of job

[Jinkster]

ditto

[Buz999]

Well my parts done, i wired it all up today!

It all went pretty well and took me just over two hours( inc tea and chat to neighbour). I followed the MINI instructions that i got off here and they were excellent. Nothing was exactly hard but it was fiddly. My first hiccup was trying to get the nearside trim off to get to the fuse holder, i broke two of the clips but no drama getting them from dealer tomorrow for 17p. My main problem was trying to read the numbers on the plugs, they are numbered but hell they are small, would recommend a magnifying glass. The only thing i am not completely happy with is the part where two wires go into one socket on the 42 pin plug next to fuses. It didn't fit as well as i would like so i am going to get a new connector and join the two wires together and then crimp them into one connector, this will ensure a perfect fit. Probably not needed but want to get it spot on before taking it to the dealer as dont want any problems when the meter is running!

Drove into town after and no nasty lights on dash, all works and no fire. Seems to go a bit better now as well, thinking it may have done it good resetting ECU whilst battery disconnected as not been done since fitting ALTA filter and PLAYMINI exhaust.

Going to dealers tomorrow for clips and will try and book it in next tuesday for recode, fingers crossed it works.

[Buz999]

ALL DONE

Finally managed to get to the dealers yesterday and its all coded and working a treat. Cotswold in Hereford were very fair, they had the car for just under an hour but only charged me 20 mins labour and even gave it a wash!

COSTS
Airbag slip ring and stalks(with computer button) off ebay £18.50 delivered.
BMW cable set £19.95
BMW coding £34.47
TOTALLING £72.92
Resale of Airbag slip ring and stalks(without computer button) on ebay £27.99 +p&p
TOTALLING £44.97

Very pleased with the outcome and got a warm glow knowing i'd done it right.

[Capsaisin]

Well done that man!! Bet Cotswold in Hereford will be busy after everyone reads that.