J2534 Passthrough interfaces
Turbo Mini Forums

Any of you guys messing with new cars? know about OBDII and canbus? Maybe work in a BMW or other Euro car dealers?

I am adding cruise control to my 07 MINI and apparently all it needs is a set of steering wheel switches and a re-program, switches are in and I am wondering if I can program it myself using a J2534 passthrugh device and the official BMW/Mini website.
(which gives you access to the BMW service software online) This is all due to a US government mandate to allow anyone access to EPA test functions on all cars.

Trouble is I am also seeing something about an optical interface on the latest Mini's and wondered if its still possible to use the OBDII interface for programming..

Terry

Edited by Turbo Tel on 1st Sep, 2008.

website:- http://www.terryhunt.co.uk

Hi,
Optical interface? Never heard of one of those before!
Has it got an OBD socket on the car or a fibre optic connector? Or have I got the wrong end of the stick?
EDIT Can you access the cruise download on the site or just EPA tests only? I would imagine the manufacturers to limit you to that alone.
Cheers,
Gsvin :)

Edited by Bat on 1st Sep, 2008.

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It has an OBDII plug and the website says that everything can be done except key/remote programming.

This will give you an idea

http://www.engstrom.net/J2534-Pass-Thru-In.../pcr-8707sd.htm

But its over $1200, I'm looking for something cheaper!!


The website for mini is

http://www.minitechinfo.com/



I may be over-analysing what I find but I also see references to an optical interface on the latest BMW/Mini stuff, (but not found it on the car yet!) this would not surprise me as in my job the CT scanners have closely followed car technology for years and the old canbus stuff we have been using for the last 15 years is now being complemented by something called "fastlink" a fiber optic version.

I have a suspicion that they have moved the programming features to the new fiber optic connection and have only the diagnostics on the OBDII

website:- http://www.terryhunt.co.uk

Hmm..

This seems to explain it..

http://www.obdtimes.com/product.php?id=111

The OPS/OPPS (optical programming system ) is how the various units in the car communicate it can also be used for rapid flashing of the firmware. Looks like regardless it can still be done via the OBDII interface..

website:- http://www.terryhunt.co.uk

the obd connection on the new minis is under the steering wheel/in the footwell yeah? on the one that i worked on not too long ago the cover on the plug was also an adaptor which had an optical interface on it.

we then just used our normal data reader to communicate with the car.

we also had a VW T4 that we fitted cruise control and our scantool (snap-on solus) did not have the function to program then cruise control and it needed to go to VW.

i would say that as long as you can get the software for it and you have an interface that will communicate with the car you will be able to do it through the usual OBDII connection.

I hope that helps but im not sure it will :S