Free BMW program and Reset

[Silver]

Hi,

Has anybody tried out the BMW dbase at http://www.powerbits.net and also how do I reset my periodic maintenance meter?

 

[Ryan Stewart]

Is that site a joke?

What kind of car do you have, there are 2 procedures depending on what controller.

http://www.bmwe30.net/cgi-bin/datacgi/database.cgi?file=articles&report=view&ID=00042&Section=

 

[epj3]

Hi,

Has anybody tried out the BMW dbase at http://www.powerbits.net and also how do I reset my periodic maintenance meter?

hey spammer f*ck off.

If anyone wants a bmw maintenance database tool ask me and i'll make one for you in 15 minutes using php and mysql. For free!and i wont spam about it!

 

[Silver]

Thank you kind sir for your kind words.
Yes I would like to see your version of a dbase tool.

Where can I get it did you say?

 

[halfnhalf325]

dont know how to work the quote thing so

Quoted

"If anyone wants a bmw maintenance database tool ask me and i'll make one for you in 15 minutes using php and mysql. For free!and i wont spam about it!"


__________________

 

[epj3]

Thank you kind sir for your kind words.
Yes I would like to see your version of a dbase tool.

Where can I get it did you say?

I'm confused, are you trying to SELL this product that you're talking about? I'm so confused

Me -> <-my monitor

 

[Silver]

=>
I agree you are confused!!

But eeuh where is your solution? I need a good tracking tool , I thught i've found one. Do you have one or sell on ein PHP??????

 

[rjp325i]

Use a spreadsheet program such as Lotus, Excel or Quatro pro and create your own glorified log book. I did back in 1985 and I'm still using it. This way you can tailor it to your own wishes. I have a record of every tank of gas and repair/modificaion/upgrade etc. for each car owned since. As you enter the odometer read when updating fuel use it calculates when various maintenance items need to be done. You can make it as simple or complete as you wish and it is custom to you. Have fun doing it too.

 

[Silver]

can work but I expect the Access program ro be better and more powerfull to handle data, it has filters and graphical vieuws

Would you like to tell me your oppinion about it please?
What would you like to change about it

Thanks to let me know

(PS: this is not advertising but just requesting oppinions)

 

[rjp325i]

You can do whatever you want using Microsoft Office. All the programs are integrated and its up to you how detailed you want to be and whether you need graphs or not. It just takes some time on your part to do it and if it's enjoyable to you why not do it yourself. Just how much do you really need. For my own use I don't need pix, I just want to track maintenance and fuel use.

 

[Silver]

Hi,

Tx for your reply, but I would like your opionion on the download at www.powerbits.net
What are the pros and cons for you.

PS: parden my english, my mother language is flemish (Belgium)

Tx

 

[rjp325i]

The pro is: Its already done
The con is: You have to pay for something you can do yourself

 

[Silver]

Yeah offcourse but euh,

Nobody can specialise in everything, I mean take my house: I did not build it myself.
If I did I am sure I could not create it in such professional way.

Same thing for the software :

Some people can program in Access and VB like a piece of cake (or a walk in the park or wathever expression you would use).

So conclusion: To program a dbase like in the site, you would have to have 4-6 years of experience I think...

We do live in a society where we use money to buy specific Items we would not be able to make or (and also important) we do not have the time to make it.

Otherwise I would build my own BMW, Own house , catch my own fish, plant my own vegies,....

 

[rjp325i]

Just like working and modifying/improving your BMW you do the work yourself. Part of the reward for doing it is the satisfaction and enjoyment of doing it. The program in question seems to have a lot of superflous stuff that is only "bells and whistles" and of no real use. You do not need Access to do what is needed. I have it. I have Microsoft Office Pro, Corel Word Perfect suite, and Lotus. Many programs can do the same thing. In my opinion put the money into something else. On many of these type things you can do the job better yourself because you have a personal interest in it and can tailor it to your needs and not what someone else thinks you need. One does not have to program to do these things. Macros can do the job just as well if you want filters. You should know what you need. If this is what you think you need then buy it. Anybody else out there with some input? I'm happy with what I've got. Like I said earlier, this type of program is a glorified log book and you shouldn't need this much detail to know when to change oil, filters, brake flushes, etc.

 

[Silver]

I respect your reply, I realy do.
But (and I have tested the program) the features the program has, like internal scheduling and beautiful reports, filters, part logs, shop logs etc... I need them

=> Maybe they are more bells and whistles , but they do to the job too I think.

I mean estaticaly (pardon my english) I like the program too.
Hey because of design thats why I bought a BMW instead of a Ford mondeo...

I like the looks and the performance


it saves me time and gives me time and gives me a nice overvieuw of my expences and maintenances...

Time is also important to me, I have a fulltime job, Wife and kids and train for world championships after my job. So I do not have lots of time in experemanting and researching with programs, becides for 35$ I wont even bother.
35$ that wil give you about 9 liters of fuel in Belgium...

 

[rjp325i]

Then like I said earlier, go for it and enjoy it if it fits your needs. It is more than I need or want. I don't need or want reports, graphs etc. If I want them I can include it in my own database. All I want is the data in an easy to read form. I do not want to spend a lot of time entering the amount of data detail needed. To do the level of detail you want will be very time consuming especially if you have 2 or 3 cars and a dedicated track car as some do. High speed driving schools such as our BMW CCA club runs at Las Vegas Motor Speedway or the one some of our members are currently attending at Nurburgring, Germany require different upkeep. For cars that are used both on the track as well as on the street, routine time and mileage schedules are useless. This is not a research project for me, just a convenience that takes up virtually no time. I would rather spend the time doing the engine/chassis/interior or exterior upgrades desired of which I have done many. I originally made my database 17 years ago on my old 8088 processor IBM compatible computer with just 2 - 5.25 inch floppy drives and no hard drive. I have added to the "spreadsheet" over the years since computer memory has expanded immensely. It is now several megabytes. Most of the current information is stored in my head. I keep a small notebook in the glove compartment of my car in which I note whenever I fill the gas tank and how many gallons. A gas tank fillup usually occurs about every 5 days. Many maintenance items come up frequently so they are not difficult to remember. I use the "log" mostly for history and the printout of the data is useful when you sell the car. I do not know how many miles or km per year you put on your car. Here in the States 12,000 miles (over 19,000 km) per year is considered average with many of us exceeding 15,000 - 20,000 or more miles per year. Your country is small so you may not do the mileage that we do here. When I drove west from New York on our East coast to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1998 it was just over 2700 miles 1 way across 4+ days. Your English is fine. It is a lot better than my Flemish which I do not know at all.

 

[Silver]

Thanks,

Well I decided, O have bought the program, and I think I will have pleasure of it.
I do not put lots and lots of data in, but the program is simple in use so I do not have to...

Well I guess we all have our own way to log our maintenances and expences...I do not think there a wrong ways of doing it, just maybe one is more easy than the other.

I have just finished entering all my old data from my car in that program, so I am ready for the next ones.

Oh by the way , I have now a overview about my milage: it is around 10000 - 13000 Km a year.
I can believe that you guys in the states drive more milage.

But when the time comes for a new Bimmer (thats still is a long time away), I am going to buy a Diesel => Fuel is expensive here and the Diesel cars nowadays have lots of power in them..
(like me )

Well I gues we both are sticking to our ideas, a shame nobody else has anymore options or thoughts about the program (its too late I already bought one )

 

[rjp325i]

I to expected some more input. I just finished putting some edits in my previous post. High Speed driving schools are very popular among our club members so specialized upkeep is required as well as professional inspections before a car is allowed on the track. Enjoy the rest of the weekend and good luck. It has been good talking with you. Like the expression goes "different needs for different folks". Diesels are still not popular here and not very many are imported. Many have problems passing the strict emission standards imposed by some jurisdictions. Even the new generation of diesels have problems here. In the States, gasoline and diesel fuel are not priced that much different. Gasoline prices are very low here compared with Europe.

 

[Silver]

Thanks

Its been nice talking to you. I do not seem to remember by the way if you had realy tested that software. I know, I know it is not your stuff, nut , now I do have it and you seem like a serious guy, I would appreciate your oppinion...

If you have the time download it and let me know, I am curious to your thoughts.

(Be gentle , I did buy it, just kidding)

Hope to find more guys like you here on the forum.