|
Comparison: The "Basic" R5 --
vs. -- The R5/FCX-II
At $49.95, the basic R5 will not reset the Engine light,
Service-Engine-Soon or Check-Engine light, nor will it read
or reset engine trouble codes, whereas the R5/FCX-II
at $149 will do all of those in addition to resetting the
oil reminder and inspection lights lights. The advantages
are clear to both BMW owners and technicians.
The above "engine" lights are very
common and will force you into the repair shop, where a
single code-check usually runs about $100 (the difference
in price between the two tools.) In addition, while most
shops are honest, we've all had a repair bill that just
doesn't sound right. Wouldn't it be nice to have some advanced
knowledge before you go to the shop? With the R5/FCX-II,
even a caveman (Sorry Geico Caveman) can protect his wallet,
and determine the cause of an engine light, reset it, and
often avoid the inconvenience and expense of a repair shop
visit altogether!
The basic R5 is $99 less than the R5/FCX-II,
but are you actually saving $99? How many of
the following repair shop visits can you get for $99?
The $49.95 "basic"
R5 will NOT help you with any common
"Check Engine" and "Service Engine Soon" lights.
| Cause of engine light or problem: |
Basic R5
$49.95
|
R5/FCX
$149.00 |
| Service Maintenance Light |
Yes |
Yes |
| Trouble caused during an oil change (very
common) |
|
Yes |
| New (perfectly good) filters or tune-up
parts |
|
Yes |
| Loose or bad gas cap (or seal) |
|
Yes |
| Loose or bad oil cap (or seal) |
|
Yes |
| Engine over temp |
|
Yes |
| Poor quality fuel |
|
Yes |
| Topped off fuel tank |
|
Yes |
| Oxygen sensor (2~4 per car, every 30k
+/-) |
|
Yes |
| Pumping gas while engine is running |
|
Yes |
| Racing / Track Days |
|
Yes |
| Performance driving |
|
Yes |
| Hesitation |
|
Yes |
| Misfiring |
|
Yes |
| Rough idle |
|
Yes |
| High or low idle |
|
Yes |
| Hard starts (car takes a long time to
start) |
|
Yes |
| Stalling |
|
Yes |
| Poor performance |
|
Yes |
| Poor fuel economy |
|
Yes |
| Inability to pass smog |
|
Yes |
If you are serious about maintaining your BMW, and recognize
the true cost of BMW ownership, the best choice is clear;
the R5/FCX-II.
Why do we continue to make and sell the
Basic R5 if we do not recommend it? We actually do
recommend it to quick lube shops, and people who will be
owning their car for just a very short period of time.
|
The
R5 Reset tool is quite inexpensive: At $49.95, we offer
a tool that fits the specific year BMW (1982 - 1999). If you're
a lube shop technician and need coverage of most models between
82-1999, we also offer a two piece universal reset tool kit for
$67.90. See pic with adaptor. 
