Ducati Monster Forum

From my friend:

Hello Motorheads,
This came to my attention from Bavarian Auto (BMW) Parts website.  The public comment period is ending very soon... April 30!
Immediate action is required if you want to try and stop this from happening.  Please click on the link below and it will bring you to an article discussing the proposed regulations and also a link to a petition opposing them.  I've signed it.  Please consider doing the same and forwarding this to friends who you think are concerned about this issue.

http://blog.bavauto.com/16530/ (http://blog.bavauto.com/16530/)

Please sign and pass along.

Not only for BMW, ALL manufacturers are thinking of the same . . .   :-\

Yep, being handled by lobbyists. 

Signed.  Thanks Howie.

I'm in too.

People need to watch Logans Run. Traveling in tubes is the future.

here and now...

As I read this, it sounds like the question is related to IP?

If so, isn't that absurd?  Otherwise, how could PC repair shops function?

Some more detail on the issue below.  Basically, they are saying that the software/ECU are proprietary and that messing with that would violate digital rights laws.  This could go many ways, so I wouldn't sound the alarm bell yet.  But long term (i.e. by the time I'm DP's or Howie's age) I figure we tinkers are doomed regardless of how this specific symphony plays out.


http://jalopnik.com/carmakers-want-to-make-working-on-your-car-illegal-beca-1699132210 (http://jalopnik.com/carmakers-want-to-make-working-on-your-car-illegal-beca-1699132210)

I open the hood on anything older that a MY 2K and don't even know what I'm looking at. I swear my '08 mF-150 had no spark plugs. I didn't own it long enough to have look for them.

If you lay underneath them you can recognize the drain plugs and oil filters.

The immediate effect would be cost to aftermarket scan tool manufacturers and service publications would make it impossible for private shops or owners to perform even simple repairs. 

This to me starts getting into anit-trust/monopoly laws.  If ONLY a Chevrolet dealer can work on your Chevrolet, then they can charge whatever and push prices way up since there would be no competition from the independent shops for new cars.

JM

Nah.  The counterargument is that if Chevy pushes up prices, Ford (or Honda or VW) can keep them low, thereby incentivizes people to buy Fords.  Competition is maintained.  No monopoly threat.

The article I posted seemed to suggest that independent shops will be okay (though I bet they'll have to pay more for proper diagnostic tools) and that the legislated had the support of some aftermarket supply association(s?).

The discussion in this thread is getting close to our line.

That is not to say it's not an important discussion.

I didn't understand what you mean 'close to our line'?

NO POLITICS!!!


 ;D

I remember sitting on the fender with my bare feet dangling in the engine compartment while my dad adjusted the valves - WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. I learned not to get my feet too close to the exhaust pipes and not to touch the sparkplug wires...BTDT took on real meaning to me!!!
You toss a dime in the engine compartment on today's car and you'll never see the dime again.

^ truth

For almost 20 years, the only company making EFI was Bosch.

Right now, all common rail diesel is licensed from Benz

There are far more monopolies than are visible.

. . . being the first one to use it, MB . . . now, since that PDF was in my now defunct laptop, I cannot prove myself right . . .  [bang]

Too bad we don't discuss that here...

[bites tongue]counselor. :-*

Just a thought I had:

*IF* the manufacturers are successful in patenting their technology and claiming a 'life long right to use' their product, then I suggest the following addition to that bill: 

Make the manufacturer completely responsible for the recycling and ecological disposal of that entire vehicle once that 'life long right to use' has expired (either due to a crash or being worn out or replaced after 'X' # of years).

Thoughts on that?

The effort would die at the blastula stage.

That's coz of the freaking plastic at the bottom that eats them all :-p

But its amazing where things have gone. A few months ago I popped the hood of my woman's 2013 puegot, and I couldn't tell where the engine started and ended  [roll]
granted it's a 3 cylinder POS and the hood is barely a foot long, but I was still expecting to see the engine head, plugs and exhaust manifolds.... nothing!  [bang]

C's Jetta TDI is the same way.  I can at least find the dipstick.

JM

Many new cars don't have a dipstick any more.

Behind the wheel, maybe.

What?

Really?

 [laugh]

107?

Yep.  Oil level sensor in pan.  Computer figures out average oil level.  You can view it any time you want.  Light comes on when you need a quart/liter. 

i like it, but why would i want to lose the dipstick option?  so ridiculous.

That is one sensor that I would not want to rely on.

JM

you too huh?

Funny hearing this from a lawyer.  ;)

We took the ATF dipstick off some of our engines ~ 1996 because the clients were failing to read the manual (such a shock  ;D) and overfilling the trans = engine fires.

Reason for the dipstick removal must be similar. The one in my old beater Benz wagon works reasonably and the sensor must sense oil quality pretty well too, as when I add a fresh quart, it resets the service interval a bit longer. Who'd-a-thunket!  ;)

Yep on the overfill.


The hole for the dipstick is there.  Bought one ;D

Well, maybe we should have two classes of cars then -- one for people who don';t know their ass from a hole in the ground, and another for people who understand you can't put 10 lbs of shit into a 5 lb bag.

;D

After 40+ years in the biz, from observation that latter class is < 5%.

If we'd had a liquor license, maybe I could have chained them to the big TV playing the intro video.  8) Of course, THEN we couldn't let them drive home!  ;)

That also got to be a drag at a tent we used to have annually for our "nearest and dearest". Somehow never got sued though...
No longer an issue as the ticket prices became obscene ~ 2006 and the event degenerated into a drunken brawl.  :)
http://www.farhillsrace.org/ (http://www.farhillsrace.org/) and... http://njmonthly.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Far_Hills_Race.jpg (http://njmonthly.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Far_Hills_Race.jpg)