ECS News

Automotive electrical work demands patience, knowledge, & above all else, the correct tools. European car owners oftentimes find themselves using ineffective, dangerous, & cumbersome methods when repairing or replacing wiring harness connectors. Schwaben's latest release, the European Car Electrical Terminal Tool Kit, gives enthusiasts the exact tools required for bullet connectors, common ABS sensor and power connectors, trailer light plugs, and more. Extend harness life, ensure proper diagnostic equipment connectivity, and preserve wiring harness life with this superb release.

Have you ever had that moment when your brake pedal all of the sudden gets very soft making it hard to brake properly? Then a blown out brake line may have been your problem. The remedy for this is replacing the line which many people will take to the shop and pay a lot of extra money for something that is much easier than you may think. Schwaben has the tools needed to do so, the cutting tool will make a clean rounded cut on the line, while the bubble flare tool helps create the perfect seal so you can be on your way.

Wanting to go for a ride but you don’t want to pack the bikes inside? Hitch em up! Perfect for the bike enthusiast or recreational rider, the 1.25" SplitRail can accommodate 2 bikes, while the 2" model can handle 2, 3, or 4 bikes. Each strut is engineered with 4" of side-to-side adjustment, which makes fitting anything from kids to adult bikes simple and easy, and no tools are required to install/remove the rack from vehicle. Easily accessible release handle allows the SplitRail to be positioned into stow, use, and tilt positions.

ECS Tuning is now supplying the excellent ECS Tuning Mechanic's Gloves for our dedicated following of DIY enthusiasts. Featuring a tailored elastic cuff and textured latex palms and finger tips, these work gloves are also breathable and comfortable with their knit top. Choose from Medium, Large, and Extra Large sizes. The Schwaben Folding Ground Pad is made from comfortable high density foam that will keep you off the hard garage floor. The heavy-duty covering resists oils and other fluids keeping it usable for weekends to come. Say NO to laying on cardboard forever!

Because of their location lower towards the ground, your R56/R57 MINI fog lights are likely scuffed, weathered, or even cracked. Instead of replacing the units with expensive OEM units, ECS offers a much wiser solution with MINI Depo Front Fog Lights. The Depo fog lights include the top portion position light and all necessary brackets required to mount them behind the bumper.

The Schwaben 6 & 6.5L Fluid Extractor/Filler Systems make changing oil, ATF, or any type of fluid easy and mess free. These easy to use tools are undoubtedly the best Extractor/Fillers available on the market today. Easily change to pump in or out with the flip of a lever, and use the extendable foot step for stability while pumping. All of the included adapters mount on the tank for convenient storage. Both pumps are manually operated, requiring zero electricity or air pressure to operate, and also feature a pressure/vacuum gauge for easy monitoring to prevent overpumping.

The specialty tool experts at Schwaben have released a series of superbly engineered, exceptionally reliable car ramps, ramp extensions, wheel stands, & wheel chocks - now available from ECS tuning. 30" to 67" Low Profile Car Ramps are specially made to accommodate vehicles with low bumper clearance, eliminating the risk of body damage & sliding ramps. Schwaben Wheel Stands feature a cradled wheel support for superior stability compared to jack stands, supporting up to 3000 lbs. And when lifting your vehicle or placing it on an incline, Wheel Chocks are a wise investment.

Check out some of our new releases from last month for MINI.

There are tools that any serious technician will regard as essential to their work - tools that make so many projects faster and simpler that access to a quality set is critical. Schwaben Specialty Tools recognized the need for better designed, more fully-featured puller tool kits; this variety of tool is so frequently used across such a wide variety of projects, mechanics deserve the best engineered product possible. Schwaben Pry Bar and Twin-Arm Puller Kits are highly adjustable, exceptionally durable sets of some of the most versatile tools in any home or professional garage.

Automotive electrical work demands patience, knowledge, & above all else, the correct tools. European car owners oftentimes find themselves using ineffective, dangerous, & cumbersome methods when attending to electrical issues - Schwaben Tools has developed all the right solutions for these common problems. Offering 2 or 4 amp charging, LED setting indicators, and a reverse polarity warning, the Automatic Battery Charger is a highlight of this Schwaben release. The 12 Ft 6-Gauge Booster Cables are also offered, while the Coiled Cord Circuit Tester is ideal 6 to 24 volt systems.

Produced and bottled exclusively in North Bay, California, Torque sells just one product: the best racing brake fluid on the market! Torque R700 Brake Fluid is the highest density brake fluid on the planet, protecting your braking system components from heat and corrosion with a boiling point of an incredible 683 degrees Fahrenheit! Also, take advantage of the best brake bleeding and filling system available! The Schwaben Level 3 Racing Brake Fluid Flush Kit includes the European Pressure Bleeder & Catch Bottles, a Schwaben Bleeder Wrench, and 1 liter of RT700 fluid.

No more pinched fingers or dropped tools - the one-hand operation Schwaben Euro Locking Pliers can be unlocked with your lower finger while maintaining grip. Included are 7" Straight Jaw Locking Pliers, 7" Curved Jaw Locking Pliers, and 6" Needle Nose Locking Pliers. Remove exhaust pipe hangers in seconds with the specially designed Schwaben Tool. Ear-Type Clamp Pliers are also available. Remove and install clamps found on CV joints, hoses, and some fuel filters. Use with a torque wrench for stainless steel clamps and extended functionality.

Now available through ECS Tuning, browse through the stunning catalog of 18" and 17" Genuine MINI and NM Wheels for your MINI R57 Convertible. Achieve an aggressive race look with the 12-spoke classic mesh design of the NM RSe12, or a clean traditional look with the 5-spoke RSe52. ECS also offers a superbly matched wheel and tire set from legendary MINI tuner JCW. The 18-inch JCW Ronal Wheels are finished in Matte Black and wrapped with Pirelli P Zero asymmetrical Run Flat High performance tires. The combination offers fitment, quality, and performance only possible through JCW.

Spacers for your racer. ECS Tuning lets you tweak your stance - or swagger down the road with a 20mm monster offset. Engineered and tested in-house to fit your MINI perfectly. Choose from our huge inventory of hub centric spacers in thicknesses sure to match your car, your wheels, and your shopping budget. All ECS MINI spacers are aluminum, and are black anodized for corrosion protection. Kits come with correct-length black lug bolts for a complete package.

Achieving that show-room shine for your paint and interior surfaces requires patience and care - thorough cleaning and detailing can elevate a car to the next level. Three innovative car protection solutions from ECS give you the peace of mind that your body and interior are safe from accidental scratching, scuffing, weathering, and debris. The ECS Mechanics Seat Protector Cover is made of full-bound, padded vinyl and resists most acids, grease, dirt and grime. Keep your fender cover in place and protect your finish with the convenient and stylish ECS Magnetic Fender Covers.

There are several critical automotive projects that require pulling fluid lines – these jobs oftentimes end in an unnecessary mess from using inadequate tools and procedures. The tool experts at Schwaben have developed the highly convenient Fluid Stopper Kit for this reason, allowing you to properly clamp any fluid hoses and avoid messes or fluid losses. Additionally, the clamps offer a temporary seal, meaning you will not compromise any lines for later use. Address all common hard lines, including fuel lines, brake lines, and banjo connections.

The easy to use Schwaben Bleeding Products allow you to bleed and flush your fluid systems with the convenience and accuracy of a professional. The line of fully-loaded pressure bleeders are undoubtedly the best-performing products of their kind available on the market today. Schwaben also offers a catch bottle that holds a full 1 Liter of fluid and features easy to read oil level marks for accurate draining.

Schwaben Specialty Tools announces new innovative solutions to the most common dilemmas faced by European car owners. For those hard to reach hose clamps with 7mm hex nuts, the Schwaben Hose Clamp Flex Driver features an overall length of 10-1/2" and a flex shaft length of 6" for exceptional convenience. The ergonomic handle features a non-slip grip for when your hands are oily or wet. The 46 Piece 1/4" Drive Set contains all the most popular tools needed to address the most common installation and repair projects for European cars.

Features of convenience and ease of use define this latest Schwaben Specialty Tools release. The Schwaben Telescoping Round/Rectangular Mirror offers an 9-1/2" to 29" extendable handle with a stainless steel shaft, plus a 2-1/4" mirror head mounted on a dual swivel for a full 360 degree rotation. The Schwaben Telescoping Magnet is rated to pick up 3.5 lbs. Its stainless steel shaft is 7" collapsed and 26" extended, while its powerful magnet is encased in a aluminum sleeve to help prevent side of magnet from sticking.

You won't believe the difference an LED lighting package makes in your car until you see it with your own eyes. LED illumination is a far brighter and friendlier light - crisp and clean, especially when compared to the dingy yellow glow you get from conventional filament style bulbs. Now you can do a complete LED conversion using our Gen2 R57 Mini LED Interior Lighting Kit. All the LEDs required for a total lighting upgrade are included. No need for guesswork or complicated ordering of individual bulbs.

Ideal for the Euro enthusiast enjoying an aggressive lowered ride height, the all-new Schwaben Low Profile 2 Ton Aluminum Floor Jack allows you to sneak under the ground-hugging rockers on your car. Constructed from lightweight aluminum, this exceptionally durable floor jack features a long and low profile curve for extended reach under the car. The specialty tool experts at Schwaben have designed this jack with a max lift height of 20" and a low height of just 3.25". Dual pump pistons raise the saddle to its maximum height in only 5 pump strokes with minimum effort.

ECS Tuning lets you tweak your stance or just give your wheels enough space to clear larger brake calipers. Engineered and tested in-house to fit your MINI perfectly. Choose from our huge inventory of spacers sure to match your car, your wheels, and your shopping budget. Our unique design allows our spacers to remain hub-centric, even down to the 3mm size. All ECS MINI spacers are aluminum, and are black anodized for corrosion protection. Kits come with correct-length black lug bolts.

A frequent dilemma when fitting an upgraded seat belt to track-prepared street cars is how to balance the needs of daily driving with the demands of performance driving. A dedicated track-day setup is typically impractical, while running without a substantial harness forces the driver to use the steering wheel to hold themselves in place. Schroth Racing Quick Fit Harnesses are fully reversible and anchor to the factory seat belt pre-tensioner, allowing the airbags to deploy as the MINI engineers intended. Both left (driver) and right (passenger) harnesses are available.

We have a pretty good idea of what dads really want in life: a full garage... tools on top of tools on top of accessories. Make this Father's Day little extra special and reward all his hard work by treating him with the gift of ECS Tuning and Schwaben. And don't forget ECS Tuning gift cards! We now have virtual giftcards sent to you via email for that last minute gift giver.

Avoid finding yourself without a key trim fastener - stock up for good with the Vaico BMW/MINI Fastener Assortment Kit. Designed with the DIY enthusiast or body shop in mind, this assortment comes stocked with clips for fender liners, interior trim, and body moldings, all in a convenient storage case. An extremely convenient kit for the discriminating MINI owner, you can now achieve a factory-perfect look instead of leaving crucial interior elements out of sorts.

A stripped thread can turn an enjoyable weekend project into an unbearably frustrating experience, occasionally bringing the entire job to a complete halt. The Schwaben Thread Repair Kits were designed specifically for European cars with the most commonly used metric sized threads in mind, keeping your project in motion whenever metric threads are stripped or otherwise damaged. The kit contains everything to keep your project going - simply drill out the old thread, tap out the hole with the correct sized tap, and screw in a new insert with the installation tool.

Ever tried removing a radio trim bezel with a screwdriver or metal putty knife? Ugly. Ineffective. Metal prying tools gouge, scratch, and crack expensive interior parts adding needless cost and aggravation to any repair or accessory installation requiring trim panel removal. Stop the madness. Invest in one of our affordable trim removal kits. Large kit or small, our trim removal tools are made of tough, non-marring molded plastic, brightly colored so you won't leave them behind when the job is done. Do it right. Do it faster. Schwaben.

Don't let conventional spacer options leave you feeling down and out. ECS bolt-on wheel spacers are the right way to push your wheels out to the fenders. These precision machined, 6061-T6 anodized black aluminum spacers have 4140 integral steel threads. Forget the perils of extra-long wheel bolts; these come complete with all the low profile bolts needed to properly torque the spacers to the hub in factory looking black and your wheels to the spacers. ECS bolt-on spacers for your MINI R55-R59 let you dial in the ideal stance.

ECS now offers Blackout LED Daylight Running Lights for your MINI R55/R56/R57, designed to look like the later Gen 3 F56/F55 MINI OEM HID Projector headlights. Sets are available both for cars equipped with factory HID (Xenon) headlights and those equipped with factory Halogen headlights. These Genuine MINI like style Spyder Brand Headlights feature high impact plastic lenses with a black housing, and LED DRL and black exterior design. (Halogens) H9 Projector bulbs and ( Halogen or Xenon ) PY21 Turn signal bulbs are included.

ECS is now offering a full kit expansion tank replacements for the MINI R55/R56/R57. Available are ECS-assembled and Genuine MINI replacement options. The Forge polished alloy tank is a direct-fit replacement for the factory unit, and completely resists the cracking and fading of the original part. The alloy coolant tank also adds a high-performance, premium look to your engine bay. Each kit includes a new coolant expansion tank, tank cap, grommet, and torx bolt.