This page was originally hosted here: http://cbsgi1.bu.edu/bmw/bmw_new.html. But that site has gone down so I'm hosting these pages here.
BMW 5 Series The Pontiac Catalina is an automobile which was part of Pontiac's full-sized line from 1950 to 1981. Initially, the name was used strictly to denote hardtop body styles, first appearing in the 1950 Chieftain Eight and DeLuxe Eight lines. Ever looked at your BMW's computer and thought 'Wow, I bet I can do more with this'? Uses an On-Board Computer to provide the driver with up-to-the-moment data. Which were then followed.
- Also check the Electrical FAQ
Should you sell your BMW at a later date, please remember to pass this Owner's Manual on to the next owner – it is a legal element of the vehicle. Symbols used Identifies information which you should definitely read – for your own safety, that of others and to avoid damage to your vehicle or to your on-board computer. Bmw System 6 Communication Manual All Docs / BMW Communication & On-board Computer System Manuals. 645 KB / Download, 2005/6 / Telephone Users Manual For BMW Assist With. Abbreviations and BMW system helmet 6 EVO can be delivered from size communication system by your authorised BMW.
Simultaneously press the 1000 and the 1 button to get remaining fuelin liters (the car needs to be running).
Simultaneously press the 1000 and the 10 button to get the versionnumber. You should get something like:
4 .6TYP
Where the 4 is the car/engine designator, the 6 is the chip firmware.That tells you the programming of the OBC, what coding plug is in it.Specific to each engine type, injector type, tire size, fuel tank andreserve capacity.And here's some more from Phil Marx....The computer can also be opened via iDrive. 'Vehicle Info' 2. 'Onboard info' or 'Trip computer' Displaying 'Onboard info': Cruising range Distance from destination Estimated time of arrival if a destination has been entered in the navigation system. Displaying 'Trip computer': Departure time Trip duration Trip distance. Bmw ONBOARD COMPUTER Manuals Manuals and User Guides for BMW ONBOARD COMPUTER. We have 2 BMW ONBOARD COMPUTER manuals available for free PDF download: Operating Instructions Manual, Owner's Manual.
| 3-8 TYP | ||
| E30 | 325e ('88) | 4-4 TYP |
| E30 | 325i ('87) | 3-1.2 TYP |
| E30 | 325i ('88 on) | 4-6 TYP |
| E30 | M3 | 3-1.1 TYP |
| E28 | 528e ('85-87) | 5-8 TYP |
| E28 | 528e ('88) | 5-1.3 TYP |
| E28 | 535i | 5-6 TYP |
| E28 | M5 | 6-4 TYP |
| E24 | 635Csi/L6 ('85-87) | 6-2 TYP |
| E24 | 635Csi ('88 on) | 6-6 TYP |
| E24 | M6 | 6-4 TYP |
| E23 | 735i/L7 ('85-87) | 7-4 TYP |
- -Phil Marx BMWCCA #6021
The following is for newer OBC found in E36 cars for example:
To determine if your OBC is eligible .. press 1000 and 10 together.you should see TEST NO . -- or something like that.
Now, some of the functions are locked out -- I do NOT recommend messingwith them and you do so at your own risk -- that said ...
To unlock all functions .. press 1000 and 10 and at the TEST promptenter 19 using the keys .. press SET/RES .. you should see LOCK:ONor something similar ... press the DATE key .. (today you'd see 08.20)and add the two numbers (day and month) together (today 28)
Now enter the number you just calculated (28) and press SET/RES. TADA .. you have unlocked the secret functions ...
To lock them back up .. press 1000 and 10 then enter 19, SET/RES now press SET/RES again .. it should show .. LOCK:ON again
In general when I show a test enter it by pressing 1000 and 10 togetherthen enter the number of the test with the numeric keys and press SET/RESto actually execute the test ...
| 1 | Display Test .. all LCDs and LEDs activate |
| 2 | Current Consumption in l/100km |
| 3 | Current Consumption in l/hour |
| 4 | Average Consumption (used to calc. Range) |
| 5 | Current Range |
| 6 | Not used .. |
| 7 | Average Fuel in Tank (l) |
| 8 | Current Speed (km/h) |
| 9 | System Voltage at terminal R |
| 10 | Country/Language |
| 11 | Units/ AM.PM |
| 12 | Average Speed (km/h) for calc. ETA |
| 13 | ETA |
| 14 | Date of software/mask of OBC |
| 15 | Production Diagnosis (??) |
| 16 | Production Diagnosis (??) |
| 17 | Display Vehicle Specific Data |
| 18 | Alarm Changeover (continuous v. intermittent) |
| 19 | LOCK/UNLOCK all functions |
| 20 | Correction Factor for OBC Fuel Consumption (SEE BELOW!) |
| 21 | Reset all defect codes, date and time ... activate bypressing SET/RES |
| Note on test #20: |
| The factor is used to correct the OBC Avg Fuel Consumption figure to reality. If your OBC is off a bit: fill UP totally, run tank down and refill; then calculate your Actual MPG. Now enter test 20 to get the old Correction Factor. |
Updates:
This is from a European 1990 M5 owner (9/3/96):
I have also found a deviation from the FAQ (which describes an E36 OBC)in the 'lock/unlock secret functions' of the E34 OBC:
To unlock:
- Press the DATE key, and add the day + month numbers
- Press 1000 and 10 simultaneoulsy, then use 10 and 1 keys to enter test 19
- Press S/R once. You will now see 0000LOCK or similar
- Use the 10 and 1 keys to enter the sum of day + month
- Press S/R -- secret functions are unlocked...
- Verify by entering test 19 again. Display should showFREE
- Press 1000 and 10 simultaneoulsy, then use 10 and 1 keys to enter test 19
- Press S/R once. You will now see FREE or similar
- Press the little square button (F/C) to the left of display
- Verify by entering test 19 again. Display should be 0000LOCK.
A variation of this note appeared in the Feb., 1994 Roundel and isincluded in the 'BMW Enthusiasts Companion' book published by Bentley.
The backlight for the OBC display is provided by a pair of smallincandescent bulbs which are soldered to a small printed circuit board.This board is in a white plastic housing that slides into the right sideof the OBC. The bulb assembly cost about $20.00 from the dealer.A resourceful hack mechanic could save 20 bucks byunsoldering the old bulb and soldering in a new one. You probably would have a hard time finding an exact replacement bulb but you couldfind one close enough.
Added. 11/2/94...
The bulbs are 5 Volt and use about 80 mA. The nearest Radio Shack bulbsare: part number 272-1140, 6 volt. They can be soldered right in thecircuit board.
The hard part is getting at the side of the OBC to remove the bulbholder without disassembling the entire center console. You mustpartially remove the center console panel. The OBC is screwed into thecenter console panel from the rear with 4 phillips screws. Once thescrews are out, it comes out toward the rear (unfortunately!!).
First I removedthe radio by loosening the screws that lock it into the centerconsole. These screws are a special 5 sided torx-like screw that requirea special tool to remove properly. The tool costs something like $15.00at the dealer, but you can usually get by with a 2mm hex wrench. It's really maddening that of all the worhtless crap in the BMW toolboxthat comes with the car, they cant put this $0.50 tool in. The hexwrench might chew up the screw a little bit, but it will still workrepeatedly.I did all this with the battery connected so I didn't have toreset codes or reprogram the computer. No electrical connectors have tobe removed so there's not much danger of shorting things. The radio haslong enough wires that you can pull it out the front and rest it on theashtray while you do the rest. The E30 Bentleymanual really helped on thenext step because it showed the location of the screws that hold thecenter panel. There are 2 #1 Phillips screws at the top, behind thehazard flasher switch, which you have to pull out and leave dangling bythe wires, the other behind thedummy plug. The 2 #2 Phillips screws at the bottom are harder toreach--you need a short screwdriver--but they're not that tough. Oncethe four screws are out you can pull the center console out enough toaccess the computer. You have to be careful not to snap off plasticedges, slide the panel to the right as you pull to free the lip on theleft side. Note that everything (heater controls, radio balance control, etc.)is still connected to the center console. This makes it a little harderto maneuver, but it's a lot less work in the end. [See below foralternate method to removing bottom console screws.]If your wrist is small enough, you can reach in through theradio opening and loosen the 2 Phillips screws that hold the left side ofthe OBC. You don't need to remove the screws, just loosen them. Ifyou can't fit through the radio opening, you'll have to remove the glovebox and side panels to reach the screws from behind. Now with the leftside loose you just need to pull the right side of the center panel outabout 2 inches until you can access the left side screws. At this pointyou can see the flush mounted bulb-holder and you realize that thisthing was not very well engineered! The center panel cutout blocksaccess to the slide out bulb-holder. That is why you have to remove the2 screws holding the left side of the computer. It would have been aneasy matter to design a center console that didn't block the bulb. Forthat matter, it seems it would have been easy to design a computer mountthat allowed it to just snap out toward the front or screw out like theradio. The bulb could then be changed in 30 seconds. Back to the 2 leftside screws--to really get a screwdriver on these you would have to pullthe center panel out at least 4 or 5 inches. It didn't seem like itwanted to be pulled out that far without removing more stuff (like heatercontrols) so instead I just opened it enough to get a pair of smallneedle nose vise-grips on the heads of the screws. They aren't invery tight so with a little patience the vise-grips remove thescrews.
[Addition from Rick Kjeldsen: The center panel will come completely off the heater if you do thefollowing: Take (pull) off the caps from the 3 heater slider controls.There is a thin plastic cover over the three slider slots that covers4 screws. It is about the size of a 3x5 card. You have to gently pryit off to avoid damaging it. I found I can pull from one of theslider slots to get it started. That will uncover 4 screws that holdthe center panel to the heater core.]
Now the on-board computer can be pushed in from the centerpanel, the bulb-holder pulled out and the new one slips right in. Ichecked the old bulbs and sure enough one was burned out (they're inseries so this takes out the other one). Just to make sure before Iclosed everything up, I stuck in the key, turned on the ignition and thecorrect time of day lit up beautifully!
I just reversed the procedure toget everything back. The biggest problem here was restarting the 2bottom screws on the center panel. It's impossible to see anything andthere isn't enough room even for my small hands. A little patience willget you there though.
[11/5/93 Update: You might be able to get away with this easier method,supplied by Kent Shephard which worked on his M3]
My mechanic showed me how to do this on my M3 today and he said thisdescription is *NOT* the way a flat rate mechanic does it.He works for a dealership and he did my M3 is all of 10 minutes.So folks I'll outline it so the FAQ can be changed.He said all the screws don't need to come out. He said this description is for those obsessed with getting the computerout.So follow along.
* DO NOT REMOVE THE BOTTOM SCREWS *
At this point tilt the top of the console forwad.Don't be scared you won't break it.You will now be able to look on the right side of the computer and see the light module and a single screw.You will need the needle nose pliers to remove that screw.It has fine threads so be patient. Throw screw away.The computer will hold fine with three screws.After the screw is out, pull the module with the needle nose pliersand it will come out. Now slide the new one in and reassemble.
Here is another person's experience. Note this is in conflict with theabove--namely in that the OBC comes out toward the front and is held inby nuts not phillips screws. Maybe BMW used different methods.I think sometime in the early 90's the OBC does snap out toward thefront simply by prying with a credit card. (can somebody verify this and e-mail me.(by Mike Whitley: WHITLEYM@mcl.saic.com)
A lot of people have complained about the backlight on the E30 onboard computer.When I had a 325is, the lights burned out. Replacing the little panel or evenjust the bulbs is an easy job. Saves you $70 or $80 as well compared toletting a dealer do it. A quick summary follows.
Access the computer... this involves first taking out the glove box, and rightside dash board cover. Everything is held in place by push pins, they justtwist and pull out.
Now, you need a socket wrench, with a short handle and a very small socket. Ican't remember how big... anyway, use the wrench to undo the nuts that holdthe computer in place on the dash baord. You won't be able to see them justfeel around and you will find them. Once the nuts have been removed, thecomputer will slide out of the dash towards the seats.
On the side of the computer is a small white panel. This is the back lightbar. Pry it out with a small screwdriver or fingernail and pop in the new one.If spending $25 or $30 for this seems like a waste of money to you, desolderthe dead bulbs and solder in new ones for about $2.00. They may not have theexact same wattage though. If the computer push buttons have also stoppedlighting up, the bulb for that is located in the back. Twist it out and pop ina new one. (You remembered to pick one up at your dealer right?)
Reverse the installation instructions and voila! You are done. The wholething shouldn't take more than two hours. Less if you are quick.
Bmw Computer System
(by Steve Fox: SRFox@aol.com)Alternate method:
Remove radio (easy).
Pop top switches above radio (easy).
Remove two phillips screws at top of centerconsole. They will be visible through therecently vacated switch holes (easy).
Remove two phillips screws at bottom ofcenter console, just under bottom edge (easy).
Pull center console forward on the rightedge exposing the business side of OBC (easy,but gently, not much distance needed).
Reset Bmw Computer System
Remove top right nut that secures OBC (easy).
Trim pointless plastic interfering with removal of lightbar (easy, makes next replacement even easier).
Pull out light bar with needle nose and replacewith new unit (easy).
Assemble in reverse order of disassembly (easy).
I did this in 20 minutes the first time. The other methodon this list (through the glove box) sounds great too but Icould not contort my fingers enough to remove the four OBCnuts. Local dealer wants about $80 for this procedure.
What to do if you get PPPP displayed on the OBC
I've heard that disconnecting thebattery for a long time (like 1 hour) will make this go away.I lived with this problem for several (3) years. I tried disconnecting the battery for the 1+ hours or so to no avail. The ultimate solution was to disconnect the computer itself from its multi-pin connector. I left it unhooked for approximately 24 hours. Upon reconnecting the computer.....viola a full up and running OBC II.
Jeff Wilcox
So here is what works most of the time.
With the key in the 'Radio' position (Radio and OBC light up, but not the instrument cluster), press the 'CODE' button. Then push the little reset-hole with a Pen and hold it, 'till the computer blinks in the display, and it will ask you for a time and date entry. - You now have re-adapted the coding plug to the computer. - Normally the computer goes into a PPPP mode when the car has been boosted, or some other very drastically voltage changes have occurred.