February 20, 2007 | BMW E36 Blog

20th February 2007

BMW E36 on board computer . . . learn how to use it

Hey Guys,

I’ve been looking for information about how to use the on board computer (OBC) for sometime now and I finally found it 🙂 Yaay! Below I will list what you can accomplish using the on board computer, so read on and let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: Use this procedure at your own risk!!


TEMP (A-TEMP)	Outside temperature Displays the outside temperature after pressing the TEMP (A-TEMP) button. If it falls below +3ï¿½C, a gong signal is heard as a warning; the outside temperature is displayed and flashes for eight seconds. The warning is repeated if the temperature rises to at least +6ï¿½C and then drops again to +3ï¿½C.
RANGE (REICHW)	Probable range This display indicates after pressing the RANGE (REICHW) button how far the car can probably be driven on the fuel remaining in the tank. The value takes into account the way in which the car has so far been driven. A plus sign (+) in front of the displayed value means that it is still undergoing a correction process (measuring tolerance). If three horizontal display segments flash, the range is below 15km and the car should be refuelled as soon as possible. The on-board computer registers fuel added to the tank only when the engine has been stopped and the quantity of fuel exceeds four litres.
SPEED (GESCHW)	Average speed Shows the average speed since the last reset. To display press the SPEED (GESCHW) button. To reset the calculation press SET/RES. The on-board computer doesn’t include the time the car is standing with the engine off in its calculation.
CONSUM (VERBR)	Average fuel consumption Average fuel consumption can be computed for two distances in parallel. Each time the button CONSUM (VERBR) is pressed, the display alternates between the average consumptions for distances one and two. There is also an indication of whether distance one or two is being displayed. To reset the calculation press SET/RES.
DIST (DISTANZ)	Distance from destination After pressing the DIST (DISTANZ) button the display shows how far the car is from the destination, provided the total distance was input before the journey started. The probable time of arrival, which is recalculated continually as driving conditions change, is also displayed. If the car has already completed the full distance which was input, the distance value is preceded by a minus sign (–).
LIMIT	Speed limit If you exceed a speed limit which you have previously input, you will hear a warning gong. The corresponding LED flashes and the display shows the stored limit briefly. The warning is repeated if the speed limit is again exceeded after the car’s speed has in the meantime dropped by at least 5 km/h below the entered value. To cancel the speed limit input press the LIMIT button again. The LED goes out but the stored value is not lost and can be re-activated with the Limit button. To adopt the car’s actual speed as the limit value press the LIMIT and then the SET/RES button.
km/mls	Display units changeover Press the km/mls button to switch display units between km/h and mph or litres per 100km and mpg and back.
CODE	Immobilizing vehicle A 4-digit number can be entered with the "CODE" key in ignition switch position 1. The engine hood and radio contact is monitored when the vehicle is parked with CODE armed. The engine cannot be started until the same code number is entered again in the BC to disarm the system. Depending on the selected function, the small display shows either the date or the time. Date and time can be displayed for 8 seconds by pressing the key in ignition lock position "0".
CHECK	Check control faults A display test is performed if there are no check-control faults and the "CHECK" key is pressed for at least 10 seconds. The test appears immediately after pressing the "CHECK" key in ignition switch position 1 or when no check-control is coded in the BC V.
MEMO	Arbitrary reminder An hour signal and/or any arbitrary reminder time can be programmed or checked with the "MEMO" key: After pressing the "MEMO" for 3 seconds enter "MEMO" appears in the large display, ":00" appears in the small display. After entering any time (minutes) with the digit keys "1" and "10" and acknowledging with the "SET/RES" key, the hour signal then sounds 15 seconds before each full hour plus the set time in minutes. Gong time = Full hour plus input time in minutes minus 15 seconds.