BMW E36 Blog

We all know that BMW E36 cars do have some (or many) problems that you will have to face sooner or later. I usually try to ignore them for a while, but find myself unable to keep ignoring them anymore, so I start a campaign to fix any problems that I see (or feel 🙂 ). Last time, my headlights were looking foggy and I thought of replacing them, but unfortunately, found a very good solution (kind of waxing) that restored them to their great shiny look. Although I successfully managed to fix this, I still have many issues to fix in the car. For instance, the paint needs some maintenance. My sunroof doesn’t open correctly, so I have to address this as well. I also need to do the Making your BMW Angel Eyes Fadeout . . . DIY! procedure which I talked about yesterday. That’s for my car, what about you guys? Anyone cares to share his/her car’s problems with us? Is it your headliner? Glove box? Windows? AC? Engine? . . . come on people, don’t be shy . . . Oh . . . one more thing, I forgot to mention my idle problem that’s driving me crazy.

BMW E36 Blog: The ultimate BMW BMW E36 information source.

As I promised you in my previous post (BMW E36 OBC (On Board Computer) Manual – Part 1) which I published yesterday, here’s the second part of the BMW E36 OBC manual. It turned out that it’s a valuable source of information. I didn’t really expect the manual to be this precise, but you know what. It is precise. I really enjoyed the information it provided.

I hope you find this post useful. Now it’s time for you to try this information on your car, so hurry up. What are you waiting for? 🙂

On-Board Computer Manual
 

Speed Limit (LIMIT)

If you exceed a speed limit which you have previously input (for instance in order not to infringe legal road speed limits), 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.

Speed limit input:
Press the keys in the order illustrated above. The LED will come on.
Cancelling the speed limit input:
Press the LIMIT button again. The LED goes out, but the stored value is retained and can be re-activated with the LIMIT button.
Adopting the car’s actual speed as the limit value:
Press the LIMIT and SET/RES buttons.

 

Stopwatch

The stopwatch function is only available on cars without independent ventilation control. It runs for 99 hours, 59 minutes. The time appears in the display: at first in seconds and tenth of a second, after one minute in minutes and seconds, and after one hour in hours and minutes.
Start
Press the keys as illustrated above. The LED comes on and the cumulative time is shown in the display.
Stop:
With the time displayed, press SET/RES.
If any other information is displayed, press keys in the order illustrated.
Obtaining intermediate time value:
Press TIMER, the LED flashes and the intermediate time is displayed. The stopwatch continues to run.
Obtaining main stopwatch time display again:
Press TIMER again.
Note:
The stopwatch ceases to run in ignition key position 0, but runs again in ignition key position 1.

 

Independent ventilation control

Input of switching times.
You can preselect two switch-on times for the independent ventilation control. The ventilation is switched off automatically after 30 minutes. When the TIMER button is pressed, the display shows the current operating condition of the independent ventilation control.
Input of first switch-on time:
Input is possible only if the digital clock is running and the ignition key is in position 1.
Press the keys in the order illustrated above (press TIMER twice).
Input of second switch-on time:
Press  the keys again as illustrated
Correcting the time input:
Press the keys in the order illustrated including the different input. After the input, the display shows * and the LED comes on as a sign that a switch on time has been preselected. The LED flashes while the heating or ventilation is actually in operation, and goes out when they are switched off.
To Check a previous switch-on time input (LED is on):
– Press TIMER twice for the first time input.
– Press TIMER three times for the second time input.

Direct switch-on
This is only possible in ignition key position 1. Press the keys in the order illustrated above.
Direct switch-off
In ignition key position 1, press the keys in the order illustrated. In ignition key position 0, press SET/RES only.

 

Immobilizing device

The engine compartment lid, radio and any attempts to start the engine are monitored. The device is activated with a code number. Starting the engine, removing the radio or opening the engine compartment are then impossible unless the code number is input correctly. For this reason, always remember the code number!
Activating in ignition key position 1:
Press keys in the order illustrated above. then turn ignition key to position 0 and remove. Any code number from 0000 to 9999 can be input. (The same or a different code number must be input each time the device is activated.)
In ignition key position 0 or with the key removed, the LED will remain on for up to 36 hours. If the LED flashes for about 10 seconds, the engine compartment is not properly closed (or the radio has be removed).
De-activating in ignition key position 1 or 2:
The gong signal and the "____ CODE" display call for the driver to input the code number he has chosen.
– Input the code number at the numerical input keys.
– Start the engine or press the SET/RES key.
If attempts are made to start the engine without a code input, the gong will sound and the engine will not start.
The alarm will sound for 30 seconds after three incorrect code inputs or three attempts to start the engine without a code input.
If the code number has been forgotten, proceed as follows:
– Disconnect the battery, then reconnect it after app. 2 minutes.
– Turn the ignition key to position 1.
– The alarm will sound and a time display will appear and run down for 15 minutes.
– After 15 minutes, the engine can be started.
If the code number is remembered during this 15-minute period, it can be input at the keys in the order illustrated.

 

Remote control

The flashing turn indicator lever can also be used to call up a selection of pre-programmed information via the on-board computer on the display.
Input:
– Press the turn indicator lever in until the display shows "PROG 1"
– Press the computer information buttons in the desired order. The number of functions programmed is displayed after each input.
– Press the SET/RES button.
If you wish all the information to be accessible:
– Press the turn indicator lever until "PROG 1" appears in the display.
– Press SET/RES.
Note the following in connection with average fuel consumptions 1 and 2 and switch-on times 1 and 2 for the independent ventilation control: to obtain only CONSUM 2 for example, but not CONSUM 1, press the CONSUM button and then the km/mls changeover button.
(Each time the changeover button is pressed, the display will alternate between average fuel consumptions 1 and 2). Adopt the same procedure for independent heater/ventilation control switch on time 1 and 2 if required.
To display:
Press  the turn indicator lever in briefly
The engine compartment lid, radio and any attempts to start the engine are monitored. The device is activated with a code number. Starting the engine, removing the radio or opening the engine compartment are then impossible unless the code number is input correctly. For this reason, always remember

 

BMW E36 Blog: The ultimate BMW BMW E36 information source.

It has been a while since I purchase my BMW E36 and since that time, I have been looking for the English manual for the car as it came with the German one. Unfortunately, I was unable to find the English version anywhere on the web. This pushed me to use Google translation tools which do not perform a good job in translating the German text into understandable English.

Today, while I’m searching the web, I have found an unclear version of the English manual which talks only about the on board computer (OBC). Only 7 pages manual. So, I took it and decided to publish its content on the blog hoping the you will find the information provided useful. Today, I’m posting part #1 of the manual and I will be posting the rest of it in the next few days. So, please stay tuned.

On-Board Computer Manual
The on-board computer can be used to call-up and display information which contributes towards safe, economical driving. System malfunctions are shown in clear text via the Check control. There is also a general warning light on the instrument panel.

The digital clock can be used to
– Display time and date.
– Program a reminder signal (Memo) every hour, for instance so that radio news bulletins are not missed.

Take a look at the image below:

1. Display
2. Time of arrival
3. Numerical input keys
4. Information keys
5. Light emitting diodes (LED)
6. Display unit changeover key: The display unit changeover key enables information to be displayed either in metric or imperial units of measurement.
7. SET/RES key (start/stop)

Available without previous input:

TEMP	Outside temperature
RANGE	Probable range
SPEED	Average speed
CONSUM	2 average fuel consumptions

After manual input:

DIST	Distance before destination is reached, with time of arrival
LIMIT	Speed limit

The following systems are controlled by the on-board computer

TIMER	-2 switch-on times for independent ventilation control. -Direct operation of independent ventilation control -Stopwatch
CODE	Immobilizing device

The on-board computer can be operated from ignition key position 1 onwards. For reasons of driving safety, always input data to the computer before starting your journey or when the ca is at a standstill. The computer calculates and memorizes data from the start of the journey onwards.

Note:
Check Control warnings displace the computer displays.
Apart from priority 1 messages, you can clear displays by pressing the CHECK button. If the “PPPP” fault display appears, consult a BMW service station.

Outside temperature

To display: Press the TEMP button.
If the outside temperature falls below +3 C, a gong signal is heard as a warning; the temperature is displayed automatically and flashes for 8 seconds.
The warning is repeated if the temperature rises to at least +6 C and then drops again to +3 C.

Important:
Whether or not a temperature warning is given, remember that ice can still form on the road at above +3 C in certain circumstances, for instance on bridges and in shadow.

Average speed

To start computing, press the buttons in the order illustrated above. To call up, press the SPEED key.

Probable range

This display indicates 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.

To display, press the RANGE button.

A plus sign (+) in front of the displayed value means that it is still undergoing a correction process (measuring tolerance).

If the three display segments flash, the range is below 15 km and the car should be refueled as soon as possible.
The on-board computer registers fuel added to the tank only.
– If the quantity of fuel exceeds 4 liters and
– When the engine has been stopped.

Average fuel consumption

Average fuel consumption can be computer for two distances in parallel, for instance a complete journey and one section of the journey.
To start computing for distance 1, press the buttons in the order illustrated above.
To start computer for distance 2, press the buttons again in the order illustrated above.
To display, press the CONSUM button. Each time this button is pressed, the display alternates between the average consumptions for distances 1 and 2. There is also an indication of whether distance 1 or 2 is being displayed.

Distance from destination

Shows how far the car is from the destination, provided the total distance was input before the journey started.
To input distance, press the keys in the order illustrated above.
To display, press the DIST button. The probable time of arrival, which is recomputed continually as driving conditions change, is also displayed.
If the car has completed the full distance input at the start of the journey, the distance value is preceded by a minus sign.

Display units changeover

Press km/mls changeover key.
– Once, To alter the distance display or twice
– Or twice to alter the arrival time display also.

BMW E36 Blog: The ultimate BMW BMW E36 information source.

As you may know, I’m relying on the advertisements to cover the BMW E36 Blog expenses like disk space and bandwidth and those advertisements are what is keeping this blog running. Today, I have realized that BMW E36 Blog is consuming more and more bandwidth. This is a good sign meaning that I’m getting more readers than I used to, but at the same time, it means more and more money to pay for the bandwidth. So, I’ve decided to push some of my advertising spots hoping that I will get some more advertisers to help me in this. For those of you who may be interested in advertising on this blog, there are some spots that are currently open for advertisers. So, if you’re interested, please check my advertising page here.

BMW E36 Blog: The ultimate BMW BMW E36 information source.

Hey friends, I have found a thread on bimmerforums with this question "You know you DON’T drive an e36 when" and this thread received some very funny responses that I thought you have to see it. It’s really funny and true at the same time. If you think that some of these are not true, then maybe you’re not driving your BMW E36 the way you should. I suggest you go and have a BMW E36 driving course … Enjoy

You know you DON’T drive an e36 when:
…You meet the minimum balance requirement on your checking account.
…You don’t have any “check” lights on in your car.
…You haven’t been checked out by a chick while driving.
…You have a house.
…You only have one car year round.
…You don’t have any speeding tickets.
…You have a solid relationship with a girl, and they say you DO give them enough attention.
…when you know you can drive further because gas mileage is so much better.
…when you are not afraid to put down the windows and have it break on you all the time.
…when you aren’t afraid of constant minor problems.
…when you get tired of driving after an hour.
…you get a good nights sleep every night because your not up till 4am fixing your car.
…when you drive an e46.
…Your headliner doesn’t sag.
…You can open the door with the least amount of effort.
…There’s no blue and white badge at the front.
…A power window switch doesn’t cost $100.
…when you press the “Window Up” button, and the window goes up.
…when you go over a bump and don’t hear SQEAKRATTLESHAKEBANGCRASHSQEAKRATTLE.
…when you park your car and walk away from it without looking back at it and thinking to yourself “****ing sexy…”
…when you drive with the top down through less-than-fortunate neighborhoods and don’t get flipped off.
…when you pull up to someone else with an E36 and they acknowledge you, instead of looking down or to the side pretending to not notice you.
…when you cut a hard turn and your car flips over.
…when you cut a hard turn and your ball joint breaks.
…when you go to a repair shop and don’t have to be escorted out by ambulance due to heart attack.
…when you can afford more than one new mod/repair a month.
…when people don’t chuck crescent wrenches at you when you drive by (yeah, uh huh, happened).
…when you have angel eyes/projectors and other E3 owners don’t look at them like “OMG I never knew that was an option!”.
…when you fill up for less than $50.
…when an oil change is <$20.

BMW E36 Blog: The ultimate BMW BMW E36 information source.