this thread is about those odd :eek: features (not everyone knows about)
of your e31.

i start with this one. press the button of the instrument cluster with the key in the ignition,
but leave the key in the turned off position. release the button and turn the key to position one and watch what happens.
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj219/ceedeefl/instrumentcluster003.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj219/ceedeefl/instrumentcluster002.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj219/ceedeefl/instrumentcluster001.jpg

(P.S. it's not the self destruct- so don't worry :D)

that is known to all as a self-diagnostic test of the instrument cluster.

I wonder what other test you can do

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj219/ceedeefl/instrumentcluster002.jpg

The instrument cluster test is (or should be) well known. But something I still haven't figured out is why the rpm gauge goes up to 7000 rpm on some cars, and only ~3000 rpm on others.

http://tweakers.net/ext/f/278489e97612b930dc0dd84c2eeffd3b/full.jpg

BMW E31 clustertest up to 7000 rpm (Youtube)

There's a thread about it at roadfly: Instrument cluster test: rpm gauge only up to 3000 (http://forums.roadfly.com/forums/bmw/bmw-8-series-e31/8630801-1.html). There are some theories about it (dependent on year, ODB error code indication,...), but I don't know what is true. I'd love to know, though...

I wonder what other test you can do

ditto

Turning the headlights on and off again as soon as they are up several times leaves them up for cleaning after a number of cycles--3 or 4 IIRC

good to know that one.

sent ya a PM

What do all the numbers correspond to when you do this to the instrument cluster?

I know that there are a number of functions on the OBC which you can obtain by unlocking it.

What do all the numbers correspond to when you do this to the instrument cluster?


Most likely they are versions and/or revision numbers for the software and hardware being tested.

i love the feature with the passenger side mirrow , when in reverse...

I would love to start a thread on how to access all the cool features of the E31

I would love to start a thread on how to access all the cool features of the E31

fuhegettaboutit...i did it first ...lol ;)

I would love to add this to carspainc.com's thread, sorry got to give my man respect for starting this :)

i love the feature with the passenger side mirrow , when in reverse...

It is Ok my Range Rover dips both of them :)

when I think if any expensive British Car this always come to mind:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmannAYiwh0

I keep my Grey Poupon in the house to keep those pesky Rolls Royce owners away.

If you ever want a real automotive challenge then think Range Rover:) The complexity of a BMW with the reliability of a Jaguar:(

Think a real off-road version of the 7 Series :)

I keep my Grey Poupon in the house to keep those pesky Rolls Royce owners away.

If you ever want a real automotive challenge then think Range Rover:) The complexity of a BMW with the reliability of a Jaguar:(

Think a real off-road version of the 7 Series :)

The MKIII Range Rover (ie 2003+) is in fact based in large part on the E38.

how does one unlock the OBC?

To enable the service menu, press 1000 and 10 simultaneously and execute function 19. Add the day and the month of the date shown by the OBC. For June 3rd for example that would be 6 + 3 = 9. Enter that number and press 'SET/RES'.

I don't know of any you guys don't know already.

I do have a unique feature that I'm sure u all don't have though: my left headlight pod sinks just enough every 24 hours to no longer sit flush with the hood. Every 2 days, I turn the actuator wheel 12 revolutions to get it back to being flush. A minor annoyance that is getting majorly annoying!

It's called a lazy eye!----)

It's called a lazy eye!----)

lol.

I don't know of any you guys don't know already.

I do have a unique feature that I'm sure u all don't have though: my left headlight pod sinks just enough every 24 hours to no longer sit flush with the hood. Every 2 days, I turn the actuator wheel 12 revolutions to get it back to being flush. A minor annoyance that is getting majorly annoying!
Ptosis!

To enable the service menu, press 1000 and 10 simultaneously and execute function 19. Add the day and the month of the date shown by the OBC. For June 3rd for example that would be 6 + 3 = 9. Enter that number and press 'SET/RES'.



WHAT? I well lost by that lot, what is functin 19 and what does the service menu do?

Regards Luke.

The service menu allows you to access all different types of info, from the battery current to the fuel left in the tank, functon 19 is the unlocking of the service menu.

Cheers wayne, I will give that a go. Regards Luke.

No problem, this is a list of the other functions available


1.Display Test

2.Instantaneous fuel consumption in l/100 km

3.Instantaneous fuel consumption in l/h

4.Fuel consumption for calculating the range

5.Current range

6.Probably fuel left in the tank.

7.Fuel left in the tank

8.Current speed in kph

9.Probably the battery current

10.Some data????

11.Setting of country specific language and measuring systems. Select desired country setting with the 1000 and 100 keys, then. activate it with 'SET/RES'.

12.Speed to calculate time of arrival.

13.Time of arrival

14.Creation date of the ROMs

15.Some error display. Switch over from one error to another with the 1000 and 100 keys.

16.Displays data from some internal port. Choose port A to F with the 1000 and 100 keys.

17.Changing a sound from 'ITON' to 'DTON' and vice versa. Activate with 'SET/RES'. Has no effect in my car.

18.No visible function

19.Unlocking the service menu.

20.Clears display and key functions. Pressing a key results in LEDs glowing in the corresponding display area. Normal operation is only re-established by turning off the ignition.

21.Display gets very bright for a short time, then goes dark. After a couple of seconds the computer responds again to pressed keys. Service menu is locked again. Probably reset of the on board computer.

22-29.No visible function

Another cool feature sure a lot of people may know and some not.

Hold key in door lock in the unlock position all the windows will drop and sunroof opens.
Lock car and hold key in locked position and sunroof and the windows will close.

Thomas

Another cool feature sure a lot of people may know and some not.

Hold key in door lock in the unlock position all the windows will drop and sunroof opens.
Lock car and hold key in locked position and sunroof and the windows will close.

Thomas

At least for opening, that also works by pressing and holding the unlock button on the key fob.

At least for opening, that also works by pressing and holding the unlock button on the key fob.


...not on the early cars

Another cool feature sure a lot of people may know and some not.

Hold key in door lock in the unlock position all the windows will drop and sunroof opens.
Lock car and hold key in locked position and sunroof and the windows will close.

Thomas

The rear windows are not supposed to close for the US models.

mine do (well not right now because of the fire, but it did)

So do mine.

As do mine.

and mine

The rear windows are not supposed to close for the US models.

My rear windows close in my 92 850i

I'm sure everyone knows this one. I didn't know it when I bought my 850 until it happend. I was cruising on the highway with my front windows down, I hit 100mph and my windows went up automatically.

mine at 92 mph

I stand corrected. I tested today and yes my rear windows close as well. However they did not close at 92 MPH when the front windows did.

I stand corrected. I tested today and yes my rear windows close as well. However they did not close at 92 MPH when the front windows did.

the original post had to do with using the key (all windows up), not the speed-induced closing of the windows.

I stand corrected. I tested today and yes my rear windows close as well. However they did not close at 92 MPH when the front windows did.

The other day I tested this out again, and the rears didn't roll up just like yours didn't.

This is strange because in the past, the rears did roll up :eyecrazy

E31 is alive and full of its own unique personality! :devillook

The Moon roof is supossed to close @130!!! Any takers???

1990 G spec sunroof then all windows down. all windows then sunroof up. Can not get the gauge test to work.

Only my front windows close at 92mph, thort this was how it spost to be.

Only my front windows close at 92mph, thort this was how it spost to be.

so do mine

The Moon roof is supossed to close @130!!! Any takers???

Not on mine, it doesn't :confused
















































:D ... not on the highway... ran it up to 160 on the dyno a couple on months back....

Only front windows go up at 92 mph. I have been 130mph on the way to San Antonio from Austin on I-35, but sunroof was already closed. Almost no traffic on a short 3 lane expansion. Car was rock solid!

Only front windows go up at 92 mph. I have been 130mph on the way to San Antonio from Austin on I-35, but sunroof was already closed. Almost no traffic on a short 3 lane expansion. Car was rock solid!

of course that was I-35, the well known closed track :cool

The Moon roof is supossed to close @130!!! Any takers???

http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v125/9/62/836583834/n836583834_316798_1262.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v125/9/62/836583834/n836583834_316800_1831.jpg

I did 140+ MPH and it didn't close by itself. lol

http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v125/9/62/836583834/n836583834_316798_1262.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v125/9/62/836583834/n836583834_316800_1831.jpg

I did 140+ MPH and it didn't close by itself. lol

you better get some gas:)

So do mine.

and once I exceed 100mph open windows close automatically - not sure if this is a feature also in US spec cars.

and once I exceed 100mph open windows close automatically - not sure if this is a feature also in US spec cars.

It is on mine they go up at 120.

I bought my car in Los Angeles (e bay) sent my 22 year old son and his friend to pick it up and cautioned them against speeding across the Western states on the way home to Mississippi.

They arrived home safely. Only complaint they had about the car was the darn windows kept going up by themselves.

Only complaint they had about the car was the darn windows kept going up by themselves.

Now that is to funny. :lol

They arrived home safely. Only complaint they had about the car was the darn windows kept going up by themselves.

hahahahaha

What does the A+M button do?? I dont have the owners manual so i was always wondering what it did. This is on a automatic.

What does the A+M button do?? I dont have the owners manual so i was always wondering what it did. This is on a automatic.

oddly mine has a snowflake instead of an M.

But it's for better or sportier fuel economy.

Automatic mode
Manual mode

oddly mine has a snowflake instead of an M.

But it's for better or sportier fuel economy.

The 840 has a different transmission and switch. The Snowflake puts it in snow mode of all things :) Locks out first gear (and maybe second) and changes the transmission shifting for use on slippery surfaces.

Automatic mode
Manual mode

Manual mode on automatic?? How do you do that. Man i need the owners manual bad.

It's great for Extreme conditions, Like having a trailer or very Steep hill climbs, Juts put it in M and your in manual mode.

It's great for Extreme conditions, Like having a trailer or very Steep hill climbs...

...or showing the exhausts to a motor-cyclist in sharp turns... :D

Sometimes four wheels are better than two - 2fast4motorcyclists :)

How do you switch gears when your in manual mode?? Like downshift or shift up.Do you move the shifter from S1-S2-S3??? Thanks for all the help.

Do you move the shifter from S1-S2-S3???

:) Yes

I always shift manually, more fun especially with the 3:91 diff upgrade.

Someone please list what other miracles my 1992 850i Canadian Spec, production date 1991-11-29 can do. I dont want to be taken aback. I just cant wait until the spring.

I'm sure everyone knows this one. I didn't know it when I bought my 850 until it happend. I was cruising on the highway with my front windows down, I hit 100mph and my windows went up automatically.

This is def my favorite - on my '93 8'er, the windows and the sunroof close somewhere between 95-100 mph (not sure of exact speed, got my eyes on the road); very first time it happened, I got really spooked (thought something broke) and immediately pulled over (in a controlled manner of course). Once I learned this was normal, I try to perform this "trick" for any first time riders - they get a real kick out of it (and so do I, even after 10+ yrs of owning this beast :D ).

Ditto!
Scares the daylights out of me when i'm not thinking.

on my car only the driver and passenger side go up the rear quarter windows stay down, still trying to trouble shoot it

on my car only the driver and passenger side go up the rear quarter windows stay down, still trying to trouble shoot it

Only the fronts go up by design. No one seems to know why the rears don't go up too but they don't.

Is there a mod to make them go auto up?

That would be a great thing to have done.

Alarm remote, Key turned and held in the door, Those also make them go up.

Alarm remote, Key turned and held in the door, Those also make them go up.

and close the sunroof... and, if you do what 8eights said, it even locks everything:)

i was cruising through the wide open CA desert at about 80 mph with the windows down,went to make a pass and went from 80 to 120 or so.to my amazement and just about crapping myself,at about 100 mph all the windows and the sunroof closed by themselves.im convinced that german design engineers were on a bonus program that paid a $ incentive and the only reason they stopped adding options is that the car had to leave the factory eventually or it would have weighed enough to qualify for commercial plates.:eyecrazy

Only the fronts go up by design. No one seems to know why the rears don't go up too but they don't.

Supposedly for safety reason (A Dumb one) of any rear seat passenger had limbs out and not prepared to pull back when the auto window up activates.

Supposedly for safety reason (A Dumb one) of any rear seat passenger had limbs out and not prepared to pull back when the auto window up activates.


Yes, this must be the reason. I still find it odd that I can auto down/up the front windows, but I can only auto down the rears. Again, safety issue I am sure. But who the hell has a little one sitting in the back whilst cruising at 100mph with the rears down??? :eyecrazy

Yes, this must be the reason. I still find it odd that I can auto down/up the front windows, but I can only auto down the rears. Again, safety issue I am sure. But who the hell has a little one sitting in the back whilst cruising at 100mph with the rears down??? :eyecrazy

:lol

I see that all the time in europe, on the bahn and strada, but much worse in Italy.

my sunroof doesnt close at 130 or 145. and only the front windows go up at 92 - 95. i can never tell the exact speed becaues it goes by to fast.:evil2

Automatic mode
Manual mode

also when you're in manual mode the car will rev higher. next time you're cruising on the highway, flip it into "m". then hit the throttle. jeeeeez what a difference!!!!! :evil2

also when you're in manual mode the car will rev higher. next time you're cruising on the highway, flip it into "m". then hit the throttle. jeeeeez what a difference!!!!! :evil2

I usually leave it in sport mode when I want it to rev higher, the shift points measured as spot on with the ass-dyno. Would be better to have the limiter removed to go through gears manually, feels like hitting a wall when you get greedy and bounce off the rev-limiter.