|
|
|
|
| Author |
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1
|
Adding on board computer
I have a 1997 318i, I want to add an on board computer, Can this be done easily, It currently just has time and temp.
|
||
10-14-2003, 01:47 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Palos Verdes Estates, CA
Posts: 878
|
you need to get different wiring along with the 18 button OBC. Im not sure about difficulty - it might be difficult finding the wiring needed unless you're local to a junk yard.
__________________
1997 M3 Sedan 5spd Artic Silver/Dove M3 Bumpers/Mirrors/Sideskirts S52 3.2L, M3 Wheels, M3 suspension, M3 Brakes Oh wait...it's a stock M3 |
||
|
10-14-2003, 02:02 PM
|
|
|
In the shop at Pelican
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 10,459
|
I think you will also need to get a couple of different senders as well. I know you'll need the outside temp sensor for sure.
|
||
|
10-14-2003, 02:05 PM
|
|
|
Registered
|
That's probably more hassle than it's possibly worth. I mean, the OBC can be more of a hindrance than a help some times. Do you really need to see the outside air temperature? Do you really need an audible alarm when the temperature is below freezing? Is there any advantage to being able to set a memo 'beep' at the top of the hour? It can be helpful if your low on coolant, but who among us hasn't been completely befuddled by the 'check brake light' warning, only to find out that it has nothing to do with a burnt out bulb. If I were you, I'd forget the OBC & spend the cash & time on something that actually improves the car.
__________________
Every Boy Becomes A Man. A Fortunate Few Reverse The Process. 97 328is Black on Black 5 speed Sport Package, Short Arm Intake with ABS Molded Heat Shield, Custom Mounted Front Strut Bar, Elevated Clutch Stop, Polished Aluminum Roundel Shifter, AC Schnitzer Aluminum Pedal Set, Chrome Instrument Cluster Rings & Carbon Fiber Bezel, Crystal Clear Corners, OEM Clear Tail & Side Lights, Scalloped Headlight Trim, Custom 'is' Grill Badge, Alpine C43 Stereo Upgrade, Front Bumper Filler |
||
|
10-15-2003, 03:26 AM
|
|
|
In the shop at Pelican
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 10,459
|
I have to agree with supertack, it is sort of pointless to do. The only thing use my OBC for is to see how many more miles I can drive on a tank, and even then, it's not exactly accurate.
|
||
|
10-15-2003, 07:13 AM
|
|
|
Registered
|
Jared, where does the OBC give you 'miles until empty'? Not that it's all that important, but I've never seen that on mine.
__________________
Every Boy Becomes A Man. A Fortunate Few Reverse The Process. 97 328is Black on Black 5 speed Sport Package, Short Arm Intake with ABS Molded Heat Shield, Custom Mounted Front Strut Bar, Elevated Clutch Stop, Polished Aluminum Roundel Shifter, AC Schnitzer Aluminum Pedal Set, Chrome Instrument Cluster Rings & Carbon Fiber Bezel, Crystal Clear Corners, OEM Clear Tail & Side Lights, Scalloped Headlight Trim, Custom 'is' Grill Badge, Alpine C43 Stereo Upgrade, Front Bumper Filler |
||
|
10-16-2003, 03:55 AM
|
|
|
|
In the shop at Pelican
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 10,459
|
Are you talking about the OBC in the dash, or the Check Control panel at the top of the windshield?
|
||
|
10-16-2003, 08:38 AM
|
|
|
Registered
|
Well, I thought we were talking about the same thing, but I was referring to the check control mounted directly under the stereo. If your talking about the OBC in the engine compt/dash, now I really confused as to how you get a miles til empty reading.
__________________
Every Boy Becomes A Man. A Fortunate Few Reverse The Process. 97 328is Black on Black 5 speed Sport Package, Short Arm Intake with ABS Molded Heat Shield, Custom Mounted Front Strut Bar, Elevated Clutch Stop, Polished Aluminum Roundel Shifter, AC Schnitzer Aluminum Pedal Set, Chrome Instrument Cluster Rings & Carbon Fiber Bezel, Crystal Clear Corners, OEM Clear Tail & Side Lights, Scalloped Headlight Trim, Custom 'is' Grill Badge, Alpine C43 Stereo Upgrade, Front Bumper Filler |
||
|
10-16-2003, 08:46 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Palos Verdes Estates, CA
Posts: 878
|
Supertack - after looking at your OBC - you dont have the full OBC. The full OBC has several other things and doodads, including the "range" button which tells you how many miles left on ur tank. However, it is DEFINITELY not completely accurate, it goes to --- when there's below 9 miles, and I've gone longer even when it displayed ----. This is what a full obc looks like (note the weather too - and my car's ac back then was broken....)
 you cant really see the names for the other buttons, but yeah, there's a whole bunch of other stuff thats pretty useless.
__________________
1997 M3 Sedan 5spd Artic Silver/Dove M3 Bumpers/Mirrors/Sideskirts S52 3.2L, M3 Wheels, M3 suspension, M3 Brakes Oh wait...it's a stock M3 |
||
|
10-16-2003, 03:25 PM
|
|
|
In the shop at Pelican
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 10,459
|
DUH,
E36, not E30 I forget these things sometime. |
||
|
10-16-2003, 03:30 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 176
|
I actually like all the onboard computer functions, and I used most all of them. I use the Timer the most cuz I like to see if I can 'beat' the times for the places I drive to normally like to work (cheap thrills). I use the consumption button to see my mpg, I use the range button when I'm getting low on gas to see how much farther I can go (mine seems pretty accurate), I use the temperature button, I set the speed limit button around 90mph, so if I'm not thinking and just driving, it'll warn me with a sound when I get to 90mph, and on long drips, the distance ETA thing is totally cool, tells you exactly when you'll get to your destination based on your current driving speed etc. I guess if you like a lot of statistics, it's fun, but if not, then forget it. You can toggle through the functions as well by pushing in the button on the lever of the turn signal...
|
||
|
10-22-2003, 04:15 PM
|
|
|
Registered
|
Hmm, then why did I get the 'cheap ass' model OBC in my 328is? You would think the lower models, like a 318, would have gotten the lesser OBC. I guess if I had to trade my sport package for the full function OBC, It would be no contest. It's really is kinda weird what options are included/omitted in some models. For example, I don't have a tiltable steering column in my car. I fumbled around the dash for a few days when I first got it, cause I couldn't believe it wasn't an included option. Who makes a car w/o a tilt column? That even comes standard on frickin Geo Metro's! Hard to explain, upper tiered engine, lowered suspension, sport package, and yet they go cheap on the OBC & steering column.
__________________
Every Boy Becomes A Man. A Fortunate Few Reverse The Process. 97 328is Black on Black 5 speed Sport Package, Short Arm Intake with ABS Molded Heat Shield, Custom Mounted Front Strut Bar, Elevated Clutch Stop, Polished Aluminum Roundel Shifter, AC Schnitzer Aluminum Pedal Set, Chrome Instrument Cluster Rings & Carbon Fiber Bezel, Crystal Clear Corners, OEM Clear Tail & Side Lights, Scalloped Headlight Trim, Custom 'is' Grill Badge, Alpine C43 Stereo Upgrade, Front Bumper Filler |
||
|
10-23-2003, 03:35 AM
|
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 176
|
Not sure...I have a loaded 98 328is too, and I don't think I have the tilt steering either...I was puzzled about that. There's several versions of the OBC. I'm just glad the full 18 button one was on mine when I bought it (I bought it used). I guess the other cheap ones are for people that don't really care about all the statistics and functions when they purchase that car new...
|
||
|
10-23-2003, 07:35 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Palos Verdes Estates, CA
Posts: 878
|
Seriously-
BMW cheaps out on a BUNCH of stuff. My car has no power seats, didnt come with an armrest, no cupholders, no tilt, no fold down seats. At least they were nice enough to include a full sized spare - the Infiniti G35 cheaps you with a crappy spare. On that note - the OBC is nice because its a novelty - something to impress the ladies with. Also - its cool to tell people you have an On Board Computer and when you're around other bimmerheads, you can sound even cooler by refering to it as the OBC. ;-)
__________________
1997 M3 Sedan 5spd Artic Silver/Dove M3 Bumpers/Mirrors/Sideskirts S52 3.2L, M3 Wheels, M3 suspension, M3 Brakes Oh wait...it's a stock M3 |
||
|
10-23-2003, 10:19 AM
|
|
|
In the shop at Pelican
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 10,459
|
nothing increases cool factor more than by excessive use of acronyms.
|
||
|
10-23-2003, 10:20 AM
|
|
|
Registered
|
Stup, no armrest, no cupholders, no tilt, no fold down seats? I'm startin to feel blessed. Mine came with all that except the tilt. Really, what's the rhyme or reason to what they put in these cars or not?
__________________
Every Boy Becomes A Man. A Fortunate Few Reverse The Process. 97 328is Black on Black 5 speed Sport Package, Short Arm Intake with ABS Molded Heat Shield, Custom Mounted Front Strut Bar, Elevated Clutch Stop, Polished Aluminum Roundel Shifter, AC Schnitzer Aluminum Pedal Set, Chrome Instrument Cluster Rings & Carbon Fiber Bezel, Crystal Clear Corners, OEM Clear Tail & Side Lights, Scalloped Headlight Trim, Custom 'is' Grill Badge, Alpine C43 Stereo Upgrade, Front Bumper Filler |
||
|
10-23-2003, 11:45 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Palos Verdes Estates, CA
Posts: 878
|
You can actually retrofit tilt steering to your car - its quite tedious and costly at the same time. BMW has another option for tilt - its reverse tilt. You adjust your seat to the steering wheel. In a way - that's sorta like tilt wheel, only you move your seat instead.
__________________
1997 M3 Sedan 5spd Artic Silver/Dove M3 Bumpers/Mirrors/Sideskirts S52 3.2L, M3 Wheels, M3 suspension, M3 Brakes Oh wait...it's a stock M3 |
||
|
10-23-2003, 01:15 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: santa maria, ca
Posts: 65
|
I always thought the E36 97-99's didn't come with tilt wheel. Like stepnal says, adjust the seat. I'm 6ft tall and I have plenty of room above and behind me. It is also easier to drive a car when you sit correctly. As for the OBC, isn't it part of the convience package (along with the armrest, cupholders, etc)? I know that the reat folding seats were a seperate option on the 4 doors, and I have no idea about the coupes.
|
||
|
10-23-2003, 05:32 PM
|
|
|
Registered
|
"just move the seat" Come on guys, although that works in a pure 'smart ass' aspect, who's gonna move their seats back every time they get in & out? This holds especially true if you have power seats, they move slow & once you have your setting just right, who wants to mess with them?
I don't know about that 'convenience' package thing. I've got the cup holders & arm rest, yet they slapped in the crappy OBC.
__________________
Every Boy Becomes A Man. A Fortunate Few Reverse The Process. 97 328is Black on Black 5 speed Sport Package, Short Arm Intake with ABS Molded Heat Shield, Custom Mounted Front Strut Bar, Elevated Clutch Stop, Polished Aluminum Roundel Shifter, AC Schnitzer Aluminum Pedal Set, Chrome Instrument Cluster Rings & Carbon Fiber Bezel, Crystal Clear Corners, OEM Clear Tail & Side Lights, Scalloped Headlight Trim, Custom 'is' Grill Badge, Alpine C43 Stereo Upgrade, Front Bumper Filler |
||
|
10-24-2003, 04:02 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: santa maria, ca
Posts: 65
|
I still have the original sticker from my car. I'll check it out and see if it was a separate option. As for the seats, why would you have to move them to get out? I thought the coupes had a separate mechanism to angle the back forward, and then return to the previous position?
|
||
|
10-24-2003, 08:14 PM
|
|
1997 BMW 328is M52 In-Line 6
