e46 OBC Hidden Codes

Hi Guys,

You knew the e36 had it on the speedo, but did you know the e46 has hidden codes on the OBC as well??? not only does it have it, its got lots more to play about with.

Ive detailed below what to do to get it and also what the codes mean... Dont know about your guys, but, I just love this hidden features stuff!!!

Instructions to access the hidden OBC functions:
1. Hold Trip Reset while turning ignition key to on position
2. OBC should show "Test"
3. Use Trip Reset to select function 19.0 that unlocks all the features
3. Wait for display to show "Off"
4. Depress Trip Reset for 1/4 second and release it
5. With no delay press Trip Reset several times to select one of the following function s

BMW E46 On-Board Computer (OBC) Hidden Codes
nr example description
1 Car Engine and cluster data
1.0 46nnn Chassis nr/VIN serial number (last 5 digits)
1.1 4nnn K-number
1.2 690236 Cluster Part #
1.3 045210 Coding (04)/diagnosis (52)/bus index (10)
1.4 1200 Week (12)/year of manufacture (2000)
1.5 09_160 Hardware (09) and software # (16.0) of cluster
1.6 Not used
1.7 04__44 CAN-version (04) KI-revision index (44)
2 (test) Cluster System Test - Activates the gauge drivers,
indicators and LEDs to confirm function
3 SI Data
3.0 1098 Used fuel in liters since last SI (Service Inspection)
3.1 0231 Periodic inspection days; elapsed days (since last SI)
4 Momentary Consumption
4.0 0145+ Instant fuel consumption - 0145=14.5 liters/100km
4.1 0018 Instant fuel consumption - 0018=1.8 l/Hour
5 Distance Gone Consumption
5.0 082 Average mileage; 082=8.2 liters/100km
5.1 0536 Calc. km to refuel (momentary distance to go)
6 Fuel Level sensor inputs in liters
6.0 109330+ Fuel level averaged; Left half sensor input=10.9 liters; Right sensor input=33.0 liters
6.1 0439+ Total tank level averaged; vlgs 6.0: 10.9+33.0=43.9 liters
6.2 0442+ Indicated value (44.2) and tank phase
7 Temperature and Speed
7.0 021+ Coolant/Engine temperature (2.1C)
7.1 130 Ambient/Outside temperature - chg met 5 pts. 125/130/135
7.2 + Engine speed / Current RPMs 1/min
7.3 + Vehicle speed / Current Speed in km/hour
8 Input value in HEX form
8.0 1d0+ System voltage ADC-Value Hex code
8.1 26C33C+ ADC Values HG left/HG right
8.2 0000 ADC Value brake degradation sensor (000=o.k.)
8.3 18C ADC Value outside temperature
9 Battery
9.0 140 Battery Voltage - 140 = UB 14.0v
9.1 242013+?
9.2 074_78+?
9.3 0011+?
10 Not used
11 Not used
12 Not used
13 GonG Gong Test
14 Not used
15 Status cluster I/O-ports (bit codes) 0=low; 1=high
1st-belt contact, seat belt fastened=0; 2) ignition lock contact, key inserted=0; 3) door contact, door open=0; 4) clock button pressed=0; 5) SI reset=0, for reset=0; 6) EGS transmission failure=0
Status Digital Outputs (bits) 0=inactive, 1=active
1) Gong output; 2) Brake warning lamp; 3) Low fuel warning lamp; 4) EGA lamp; 5) seat belt lamp; 6) manipulation dot
16 Not used
17 Not used
18 Not used
19 Lock Status; unlocks functions in range 3-18
19.0 L-On/L-Off Unlock: press button when "L-Off"
20 Not used
21 Software Reset; reset OBC settings
00 End of test

hi differ,

The e36 does have it as well, but not so many functions. To acces the e36 codes you need to do the following:

Step 1: Press and hold the mileage reset button.

Step 2: Put key into ignition switch and turn to KLR (Ignition switch  position #1)
Your LCD display will show something like this "tESt 01"

Step 3: You will need to unlock the test function first so when the LCD 
Display shows "tESt 01", press the reset button till you get to "tESt 15". 
Once you're on test 15 press, and hold the reset buton for a few seconds 
until it displays "off". Now you can cycle through the test features. Here 
they are as they follow:

Test 1: Instrument self test

Test 2: Engine Data - This display is an "engine factor" value that is stored 
in the coding plug. The instrument cluster processor uses this factor in 
addition to the "TD" signal from the DME control module to process and 
display tachometer RPM based on the engine installed. For EXAMPLE:
*ENGINE FACTOR 2 = 4 CYLINDER
*ENGINE FACTOR 3 = 6 CYLINDER
*ENGINE FACTOR 4 = 8 CYLINDER

Test 3: SI elapsed distance - the total mileage in kilometer since the last 
reset. Which service is due at the next inspection (OIL SERVICE or INSPECTION)

Test 4: SI elapsed days - no value for US vehicles. Relates to Euro annual inspections.

Test 5: SI evaluation factor - for engine speed and temp. thresholds being  passed. 
Display: n = 0 or 1. engine speed (over-rev)
t = 0 or 1. engine temp.

Test 6: Fuel Level and coolent temp. - Display of hexadecimal codes in 
relation to gauge position.
Fuel gauge Hex value
A (empty)----------> 0d
End of reserve------> 37
B-------------------> 54
C-------------------> 90
D-------------------> c4
E (full)--------------> f0

Engine temp. Hex Value 
A-------------------> ce 
B-------------------> 6d
C-------------------> 5c
D (center)----------> 4f-23
E-------------------> 1e
F-------------------> 18

Test 7: Engine speed - display of current engine speed

Test 8: Road speed - display of current road speed in km/h

Test 9 Distance reading - this allows the total stored mileage to be updated 
if one of the storage components has to be replaced. This test step will be 
used if the manipulation dot is illuminated in the cluster display. Ths 
display will show the component with the lower mileage. For example:
Display of 012654 l indicates that the mileage in the internal EEPROM is 
lower than the milage stored in the coding plug.
Display of 000325 E indicates that the mileage in external coding plug is 
lower then the total mileage stored in the internal EEPROM.
Pressing the reset button for 4 seconds will over write the lower mileage 
with the higher mileage and cancel the manipulation dot. The SI data will 
also be transferred at the same time.

Test 10: Status bits (input signals) - the status of digital inputs to the 
cluster are displayed as 0 or 1. Display: 0 = input low, 1 = input high.
_ _ _ _ _ _ <--- Mileage display...6 digits left to right
1st - belt contact, seat belt fastened = 0
2nd - ignition lock contact, key inserted = 0 
3rd - door contact, door open = 0
4th - clock button pressed = 0
5th - SI reset = 0, for reset = 0
6th - EGS transmission failure = 0

Test 11: Status Bits (output signals) - the status of digital outputs is  displayed.
Display: 0 = output inactive, 1 = output active
_ _ _ _ _ _ <--- Mileage display...6 digits left to right
1st - Gond output
2nd - Brake warning lamp
3rd - Low fuel warning lamp
4th - EGA lamp
5th - seat belt lamp
6th - manipulation dot

Test 12: not used

Test 13: Country code of cluster - the display indicates the country version 
of the cluster. This cannot be changed in the workshop. Display: USA 02

Test 14: Software Reset - The reset must be carried out if any faults are 
present that are not plausible before any components are replaced. After the 
reset, the system will exit the TEST mode and the lock will be reactived.

Test 15: lock/unlock

I tried to check the E46 hidden codes, but after phases 1. and 2. I am able to check only the hidden codes from 1.0 to 1.7 (after 1.7 it goes back to 1.0) with trip reset button.

Thus, I am wondering how to get to the codes 2-21. Has anyone else had similar problems? My car is E46 318 touring, year 2000.

Thanks in advance for help!