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1998 E39 528i - Computer and radio driving me mad.

3K views 15 replies 6 participants last post by  pest 
#1 ·
Any help or tips greatly appreciated, before I burn the bloody thing..!

528 with OBC 2, '98. High end computer in the dash
All functions except mpg, average speed and tank range don't work. This means the date, time, arrival time, and stop watch are kaput. Won't let me set these functions with any amount of twiddling, stalk prodding or anything.
Have tried disconnecting the battery, nothing.
Have put another radio unit in as apparently the computer gets its signal from that. Nothing, the clock on the radio dosen't work. This seems to be the problem but where does the radio get its 'feed' from? All the fuses are good and have swopped them about. Guess what? Nothing.
If anyone can help I will be your mate forever. If not then look out for the plume of smoke over Hertfordshire. Grrrr..!!
 
#9 ·
What works exactly? Speedo/rev counter/fuel gauge etc - please list them
What doesn't work? Just the date/time/stop watch - and when you say don't work, exactly how - is the time just dashes? Does it say set time? Please list them.
What is the radio type? can we see some pics of the radio and dash displays?
The radio gets the time from the instrument cluster so we have to get the dash on 1st...
 
#10 ·
Ok,

The stuff that works.
MPG 1
MPG 2
Range
Average speed

The stuff that dosen't.
Time
Limit
Distance
Arrival
Stopwatch
Date

I know the pixels are dreadful but I don't want to get them fixed if the unit is knackered. Catch 22!

Sorry but the upload option dosen't seem to want to work. :mad
 
#11 ·
Sorry,
The speedo, rev counter, gauge and all the rest of the dash is absolutely fine. Its just the OBC functions and the clock on the radio that are defunct.

Really would appreciate any help, even if its to just to confirm a new cluster is required. I have heard that it may be a sensor somewhere but the thread was a bit vague.

Cheers.
 
#14 ·
Try resetting the OBC then.

Press and hold the right button on the cluster, keep it pressed for about 8 - 10 seconds.

UNLOCK PROCEDURE:

1) Key to ignition pos 2 (no need to start engine).
2) Fasten the seat belt to get rid of the "Fasten Seat Belt" message.
3) Press the right button on the instrument panel, and hold it until "TEST-NR. 01" comes up (5 to 10 seconds).
4) Press the left button on the instrument panel, and the vehicle id comes up (last 7 digits of VIN).
5) Add up the last 5 digits to get the "unlock code", e.g. the unlock code for "AB12345" would be 15 (1+2+3+4+5).
6) Repeatedly press the right button until "TEST-NR. 19" appears.
7) Press left button -> "LOCK : ON"
8) Repeatedly press left button until "LOCK : xx" appears, where "xx" is your unlock code.
9. Press the right button. All modes are unlocked now.

NAVIGATING BETWEEN TESTS AND PERFORMING THEM:

- Follow steps 1) to 3) of the "UNLOCK PROCEDURE" to enter test mode.
- Use the right button to step from test to test.
- Press the left button to enter a test and cycle between modes within a test.
- Press and hold the right button to exit test mode (turning the key to 0 works as well).

Here is what I know about the various test modes:

2) Instrument test: Cute light show in the instrument panel. Ever wanted to see the speedo show 190 without having to leave the garage?

3) Don't know.

4) Current fuel consumption in liters per 100 kilometers and in liters per hour.

5) Average fuel consumption in liters per 100 kilometers and range.

6) Current fuel levels in left tank, right tank, and total.

7) Engine temperature (not sure where measured), engine RPM, and outside temperature.

8) Current speed in kilometers per hour.

9) Battery voltage.

10) Country.

11) Don't know.

12) Not sure what these are. Could be average speed used to calculate arrival time for distance to destination set in OBC?

13) Sound test. Goes through the various gong sounds.

14) Don't know. Could be some diagnostic codes.

15) Don't know. Looks like a real-time readout of some registers.

16) Oil temperature. I sometimes get a bogus -48 degrees C when the engine is not running. Corrects itself when the engine is on.

17) Don't know.

18) Doesn't do anything.

19) Locking & unlocking of the test modes.

20) Fuel correction for MPG, 1000 is the base.

21) RESET.
 
#15 ·
Have you tried to set in the options you have missing using the Prog (program) function?
Press and hold down the BC button on the end of the indicator stalk.
Prog is shown on the OBC/Radio
Press "set" - this makes the OBC show all functions via the stalk.
Or:
Press the individual items you want to be displayed in the order you want them to scroll through and then press "set"
Let me know how you get on.
 
#16 ·
Guys, thanks for suggestions. Really appreciated, I have tried to set the options via the the stalk and 'set' button individually, and as one, but to no avail.
I am going to try and do the unlock tomorrow and see what happens. A friendly specialist dealer has offered to lend/sell me a cluster he is taking out of a broken E39 to see if that works if the unlock dosen't work. He can code it to my car as much as possible but you still end up with the wrong mileage and the little red tell tale dot next to the odometer but I could live with that. :)
Will keep you posted.
 
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