jochen

Worst that can happen is popping a fuse because you short out a power line. All the lines to the diagnostic plug are pretty much protected from shorts to ground or battery. See image below for the pinouts, it will help you stay clear of the power lines :-)

Hi Hybrid, yeah, everything is possible when you know the file format - and I don't know -all- of the format. I know *some*, but not all... every tried analysing a single file of 80MB to understand the underlying file structure....??.... You call 3m perfect? I wouldn't accept less than 0.1m accuracy !!! 6 decimals places = 0.1m eg 34.123456 degrees, based on 1 degree of latitude = 111km BMW uses WGS84 datum for their maps. But adding maps is quite a challenge. I can add POI data, like all the BP petrol stations that sell Ultimate fuel.... and now speed cameras. I have added in my companies 400 sites, so I can search and find them, and navigate my way towards them. So you could add all MacDonalds, and have little M icons on the map. Or Burger King. Or whatever you want... Sure, you know where I am. Bring a few beers and I'll talk for hours... .. still got my phone number?

Haven't you always wanted to know where the speed cameras are located, so that you could adjust your driving style to cater for people with radar detectors that slam on the anchors at the last minute...?? OK, I've been wanting to do this for a longggg time, and it proved really hard. It's not easy in NZ as the amount of info on our BMW nav maps is much less than other countries, you have to create the data structure from scratch, and create all the files from scratch too. But I finally got it working yesterday - see the pic below (phone image) The amount of cameras visible changes according to the scale you are on, to prevent the screen from getting cluttered. At the 200m scale, all cameras appear. So if you want this on your BMW nav system, PM me!

the allen keys are not just screws, they move a retaining clamp. You have to unwind the allen key many many turns, keep going until it reaches the end of its travel (but don't force it) Then the clamps are retracted and the unit slides forwards. Jochen PS: Band expanders are crap.

If you need help with the electrics and the wiring I have the ETM (Electrical Troubleshooting Manual) on CD. It's an interactive PDF manual with every variant of E34/E36 every built, with every option for (I believe) every country. Useful :-)

You don't have tiptronic, you have steptronic Only Porsches have tiptronic :-) You might be due for a gearbox fluid change - get this done by a BMW workshop, the fluid is very special Jochen

I get 10.5L/100km on a long trip Auckland to Rotorua Around town in heavy traffic, no motorways, I'll get about 18 to 20L/100km A mix of a bit of motorway and around town, I get around 14 to 15L/100km That's for a 1997 E39 540i with the M62 engine Do the maths to get the $ value at whatever the pump prices are today

Yes, your nav CAN be made to work over here. But the nav computer needs to be replaced. The Japs have a totally different system to NZ (and Rest of World) All achieveable for <$2k PM me for details Jochen

My car has a 65 litre tank according to the manual I have, on a few occasions, filled my 65 litre tank with 68 litres !! Also, my record to date is filling up when the OBC said I had a range of 5km left Martyn: do you realise the OBC fuel consumption - and this range - can be calibrated on the E38? What you do is manually work out your fuel consumption long-term and compare with OBC, then alter the claibration value for the fuel Also: if your fuel filling problem is on the E38, there is a 'breather' or 'balancer' pipe from the LH tank to the RH tank. Some early cars (if I recall correctly) suffered problems with the balancer pipe. ?? must look it up on TIS... Jochen

The E39 MFL integrates with the vehicle via the i-bus databus. When you press a button on the wheel, the MFL control unit sends a command down the databus representing which button was pressed. So you need to fit the wheel to a car with the ibus present - which the E36 has only in very limited form. How much functionality you would get depends on whether your existing E36 radio is one with ibus remote control capability - some later models had this. Otherwise, you could make your own interface adapter with a PIC (programmable IC) if you are happy coding software and working with micro-controllers..... a few people in europe do this to add enhanced ibus functionality. Not necessarily an easy project....

I've got some original BMW volume controls at home, I can fit a replacement for you if you want. They do wear out - simple to replace. Jochen

You can add whatever you like to each. Each reservoir has its own pump, each is controlled differently On my E39, one button uses the main large reservoir. the other button delivers a couple of squirts from the 'concentrate' reservoir, and then more squirts from the main reservoir. I use normal bars-bugs solution in the big reservoir, and concentrated cleaner in the 2nd. I activate the concentrate when i have a particularly grubby windscreen.

Reprogramming an infrared remote after you've left the batteries out too long (or they went flat0 is described in the user manual. Don't pay anyone for this. Activating a key with the immobiliser system (if fitted) can and must only be done at a BMW dealer the two issues are separate.

BMW prices are good. My E39 540i manual cost me $25 - brand new! - at BMW Newmarket

6V bulbs can be got from RadioSpares www.rscomponents.co.nz

Source aTV tuner ex Europe Plus some cables (incl fibre optic!) Plus TV antennas Some research required.... You are so lucky! I have 1cm front and 2cm rear free space with my E39 540i I have to park very carefully and gently 'bump' the wall...

PPS: NZ-cars are generally low-specced compared to other countries I'm amazed at what is missing from some NZ-new cars I've seen, and a lot of it is the behind-the-scenes stuff - like quantity of speakers, heated seats, rear blinds, multi-function steering wheel, cruise-control, auto-dimming mirrors, etc etc etc But NZ-new cars have the factory alarm built in (bonus) where as Jap doesn't and Singapore? (Don't know...)

FYI: you can add TV to the Singapore E65 readily Also, Singapore nav = identical to NZ nav, just insert the disc and away it goes.... With the new gen MOST vehicles, I recommend don't get a Japper - they are hard to convert to NZ spec... Jochen

Thanks, but it's the factory system I'm trying to repair

I have a 1997 E39 540i with the same symptoms as yours Auto Steptronic Transmission holds 1 & 2 longer when cold, goes normal after approx 1k driving. I treat it gently in this period, and put it down to cold engine / cold trans. Normal. Buzzing noise from climate control is sampling air fan with noisy bearings. Replace climate control, or disconnect fan, or live with it. Mine does same sometimes. I live with it. TV monitor losing horizontal hold can be sometimes a battery voltage / reset thing. Pulsing backlight is more serious, symptom of high-voltage circuit failling. Or may be related to the above. When the high-voltage circuit fails, you'll need a replacement LCD screen.

Any one got any old, broken, unwanted screens? I need some spare parts to fix a faulty unit Jochen

I have a faulty LCD screen I am trying to repair. Does anyone have any E39/E39/E46/X5 colour LCD screen in any condition that they don't need? The LCD screen is the colour on-board monitor screen (Bordmonitor) in the dash that displays all radio/TV settings etc Any condition considered, even with broken LCD glass. I need some parts of the circuit boards... Jochen

You possibly have an ex-Japan car. The ding-ding is the seatbelt reminder. A legal requirement in Japan I think. You can confirm it by plugging in your seatbelt while it dings.

I've had the same experience. Sometimes I think BMW NZ buy their parts at retail price from other BMW dealers, then add 100% markup! Here's an idea - we could import at retail price from overseas, and sell at 50% markup, and be cheaper than BMW NZ! Jochen

I enjoy it, it's fun :-)