OBC from another country

[Yiorgos]

Hey all,

I've been looking out for an OBC to retrofit my crappy digital clock/temperature one that is currently in my 525i. Wreckers here in Australia are asking about AU$170 for one that looks like it's been ripped out of an interior with a crowbar, so I decided to browse in eBay (UK, AU has bugger all for the E34) for one.

The only question I have is does anyone know if the UK ones would suit the ones that came with them fitted in Australia? For example, the UK usually calculate fuel economy in MPG (just like in the US), but in Australia we do it L/100km. Would I be getting weird readings if I fit a UK OBC into my Australian car, or is the method of calculating economy toggled by the km/mile switch button at the top left corner of the unit?

I was thinking of getting one from the US, but the labels of the buttons are all "American" (MPG etc), and I want my unit to be as close to the Australian spec as possible.

Anyone got any ideas? Am I worrying about nothing?

[shogun]

The front cover is exchangeable and available in various languages. Not many people know that, that's why I got my spare one from Germany with a Spanish front plate very cheap.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=HC62&mospid=47380&btnr=62_0290&hg=62&fg=05

The BC unit itself is the same all over the world, as far as I know. Just switch from MPG to km etc. Left top side on the BC.
BUT, I am talking about E32, I read that E34 OBC's are with a chip?

[Yiorgos]

Wouldn't have a clue if the E34 comes with a chip or not.

Can the OBC still be used without the BC functionality on the indicator stalk? Bruno's site insinuates this, but I'm not sure myself. I don't mind not having BC switch on the stalk, I don't feel like dismantling my steering column for a switch.

[wingman]

Let us know how you go with this one. I also would like an OBC as opposed to the clock/temp gauge.

[rob101]

Let us know how you go with this one. I also would like an OBC as opposed to the clock/temp gauge.
x3
although it did give me an ice warning once.....................thrilling really:p

[Michael999]

My OBC can switch between mph and kmph for the speed limit, and the same for the consumption guage.
Also switches between F and C for the temperature.
Mine was an australian bought car, so i assume that it will be the same world wide.

[Espen]

The OBC can be used without the switch one the stalker. You just dont get the OBC text up in your instrumentpanel.
The ice warning will alert you when the temperature gets below +1 degrees Celsius. OR if the temperatursensor is not installed(-37 degrees celcius signal).

[myles]

I've done this on a 94 525i. I got a broken obc with a good front from a local wrecker for $20 and a working german obc from ebay. Put the good front on the german obc and it works well. BMW did revise the design of the obc at some stage, because the older one in my 535 is much heavier. I also had to add a relay under the rear seat. I can give you more details on that later though if you want, got leave in a hurry now...

[shogun]

For all those who can understand German:
OBC installation 57 pages,
http://www.gunnar525.de/screwings/bc4_einbau.pdf

installing a plug in a BC without code plug
http://www.gunnar525.de/screwings/bc4_umbau_codierstecker.pdf
BC FAQ
http://www.gunnar525.de/screwings/bc4_faq.pdf

The best instructions on the net, even if you do not understand German, the pics will help.

[Espen]

Those are the one and only when it comes to retrofit a OBC. I printed them all when i did it. Tried to send him(Gunnar) som emails, but never got any answers though...

[emw525E34]

Hi Myles,

I would like to know the location of that relay you added. If you can post a pic, would be very useful. Is that used to deliver power and signals to the OBC wiring harness ?.

[Yiorgos]

Let us know how you go with this one. I also would like an OBC as opposed to the clock/temp gauge.

I haven't sourced one yet, but when I get my hands on one and my radio code as well (wasn't with the service books?) I'll document everything :D


although it did give me an ice warning once.....................thrilling really.

Haha yeah, I've experienced this as well on a bitter and freezing Melbourne night.


The OBC can be used without the switch one the stalker. You just dont get the OBC text up in your instrumentpanel.
The ice warning will alert you when the temperature gets below +1 degrees Celsius. OR if the temperatursensor is not installed(-37 degrees celcius signal).

Great, so it shouldn't be much of a fuss for the whole process. Also I thought the ice warning would only gong if it dropped below +3ºC? I'm probably mistaken.


The front cover is exchangeable and available in various languages. Not many people know that, that's why I got my spare one from Germany with a Spanish front plate very cheap.
That's pretty cool, I wonder what language Japanese spec E34s and E32s have their faceplates? English?

[shogun]

The ice warning will alert you when the temperature gets below +1 degrees Celsius.

no, below +3 degree C., black ice warning. At plus 3 degree it becomes dangerous on bridges etc.


I wonder what language Japanese spec E34s and E32s have their faceplates? English?
Yes, English

[Paul in NZ]

can confirm 3 deg c twice this winter,the <ding> always freaks me out

[rob101]

can confirm 3 deg c twice this winter,the <ding> always freaks me out
try getting for the first time flying along at 120 just before dawn.
man i had all kinds of paranoid thoughts when i heard that!

[shogun]

The "Dingdong" you can have very easy.
Just pull up the hand brake a bit for a split second while driving.

I tested that today on the Highway :D
just to wake up my shade tree mechanic buddies in my car

[myles]

The relay lives under the rear seat. It's part number is 65 81 1 378 027.


It's part 12 on the realoem diagram.

The relay operates the horn when you enter the wrong code multiple times on the OBC. It also supplies power to the OBC and the OBC won't operate without it.

Bruno's site calls it the "auxiliary horn relay" and suggests that you bridge pin 17 to pin 9 to bypass the need for it, but I prefer not to cut into the wiring loom and it was cheap and easy to get the relay and install it.

[rob101]

The relay lives under the rear seat. It's part number is 65 81 1 378 027.


It's part 12 on the realoem diagram.

The relay operates the horn when you enter the wrong code multiple times on the OBC. It also supplies power to the OBC and the OBC won't operate without it.

Bruno's site calls it the "auxiliary horn relay" and suggests that you bridge pin 17 to pin 9 to bypass the need for it, but I prefer not to cut into the wiring loom and it was cheap and easy to get the relay and install it.
thats another mod for the list. which wrecker's did you get the OBC from?

[myles]

I got the front from european autodismantlers at nothgate, but they've be bought out by asv/eurocar parts and they are totally crap. Go for german wrecking at rocklea (sp? - mental blank) I think I saw an obc with a cracked screen sitting on the floor in one of their e34s in the yard recently - thats good for the front english language plate.

Rob - we'll have to meet up a some stage.

[rob101]

I got the front from european autodismantlers at nothgate, but they've be bought out by asv/eurocar parts and they are totally crap. Go for german wrecking at rocklea (sp? - mental blank) I think I saw an obc with a cracked screen sitting on the floor in one of their e34s in the yard recently - thats good for the front english language plate.

Rob - we'll have to meet up a some stage.
indeed we shall. But let me get my exhaust replaced first, smells so bad i can't drive with the windows down:(

[myles]

I have that job on my list of things to do too, but it doesnt smell bad though. I am surprised that my exhaust hasn't fallen off the car though.:)

Let me know what you are thinking about doing. I considering bringing in some parts from the usa and getting a local shop to fit it. But i've got to check to see what the local guys can supply.

[RobE34]

from Charles at C-C Automotive in the UK. perfect condition and easy to reprogram:) Give him a go.
charles.collins711@btinternet.com.
I followed the instructions on the E34 website and it worked perfectly.
Mine's an E34 1900 525i

[rob101]

from Charles at C-C Automotive in the UK. perfect condition and easy to reprogram:) Give him a go.
charles.collins711@btinternet.com.
I followed the instructions on the E34 website and it worked perfectly.
Mine's an E34 1900 525i
more brisbanite's coming out of the woodwork..... good stuff!
i vote for 2007 bimmer.info australian meet to be in brisbane!

[Yiorgos]

I'll come, as long as someone foots the petrol bill :D

[rob101]

I'll come, as long as someone foots the petrol bill :D
don't laugh i flew down for the last meet in sydney.
me and big kriss got lost in suburbia the night before the meet coming home from the city at 2 am hehe:p

[VentoGT]

Depending on how your country calculates MPG it may be different. There is a thread over on m5board right now about incorrect MPG figures and it's because there were different fuel tanks for different markets--apparently there was an 80l and a 90l tank, and if your OBC thinks you have the 80l but you have 90l your readings will be out of whack with respect to MPG readings...

[Qube]

Depending on how your country calculates MPG it may be different. There is a thread over on m5board right now about incorrect MPG figures and it's because there were different fuel tanks for different markets--apparently there was an 80l and a 90l tank, and if your OBC thinks you have the 80l but you have 90l your readings will be out of whack with respect to MPG readings...

Exactly :) My OBC is right (80L), but my cluster gauge goes to 90L :)

[Yiorgos]

Is this the same relay that controls the horn for a factory-fitted alarm? I have a factory-fitted alarm, I'm hoping an OBC BC4 would be just plug-and-play.


The relay lives under the rear seat. It's part number is 65 81 1 378 027.


It's part 12 on the realoem diagram.

The relay operates the horn when you enter the wrong code multiple times on the OBC. It also supplies power to the OBC and the OBC won't operate without it.

Bruno's site calls it the "auxiliary horn relay" and suggests that you bridge pin 17 to pin 9 to bypass the need for it, but I prefer not to cut into the wiring loom and it was cheap and easy to get the relay and install it.

[myles]

I dont know because I haven't seen an E34 with a factory alarm. You can test to see if you need the relay by checking if there is 12+ supplied to pin 17(i think) on the obc connector. If you have 12volts at that pin you probably already have the relay installed.

[Yiorgos]

Hey guys,

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but I just wanted to let you all know that I have finally swapped my old digital clock/temp gauge device for the OBC that I bought from the UK via eBay. I haven't done a write-up yet, and unfortunately I didn't take photos, however the procedure is pretty much the same as other documentation available on the net for this swap-over.

The biggest hurdle I found when doing the swap over was the cage. The cage is the plastic cradle that is in the dash that holds the radio, the OBC and the air conditioning/heating/venting controls. The cage is too short for an OBC IV, you can either replace this with a cage that fits (from a 535i or a 540i I would assume) or cut out the back so that it can accommodate the OBC. My dad and I actually filed the whole back off (about 45 mins of filing), after using a soldering iron to remove half of the back off -- the bits that hold the clock plug in the centre so that it can mate with the plug on the back of the digital clock.

Make sure that you test the OBC before plugging it into the cage -- these devices are bitches to get out, even though the lever there is supposed to assist, it needs A LOT of pressure to pop these out.

Mine powered on as soon as I plugged it in, so I didn't have a missing relay like myles did. I figured as much, since my E34 comes with alarm standard from the factory.

I did occasionally get PPPP errors, however for some reason I don't get them anymore. I found out the PPPP means that the OBC display doesn't know what car it's plugged into, but I can't explain why it doesn't show up anymore.

I also tested the CODE functionality, and can confirm that the car is immobilised and cannot start unless the correct code is entered. It's cool when it does that :D

[myles]

Good work mate.