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Subject: Secret Displays for the E38 (reposted here for posterity) Author: DavidC (moderator) : member since December, 2003 : 12116 posts Posted on: 2005-12-07 00:22:33

Obtaining secrets from the Check Control (E38)

The Check Control in the instrument cluster of the current BMW 5/7series hides some secrets. Here is the procedure how to unveil them and how to unlock the system to get access to all tests:

• Turn ignition to pos. II
• Push right button in the instrument cluster and keep it pushed. You will first see "Check Control OK", some seconds later you will see "Test Nr.01"
• Push the left button on the instrument cluster to see the car's identification number. Add the 5 digits together and write down that number, you will need it for unlocking all the functions. Example: DG23278 will lead to 2+3+2+7+8 = 22
• Push the right button until you see "Test Nr.19"
• Push left button until you see the number that is equal to the one you calculated above
• Push right button again

Now you will have unrestricted access to Test No.3-21. If you made an error in the procedure mentioned above, Test No.3-21 will only display Lock:ON

Most of the tests are self-explanatory:

1. Display Car's identification number, HW/SW version, construction date
2. A very beautiful instrument test
3. Current consumption (liters/hour)
4. Average consumption (liters/100 km)
5. Current range
6. I think this is remaining fuel in tank. Three sets of numbers: A/B/C. And I've noticed A+B=C.
7. Engine RPM / Coolant Temp (C)
8. Current Speed (kph)
9. System voltage at Term. "R" (Battery Voltage)
10. Country/Language (US, Spa, Ger, Jap, etc.)
11. Units am/pm
12. Average Speed
13. ETA
14. Date of Software Mask
15. Production Diagnosis
16. ""
17. Display Vehicle Specific Data
18. Alarm Changeover (cont. vs. intermittent OBC chime)
19. Lock/Unlock
20. Correction factor for fuel consumption (nicht ändern!)
21. Reset all defect codes

1. Several numbers and data
2. [Dispay Test]
3. VBR: x,x (liters/hr)
4. RW-VBR: x,x (liters/100 km)
5. RW: x (km)
6. Tliters)
7. TMTL: x,x (liters) / KTMP C
8. V: x (kph)
9. UB: xx,xx (V)
10. LAND: 2=USA, 3=I, 4=E, 5=J, 6=F, 7=CDN, 8=AUS/GOLF, 0=D, 1=GB
11. EINHEIT 1: B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, BA, BB, BC, BD, BE, BF, B0, B1 EINHEIT 2: [similar to above, I didn't want to mess with it]
12. VANK: xx,x (kph)
13. ANKxx
14. ROM:
15. DIAG: 01 01 000 E3
16. PORT: 01 101010000, 02 101010000, 03...etc
17. PROM: 00 12, 01 37, 02 18, 03 E6, 04 02, 05 B3, 06 FF, 07 7E
18. HORN: DTON or [DTON flashing]
19. LOCK: ON
20. KVBR: 1000
21. RESET?

• unlocking the OBC - want to see if a low battery is causing a wheel memory glitc - JohnG 2005-12-06 16:55:14 (2201 views)
  • got it! and I DO need a new battery - JohnG 2005-12-07 00:08:53 (1691 views)
  • This should work for you... second hit (url) - M.Wong 2005-12-06 22:21:26 (2046 views)
    • Secret Displays for the E38 (reposted here for posterity) - DavidC 2005-12-07 00:22:33 (33321 views)
      • Official BMW documents are here... (url) - ripp222 2009-09-06 09:57:08 (348 views)
      • + one more step - JohnG 2005-12-07 10:47:02 (2014 views)
  • I haven't gone to look at e38.org..but I know the non Nav e38s can do a similar - Q 2005-12-06 20:04:54 (1746 views)