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OBC confusion.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 5:58 pm
by mcbonio
I'm trying to figure out how to set my OBC to display miles and Celsius.
At present it will only show miles with Fahrenheit or Celsius with kilometres. I'm guessing for German and USA markets.
How do I do it guys?
Re: OBC confusion.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 6:11 pm
by daimlerman
OBC speaks in three languages.
American...mpg and fahrenheit
Euro.........litres and celsius
English

m/g and fahrenheit
Remember that when E30 was current,we thought in F,rather than C,,,

Re: OBC confusion.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:40 pm
by Aziz
Check the wiki it all on there chaps dont know how to link

Re: OBC confusion.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:43 pm
by kam-325i
Re: OBC confusion.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:47 pm
by mcbonio
Bah, I guess its not possible then, I mean to get Celsius from Fahrenheit is not that hard to figure out,
E.g. 50F, subract 32, multiply by 5, divide by 9 = 10C
Doing that at 7:30 am in your head isn't that easy.! lol
Re: OBC confusion.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:13 pm
by TouringMatt
Tend to leave mine on 'C and convert the litres by working off the speedo, i only ever bother with time,temp and how many litres i have left in the tank

Re: OBC confusion.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:55 pm
by mcbonio
I really don't get how the MPG range counter works, I put say 20 quid in the tank, it says 130 miles to empty, if I do a 2 mile trip it will use up 10 miles, I end up getting about 65 miles on that 20 quid after initially telling me 130.
Why does it get it soooo wrong?
Re: OBC confusion.
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 12:00 am
by Sanchez
Computer says no!!!
Its not accurate simples.
Is the OBC a retro fit one or from factory, there are 2 e30 petrol tank sizes and the wrong one might be calibrated.
Re: OBC confusion.
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 12:02 am
by Sanchez
Inaccurate Fuel Range
The range function can be wildly optimistic at times, and needs to be recalibrated to give more realistic readings. To do this, brim the fuel tank and then remove the plastic grommet from the bottom left of the obc. Press the 1000 and 1 buttons at the same time to give a reading of how much fuel is in the tank and then turn the screw behind the grommet until it reads whatever capacity your tank is when full.
Copied from the zones wiki.
Re: OBC confusion.
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 12:16 am
by mcbonio
Meh sod brimming my 325i, it will think its his birthday and guzzle it all up.! I'll change it it to remaining litres like touring matt.
Re: OBC confusion.
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 5:55 pm
by HairyScreech
They SHOULD be accurate, as they know the fuel flow rate of the injectors and the open time, although i guess that doesn't apply to the range just the MPG, as the take size will need to be right as stated above.
Also it is possible that the 2 miles you have done in town at a poor mpg will be the equivalent of 10 miles at 30mpg.
Re: OBC confusion.
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 6:00 pm
by Eddie25
Ahhh this is interesting to read. As mine was off the road for a good while having engine and body work done.
When it returned my OBC had gone mad. When the analogue gauge was on the red the OBC would tell me i had about 300 km of range left
I tried holding down 1000 and 1 to no avail but i didnt know about the little screw to set.
Re: OBC confusion.
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 6:02 pm
by Cloggy Saint
I always put 50 euros of petrol in at a time and the obc tells me that I'll get over 500 km from this, which is almost double the reality. By time I'm approaching the red line on the fuel gauge the obc has figured things out and tells me I have about 40 km left which is more or less correct

. I know most the features on it are fairly useless but it looks good at night ...
Re: OBC confusion.
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 6:31 pm
by mcbonio
Yeah I love my 325's optimism, thinking it can get around 40mpg after i've filled it up. lol