greg

Well I bet that got your attention!

I followed up on a lead from bimmer.org about accessing a status screen - not only does it work, but there is some really fun info there!

How would you like to know your latitude and longitude? The direction of net G-force according to the gyro? (Did you even know the M5 has a gyro in it?) Your instantaneous speed at any time in meters per second? How would you like to know the hardware and software versions of every system component?

You can see all this and more. Here's how:

1)Buy an M5

2)Turn the key on (engine running/moving is OK, not required)

3) Press Menu, then Set to enter the Settings screen.

4) Press-hold the menu button. The display will instantly change back to the menu screen, but keep holding the menu button in for about 15 seconds and you'll get to the Status screen. There are several options there, including "Telematics" which probably only applies if you have the phone option, and Video System which only applies if you have the European model which allows you to watch TV.

5) The cool stuff is under "GPS" and "Sensors". Once you get to the GPS screen, you choose "Function" to see "tracking info" which will tell you which satellites the GPS is watching at the moment, and how many. Another function shows you the GPS status - lat, lon, speed, etc. It has a spot for Altitude but mine always read 0. Speed is in meters/sec - I believe if you multiply this number by 2.24 you should get MPH. (Would some physicist please check my work!)

6) Under "Sensors" is a really cool little icon that shows you what the gyro is feeling. This screen also reports a single number called "Wheel Sensors" the number was roughly 400 @ 40mph, roughly 300 @ 30 mph. Could this be wheel revolutions per sec?

Anyway - there is a lot of really cool info here - enjoy - but please keep your eyes on the road!

blue max

Ooooooh!

Very cool, let me run out & try it now!

I'm not going to screw-up anything, am I?

Max

alpywhite

oooh...

ummm...gotta go, I think I hear someone calling me outside...

Tim W

This is SOOOOOO true. Lets go tinker! hehehehehehe

TIm

[This message has been edited by Tim W (edited 29 December 2000).]

Omar

Greg, you were a little off....multiply meters per second by 2.25 to get mph

rtorre

It is 2.2374145...
so I guess 2.24 is close enough.

rtorre

Greg, this is great!

So, if this is Gauget Freaks II, what`s Gauget Freaks I?

Ricardo

Mark5mith

I checked this out and one of the settings said my car was a 7er. I didn't like to change the settings though.

But it's still cool anyway.

I've found another 'Gadget' too - or should that read 'Gadget 3'.

Press the two buttons together on the speedo dials - wait a few seconds and the digital display reads 'Test Number 01'. If you keep pressing the right button, it scrolls through about 20 tests. When you get to the desired test number, press the other button, which acts as the enter key. I only tried test number 2, which makes every light on the speedo display light up, the speedo and rev counter needles go right around and it looks pretty neat. If my digital camera wasn't broken, I'd take a picture to show you.

I didn't try any others, as I was worried I might do some damage. If anyone does try the others, please don't blame me if something goes wrong - I was only fiddling too!! Oh, by the way, my car is a UK spec, so the buttons may be reversed on the left hand drive models.

Mark

99 528 (SuperChipped)
01 Le Mans (March 1st 2001 - 63 days to go)

greg

Rtorre - Gadget Freaks 1 is posted on this board - re: G-Tech.

Mark - Yeah, I had heard about those but share your caution. I do believe there are ways to gete in trouble. I think there is also a lot of interesting info there - if someone knows how to snoop without getting in trouble.....

/Greg

MarcK

Greg, I have played with these test modes, and there is some interesting info there (oil temperature, current speed, current fuel consumption, fuel qunatity in tanks, etc). I'll have the details on how to navigate them without screwing up at home. I'll post them tomorrow, unless somebody beats me to it.

Marc