Yesterday I got two interesting tips from a guy at a swedish BMW site (who got it from someone else). Maybe this is old news for you guys, but I found it rather amusing. I know the TV tip doesn't apply to you US people!
1. Service mode menu
If you have a MK2 Nav System (female voice), you can bring up a Service Mode Menu as following:
* Set ignition to pos. II
* go to "settings"
* push the MENU button for at least 20 s
The service menu has some TV, GPS Data and telematik options and info. For example it's possible to get GPS satellite status and your lat, long, altitude, speed and heading.
2. Wathing TV while driving
* Set ignition to pos. II
* enter TV mode
* enter "settings"
* enter "contrast"
* when the green contrast bar is visible, push the knob and keep it pressed
* turn ignition off (keep button pressed!)
* wait 8-10 seconds (timing must be accurate!)
* release the knob
* turn on ignition again
* Now you can watch TV during driving
To watch videotext use the same procesure as above, but chose "brightness" instead of "contrast"
This works on all 5/7 Series with the Mk. I Navigation System (the one with the male voice). On Mk II (the
newer version with the female voice) you have to use "brightness" instead of contrast for TV and "color"
instead of brightness for videotext to get the trick to work.
As far as I've heard it doesn't work on 2000 models or later. I've tried both tricks on my '99 and it works just fine!
