The final OBC retrofit thread

I have read a little here and there on this OBC turn signal stalk, and I figured I would give it a go. Apparently if your E46 did not come with the BC button on your turn stalk which allows you to view outside temp, MPG, etc. you can install the turn stalk WITH a button and the car will begin displaying the info with a quick dealer reflash, as the E46 records all that info anyways. The car even already has a temp sensor outside, and this $300 option could be done for $30-$70. I found a used stalk at a local junkyard and picked it up for $40. The PN for a new one is 61.31.8.363.668 I was quoted $127 for a new one. I
have read a few instructions, but there were no pictures. I didn't have my digital cam with me at work though when I did it, so I used my camera phone. You will have to bear with the pics.

My car by the way is a 2000 323i.

1. Disconnect the negative post on the battery. Place it so it won't come back into contact with the battery. I read it is a good idea to let the car sit for 30 minutes. I polished a couple of my rims.



2. Disconnect the airbag. I have the old square wheel and there wasn't any really good pics for this either that I could find. It is simply 2 T-30 torx screws on the back, and they are verrry tight. I just went slow so I wouldn't strip them and they came right out.

Now you just unplug the two cable connectors for the airbag and the wheel buttons. Your airbag is off.



3. Now you need to undo the wheel its self. Use a 16mm ratchet to pull the bolt out. Now you can just slide the wheel off.

4. Now you are looking at the column. I tilted my column all the way down. On top is a plastic phillips head screw. I unscrewed the screw and then used a flat head to pop the bottom part out. On the underside of the column is a push button clip. Push the middle with a pen or something small and you will feel it pop in. I then used a flat head to pry the plasic column apart.

There are tabs on the front, I didn't get a good pic, sorry. It took a lil tuggin but it will come off.




5. Now you have the actual column exposed. There are 4 T-20 torx bolts. You must undo all 4 so you can pull the plastic ring away from the column.



6. You can only pull out about 3 inches without unplugging the whole thing, so I kept it simple. I just unplugged the turn stalk. There are 2 tabs, one on the top and one on the bottom of the stalk. Just push the tabs in and slide the stalk off the mounting circle. You will see the grooves that it sits in circled in red on my pic.



7. Time to reverse the install. slide the new stalk into the grooves until it clicks into place. Plug the white connector back in. Put the ring into place and refasten the 4 torx screws. Put the plastic cover back on the column, and refasten the screw and the push button connector on the top and bottom of the cover. WHen you place the wheel back on be sure to line up the alignment markers on the wheel.



8. Retigten the bolt in the steering wheel to 46 ft-lbs. Place the airbag connectors back into place and fasten the torx screws on the back into place..

9. Reconnect the battery and turn the car on. Directionals and highbeams work, so it seems like I did alright. Now it is off to the dealership with my new stalk.



Whole install took me 30 minutes even with picture taking.

10. You have to explain to the dealer what you did and want you wish to accomplish. I told them about the button and how it just needs a reflash through the MODIC. I hadn't found any good updated instructions so I wanted them to tell me exactly how they did it if they activated it. My service advisor was really interested in what I was trying to do, and the mechanics were as well. I told them it shouldn't take more than 5 minutes to do from what I saw.


The mechanic who deals with all the electronics told me heard it could be done, but the OBC is controlled though the BMW stereo. I have an aftermarket!! Good news is it will be a snap for me to put an M3 wheel in now.. At least you have a DIY for your OBC.

great write-up i wanna do this myself but my dealer also quoted me like a 140 dollars or so.

The OBC function should work regardless if you have a aftermarket or OEM HU.

What dealer did you talk to about getting this done? I have a few things I need flashed xenons, obc, and tranny (Once I'm done with my swap)

Good Write up BTW!

Jared

Thanks! BMW of Norwell.. What do you need flashed on ur tranny? I am pickin up a 3.46 diff tomorrow afternoon...

Originally Posted by Adenosinebambam

Thanks! BMW of Norwell.. What do you need flashed on ur tranny? I am pickin up a 3.46 diff tomorrow afternoon...

When I finish my 5 speed conversion the gear indicator will display a "!" still drivable but I would like to know what gear I'm in especially for a first time stick driver haha. Also I hear with the auto software the car will idle low in the rpm range sometimes stalling, well I guess i'll find out sooner or later.

Lucky for me my auto already came with a 3.46 so thats one mod I don't have to worry about.

Oh BTW what junkyards do you use. I've been to some around here and they always say they don't have any BMW's 99' +

Jared

Those guys dont know what they are talking about. E46FSU and I was the first ones to do this DIY. Just because you have aftermarket stereo it still can be programed to work. All they need to do is hook it up to the Modic/DIS and look for the turn signal menu and reprogram it.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...?t=16348&pp=25

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...8&page=2&pp=25

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthr...ighlight=MODIC

Originally Posted by Adenosinebambam

The mechanic who deals with all the electronics told me heard it could be done, but the OBC is controlled though the BMW stereo. I have an aftermarket!! Good news is it will be a snap for me to put an M3 wheel in now.. At least you have a DIY for your OBC.

They did hook it up, when I got back in my car the clock was set to --:--. I am sure there is a way.. hmmm..

Originally Posted by Adenosinebambam

They did hook it up, when I got back in my car the clock was set to --:--. I am sure there is a way.. hmmm..

Tom I know you have an accent and have difficulty with english up there in New england. So I'm confused is your OBC working? So they were able to make it work? What do you mean there is a way? If they did get it to work for you, then I misunderstood you.

Alex

No it doesn't work... I undahstand why you ahh havin trouble with my speech though.. My friend lives in Hoboken and noone knows what we are talkin about.. Anyways the mechanic was pretty steadfast that the OBC is controlled with the stock stereo. Anyone out there with an aftermarket stereo and an OBC that works?

Originally Posted by Adenosinebambam

No it doesn't work... I undahstand why you ahh havin trouble with my speech though.. My friend lives in Hoboken and noone knows what we are talkin about.. Anyways the mechanic was pretty steadfast that the OBC is controlled with the stock stereo. Anyone out there with an aftermarket stereo and an OBC that works?

Dude I used to live in Enfield, CT and West Point, NY so I can figure you guys out most of the time. Yeah mine. I have an aftermarket. Go to a diffrent dealership and take your Caa there!

haha will do.

I went to the dealer, and I had a diffrent tech. I explained what I did and what I was trying to do. He was just as curious as me. afetr about a half hour and a couple of phone calls, he got it working. He was so impressed I wasn't even charged for labor! The myth has been broken, all the OBC takes is a new turn stalk and a tech who is willing to work with ya.

Originally Posted by Adenosinebambam

I went to the dealer, and I had a diffrent tech. I explained what I did and what I was trying to do. He was just as curious as me. afetr about a half hour and a couple of phone calls, he got it working. He was so impressed I wasn't even charged for labor! The myth has been broken, all the OBC takes is a new turn stalk and a tech who is willing to work with ya.

See I told ya. Some of those techs are lazy and dont want to take the extra time to properly do things right. But I'm glad you got your caa's OBC working. Enjoy

I don't see any photo. What is the reason????

Thanks

.

Its a great DIY, i did my one last week 25 euro for the switch junkyard and 20 euro for decode my ODB.. al function is working perfectly. .

^How did you decode the OBD?

All: Here is Adenosinebambam's post w/ pictures.

Originally Posted by Adenosinebambam

I have read a little here and there on this OBC turn signal stalk, and I figured I would give it a go. Apparently if your E46 did not come with the BC button on your turn stalk which allows you to view outside temp, MPG, etc. you can install the turn stalk WITH a button and the car will begin displaying the info with a quick dealer reflash, as the E46 records all that info anyways. The car even already has a temp sensor outside, and this $300 option could be done for $30-$70. I found a used stalk at a local junkyard and picked it up for $40. The PN for a new one is 61.31.8.363.668 I was quoted $127 for a new one. I
have read a few instructions, but there were no pictures. I didn't have my digital cam with me at work though when I did it, so I used my camera phone. You will have to bear with the pics.

My car by the way is a 2000 323i.

1. Disconnect the negative post on the battery. Place it so it won't come back into contact with the battery. I read it is a good idea to let the car sit for 30 minutes. I polished a couple of my rims.



2. Disconnect the airbag. I have the old square wheel and there wasn't any really good pics for this either that I could find. It is simply 2 T-30 torx screws on the back, and they are verrry tight. I just went slow so I wouldn't strip them and they came right out.

Now you just unplug the two cable connectors for the airbag and the wheel buttons. Your airbag is off.



3. Now you need to undo the wheel its self. Use a 16mm ratchet to pull the bolt out. Now you can just slide the wheel off.

4. Now you are looking at the column. I tilted my column all the way down. On top is a plastic phillips head screw. I unscrewed the screw and then used a flat head to pop the bottom part out. On the underside of the column is a push button clip. Push the middle with a pen or something small and you will feel it pop in. I then used a flat head to pry the plasic column apart.

There are tabs on the front, I didn't get a good pic, sorry. It took a lil tuggin but it will come off.




5. Now you have the actual column exposed. There are 4 T-20 torx bolts. You must undo all 4 so you can pull the plastic ring away from the column.



6. You can only pull out about 3 inches without unplugging the whole thing, so I kept it simple. I just unplugged the turn stalk. There are 2 tabs, one on the top and one on the bottom of the stalk. Just push the tabs in and slide the stalk off the mounting circle. You will see the grooves that it sits in circled in red on my pic.



7. Time to reverse the install. slide the new stalk into the grooves until it clicks into place. Plug the white connector back in. Put the ring into place and refasten the 4 torx screws. Put the plastic cover back on the column, and refasten the screw and the push button connector on the top and bottom of the cover. WHen you place the wheel back on be sure to line up the alignment markers on the wheel.



8. Retigten the bolt in the steering wheel to 46 ft-lbs. Place the airbag connectors back into place and fasten the torx screws on the back into place..

9. Reconnect the battery and turn the car on. Directionals and highbeams work, so it seems like I did alright. Now it is off to the dealership with my new stalk.



Whole install took me 30 minutes even with picture taking.

10. You have to explain to the dealer what you did and want you wish to accomplish. I told them about the button and how it just needs a reflash through the MODIC. I hadn't found any good updated instructions so I wanted them to tell me exactly how they did it if they activated it. My service advisor was really interested in what I was trying to do, and the mechanics were as well. I told them it shouldn't take more than 5 minutes to do from what I saw.


The mechanic who deals with all the electronics told me heard it could be done, but the OBC is controlled though the BMW stereo. I have an aftermarket!! Good news is it will be a snap for me to put an M3 wheel in now.. At least you have a DIY for your OBC.

Thanks for updating it! I'm just glad others can benefit from this.