Does X5 has 'black box'???

[nupe10123]

I have no problem with the device being in my car.

BMW does use some sort of device in the car but I'm not sure what information it tracts. In another thread I remember reading that someone took their car to a dealer and the mechanic asked them how did they like driving throught a particular mountain range. The owner of the car asked how did you know I was there and the mechanic said that the box reported that the car was driven at a certain elevation (which could only be one place in the area). I don't remeber the specifics of the story, but the overall statement was clear - BMW does utilize some sort of black box technology, however, I'm unclear as to what all it 'tracts'. Speed may or may not be one of the items. In any event, I have no problem at all with it in my X as I know how I drive and feel very strongly that it could only help me in some case - not hurt. Just my .02 worth.

[Quicksilver]

Check out the last post. http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/?p=677#comment-2773

[Tomaz]

This "black box" is just the engine control module that stores data for the BMW technicians. It stores data such as running time, maximum RPM, and other engine data. As I understand it, this data can be extracted in the event of a crash and vehicle speed can be determined from it. Vehicle speed can then be used in relation to the event or accident in question.

[DINANM3]

On SMG equipped cars they can also tell how many times you have used launch control and if it is over 25 times during the warranty period it will void your warranty. The car also definately stores the maximum rpm your vehicle has reached. I know this because I had my rev limiter raised in my 99 M3 quite a bit after extensive internal engine work and when I went in for a service one the tech at the dealer asked how the hell I got my engine to 7600 rpm if it wasnt supposed to got past 6750

[Quicksilver]

HUH???

Originally Posted by DINANM3

On SMG equipped cars they can also tell how many times you have used launch control and if it is over 25 times during the warranty period it will void your warranty.

[blondboinsd]

Originally Posted by DINANM3

On SMG equipped cars they can also tell how many times you have used launch control and if it is over 25 times during the warranty period it will void your warranty. The car also definately stores the maximum rpm your vehicle has reached. I know this because I had my rev limiter raised in my 99 M3 quite a bit after extensive internal engine work and when I went in for a service one the tech at the dealer asked how the hell I got my engine to 7600 rpm if it wasnt supposed to got past 6750

Great Post I've heard it can be a major issue with high performance cars and how isn't it Porsche that can detect if the vehicle has been racing?

[DINANM3]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

HUH???

Not sure what your question is?

[JCL]

Originally Posted by nupe10123

I have no problem with the device being in my car.

BMW does use some sort of device in the car but I'm not sure what information it tracts. In another thread I remember reading that someone took their car to a dealer and the mechanic asked them how did they like driving throught a particular mountain range. The owner of the car asked how did you know I was there and the mechanic said that the box reported that the car was driven at a certain elevation (which could only be one place in the area). I don't remeber the specifics of the story, but the overall statement was clear - BMW does utilize some sort of black box technology, however, I'm unclear as to what all it 'tracts'. Speed may or may not be one of the items. In any event, I have no problem at all with it in my X as I know how I drive and feel very strongly that it could only help me in some case - not hurt. Just my .02 worth.

That was me. You remember the story exactly. It was a 318i, 1991, that went over the Coquihalla pass in the interior of BC. The car was new, only several weeks old, so the dealer knew that I had been there very recently. I was pointing out in that post at the time that the engine box certainly did record information, and store it. I think the difference is that it likely records peak values, as opposed to real-time history (not sure here, just an idea). So, it knew that I had gone to that elevation, but likely not how many times, what days, how long I stayed there, etc. Similarly, there is likely an event logger for peak RPM, likely with a counter, but not enough detail to reconstruct that you were at xxx rpm at zzz time, for example.

I am with you, I have no trouble with this information being recorded. But then, I think that more traffic lights should have cameras on them. What is the point of telling someone to stop at an intersection if you aren't going to take action when they don't do so? Likely not a popular opinion, but I don't consider that to be an illegal search of my person.

Jeff

[JCL]

Originally Posted by DINANM3

Not sure what your question is?

I suspect the question was, what does using the launch control feature have to do with warranty? Warranty covers defects. Abuse has never been covered. Using launch control repeatedly seems like it may qualify as abuse.

Is this BMW policy in your owner's manual?

[X5Jay]

Originally Posted by JCL

I suspect the question was, what does using the launch control feature have to do with warranty? Warranty covers defects. Abuse has never been covered. Using launch control repeatedly seems like it may qualify as abuse.

Is this BMW policy in your owner's manual?

Both your comments sound a bit weird to me. If launch control is added to the car by the manufacturer as a feature, I can't imagine the manufacturer would consider it to be so destructive that it would warranty it for only a certain number of uses. Are they going to tell me I use manual mode on my steptronic too much if I have a problem with the tranny? What about if you rev your motor to within 100 rpm of redline often, is that abuse? I suppose they could put a warranty limit on the number of launch control uses given what it does, but if that's the case, I'd argue that the car isn't designed and built well enough to handle it yet and it shouldn't be there...