Test Mode - Hidden Codes in Your Car!

Test Mode--Hidden Codes in your car! https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?736153-Test-M...
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Forum BMW Models Z Series 1996 - 2002 Z3 (E36/7, E36/8)
Test Mode--Hidden Codes in your car!
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Thread: Test Mode--Hidden Codes in your car!
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04-25-2007, 07:19 PM #1
Join Date: Sep 2005

cngizbleevng Location: Boiling Springs, PA
Top-Hoist Posts: 5,875
My Cars: '02 Z3 3.0i/'10
Cooper S
Test Mode--Hidden Codes in your car!

I was reading about this recently and was totally fascinated.... Give it a try!
BMW Self-Test Mode Instructions:
Instructions to access the hidden functions:

1. Hold Trip Reset while turning ignition key to position 1.
2. LCD should show "Test 1.0"
3. Press the reset button again to select function 19.0 that unlocks all the features
3. Wait for display to show "Off"
4. Depress Trip Reset for 1/4 second and release it
5. Then with no delay, press Trip Reset several times to select one of the following
functions.
==========================================
BMW E46 On-Board Computer (OBC) Hidden Codes (works on some E36s as well):
1. Car Engine and cluster data

1.0 VIN number (last 5 digits)
1.1 K number (my car shows a mileage counter of some sort)
1.2 Cluster Part #
1.3 Coding (12)/diagnosis (34)/bus index (56) (ex. 123456)
1.4 Week/Year of cluster manufacture (ww/yy)
1.5 Hardware and Software cluster #s (ex. 09_160 = hardware '09' and software '16.0')
1.6 ?
1.7 CAN-version and KI-revision index (ex. 04_44 = CAN-version '04' and KI-revision
index '44')
1 of 15 7/12/2020, 13:52
2. Cluster System Test - Activates the gauge drivers, indicators and LEDs to confirm
function (this is a fun one to watch).
3. Service Inspection Data

3.0 Used fuel in liters since last Service Inspection
3.1 elapsed days since last Service Inspection (mine reads zero, which doesn’t match)
4. Fuel Consumption
4.0 Instant fuel consumption (ex. 0145+ =14.5 liters/100km)
4.1 Instant fuel consumption (ex. 0018=1.8 l/Hour)
5. Distance Gone Consumption (this feature doesn’t work on my car)

5.0 Average mileage (ex. "082" = 8.2 liters/100km)
5.1 km to refuel
6. Fuel Level sensor inputs in liters

6.0 Fuel level averaged (ex. 109330+ = Left half sensor input 10.9 liters;
Right sensor input 33.0 liters)
6.1 Total tank level averaged: (10.9+33.0=43.9 liters)
6.2 Indicated value (0442+ = 44.2) and tank phase
7. Temperature and Speed

7.0 Coolant/Engine temperature (ex. 021 = 21C) (this one’s also really interesting. my
car ranged from 82 to 98 C. once the engine was warmed up—leave this one on as you’re
driving around).
7.1 Ambient/Outside temperature - chg met 5 pts. 125/130/135 (didn’t work on my car).
7.2 Engine speed / Current RPMs 1/min
7.3 Vehicle speed / Current Speed in km/hour
8. Input value in HEX form (I didn’t understand any of this stuff)

8.0 1d0+ System voltage ADC-Value Hex code
8.1 26C33C+ ADC Values HG left/HG right
8.2 ADC Value brake degradation sensor (000=o.k.)
8.3 ? (mine read 38C000)
9. Battery
9.0 Battery Voltage (ex. 140 = 14.0v)
9.1 ?
9.2 ?
9.3 ?
10. Country of Destination? (mine read ----US)
11. ? (mine read FFFF08)
12. Not used
13. Gong Test—press trip button briefly to test chime.
14. ?
14.0 ? (mine read C78100)
14.1 ? (mine read 000000)
14.2 ? (mine read 000000)
14.3 ? (mine read 000000)
14.4 ? (mine read 000000)
15. Status cluster I/O-ports (bit codes) 0=low; 1=high (all these were hard to interpret)
1) belt contact, seat belt fastened=0; (fasten seat belt and you’ll see a change)
2) ignition lock contact, key inserted=0;
2 of 15 7/12/2020, 13:52
3) door contact, door open=0; (open or close door and you’ll see a change)
4) clock button pressed=0;
5) SI reset=0, for reset=0;
6) EGS transmission failure=0
Status Digital Outputs (bits) 0=inactive, 1=active
1) Gong output;
2) Brake warning lamp;
3) Low fuel warning lamp;
4) EGA lamp;
5) seat belt lamp;
6) manipulation dot
16. ?
16.0 ?
16.1 ? (my car shows --lo--)
17. ? (a timer of some sort but doesn’t match up to any service interval or other event I
can determine)
18. Not used
19. Lock Status; unlocks functions in range 3-18

19.0 L-On / L-Off (to unlock, press button when "L-Off")
20. ? (countdown timer of some sort)

20.0 displays what appears to be a meaningless number
20.1 counts down final digit
20.2 counts down next-to-last digit
20.3 counts down third-to-last digit
21 Software Reset; reset OBC settings (I didn’t want to mess with this one!)
00 End of test
=======================================
A few notes for those who are interested in the self-test mode:
To unlock the tests 3-18, select test 19, wait for the display to show "L-Off" and press the
button *briefly*. The display will then show "test 0" and you can step though to select the
test you want. Having played with a test, press and hold the button for about half a
second to exit the test. This brings you back to the test selection and you can select
another test. Unlock doesn't seem to be persistent - once you exit test mode you have to
re-unlock it! If you find that test mode has exited (the odometer displays your mileage),
then you need to turn the ignition off to re-enter.
Fascinating stuff! I guess some of you can get some of this info with your OBC clock. My
car only has the analog version with no computer info.
Last edited by cngizbleevng; 04-25-2007 at 09:25 PM.
--Matt--
My Powered Paragliding YouTube Channel
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04-25-2007, 08:00 PM #2
Join Date: Jul 2003
3 of 15 7/12/2020, 13:52
Location: Dexter, MI
dwm Posts: 2,244
Member My Cars: 2002 M roadster
Not really news... much of this is in the Bentley, as well as the process for recoding the
cluster.
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04-25-2007, 08:02 PM #3
Join Date: Apr 2007

Unique MjC Location: Windy City....
Member Posts: 288
My Cars: E39, 745i v. soon
Does this work on a e39
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04-25-2007, 08:07 PM #4
Join Date: Oct 2005

jameswbl Location: Ontario, Canada
Member Posts: 388
My Cars: Mcoupe 1999, Delsol
93
does it work on S52???
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04-25-2007, 08:31 PM #5
Join Date: Sep 2005

My Cars: '02 Z3 3.0i/'10
Cooper S
Originally Posted by dwm
Not really news... much of this is in the Bentley, as well as the process for recoding the
cluster.
Most of this is not in Bentley. I just looked. Alot of this info is "on the fly" data while your
car is in operation.
Last edited by cngizbleevng; 04-25-2007 at 09:13 PM.
--Matt--
4 of 15 7/12/2020, 13:52
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04-25-2007, 09:29 PM #6
Join Date: Sep 2005

My Cars: '02 Z3 3.0i/'10
Cooper S
Originally Posted by Unique MjC

Does this work on a e39
Originally Posted by jameswbl
does it work on S52???
I don't know, but it's easy enough to try.
--Matt--
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04-25-2007, 10:51 PM #7
Join Date: Jan 2006

SoCalDan Location: Los Angeles
Member Posts: 373
My Cars: M Roadster
Won't help M Roadster owners :-(
Los Angeles
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04-25-2007, 11:13 PM #8
Join Date: Jan 2007

ArcSil328 Location: Central Ct.
Member Posts: 315
My Cars: 530i sport, Buell
5 of 15 7/12/2020, 13:52
Test 21 just resets the dampened sensors, such as the fuel level sensor or ambient air
temp. Its used if you replace or want to reset these sensors. I wont mess nething up lol.
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04-26-2007, 02:30 AM #9
Join Date: Feb 2004

bimmerZ5 Location: Chula Vista, CA
forever an autodidactic.. Posts: 3,454
My Cars: Z3 3.0i Roadster,
E39 530i, Toyota Previa S/C
interesting.. where did you find this info?
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04-26-2007, 03:45 AM #10
Join Date: Apr 2005

wyiel Location: Puget Sound
Member Posts: 443
My Cars: E46 M3, '02 ///M
Roadster (sold)
Originally Posted by SoCalDan
Won't help M Roadster owners :-(
This works just fine on my '02 ///M Roadster...
"no no, seriously... how can your car be this dirty?"
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04-26-2007, 10:28 AM #11
Join Date: Sep 2005

Location: Boiling Springs, PA
Posts: 5,875
My Cars: '02 Z3 3.0i/'10
Cooper S
6 of 15 7/12/2020, 13:52
cngizbleevng
Top-Hoist
Originally Posted by bimmerZ5
interesting.. where did you find this info?
There was a mention of it on the British forum.
--Matt--
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04-26-2007, 01:16 PM #12
Join Date: Oct 2005

Member Posts: 388
93
for M without OBC...heres how can be done with the cluster...
Step 1. Press and hold the mileage reset button.

Step 2. Put key into ignition switch and turn to position #1
Your LCD display will show something like this "tESt 01"
Step 3. Once "tESt 01" is shown, let go of reset button and the IC (Instrument Cluster)
will go through some test cycles. Numbers will be shown and here's what they mean:
1st display: BMW PART NUMBER (6 digits)
2nd display: CODE NUMBER (5 digits) Internal Coding Plug #
3rd display: K NUMBER (4 digits)
4th display: CHASSIS NUMBER (5 digits) this is part of your VIN
5th display: SOFTWARE VERSION (3 digits)
6th display: REVISION INDEX (2 digits) Hardware #
After all 6 displays are finished, an analog gauge test will be performed.
Step 1: Press and hold the mileage reset button.

Step 2: Put key into ignition switch and turn to KLR (Ignition switch position #1) Your LCD
display will show something like this "tESt 01"
Step 3: You will need to unlock the test function first so when the LCD Display shows
"tESt 01," press the reset button till you get to "tESt 15." Once you're on test 15 press,
and hold the reset button for a few seconds until it displays "off." Now you can cycle
through the test features. Here they are as they follow:
Test 1: Instrument self test
7 of 15 7/12/2020, 13:52
Test 2: Engine Data - This display is an "engine factor" value that is stored in the coding
plug. The instrument cluster processor uses this factor in addition to the "TD" signal from
the DME control module to process and display tachometer RPM based on the engine
installed. For EXAMPLE:
*ENGINE FACTOR 2 = 4 CYLINDER
Test 3: SI elapsed distance - the total mileage in kilometer since the last reset. Which
service is due at the next inspection (OIL SERVICE or INSPECTION)
Test 4: SI elapsed days - no value for US vehicles. Relates to Euro annual inspections.
Test 5: SI evaluation factor - for engine speed and temp. thresholds being passed.
Display: n = 0 or 1. Engine speed (over-rev)
t = 0 or 1. Engine temp.
NOTE: "n0" means that you hit the maximum threshold for engine speed and "t1" means
you overheated the engine. Apparently this test 5 is false due to software related
problems.... so it's useless
Test 6: Fuel Level and coolant temp. - Display of hexadecimal codes in relation to gauge
position.
Fuel gauge ----> Hex value
A (empty)---------> 0d
End of reserve---> 37
B-------------------> 54
C-------------------> 90
D------------------> c4
E (full)-----------> f0
Engine temp. ----- Hex Value

A----------------------> ce
B----------------------> 6d
C----------------------> 5c
D (center)----------> 4f-23
E-----------------------> 1e
F-----------------------> 18
Test 7: Engine speed (Digital Tach)- display of current engine speed
Test 8: Road speed - display of current road speed in km/h
Test 9 Distance reading - this allows the total stored mileage to be updated if one of the
storage components has to be replaced. This test step will be used if the manipulation dot
is illuminated in the cluster display. This display will show the component with the lower
mileage. For example:
Display of 012654 l indicates that the mileage in the internal EEPROM is lower than the
mileage stored in the coding plug.
Display of 000325 E indicates that the mileage in external coding plug is lower then the
total mileage stored in the internal EEPROM.
Pressing the reset button for 4 seconds will over write the lower mileage with the higher
mileage and cancel the manipulation dot. The SI data will also be transferred at the same
time.
Test 10: Status bits (input signals) - the status of digital inputs to the cluster are
displayed as 0 or 1.
Display: 0 = input low, 1 = input high.
_ _ _ _ _ _ <--- Mileage display...6 digits left to right
1st - belt contact, seat belt fastened = 0
2nd - ignition lock contact, key inserted = 0
8 of 15 7/12/2020, 13:52
3rd - door contact, door open = 0

4th - clock button pressed = 0
5th - SI reset = 0, for reset = 0
6th - EGS transmission failure = 0
Test 11: Status Bits (output signals) - the status of digital outputs is displayed.
Display: 0 = output inactive, 1 = output active
_ _ _ _ _ _ <--- Mileage display...6 digits left to right
1st - Gong output
2nd - Brake warning lamp
3rd - Low fuel warning lamp
4th - EGA lamp
5th - seat belt lamp
6th - manipulation dot
Test 12: not used
Test 13: Country code of cluster - the display indicates the country version of the cluster.
This cannot be changed in the workshop. Display: USA 02
Test 14: Software Reset - The reset must be carried out if any faults are present that are
not plausible before any components are replaced. After the reset, the system will exit the
TEST mode and the lock will be reactived.
Test 15: lock/unlock
ONLY tests 6-8 are cool to play with while driving...
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04-26-2007, 02:19 PM #13
Join Date: Sep 2005

My Cars: '02 Z3 3.0i/'10
Cooper S
Excellent James! Now where did you come across this information?
--Matt--
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04-26-2007, 02:29 PM #14
Join Date: Oct 2005

Member Posts: 388
9 of 15 7/12/2020, 13:52
93
its part of the bentley manual....your initial post made me went to dig it up...
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04-26-2007, 03:34 PM #15
Join Date: Feb 2005

confuZion3 Location: Baltimore, MD
The tire slayer. Posts: 1,396
My Cars: 2000 Z3 2.3
Originally Posted by cngizbleevng
A few notes for those who are interested in the self-test mode:
To unlock the tests 3-18, select test 19, wait for the display to show "L-Off" and press
the button *briefly*. The display will then show "test 0" and you can step though to
select the test you want. Having played with a test, press and hold the button for about
half a second to exit the test. This brings you back to the test selection and you can
select another test. Unlock doesn't seem to be persistent - once you exit test mode you
have to re-unlock it! If you find that test mode has exited (the odometer displays your
mileage), then you need to turn the ignition off to re-enter.
Fascinating stuff! I guess some of you can get some of this info with your OBC clock. My
car only has the analog version with no computer info.
Ok, so this works for those of us (like you) that have the analog clock instead of the little
trip computer? I suppose we'd push the little button on the dashboard next to the
speedometer then, right? I'm about to go try this.
God, I hope this works and that I knew about it three days ago when I took pictures of
my gauge cluster for a photo project (these pictures turned out really well and I'll post
them when I get them back from the professor--they're real pictures--not digital).
Tires are Evil. They MUST be destroyed.
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04-26-2007, 05:12 PM #16
Join Date: Sep 2005

My Cars: '02 Z3 3.0i/'10
Cooper S
yes, press the trip reset button to activate these features. It may work for those with the
on-board computer too, I'm just not sure.
10 of 15 7/12/2020, 13:52
--Matt--
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04-26-2007, 05:13 PM #17
Join Date: Feb 2005

confuZion3 Location: Baltimore, MD
The tire slayer. Posts: 1,396
My Cars: 2000 Z3 2.3
Sweet!
Tires are Evil. They MUST be destroyed.
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04-26-2007, 05:14 PM #18
Join Date: Sep 2005

My Cars: '02 Z3 3.0i/'10
Cooper S
Originally Posted by jameswbl
its part of the bentley manual....your initial post made me went to dig it up...
What page was that on??? I looked through the Bentley manual last night and I couldn't
find it anywhere.
Apologies to DWM if it is in there, I replied to his post saying it wasn't.
--Matt--
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04-26-2007, 06:30 PM #19
Join Date: Oct 2005

Member
11 of 15 7/12/2020, 13:52
Posts: 388
93
as far as i know...the DME of S52 M52 only has up to option 15...unlike the M54 DME
which I assume goes up to 21...
sorry it wasnt the bentley...made a mistake...its out of BMW official material available to
dealers...as part of the Drive information system...
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04-26-2007, 10:50 PM #20
Join Date: Sep 2005

My Cars: '02 Z3 3.0i/'10
Cooper S
Yeah, mine's an M54 and it does go up to 21, as my original post indicated.
--Matt--
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05-05-2007, 01:11 PM #21
Join Date: Sep 2005

My Cars: '02 Z3 3.0i/'10
Cooper S
Was playing around with this this morning on my way to work and noticed something
interesting.
I was running the coolant/engine temp test (#7.0) and I noticed that if I left my car in a
lower gear with higher revs, the temp dropped over the course of a minute or two to
about 84C. If I used higher gears and therefore lower revs (while maintaining the same
speed), the temp raised to about 94C. I would have expected the opposite result.
I guess the water pump runs faster with the higher revs and helps to cool the engine
more, but I'm no gearhead so maybe someone else can answer this one....
--Matt--
12 of 15 7/12/2020, 13:52
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05-05-2007, 04:14 PM #22
Join Date: Jan 2006

Codeman Location: Colton,
Widebody BMW Oreeeeeeeeeeeee
Posts: 3,223
My Cars: Z3 and Z4 M Coupe
On my 1.9 this worked, but on my new 2.8 it only goes to test 15, also my new car does
not have the body computer in the dash like the old one... Does this play a roll?
Drink wine! BMW CCA #373875 - 2007 M Coupe (project) - 2000 Z3 Coupe - 2015
Impreza wagon
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05-05-2007, 04:32 PM #23
Join Date: Jul 2003

dwm Location: Dexter, MI
Member Posts: 2,244
My Cars: 2002 M roadster
Originally Posted by cngizbleevng

Was playing around with this this morning on my way to work and noticed something
interesting.
I was running the coolant/engine temp test (#7.0) and I noticed that if I left my car in a
lower gear with higher revs, the temp dropped over the course of a minute or two to
about 84C. If I used higher gears and therefore lower revs (while maintaining the same
speed), the temp raised to about 94C. I would have expected the opposite result.
I guess the water pump runs faster with the higher revs and helps to cool the engine
more, but I'm no gearhead so maybe someone else can answer this one....
Water flow rate isn't as significant as the mechanical engine fan speed. Slow down the
water, it sits in the engine longer but it also sits in the radiator longer. But speed up the
13 of 15 7/12/2020, 13:52
fan and you get more heat exchange through the radiator.
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05-05-2007, 04:35 PM #24
Join Date: Mar 2007

deshaz3 Location: podgorica
Member Posts: 11
My Cars: 530d , z3 1.8
Originally Posted by Codeman
On my 1.9 this worked, but on my new 2.8 it only goes to test 15, also my new car does
not have the body computer in the dash like the old one... Does this play a roll?
NO your 2.8 is older then 1.9

new have 21(e46) e36/8 older 15(e36) e36/7
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05-05-2007, 07:22 PM #25
Join Date: Sep 2005

My Cars: '02 Z3 3.0i/'10
Cooper S
Originally Posted by dwm
Water flow rate isn't as significant as the mechanical engine fan speed. Slow down the
water, it sits in the engine longer but it also sits in the radiator longer. But speed up the
fan and you get more heat exchange through the radiator.
So the fan speed is dictated by the engine rpms?
--Matt--
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Forum What's New? Classifieds Home Vendors Vendor Specials Store

Forum BMW Models Z Series 1996 - 2002 Z3 (E36/7, E36/8)

Test Mode--Hidden Codes in your car!

Results 1 to 25 of 35 Page 1 of 2 1 2 Last

Thread: Test Mode--Hidden Codes in your car!

Join Date: Sep 2005

Test Mode--Hidden Codes in your car!

BMW Self-Test Mode Instructions:

Instructions to access the hidden functions:

1. Car Engine and cluster data

3. Service Inspection Data

5. Distance Gone Consumption (this feature doesn’t work on my car)

6. Fuel Level sensor inputs in liters

7. Temperature and Speed

8. Input value in HEX form (I didn’t understand any of this stuff)

10. Country of Destination? (mine read ----US)

11. ? (mine read FFFF08)

12. Not used

13. Gong Test—press trip button briefly to test chime.

18. Not used

19. Lock Status; unlocks functions in range 3-18

20. ? (countdown timer of some sort)

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Join Date: Jul 2003

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Join Date: Apr 2007

Does this work on a e39

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Join Date: Oct 2005

does it work on S52???

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Join Date: Sep 2005

Originally Posted by dwm

My Powered Paragliding YouTube Channel

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Join Date: Sep 2005

Originally Posted by Unique MjC

Originally Posted by jameswbl

does it work on S52???

I don't know, but it's easy enough to try.

My Powered Paragliding YouTube Channel

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Join Date: Jan 2006

Won't help M Roadster owners :-(

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Join Date: Jan 2007

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Join Date: Feb 2004

interesting.. where did you find this info?

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04-26-2007, 03:45 AM #10

Join Date: Apr 2005

Originally Posted by SoCalDan

Won't help M Roadster owners :-(

This works just fine on my '02 ///M Roadster...

"no no, seriously... how can your car be this dirty?"

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04-26-2007, 10:28 AM #11

Join Date: Sep 2005

Originally Posted by bimmerZ5