98 323is onboard computer seizures?

[bitcore]

Sometimes, seemingly at RANDOM (usually when its a bit nippy outside) my onboard computer will go "biiiinnnggg" and dispaly what appears to be "ext. temp. 38+"
Funny thing is, this happens when its much below 38F or above 38 F. Sometimes it decides to display 37 instead of 38. I have no idea why it does this, and I wouldn't care otherwise except that it plays that beep noise like if the door was open and sometimes it's sort of startiling to be driivng down the road and hear that, and then force me to distract my eyes from the road to look and see what it's complaing about now.
Any ideas? This has happened over 25 times now. I havn't noticed any patterns other than outside temperature its under about 40F.
check control ALWAYS displays "control ok", when I press the outside temperature button, it says a fairly acurate temperature reading that's never 38 or 37 F.
Any ideas on how to at least disable the speaker for this event? I dont feel like shelling out 100+$ on ebay for a new one. I'll take my camrea and get a pic of it tomorrow, I have a good feeling it'l do it again

(BTW the LCD has a ton of dead-pixles so there is the posibility the rest of the thing is just plain retarded)

[El Presidente]

perhaps you memo function is being turned on?

[rawcar2long]

I believe this is normal. My 94 325iS does the same. It's a warming that the outside temperature is near the freezing point. So be cautious about ice!

[BMWPro77]

That's exactly right. That warning is to you the driver from the car saying that it's getting close to freezing so slow down for possible treacherous driving conditions. It's normal. All Every E46 I've sold that has an on board computer does it as well as my '99 323is. Don't be alarmed.

[bitcore]

But it dosn't say the correct exteriopr temperature...
Interesting. Any ideas on how to shut it up?

[TECH]

Originally posted by bitcore@Jan 23 2004, 09:57 PM
But it dosn't say the correct exteriopr temperature...
Interesting. Any ideas on how to shut it up?

The function that was mentione above is true, and is normal. I'm not sure if you can turn it off or not. Anybody have a manual? It should be listed if it's possible. If you were to kill the gong altogether, you wouldnt' hear a gong for anything else either.

How far off is the temp reading? The sensor for the external temp is in the front of the car, in one of the corner trim pieces, probably the driver side. Engine heat may alter the temp by a few degrees. The sensor may also be damaged, or the wires, due to the location and the occassional contact with the curb..

[bitcore]

Well here's the thing, I press the temperature button and it says the correct temperature... This random chime always says 38+ or 37+....
All I can conclude is that it's retarded and I have to put up with it.

[bimerok]

What you're seeing on display is probably recording of a temp. that activated that function. BTW this worning tells you that the temp is close to freezing AND bridges may be icy - thats exactly what it means .

If you have memo button and its activated then you will hear this sound. Press it again to deactivated it. Also if you will switch to temp. mode, it shouldn't bother you with the "bliiiinnnggg" sound any more.

[bitcore]

oh thanks, I'll F** with it later once I get it back from the tire shop. I can't wait, new cheep-o tires + TON of snow on ground + Empty parking lot.... Oh mah god.

[bimerok]

I feel it