[Rekla]

Does anybody have experience shipping an E90 (I have a 330i) to Europe?

Can all the indications be transferred to European standards, like mph to kilometer/uur, Fahrenheit to Celcius, I-drive controls to Dutch, etc? Is that through software and where to go to get that done?

In Europe the rear-foglights are required. Is it just a replacement of the switchbox ( http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...39&hg=61&fg=35 ) or is there additional wiring involved and do the taillights also have to be replaced to accomodate the fog-light housing?

Any other things that need replacement (like the fog-lights) to get the Europe config?

Thanks.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Rekla

Does anybody have experience shipping an E90 (I have a 330i) to Europe?

Can all the indications be transferred to European standards, like mph to kilometer/uur, Fahrenheit to Celcius, I-drive controls to Dutch, etc? Is that through software and where to go to get that done?

In Europe the rear-foglights are required. Is it just a replacement of the switchbox ( http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...39&hg=61&fg=35 ) or is there additional wiring involved and do the taillights also have to be replaced to accomodate the fog-light housing?

Any other things that need replacement (like the fog-lights) to get the Europe config?

Thanks.

It is very easy to change from F to C - that is in the UNITS setting in the iDrive menu. Language change is only possible to French or Spanish for U.S. cars with idrive. Your speedometer already has metric markings so that should not be a problem.

I suspect changing the iDrive language to Dutch might be a bit of a problem although they might have the right sw in the Netherlands. Also, you might have to change the headlights and/or reflectors (U.S. specs have orange, most European standards don't allow that).

How long will you be there for? It might not be worth it.

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by Rekla

In Europe the rear-foglights are required. Is it just a replacement of the switchbox ( http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...39&hg=61&fg=35 ) or is there additional wiring involved and do the taillights also have to be replaced to accomodate the fog-light housing?

Rekla, its just the replacement of the light switch. All wiring is in place, the rear fogs were 'deactivated' for US market but everything was left intact. Its already fast beginning to be a popular cheap and functional mod here at e90post. A search will net you a couple of threads...

As Mr. Spira had indicated, you might need to exchange out the amber US spec headlights and taillights which will quickly add up.

[Rekla]

Thanks so far...

Any idea when the rear-fog light housing is installed and the rear-fog light is pushed ON, if there is an indication in the cockpit telling the rear-fog light is on? Like the little icon on the dash that lits up when the front-fogs are on, is there something like that (an icon already integrated in the display) also for the rear? Just found out that's a requirement as well (inside indication for rear fog-lights).

Reading the requirement for the rear-tail lights, I think the US ones should be fine.

Any idea what the costs would be for head-light replacement with blank/white reflectors?

Can the temperature settings of the climate control in the center console be displayed in degree C? And can the cruise control setting be dispayed in km/h? Feul consumption in km/ltr?

[Chesmu]

teh foglights simple require a new switch to be installed. no wiring changes, rear light changes, etc. and yes there is an interior indicator for rear fog lights.

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by Rekla

Thanks so far...

Any idea when the rear-fog light housing is installed and the rear-fog light is pushed ON, if there is an indication in the cockpit telling the rear-fog light is on? Like the little icon on the dash that lits up when the front-fogs are on, is there something like that (an icon already integrated in the display) also for the rear? Just found out that's a requirement as well (inside indication for rear fog-lights).

Reading the requirement for the rear-tail lights, I think the US ones should be fine.

Any idea what the costs would be for head-light replacement with blank/white reflectors?

Can the temperature settings of the climate control in the center console be displayed in degree C? And can the cruise control setting be dispayed in km/h? Feul consumption in km/ltr?

For the most part everything can be lowered to European standards. The fog switch is inexpensive, about $75, and takes about fifteen minutes to install. There is no external modification required and the indictor appears on the instrument cluster on the right, opposite the indicator for the front fogs. It's also in amber instead of green for the front.

But, there is a possible problem with your headlights. You have the amber side lights. Some countries don't allow this; parking lights must be white on the front. So, you may have to spend a grand or so to get new headlight assemblies installed. Mine cost me $2500 for the adaptive xenons and foglight switch. Fortunately, you don't need to get them to dip to the left like I did in England so when you PCS back you would then have the covetable Euro headlights without the amber.

The voice command system for a NA car is limited to English, French, and Spanish since these are the primary languages (French for Quebec, I suppose). SatNav needs the Professional system DVD that costs a little bit more than the Business system.

Temperature, mileage, fuel economy, pressures, etc. are changeable within iDrive if you have it in the settings menu. I think the climate control temperature display on the center console uses the selected setting. .

Are you accompanying the car, i.e., PCSing with the military? If you're going to use the car here, why are you interested in changing language? Do you speak Dutch, Flemish, or Germany?

[Rekla]

Yes, I speak Dutch and have the Dutch Nationality. I'm in the USA on a long term assignment. I expect to be here another 12-16 months, but then the contract may end. Possibly returning to the Netherlands, taking this beautiful car with me. The Dutch 330i with my options runs around USD 78.000 new. Yes the headlight mod is expensive, but worth it if I ship this car overseas.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Rekla

Can the temperature settings of the climate control in the center console be displayed in degree C? And can the cruise control setting be dispayed in km/h? Feul consumption in km/ltr?

Wow, you haven't really played with the car a lot

Everything can be set in metric with the exception (I think) of the cruise control display - but of course since the speedometer is in metric and avoirdupois, you'll see the setting since the red line moves to the set speed.

My car was set to temperature in C and km/l from factory delivery in Munich and when it was shipped to the U.S. still has these settings.

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by SoYank

For the most part everything can be lowered to European standards. The fog switch is inexpensive, about $75, and takes about fifteen minutes to install. There is no external modification required and the indictor appears on the instrument cluster on the right, opposite the indicator for the front fogs. It's also in amber instead of green for the front.

Rekla,

Most folks have sourced their euro light switch from JD at Crown Auto Parts (http://parts.crownauto.com/)

They have the best pricing and customer service at $53.11 plus s/h...

Parts required- 61 31 6 932 796 Switch

[JSpira]

KL, do you happen to have an image of the rear fog on? Thanks.

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by JSpira

KL, do you happen to have an image of the rear fog on? Thanks.

Johnathan, I do not have my own pics to offer, but Socalm3 started a thread with a well defined pics of the rear fogs on...

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ight=rear+fogs

[PNF]

Bring back the old thread..

what if you have no iDrive?

I dont have Nav and how do I set the temp from F to C, and also MPG to km/L? Can I only do the Temp without setting the km/L, or is it a 1 settine for all (from all setting british to metric)

Thanks.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by PNF

Bring back the old thread..

what if you have no iDrive?

I dont have Nav and how do I set the temp from F to C, and also MPG to km/L? Can I only do the Temp without setting the km/L, or is it a 1 settine for all (from all setting british to metric)

Thanks.

Read the manual? You can change items individually, no one single setting.

Incidentally, I don't think very many people outside the U.K. use any British settings.

[PNF]

Originally Posted by JSpira

Read the manual? You can change items individually, no one single setting.

Incidentally, I don't think very many people outside the U.K. use any British settings.

I guess I'd have to buy a new manual from the dealer then~~

I took the manual out for reading a couple weeks ago and because the front glove compartment is TOOOOO SMALL... I took the manual out and I forgot where I left it and cant find it anymore.. lol


so... oh well..

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by PNF

I guess I'd have to buy a new manual from the dealer then~~

I took the manual out for reading a couple weeks ago and because the front glove compartment is TOOOOO SMALL... I took the manual out and I forgot where I left it and cant find it anymore.. lol


so... oh well..

They are available online. I know they are in the BMW NA owner's circle (or whatever it's called now) and probably elsewhere.

[magmd]

Poor excuse.

I am not sure what year your car is...but the instructions should be the same.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29803

[PNF]

Originally Posted by magmd

Poor excuse.

I am not sure what year your car is...but the instructions should be the same.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29803

1) thanks for the link. Looking at it now.

2) Well, it was not meant for an excuse as it was just fact that the front small glove compartment is SMALL and i barely fit to sun glasses cases in there and I took the manual out. I mean, why do I bother? If I did bother, I wouldnt have searched and I'd just start a new thread about how to change setting/etc etc. Not very observent, are you? My sig and avatar profile both indicated rather clearly that I have an 08...

[mroach]

One thing that isn't obvious in the manual is how to change the date format. This took me a while to track down. The engine has to be on and you have to be at a dead stop. You then use the indicator stalk to go into the key preferences menu where you can change the date format to dd.mm.yy. It's the only setting that's in that key preferences menu that you can't change from the head unit's config menu. Pretty annoying.

Also be aware that these settings are associated with the key that you use. I got a good scare once when I had both key fobs in the car when I turned it on. CA picked up the spare fob which had all the default US settings on it so every single setting in the car was now wrong. Reprogrammed that fob to prevent such scares in the future

Clock, date, and climate control using correct units


Clock, external temperature, fuel economy, and odometer using proper units. Also got the rear fogs on

[IRL-MN]

Originally Posted by SoYank

For the most part everything can be lowered to European standards. The fog switch is inexpensive, about $75, and takes about fifteen minutes to install. There is no external modification required and the indictor appears on the instrument cluster on the right, opposite the indicator for the front fogs. It's also in amber instead of green for the front.

But, there is a possible problem with your headlights. You have the amber side lights. Some countries don't allow this; parking lights must be white on the front. So, you may have to spend a grand or so to get new headlight assemblies installed. Mine cost me $2500 for the adaptive xenons and foglight switch. Fortunately, you don't need to get them to dip to the left like I did in England so when you PCS back you would then have the covetable Euro headlights without the amber.

The voice command system for a NA car is limited to English, French, and Spanish since these are the primary languages (French for Quebec, I suppose). SatNav needs the Professional system DVD that costs a little bit more than the Business system.

Temperature, mileage, fuel economy, pressures, etc. are changeable within iDrive if you have it in the settings menu. I think the climate control temperature display on the center console uses the selected setting. .

Are you accompanying the car, i.e., PCSing with the military? If you're going to use the car here, why are you interested in changing language? Do you speak Dutch, Flemish, or Germany?

I have been trying to find out about the headlight issue also in case I ever decide to bring my car back to Ireland. From what I have seen of people here who have fitted the Euro headlights w/out orange reflectors, the indicator bulbs still seem to light up as side marker lights. Does this mean a software reprogram or change could turn these off? I would rather not mess with wiring if possible.

What did you do in the UK? Did simply swapping for Euro headlight assemblies actually turn off the orange side marker lights?

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by mroach

One thing that isn't obvious in the manual is how to change the date format.

Good job tracking that down. One additional advantage for systems that come with the MID instead of the iDrive central display is that you can get it to German as well as other languages while iDrive in the U.S. has only three choices (English, French, Spanish).

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by IRL-MN

I have been trying to find out about the headlight issue also in case I ever decide to bring my car back to Ireland. From what I have seen of people here who have fitted the Euro headlights w/out orange reflectors, the indicator bulbs still seem to light up as side marker lights. Does this mean a software reprogram or change could turn these off? I would rather not mess with wiring if possible.

What did you do in the UK? Did simply swapping for Euro headlight assemblies actually turn off the orange side marker lights?

When mine were converted the dealership just removed the US units and replaced them with the UK units. This eliminated the orange reflectors but, yes, the indicator bulbs would still came on. I enquired whether this could be eliminated via software and the consensus of two dealerships was no. That doesn't mean it can't be done, only that these two placed didn't think it could. I left it at that since the vehicle received a SVA.