Blackbox (Event Data recorder)
 

Do we have one?
If so where is it?

Yes! there is a data recorder I understand within the ECU, how much and what type of data it holds I do not know! but BMW dealers can interrogate it if they wish. I am aware that on the M series 3/5/6 models data is recorded, for example they only warrant the clutch provided the driver has not used launch control more than 5 times in the life of the car or between clutch changes !!!!! They know what speeds have been done, engine rev ranges etc etc. I have also heard they read the key when you go in for a service, whether this is the same data not sure!!!!

What kind of information were you hoping the car would store?

- I know the power module stores the condition of the car battery over the previous 5 days. It also recorders the percentage charge the battery had in the five journeys recently completed. It also stores the number of kms & the date since the last time the battery was changed, assuming it is registered properly.

- The SMG module stores the number of times launch control is used (M6).

- Adaptations are stored for engine & gearbox

- Details of the five previous journeys like number of km travelled & average speed also stored

- The heating, locks, radio, seats & steering wheel remember settings for the different keys used with the car.

- The current state of all the service items is stored with estimated percentage of life left till the next replacement date

- The vehicle build (VO) is stored in the CAS & LMA modules (in both in case one fails). The VO is a list of all the options in the car

- Each model is coded according the the market it is sold in & is model specific coded where the same module is used in multiple cars.

- The airbag module stores cash data in the event of a cash, what was deployed when, what speed was, etc.

There's probably lots more information remembered across multiple modules but there's no central place for it all.

Just curious...
There has been a lot of talk lately on cars in the USA be equipped with event recorders for possible investigative actions in the event of an accident.
Data like if you are wearing your seat-belt, speed etc for insurance companies and law enforcement.
Its bringing up a lot of big brother issues and so people are out to see how they can disable them...

It may very well be recorded, I know when you read a fault it usually gives lots of supporting info where relevant, like the miles when error occurred, engine temp, speed, rpm value, frequency of occurance, etc.

Here's an example of what is recorded:

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...Profilee63.jpg

That's pretty cool. What software is that?

That is DIS (v57) software. Here is another two screen shots. The first one shows the state of charge over the past 5 days.
The second shot is showing the number of hours the battery has spent in each of the bands of percentage state of charge. It also shows when the battery was registered.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...nditione63.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...n/Battery4.jpg