Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

The First Automotive Easter Egg?

Posted by Hemos on from the burn-out-the-engine dept.

automandc writes "The October dead-tree issue of Popular Science is reporting that the new BMW M3 contains what they are calling the "first automotive easter egg" in its transmission control software. Apparently, the proper combination of commands to the electronically controlled manual transmission will cause the car to rev up to 4000rpm and drop the clutch (premitting burnout, which is normally impossible). According to the article, use of the feature more than 15 times voids the warranty in Eurpoe. Other limitations of the "acceleration-assist" feature are discussed in this Car and Driver article. According to popsci, U.S. laws won't allow the warranty limitation, so the U.S. version of the software only revs to 1500rpm, but dealers will install the european software if you ask. The only other mention I could find on the web is here."

18 of 362 comments (clear)

  1. My cars easter egg! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    When i turn the key it turns on,then some pretty blue smoke comes out of the tail pipe.
    DOnt know why other people dont like it though?

  2. Re:This is scary as hell by KarmaBitch · · Score: 5, Funny

    Make sure he enters A B A C A B B first :-).

  3. Ford Easter Egg by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    As I recall the Ford Windstar 2001 has an Easter Egg as well. Flick the windshield wiper on and off 20 times in quick succession and the wiper motor will burst into flames. Ah, those crazy minivan designers, with their silly little pranks.

  4. Re:Mortal Kombat by crazyprogrammer · · Score: 3, Funny

    more on topic:

    Crusin' USA for N64

    Brake, Brake, Brake, Gas, Brake, Gas - Nitro boost

    if only that could be an easter egg in a car!

    --
    "the fax machine is nothing but a waffle iron with a phone attached to it." - Grandpa Simpson
  5. This is classic by yobbo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Imagine all the CEO's who read this article and thought 'SWEET!' , ran into the car park, got in their beamers and drove out the back of the building to lay a fat one.

  6. Coming soon to a supermarket carpark near you :-) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Title says it all :-)

  7. Re:This is scary as hell by TitaniumFox · · Score: 5, Funny

    So *that's* why mine wasn't working correctly.. I was doing the old Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A B A [Start] thing. I kept getting unlimited ammo instead of the 4k rpm drop.

    --
    -- I'd say your post was about 3 monkeys, 18 minutes.
  8. Re:Cool! by Cryptnotic · · Score: 5, Funny
    Now for someone to find the easter egg that'll cause the car to skid out on the freeway, flip over the guardrail, and burst into flames.

    1. Accelerate to at least 80 miles per hour (130km/h) while on a freeway.
    2. Wait for the freeway to change direction.
    3. Turn the wheel sharply to the left or right, then bring it back straight.
    4. At the same time, slam on your brakes, then release them.
    5. You will probably skid at first. After that, you will hit the center divider or another car.
    6. This is the point where you detonate the exlposives in the gas tank, causing the fuel to spray out into a cloud.
    7. Detonate the secondary incindiary device which causes the fuel to ignite. (This step is not necessary if the fuel is already ignited).

    Spectators are guaranteed to be awestruck. Emergency personnel will probably be confused, until they figure out the explosive devices and determine that the accident was actually an elaborate suicide.

    --
    My other first post is car post.
  9. Easter Egg? No. by guttentag · · Score: 2, Funny
    "Self-Destruct Mechanisms" are not easter eggs.

    Computer: Thank you for pressing the self-destruct button.
    President Scroob: Hey Helmet! Check this out! I found an easter egg in the ship's computer.
    Computer: nine... eight... six...
    Helmet: And a pretty major bug. What happened to seven?
    President Scroob: No, Gates said that was a feature.
    Computer: Just kidding...

  10. Calling all hackers, calling all hackers! by Alsee · · Score: 5, Funny

    So where's the post detailing a hack to reset or eliminate the 30/lifetime and the 1/hour limits? Oh, and don't forget the 155 mph governor.

    -

    --
    - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  11. Re:This is scary as hell by Colin+Smith · · Score: 3, Funny

    I use a vehicle on a day to day basis that's capable of 0-60 in under 4 seconds. It can accelerate terrifyingly quickly, It's far far faster than a BMW M3, but I've been completely unable to kill a dozen people so far.

    No need to project your own limitations on to other people.

    HTH

    --
    Deleted
  12. NOT the first by a long way by mosschops · · Score: 5, Funny

    Don't you all remember the Easter Egg in the De Lorian, triggered by reaching 88mph? I seem to remember that from about 1985.

  13. HOW TO GET 30 MORE SHIFTS by CrazyJim0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Take the shift stick, and shift up,up, down, down, left right left right, brake, gas then turn the key.

    --
    God spoke to me
  14. Talking Montego/Maestro by Martin+S. · · Score: 4, Funny

    The talking dash version Austin Montego/Maestro had a 'Marvin Paranoid Android Mode' where it complained about the abuse it was receiving from the driver.

  15. DeLorean Easter Egg! by jamesjw · · Score: 3, Funny


    I heard somewhere there was an easter egg hidden away in some GMC DeLoreans that enabled time travel, steps go something like:

    1. Ensure Mr. Fusion is fitted, if not source Plutonium (In order to supply 1.21 'Jigga'watts)
    2. When in front of steering wheel, enable time circuits on mid console... Be sure to check your destination date, year is correct on the dash..
    4. Check that Flux capacitor is 'Fluxing'
    5. Start driving, aparently when you hit 88 mph the easter egg will activate (indicated usually by a large flash of light) sending you back (or indeed forward) in time.

    Please note I have never done this, so i cannot verify its success. :-)

    Ok so its a lame post.. oh well..

    --
    -- If at first you don't succeed, lie!
  16. Re:Acceleration assist documented in manual by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    And yes, I own an M3.

    Even before I got to the last line of your post, i thought you were really cool...

  17. It's a SAD DAY by DJ+FirBee · · Score: 2, Funny

    When I need software to peel out in a BMW. WTF?

  18. Using the EE without hanging up the cell phone... by harper18 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey, any Easter egg where you don't have to use the verbal trigger "Go go Gadget Car!" is an improvement in the technology.

    --
    # Users are merely variables. I prefer to comment them out.