530xi(T) lights + software strangeness

Has anyone else noticed this, or can you reproduce this? The dealer tech is trying to tell me this is 'normal operation', but then has to admit there's a problem. I got him to submit a PUMA case (spelling??), which is a submittal to BMW of a new issue not yet widely reported.

The scenario:

1- Light switch in Auto position
2- car is parked, in a garage or when dark outside
3- car is off
4- get in the passenger side
5- slide key into slot
6- press Start twice, to turn on ignition

Lights should come on, but the engine is off. Ok so far.

7- I did this to pair my bluetooth phone, but it happens even if you don't do anything more
8- press the key so it pops out of the slot
9- get out, close door

The interior lights will fade to off, but the running lights (front & back) will stay on. (They will stay on until the battery is drained.)

10- press 'lock' on the remote

Everything turns off as it should. Walk away, and come back 15 - 30 minutes later. The running lights are probably on again. If you "lock" from the remote again, the same cycle occurs, the lights will come on again in 15 - 30 minutes, and it will do so until your battery is completely drained. If you don't go over to the driver's side and turn the headlight switch to manual OFF, that is.

The issue here is that with the headlight switch in the Auto position, there is no sematic that could be understood as the user wanting to have the running lights stay on. In an emergency situation, the user might want to turn on all the lights they could for as long as possible (to try to summon help or something). That's fine, you do that by turning the light switch ON, manually.

But with Auto mode that is not, and should not be the case; you're not indicating that the lights should remain on. Especially when you hit "lock" on the remote: that's saying "I am done, I am ok, its not an emergency, and I wish the car to turn itself off".

Can anyone else reproduce this overall scenario? I have a 2006 530xiT (I love it dearly), but my guess is that this is probably the case with most newer 530's. Note, I do have the absolute latest software upgrade (as of 1.26.2006).

cheers, all

e

Reply » 530xi(T) lights + software strangeness

First, why are you pressing the Start/Stop button twice? You're not trying to start the engine (can't put your foot on the brake from the passenger side anyway), just press it once to power things up (equivalent to "acc" or "position 1"). Also by pressing the Start/Stop button to power things up (especially twice which is quivalent to "run" or "position 2") but then just yanking the key you're not turning the car off as you expect. It is permissable to remove the key while allowing the car to retain accessory power or even continue to run (the engine that is). You need to press the Start/Stop button twice (or once for more than a brief moment) to shut things down. I think you're effectively leaving your car "on" with the lights following suit by not shutting the car off. Setting the alarm seems to mask the problem which I agree is a bug.

Reply » 530xi(T) lights + software strangeness

The user manual says to press the start button twice to 'turn on the ignition', as a first step to being to pai a bluetooth phone to iDrive. So, I was simply doing what the manual indicated.

Also, logically speaking, if the lights are in Auto mode, then removing the key (with or without pressing Stop) should also turn off the lights, e.g. resolve to the state the car was in before you put the key in.

If you turn ON the lights manually, then I agree they stay on even if the key is removed ...

This is definitely a software bug.

My question was, do you get the same result?

e

Reply » 530xi(T) lights + software strangeness

Quote:

Pressing the Start/Stop button and holding it briefly (half a second) has the same result as press it twice.

I'll have to check but I don't see why being it Auto Mode should mean the headlights should necessarily go off when my understanding from others here is that it is possible to remove the key and still restart the car within about 10-20 seconds (without the Comfort Access option). Some view this as a bug too but if you're not using the Start/Stop button to "power down" the car I would expect it to act, at least in some respects, as if there were still a key in position 2, "run". I know that if you do use the stop aspect of the Start/Stop button the lights will go off even in Auto Mode since that's where we leave them all the time.

Reply » 530xi(T) lights + software strangeness

I have a 2006 530i and have not noticed this problem. Everything goes out as it should.

Reply » 530xi(T) lights + software strangeness

Thanks all for your thoughtful feedback.

Herr Rakete (Ja, Ich spreche auch Deutsch, Kumpel), I don't understand your reply. Did you get it to happen too?

Do you mean to say that with the lights in the auto position that its ok for the lights to stay on, even after the key is removed, even after the "lock" press on the remote? I don't understand your reasoning. Please enlighten me.

mromero548, when you said "Everything goes out as it should", did you check back after about 30 minutes? Was it all still off, running lights and everything? Did you press the "lock" on the remote? Can you describe the details of what you did a bit more?

e

Page 1 of 2