[lights]

I parallel parked my car on the street (using the auto park feature) and left it for 3 hours. It was daylight when I walked away from that car. The parking sequence had ended and I even took over manually to reverse a bit to get off a speed bump that stretched across the road. The turn signal stalk was centered (no signal on).

When I returned, it was dark out. I found the driver’s side headlight still on. I imagine it has been on the whole time.

Any thoughts as to why this happened?

[TJ_BMW]

You must have bumped this button before getting out. It turns on the left-side lights.

I had a relative bump the lights on when he was checking out our car, and we had to put them back onto auto. Someone at BMW thought that putting buttons at knee-level was a good idea...

[LexxM3]

WTF?! Buttons that turn on individual headlights? Headlights buttons by knees? Headlights with no off timeouts in 2019? WTF?!

[TJ_BMW]

Originally Posted by LexxM3

WTF?! Buttons that turn on individual headlights? Headlights buttons by knees? Headlights with no off timeouts in 2019? WTF?!

It intended to make sure people driving past your car can see where the sides are, and wont hit it.
It won't time out, if it is designed to stay on.

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by TJ_BMW

It intended to make sure people driving past your car can see where the sides are, and wont hit it.
It won't time out, if it is designed to stay on.

Wasn't that problem solved by reflectors several decades ago? Has there been a sudden worldwide increase in incidence of this that required a complete rethink, and the solution is one that drains the battery continuously? Still WTF.

[LexxM3]

Ok, this launched me full on into research of pretty much the most obscure car feature ever. I've been driving for 35 years as of this year and this is the first I've even approximated hearing about this.

Here is a start: https://jalopnik.com/youre-using-you...ong-1822884831

And it turns out that my 14 y/o E46M3 (that is being traded in this week since the X5 has arrived at the dealer, both a :-) and a big :-(( ) has this feature — just leave your left or right blinker on (all the way up push or all the way down push) and only one side parking lights (not headlights or DRLs or fog lights) stay on (and drain the battery for no reason).

The obscurity is amazing.

[lights]

Thanks guys!! Thankfully, it didn’t repeat itself after driving off and parking in a parking lot or later my garage later last night. So I guess the feature at least resets itself after a drive cycle!!

[LexxM3]

Hopefully when coding ramps up, there will be a way to turn off or remap those buttons to something less dangerous and/or much much much more useful.

[x7-AR]

This "feature" is apparently still alive and well in the X7. Couldn't figure out why a single headlight would remain on. A simple google search led me here and, voila. Problem solved.

[jad03060]

Some of this changed with a fairly recent OTA s/w update as the rules in Germany changed. But, this function has been in German vehicles for decades...so, it's not something new. Generally, it doesn't turn the lamps on at full voltage, and in older ones, they had specific, low wattage bulbs specifically for this purpose. The logic then also was setup so it could detect if the 'normal' bulb was out, and substitute the one normally used during this parking situation until you could change the bad bulb out. Lighting and some of the really narrow, sometimes curvy roads in Europe may mean reflectors may not be all that useful.

[Fe304rdu]

Had a BMW 530i in 2002 (still the best car I ever had) and leaving the turn signal stalk in either position would activate one side of parking lights. At the time I felt very “European” living in the US when I activated it. Now I just feel silly. Aging is no fun.

[timmahh]

Originally Posted by jad03060

Some of this changed with a fairly recent OTA s/w update as the rules in Germany changed. But, this function has been in German vehicles for decades...so, it's not something new. Generally, it doesn't turn the lamps on at full voltage, and in older ones, they had specific, low wattage bulbs specifically for this purpose. The logic then also was setup so it could detect if the 'normal' bulb was out, and substitute the one normally used during this parking situation until you could change the bad bulb out. Lighting and some of the really narrow, sometimes curvy roads in Europe may mean reflectors may not be all that useful.

Ding ding ding. Narrow rows and no street lighting = cars getting hit. Having side lights on makes drivers aware of the vehicle and keeps your vehicle from getting hit. Makes complete sense, even if we don't have a direct use for it in the U.S..

[timmahh]

Originally Posted by lights

Thanks guys!! Thankfully, it didn’t repeat itself after driving off and parking in a parking lot or later my garage later last night. So I guess the feature at least resets itself after a drive cycle!!

It will never repeat itself, just as the headlights should go back to auto with each 'drive reset'.

[lake_eleven]

i had the rear right brake on today and got concerned. Then there was right parking light warning. Just had to press Auto to on.