[Nikki]

So I go out to my car today and my driver's side tailight and angel eye are on. WTF?

I turned the auxiliary on and switched the lights from automatic to off and then back and the all of the lights came back on again. I started the car and it started no problem and turned it off an on and the lights were fine.

Lucily I got photos for proof lol.

Has anyone else experienced this?

[HyperM3]

From what Ive read, you must have hit the turn stalk to the left before you got out of the car. This will keep whatever side you bump it to lit until you turn the car back on.

[Nikki]

Well that is odd, but I am glad to hear it isn't a problem with my car! What is the purpose of this feature??

[HyperM3]

Originally Posted by Nikki

Well that is odd, but I am glad to hear it isn't a problem with my car! What is the purpose of this feature??

From page 81 of the manual:

Roadside parking lamps, left or right*
There is an additional option of switching on the
lamps on the side of the car facing the road
when parked.

Switching on
After parking the vehicle, press the lever up or
down beyond the pressure point, arrow 3.

The roadside parking lamps drain the battery.
Therefore, do not leave them on for
unduly long periods of time, otherwise the battery
might not have enough power to start the
engine.

Switching off
Briefly press the lever in the opposite direction
to the pressure point, arrow 3.

[Nikki]

I still don't see why you wouldn't just turn both on?

[pokerface]

parking lights - it's a feature they use in Europe where you can park your car on a dark street and hit the stalk so that you'll illuminate one side of the car so they won't just run into you

I personally don't like the way BMW does it because you might hit the stalk accidentally and come back the next morning with a dead battery.

[pokerface]

Originally Posted by Nikki

I still don't see why you wouldn't just turn both on?

cz then you'd be draining your battery twice as fast.

[!Xoible]

Originally Posted by pokerface

parking lights - it's a feature they use in Europe where you can park your car on a dark street and hit the stalk so that you'll illuminate one side of the car so they won't just run into you

I personally don't like the way BMW does it because you might hit the stalk accidentally and come back the next morning with a dead battery.

+1

[E90RWC]

Sorry about the issue, but those pics are hilarious to me.

[OC Guy]

Your car is winking at you Nikki. What were you wearing??? JK!

[533ogetnom]

Originally Posted by Nikki

Well that is odd, but I am glad to hear it isn't a problem with my car! What is the purpose of this feature??

so dumbass drunk people dont hit you at night, seriously though, like when you park somewhere like the tamp places in cities that are also driving lanes too

Originally Posted by Nikki

I still don't see why you wouldn't just turn both on?

Originally Posted by pokerface

cz then you'd be draining your battery twice as fast.

exactly

[halB]

Such feature is designed for outside of North America where cars are not required to have amber and red reflectors at the front and rear corners (and those in North America who remove their amber reflectors and/or install European taillights), because other drivers can't see you in the dark when your car is off.

[ksfrogman]

Originally Posted by OC 335i

Your car is winking at you Nikki. What were you wearing??? JK!

Haha. I was going to say that.

[Crazy Bimmer]

so easy to blame BMW... sheesh!

[wesley_willis]

i wonder exactly how long an "unduly long" period of time is.. anyone want to be the guinea pig?

[SoYank]

I like this feature. I'll even use it as needed when I get back to the U.S. next year.

[tctic]

I wonder why BMW doesn't turn these parking lamps off when the battery is starting to run low. They already have the ability to tell when the voltage is low already and will give you a warning if the battery is running low. Why not have the car turn off the lights when it thinks the lights are risking a problem with starting the car?

[phazedkid]

Originally Posted by tctic

I wonder why BMW doesn't turn these parking lamps off when the battery is starting to run low. They already have the ability to tell when the voltage is low already and will give you a warning if the battery is running low. Why not have the car turn off the lights when it thinks the lights are risking a problem with starting the car?

because despite the chances, what if the car did that and some idiot didn't see your car on the roadside in the dark (since the car turned the lights off to save battery) and hit it? i think that would be far worse than draining the battery. so bmw left it on and advises the owners to have some common sense and not leave it on for too long.

then again, idk too many completely dark roads where you'd want to park and get out of the car. like some said this is mainly for europe i guess.

[Pretender]

Originally Posted by pokerface

parking lights - it's a feature they use in Europe where you can park your car on a dark street and hit the stalk so that you'll illuminate one side of the car so they won't just run into you

I personally don't like the way BMW does it because you might hit the stalk accidentally and come back the next morning with a dead battery.

Whatever, I bet that you and many people will whine if this feature is offerred in other cars only but BMW. Now stop complaining because >99% owners in here didn't "hit the stalk accidentally and come back the next morning with a dead battery".

[Chesmu]

you don't gaze lovingly at your car for five minutes after getting out?

that would ensure not draining your battey by accident.

[phazedkid]

Originally Posted by Chesmu

you don't gaze lovingly at your car for five minutes after getting out?

that would ensure not draining your battey by accident.

[LyriCeZ]

Well unless you don't look at your information display above your steering wheel when your car chimes LOUD AS HELL at you.. I find it really hard to believe you would get out your car not knowing you did it. It chimes and shows the parking light icon in the display as soon as you enable this feature...

But if you were drunk when you did it.. thats another story

I don't use it often myself but I see it used here in germany a lot! If I ever felt my car was at risk of being hit where I parked it and I couldn't move it somewhere else.. I know this feature would at least make me feel better about leaving it parked where it was..

Funny how people are quick to talk *%#@ about a feature that you could go the life of the car without using or even knowing it was there.. not like it comes on by itself. Who uses the turning signal stalk as a crutch for getting out a car anyway? Unless you have a very large body mass that hits a lot of things when you exit the car ...