[Bbox]

I have an 06 330i that's pretty much loaded, including iDrive and what I think is called "Logic7" audio.

So anyway, it seems like the amp (in the trunk) is always on, even if I'm not using the audio system. You can feel that it warmed up after a few minutes of driving. In fact once it got hot enough to activate the fan inside the amp. Why is this necessary? Seems like it would drain the battery if you primarily make short trips.

[ctuna]

If you have the doors open the car is still awake.
The car stays awake as long as the doors are not locked
and you are near it with a keyfob . The only way to get it
to go to sleep fairly quickly is to lock the doors. If you do this thec
car should go to sleep in roughly 1 to 2 minutes. Having the trunk
open also qualifys as a condition to keep the car awake.

Read this
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...,d.cGE&cad=rja

If you ever try to wash you car and you have a comfort access keyfob
in your pocket the locks go nuts.

And actually it does drain the battery the car will draw .5 amps when awake
and about 20 ma when asleep.
That's why they recommend a battery tender for low use or people that have short drives and low usage.

[kaigoss69]

Originally Posted by Bbox

I have an 06 330i that's pretty much loaded, including iDrive and what I think is called "Logic7" audio.

So anyway, it seems like the amp (in the trunk) is always on, even if I'm not using the audio system. You can feel that it warmed up after a few minutes of driving. In fact once it got hot enough to activate the fan inside the amp. Why is this necessary? Seems like it would drain the battery if you primarily make short trips.

While the car is awake it needs to be able to play sounds through the speakers (chimes, BMW Assist, BT, radio, etc.), so the amp needs to stay on during that time. If it wasn't on, you would instead have posted about the lack of sounds through the speakers when the ignition is off.

[Bbox]

I don't have Comfort Access, it's the only option I don't have.
And I'm not talking about when the car is awake, I'm talking about when I'm driving. If I'm not using the radio or handsfree, the amp should be off. A big amp like that isn't necessary to produce chimes.

[kaigoss69]

Originally Posted by Bbox

I don't have Comfort Access, it's the only option I don't have.
And I'm not talking about when the car is awake, I'm talking about when I'm driving. If I'm not using the radio or handsfree, the amp should be off. A big amp like that isn't necessary to produce chimes.

Well, with the engine on, I'm not sure what your concern is. 0.5 amps current draw on a ~160 amp charging system. This is not a Honda with an am/fm radio and a dash speaker for the door chime. All sounds go through the central audio system, as they should.

[Bbox]

Well I'm clueless about electronics, but if it only consumes 0.5 amps then I guess there's no issue. I just assumed that any accessory that gets that hot would consume a lot more.

I still don't see the need for chimes to go through every single speaker, lol.

The system sucks compared to the Harmon Kardon in the E46 ZHP anyway. Doesn't seem as sharp and clear.

[ctuna]

.5 amps is a lot from something that's not doing anything.
Basically waiting for Inputs and powered by a battery. Yeah it seems wildly inefficient from an Engineering standpoint to have it on when its not playing music. But you wouldn't want to stifle some Engineers creativity would you.
I wonder if this kind of thinking only came from the Bammerizaion period.
Funny I liked the E46 HK better than the Hi Fi but I haven't heard it was better
than the L7. It was about the only system I got in a car I didn't want to change.

[Bbox]

When the car is awake (door open), is the amp being fully powered as well? Seems hard to believe.

[bmw325i]

Originally Posted by Bbox

I don't have Comfort Access, it's the only option I don't have.
And I'm not talking about when the car is awake, I'm talking about when I'm driving. If I'm not using the radio or handsfree, the amp should be off. A big amp like that isn't necessary to produce chimes.

The real problem is you shouldn't be driving without music. lol

That fan doesn't use nearly enough power to drain your battery. Many of us here have upgraded the audio system and are using alot more power with no issues.

[Bbox]

I don't care about the little fan, I care about the amp itself. Getting hot to the touch with no sound? That's just retarded. I mean if you're only making a short trip of 2-3 minutes, how is the battery going to fully charge back up if all these accessories are constantly being powered? Some of us don't have a garage with a power outlet for a battery tender.

[Bicax]

Originally Posted by ctuna

If you ever try to wash you car and you have a comfort access keyfob
in your pocket the locks go nuts.

Hell yeah...

Any way to stop that from happening other than putting the key far away or leaving it inside the car?

[ctuna]

I guess you could put it in a metal box .
That blocks radio waves.
I sometimes do that to hide the key and go surfing.
A Mentos box works pretty good but test it.
Its useless getting emotional about this it is what it is.
Yes there are many complaints about the battery getting low and going
bad prematurely with this design.
Opening or unlocking the car ,opening any of the doors or trunk wakes it up.
I am not sure but coming near it with CA may also wake it up.
If you lock the doors it goes to sleep in about a minute or two if you don't
it may take up to a half hour.

[Bbox]

This is useful info, thanks. I have been leaving the doors unlocked most of the time, but from now on I will always lock them.

[ctuna]

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...51495398,d.cGE


http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...hlight=battery