[Alekss]

Car is Canadian 2011 328i xdrive
My tail lights are always on when the cur is running, even if I have the light switch to OFF.
It's like the DRL but for the rear. Is this normal?

[mrjimyjohn]

Same here 2010 328xi e92

[POBEP]

Originally Posted by Alekss

Car is Canadian 2011 328i xdrive
My tail lights are always on when the cur is running, even if I have the light switch to OFF.
It's like the DRL but for the rear. Is this normal?

Yes - this is "normal".

In NA, E9X had both front and rear DRL enabled from the factory.
Switching off DRL will turn of tails.

It could be coded out (e.g. fronts only).

As for me, I actually went another way: my E70 had rear DRL disabled from the factory and I coded it just like E90/E91.

I like it on, both front and rear.
Others may have different preference

P.S. There are also rear fog lights - those require minor hardware upgrade to be enabled.
(It's my E70 summer project)

[GnomeChild]

I noticed this too recently and yes I came to the same findings. US spec DRL activated in the iDrive turns on both the front Angel Eyes and Rear Taillights. I actually don't like that it activates the rears as well so I'm glad that's a function that can be coded.

I found out one day because I had my lights set to off at night while testing my new Angel Eyes and I noticed the door to my garage was still lit up red from the tails. I kept cycling through the headlight settings thinking the rear tails got stuck/glitched but I later found out that's just how the US DRL functions when activated

Coincidentally, since we ended up on the topic, and yes I am shilling myself here now
If you don't want to shell out $150 or however somemuch BMW is asking for the Euro Foglight switch, I have a few of those little plastic "nubs" that is inserted into the US switch that activates the Euro fogs function. The lights and wiring are already there, no coding even required. (I'll sell them for like $10 shipped)

[Boston4]

Are the rears on all the time, or just when it's dark out? I've noticed this, but only when in a garage and outside of the car. I figured it was because the car was running but the key wasn't inside.

[GnomeChild]

If you're in the US and your DRLs are set to active in the iDrive menu, the front Angel Eyes and Rear Taillights will be on 100% of the time. If your DRL is inactive in iDrive, your rear Taillights will be off but I believe the front Angel Eyes will be off as well, unless, of course, you turn your headlights on

[Alekss]

Right. The confusing part is that every other BMW I see on the road does not have their tails on. So now I keep looking at people's cars and turning back every time I drive by another BMW to check their tails

I am glad to hear this is a factory setting and not my car's faulty lighting system.