Side/Tail lights on unlocking

Swervin_Mervin · 12-02-2016, 08:31 AM

Longtime lurker here

I asked this somewhere a few years ago but never got anywhere:

I have an '06 E91 330i, which I bought back in Dec '12. Now I'm sure that it used to switch the side and tail lights on, when unlocking, along with the puddle and interior lighting. Same when getting out of the car.

The trouble is, I have a cr4p memory so can be sure

Anyway, if it did or if it should, it doesn't anymore! I read the online manual last night which seems to suggest it should. I even set the parking lights for 40s but nothing. For info, if it makes any difference, it's halogens and non-Idrive.

So is anyone able to tell me if it should, and if so why it might not be doing?

Fundguy1 · 12-02-2016, 08:35 AM

It should. I don't know why it isn't.

Corradokid · 12-02-2016, 03:18 PM

Low battery.

Swervin_Mervin · 12-02-2016, 06:00 PM

Low battery for 3yrs or so?

Corradokid · 12-02-2016, 06:24 PM

As far as I remember there is no setting to turn the lights on unlock but I will have a look in the morning. If the battery is low the car will start switching off non essentials to preserve battery life for cranking. It's one of the first things to stop working on mine and the battery doesn't have to be that low. If you have a charger try connecting it up for a day and see what happens. How old is the battery on it?

Swervin_Mervin · 12-06-2016, 03:55 AM

There's definitely a setting in mine, for both locking and unlocking, along with parking lights duration and daytime running lights on/off.

Could just be that mine has the most up to date software I guess, as it was recently flashed in a bid to solve a drive loss issue.

After more digging I found a post on the US boards on here of a guy suggesting that welcome lights weren't on early models and they came with the fitment of the FRM2 module.

But to counter that I read on online owners manual for the age of vehicle (2006) which suggested welcome lights are a feature on early cars!

I'll take a reading at the weekend of the battery and see how it looks though. Would be interesting to know if it is that. I've no idea how old the battery is, but I've not had a new one in the 4yrs I've owned it.

Corradokid · 12-06-2016, 04:38 AM

Locking and unlocking settings on mine is for the indicator flash which you can turn on and off. The duration setting on mine controls how long the main lights stay on after you get out the car, activated by flashing the lights before ignition switch off. Running lights is just the side lights staying on whilst driving. Mine is a 09/06 car and has the sidelight illumination on unlock, though it's presently not working at the moment, due to winter extra load and the battery getting a little tired. Tests ok ish though, just not 100%

Swervin_Mervin · 12-06-2016, 06:02 AM

Cheers chap. That reassures me that mine probably should be working - I think it's an 07/06 car.

12-02-2016, 08:31 AM	#1
Swervin_Mervin New Member 0 Rep 11 Posts Drives: E91 330i Join Date: May 2013 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Side/Tail lights on unlocking Longtime lurker here I asked this somewhere a few years ago but never got anywhere: I have an '06 E91 330i, which I bought back in Dec '12. Now I'm sure that it used to switch the side and tail lights on, when unlocking, along with the puddle and interior lighting. Same when getting out of the car. The trouble is, I have a cr4p memory so can be sure Anyway, if it did or if it should, it doesn't anymore! I read the online manual last night which seems to suggest it should. I even set the parking lights for 40s but nothing. For info, if it makes any difference, it's halogens and non-Idrive. So is anyone able to tell me if it should, and if so why it might not be doing?
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12-02-2016, 08:35 AM	#2
Fundguy1 Major General 2032 Rep 8,339 Posts Drives: 335 e93 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Orlando, fl iTrader: (0)	It should. I don't know why it isn't.
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12-02-2016, 03:18 PM	#3
Corradokid Private First Class 3 Rep 138 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Low battery.
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12-02-2016, 06:00 PM	#4
Swervin_Mervin New Member 0 Rep 11 Posts Drives: E91 330i Join Date: May 2013 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Low battery for 3yrs or so?
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12-02-2016, 06:24 PM	#5
Corradokid Private First Class 3 Rep 138 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: London iTrader: (0)	As far as I remember there is no setting to turn the lights on unlock but I will have a look in the morning. If the battery is low the car will start switching off non essentials to preserve battery life for cranking. It's one of the first things to stop working on mine and the battery doesn't have to be that low. If you have a charger try connecting it up for a day and see what happens. How old is the battery on it?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-06-2016, 03:55 AM	#6
Swervin_Mervin New Member 0 Rep 11 Posts Drives: E91 330i Join Date: May 2013 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	There's definitely a setting in mine, for both locking and unlocking, along with parking lights duration and daytime running lights on/off. Could just be that mine has the most up to date software I guess, as it was recently flashed in a bid to solve a drive loss issue. After more digging I found a post on the US boards on here of a guy suggesting that welcome lights weren't on early models and they came with the fitment of the FRM2 module. But to counter that I read on online owners manual for the age of vehicle (2006) which suggested welcome lights are a feature on early cars! I'll take a reading at the weekend of the battery and see how it looks though. Would be interesting to know if it is that. I've no idea how old the battery is, but I've not had a new one in the 4yrs I've owned it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-06-2016, 04:38 AM	#7
Corradokid Private First Class 3 Rep 138 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Locking and unlocking settings on mine is for the indicator flash which you can turn on and off. The duration setting on mine controls how long the main lights stay on after you get out the car, activated by flashing the lights before ignition switch off. Running lights is just the side lights staying on whilst driving. Mine is a 09/06 car and has the sidelight illumination on unlock, though it's presently not working at the moment, due to winter extra load and the battery getting a little tired. Tests ok ish though, just not 100%
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12-06-2016, 06:02 AM	#8
Swervin_Mervin New Member 0 Rep 11 Posts Drives: E91 330i Join Date: May 2013 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Cheers chap. That reassures me that mine probably should be working - I think it's an 07/06 car.
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