Sleep mode works without locking doors
 

My final post for 2012 :thumbup:

Thought it was worth making this its own thread. As part of diagnosing a battery issue I wired a multi-meter in series with the battery's -ve terminal. i.e. the multi-meter see exactly what current is being drawn.

It proved sleep mode does indeed activate with the doors unlocked. Attached are photos take after unlocking car, turning off headlights and taking the CA Fob inside the house.

Reading are in Amps. 0.01 is 10mA which means the car entered sleep mode somewhere between 14 and 29 minutes.

2009-06-05 production date US spec E93 auto without Nav or H-K but with Bluetooth and Comfort Access.

Nice so its drawing .5 amps when its not in sleep mode.
 

Nice so its drawing .5 amps when its not in sleep mode.
Some have said just bringing the keyfob in range can wake it up .
Did you get a reading on running the radio with the car setting ?

Jumps to 20mA with the CA Fob in range. Ideally I'd measure on a lower range of the meter but didn't want to risk frying it. In standby it mostly read 10mA jumping to 20mA sometimes. CA Fob nearby it was almost always showing 20mA.

With a 70Ah battery 20mA would last a long time.

If I remember I'll try the radio tomorrow. Evening is about to start.. good idea about the radio; Likely it's in the 6->7A range; there were more details in my other currently running thread.

It wakes up and checks itself every once in awhile.
 

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...QNFyu70IsyKRlg

It wakes up and checks itself every once in awhile.

There by drawing more current and depleting the charge further according to
the above pdf

"When the vehicle is stationary, the IBS is programmed to wake up every 14 sec. and makes the required measurements within approx. 50 ms in order to save power"

Wow, these cars are crazy

Won't it go in sleep mode as well if you hit the stop button twice?

Not sure if pressing the start button twice to shut the car off will put it in sleep mode. If you lock the car it will definitely go into sleep mode, which is why it's always advisable to lock your car, even if it's parked in the garage.

...unless it has the factory alarm system, which will draw power and get that goofy clown's nose flashing.

Testing proved it quickly goes into sleep mode anyway. Even locking doors mine draws 0.52A for at least 15 mins before entering sleep mode. Likely hitting the start button twice is the same.

Additional data is in my post here: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...3&postcount=12 Excuse any typos as I've edited that post at least five times with additional info; will go back and clarify the info later today

If you like locking the doors in the garage that's great, but we tend not too. Once my battery drain issue is resolved I'll stop locking the BMW and am very certain it will not cause drain.