Parking Light Warning (Check Control)

I have a 2001 740i and the "Check Parking Light" comes on upon starting and after switching the ignition off. All the lights are working but I still get the warning. Any ideas?
Thanks in advance for your replies.

The systems sees bad connections and damaged filaments as 'blown' globes. Start checking and remaking all earths and contacts. Examin globes with a loope and check for damage or smoked out globes. Should fix it. System is auto reset once problems solved.

Originally Posted by cliffrun2

I have a 2001 740i and the "Check Parking Light" comes on upon starting and after switching the ignition off. All the lights are working but I still get the warning. Any ideas?
Thanks in advance for your replies.

Are you sure it says "CHECK PARKING LIGHT"? Or does it say "Check Side Lamps"? If it says "side lamps"...then as others stated above...you will need to PHYSICALLY check all of the side lamps (or lights that illuminate when you turn the dial to turn on your parking lamps) because some of them may have a dual filament.

Due to your car having the LCM III (light check/control module)...it has the ability to dim or illuminate another bulb if you have one burnt out. Such as the front turn signals that are also used as the parking lights here in the States. Those bulbs have 2 filaments...a low 5 watt filament for the parking lights...and a higher 27 watt filament for the turn signals. If one of those filaments are burnt out...your LCM III will dim the turn signal filament and use it as a parking light.

This is why you'll need to heed the warning & physically check the bulbs.

(NOTE: Replacement Light feature of the LCM III)

My '97 isn't that clever.

Yes, the error is "Parking Light". So as I understand it, the front parking/turn signal is a strong suspect. I will check those on tomorrow and report back tomorrow night. Thanks for the tips.

I've just been stopped by a fellow Beemer owner to tell me that might front indicator is permanently on? Followed this link so it sounds like a front parking Light bulb is in order at £23 from amazon. Now I think about it I switched on the Auto lights setting the other morning, they came on and then ALL went off. Suspected the worst, switched off and back on and they worked, but obviously not all of them. Thanks for this little write up and the bit about the LCM, I'll try that see your way home light setting next time, never knew about that! Cheers!!

I had the same thing happen and it turned out to be the fixture itself although all the bulbs were working as they should it just kept throwing the code, at the time I had amber turn signals front and rear found a guy on ebay who sold the full real clear bmw fixtures from germany so I upgraded and put BMW silver tipped bulbs in. Never another code or problem after that

I'm getting more confused now. From the threads earlier I thought I had this cracked, but I don't think so! Is the parking lights the same as the Halo? Front drivers side indicator is permanently on and no white lights. The passenger side white lights are working normal. I've ordered a new bulb but should I have ordered two as there are two light rings (or Halos i would imagine) When you look on ebay they go on about LED Halo upgrades and that people are wanting to change from the original Yellow lights. I'm sure mine are original Off White lights, so are there two park lights per side or one, I'm sure I sound dense the Beemer old hands but there's a lot of jargon speak that I'm afraid I just haven't tuned into yet. So anyone, one bulb or two per side and if you have a better option than the bulb I've bought below?


BMW Xenon Headlight Parking Light Bulb E53/E65/E66/E67 63126916097

Originally Posted by X5newboy

I'm getting more confused now. From the threads earlier I thought I had this cracked, but I don't think so! Is the parking lights the same as the Halo? Front drivers side indicator is permanently on and no white lights. The passenger side white lights are working normal. I've ordered a new bulb but should I have ordered two as there are two light rings (or Halos i would imagine) When you look on ebay they go on about LED Halo upgrades and that people are wanting to change from the original Yellow lights. I'm sure mine are original Off White lights, so are there two park lights per side or one, I'm sure I sound dense the Beemer old hands but there's a lot of jargon speak that I'm afraid I just haven't tuned into yet. So anyone, one bulb or two per side and if you have a better option than the bulb I've bought below?


BMW Xenon Headlight Parking Light Bulb E53/E65/E66/E67 63126916097

There's a lot of confusion happening for multiple reasons:

1. you are on an e38 7 series forum (1995-2001) and you're asking about e53 X5 headlights
2. terminology is being lost in translation (parking lights are not "HALOS" on the e38 which is what you're reading about in this forum)
3. it's unclear what your issue is...please explain what you mean by "front drivers side indicator & no white lights". There are multiple "white lights"...you need to either find out what they are called, or be more descriptive, or post a picture...especially if this is all new to you and you don't know what things are called by the majority of forum members.

2001 E38 headlights & parking lights (never came with "halos" from BMW...any e38 7 series with them are aftermarket):

(HID headlights)



(2001 E38 parking lights (#3)/turn indicator lights {one unit w/dual purpose})

2004-06 E53 X5 Bi Xenon headlights with "halos" (Angel Eyes)

(BMW part #14 (63126916097 ) is the bulb for parking lights (halos) & #18 is for turn indicators)

That is a Xenon gas filled conventional globe. Suposed to burn brighter. Stick with standard stuff or the CLM will be confused above words. You may have bad earths so the buld is turning on via other fillaments in the circuit(s). Chech ALL earths, connections and globe holders B 4 you spend on parts.

Sorry, missed the move to X5 question. Had one of those, liked it a lot. Some responses still apply. Thanks Qs7 for getting the bloke back on track.