Exterior door handle lights

Hello,

I just picked up a 2013 535i awesome ride!! Quick question. How do I make the door handle lights come on when I approach the car? Interior and head lights only turn on when the key fob is pressed.

The handle lights come on when you unlock the car, or if you press the lock button on the fob when it's already locked. Their main purpose is to provide downlighting to light the perimeter of the car. I have a 2011 535i, not sure about the packaging of items on the '13's. Do you have the handles with the chrome strip down the middle (are you sure you have the handle lights)? Maybe you're not seeing them during daylight. I think they also come on when you first open the door if it's already unlocked.

Thanks. yes chrome strips on handles. But there is a clear lens inside each handle?

Yes on the chrome strips

Hmmm... Is this one of the Welcome Lights things? Do you have this option turned on in the iDrive menu?

Originally Posted by Quacker

Hmmm... Is this one of the Welcome Lights things? Do you have this option turned on in the iDrive menu?

Not related to iDrive/welcome lights. Actually, the chrome strip is not the light, but the handles without the lights don't have the chrome strip.

This is killing me. It must be obvious. Lol

I don't think that's a feature of the car. I only think that once it is activated in some way through the key fob does it illuminate the door handle lights. One of the only cars that I'm aware that does this it he new 2013 LS.

Handle lights are part of ambient light package 4UR. In my 2011 they switch on when unlocking with FOB or with comfort access (slide into any handle)

I never noticed if the time they stay on is related to the welcome lights time setting in the iDrive but I dont think so.

I read somewhere that if the interior overhead light is not set to switch on when opening a door (someone held the interior light button for 3 seconds), the external handle lights will not either...

Thank you!!

Holding the interior light for 3 seconds worked!

I think the door handle LED comes on when you unlock the car, either by the fob or comfort access. It will not come on as you approach the car.

My Highlander have this feature and I love it. As soon as I get close to the SUV it activate the puddle lights. Unfortunately this feature is not an option in our vehicles although a few members have uncovered a lot of hidden features thru coding so hopefully there's still hope.

Didn't know the chrome handles were an option (which means those awesome LED's in them we have are as well).

Which option did we get that gives us the chrome strips in the handles?

Originally Posted by K-A

Didn't know the chrome handles were an option (which means those awesome LED's in them we have are as well).

Which option did we get that gives us the chrome strips in the handles?

K-A, I think for 2012 and '13, the chrome-stripped door handles were made standard. For 2011, they were part of the premium package, which included ambient lighting. You rarely see an F10 without the chrome strips. When I first went to look when the F10 was first introduced, I snapped a pic of one on the dealer's lot (below). That one must not have had the package, because if you look closely, there are no chrome strips on the door handles.

Ahh, thanks for the info, Mark.