2008 X5 Interior Lights all off. How to turn on

On my 2008 BMW X5, all the interior lights are off. All of them. No lights when I open a door, nothing. I think there is a way to turn them all off, but I can't remember how to do it. If I accidentally turned them off, I don't know how to get them back on again. The front seat map lights (reading lights) work with their on swtich, but the dome light switch does not turn on any lights either.

I can't seem to find any documentation on this.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Check the fuse because I don't think there is a way to disable the automatic light.

Check the owners' manual. I seem to recall you can shut them off by pressing and holding the domelight switch for a few seconds (5?). I suspect the same "press and hold" may reactivate them. But I don;t have the manual handy to confirm.

Thanks for the info.

Originally Posted by HVF

Thanks for the info.

Was it correct?

pressing button for 5 or 10 seconds did not work. I will have to locate fuse or fuses for it. Looks like there may be more than one ? ? ?

Originally Posted by HVF

pressing button for 5 or 10 seconds did not work. I will have to locate fuse or fuses for it. Looks like there may be more than one ? ? ?

Must be something broken then... my 2010 manual says "if you wish the interior lamps, footwell lamps, door entry lighting, and courtesy lamps to remain off all the time, press the button for approx. 3 seconds."

Are there any other steps such as doing it with the door open, car running, etc when making the change?

I have the same problem on my 2001 X5. I have checked the fuses. They are all ok. I have tried holding the center switch for a couple of seconds and nothing. Not sure what to do next.

Originally Posted by HVF

pressing button for 5 or 10 seconds did not work. I will have to locate fuse or fuses for it. Looks like there may be more than one ? ? ?

Penguin's instructions are correct and apply to the 2008 too. Are you pushing the right button?

Looks like there is a good possibility when body work was done, they did not connect all the wires to the inside top light. The top was replaced due to hail damage.

Originally Posted by HVF

Looks like there is a good possibility when body work was done, they did not connect all the wires to the inside top light. The top was replaced due to hail damage.

Hmmm. That might be a good guess but I would check the fuses too. I can't tell you which ones though.

Originally Posted by HVF

Looks like there is a good possibility when body work was done, they did not connect all the wires to the inside top light. The top was replaced due to hail damage.

Wow...

3 months after you frest asked, with great input from members, you bring this up?????

Yeah, take it to the shop.