Newbie questions

I just got a 13 528xi with Tech and Prem package. I never got a chance to explore the car due to cold weather and busy schedule. Here are some questions for the members:


1. Is there a way to open the fog lights and black out the trim on non M-Sport bumpers?
2. Why does the car have 4 head lights ? Sometimes the horrible yellow lights next to xenons are on and sometimes they are off.
3. Are cornering lights standard on all models ?
4. Why cant the car remember my seat heater settings ?
5. Is there a hack to make the car shut up. I am talking about the gong. I have the cable and Esys and turned off seat belt chime, nav gong.
6. Are there any hidden USB ports ? Cos when I plugin my phone it says USB 3..I am wondering where 1 and 2 are ??

2. Why does the car have 4 head lights ? Sometimes the horrible yellow lights next to xenons are on and sometimes they are off.

They are the cornering lights which come on while turn indicator is on, steering wheel is turned or while reversing.

3. Are cornering lights standard on all models ?

Yes.

5. Is there a hack to make the car shut up. I am talking about the gong. I have the cable and Esys and turned off seat belt chime, nav gong.

Yes, Coding.

Do the inner-turning lights really come on when you put your blinkers on? I didn't know that. Even at highway speeds?

From what I've seen, those lights turn on when cornering at low speeds (parking lots, etc. where you need to see if pedestrians and such are walking by you). I never noticed any Bimmer's having them pop on while blinkers were on during normal speeds, though maybe I haven't payed close enough attention.

Originally Posted by K-A

Do the inner-turning lights really come on when you put your blinkers on? I didn't know that. Even at highway speeds?

From what I've seen, those lights turn on when cornering at low speeds (parking lots, etc. where you need to see if pedestrians and such are walking by you). I never noticed any Bimmer's having them pop on while blinkers were on during normal speeds, though maybe I haven't payed close enough attention.

I doubt they come on at speed when you turn on the turn signal. What I have noticed, while being stopped behind a shiny car or truck (when I can see may car's reflection), the cornering light will come on when you engage the turn signal. However, if you don't roll in about 3 seconds, the light will go off. It will come on again while you're turning. And, they do come on while turning even if you don't use the turn signal.

Originally Posted by markl53

What I have noticed, while being stopped behind a shiny car or truck (when I can see may car's reflection), the cornering light will come on when you engage the turn signal.

This is how i found out too..

The yellow lights were on only couple of times.. Of course I had the car for less than 3 weeks now.
I park on 6th floor in a ramp and they were on only once in the past 14 days.
And yesterday when I was trying to park my car by taking a sharp turn at slow speed.

I am surprised not many members know about this. Nothing is mentioned in the manual either !

Originally Posted by cyberbrutus

The yellow lights were on only couple of times.. Of course I had the car for less than 3 weeks now.
I park on 6th floor in a ramp and they were on only once in the past 14 days.
And yesterday when I was trying to park my car by taking a sharp turn at slow speed.

They're not "yellow", they're halogen. And, IMO, they're not "horrible", they're great. Of course, cornering light technology has been around since the 60's or before. The operation then may not have been as slick, but they worked nonetheless.

I am surprised not many members know about this. Nothing is mentioned in the manual either !

It's in my 2011 5-series owners manual -- maybe check again. (See attachment)

Originally Posted by markl53

They're not "yellow", they're halogen. And, IMO, they're not "horrible", they're great. Of course, cornering light technology has been around since the 60's or before. The operation then may not have been as slick, but they worked nonetheless.



It's in my 2011 5-series owners manual -- maybe check again. (See attachment)

I cannot stand halogens and the moment I looked at them, I knew I was going to replace them. Its a personal preference I guess.
I actually thought the xenons would move horizontally like how Audis do and was wondering why there were 4 lamps !


Yup, found it in 2013 manual too. Illustration and explanation on page 210.

Originally Posted by cyberbrutus

I cannot stand halogens and the moment I looked at them, I knew I was going to replace them. Its a personal preference I guess.
I actually thought the xenons would move horizontally like how Audis do and was wondering why there were 4 lamps !


Yup, found it in 2013 manual too. Illustration and explanation on page 210.

There are two parts to the "adaptive lighting". The xenons do swivel as you steer around bends in the road. You have to be in "AUTO" setting for this to happen. To compare, just flick your light control to regular "ON" while driving around turns and you'll see they keep pointing straight ahead. The cornering lights are a separate function, only during sharper turns to add extra lighting. IMO, the halogens for this function work fine -- they light up where you are about to turn. They are only on during these maneuvers, not sure why you would change them out.

Originally Posted by markl53

It's in my 2011 5-series owners manual -- maybe check again. (See attachment)

In my E92 manual, it specifies the speed as well - below 70 km/h. I would think it is the same on F10.