Park Light Always On -- if turn indicator in left/right w/key off
 

I tried searching for this issue via this forum as well as e46 forums and couldn't really come up with good examples to even search--so I'm curious if someone knows more knowledge about this and whether or not it's just an idiosyncrasy. In addition, I also tried searching for some literature on the LCM and features that are offered. Nothing was conclusive for me.

I was cleaning my car the other day and noticed my right side park lights were on both headlamp and tail lamp assembly. Baffled by this, I decided to wait the 15 mins to see if a module needed to "go to sleep" to turn these off. Long story short, I noticed I accidently bumped my left stalk switch in the right turn position. There is no indication on the IKE since obviously the key is not in the ignition. The same thing will happen on the corresponding side if you move the switch to "down" for left side.

Is this typical for a LCM to do that? Is it just a caveat of the module? Is it a feature or parameter in the LCM such as "follow me home?" Does your X5 do this same condition...can you check/verify?

Attached is a picture of the rear tail light with KEY off and left turn switch activated. The rear AND front park lamps illuminate and will continue to do so even with door shut and alarm armed...indefinitely.

Wiring of S7 (turn signal switch) to A3 (LCM)
 

Here is the wiring of the turn switch to LCM. This seems to strictly be a ground signal to the LCM.

I forgot to mention when my car is running, the turn signals operate perfectly fine/normal.

That is normal, what they call "park lights" in Europe.

Wow...really? This is a feature I don't know about fully? It seems like I could drain my battery if I accidently leave a turn signal on and key off as it never shuts off.

Okay...wow. It's a feature I guess.

Did a search for European Parking Lights.

https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/e...eature.167509/

For ages this has been a feature on German car makes. The purpose is to save battery if you have to leave the vehicle stranded and only illuminate the off side parking lights.

Yep, all good, this is normal. What you do is flip the turn signal arm towards the side facing the street and it acts like an indicator light - as mentioned above, “European Parking Lights” [emoji106]


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Wow! I guess I need to RTFM on that one it seems.

From owners manual...it would be #3 (parking light):

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q...ft%20Right.jpg

Some info about the LCM III:

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q...20Info%201.jpg
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q...20Info%202.jpg

I wasn't able to see the IMG links on your post for some reason.

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q...20Info%201.jpg

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q...20Info%202.jpg

At any rate, that is very good information. I was wanting to know more about the rear tail lights and their operation because of the one lamp that is dimly lit and the other which is a little bit more lit.

Thank you for the info, QS7.