Weird lighting question
 

Hi guys new to the forum.
2003 X5 with Xenon lights.
If I am parked no ignition on, or lights on I pull the flash stalk and the headlights come on and stay on. If I turn the lights on then off on the main light dial the lights go off.
Is this normal? Can someone try it on their car and let me know?

I believe you are talking about the "follow me home" lighting feature. Pulling the high beam stalk after shutting it down will illuminate the headlights and they should only stay lit from 15 to 90 seconds depending on the coding. It is normal.

Follow me home lights. Check how long the lights stay on after activation. Default coding is 40 seconds.

Edit: Too slow.

Excellent ! I thought it might have been a sticky relay. Super thanks for the quick reply..

Pathway Lights/Home Lights
 

From the owners manual:

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q...20Lighting.jpg

From BMW Tech info (in regards to coding/programming pathway/home lights default illumination time)

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q...20Lighting.jpg

BMW Tech info about the LCM III control module that gave the ability for pathway/home light function & other lighting features:

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

I have had three BMW's over the years and never noticed it before but saying that I have never really read the manual.
1991 325i
1992 3.0/M3
2003 E53 X5 Every days a school day...;)

If you’re referring to the 91 & 92 3 series...you wouldn’t have had the pathway lighting feature since that debuted near the end of the 1990s with the debut of the LCM III (your reply beat my last edit to upload that data). So that should give you a “pass” on not being aware of the feature. :)

Thanks dude....

BTW...there’s another parking light feature that can slip by owners...especially in the US market. Take a look at your turn stalk for a little icon that would indicate that you have the parking light feature.

This option allows you to illuminate a front park light indicator & rear tail light (at reduced voltage) on one side of the car (determined by which way you’ve pushed the turn indicator stalk). It was more of Europe thing since they have lots of very old narrow roads...and illuminating a front & rear light on the side of the car that faces traffic serves as an indicator that a car is parked along a narrow dark road.

Many owners discover this feature when they’ve accidentally hit the turn indicator getting out of the car, and when they come back to the car (parked on the street or in their garage)...they see the light on and wonder what is going on.


Parking Light Icon

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q...amp%20Icon.jpg

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

I'm not sure if mine has that, I haven't noticed but I do remember VW Golf had that feature on the Mk2 models