Oh, but you know the Germans don't like to be sued. I mean, look at how many recalls Ford has had to do for their cars.......better to play it safe and treat ze Amerikans like sue-happy 6 year olds. Even I would agree with that.

My previous car, 05 Jeep Grand Cherokee HEMI (and similar Chrysler's) had a set of events to turn off seat belt chime...documented in the OM. I believe it was, seat belt on, key on acc, seat belt off/on/off/on/off/on, key off. Restart car...presto! no seat belt chime.

Thanks for the explanation. :thumbup:

I sense some sarcasm there! ;) I could get into further explanation but it seems like everyone here's an expert...even those who really don't know anything about it. "Different programs, ECE and US light programs, Different operating systems." It's kind of funny just reading some of these theories.

Just about all of these features are programmable using Progman or GT1. Most of the similar models (i.e. E90/92 in your case) have the same modules. In this case the LCM or Light Control Module. However different coding is done for different regions. Think of it as dip switches with different settings for various regions. You have to 'code' the module for the desired application before you can 'program' any of the settings or functions of that module. The LCM for e.g. controls several functions like DRL, day time running lights or perhaps rear fog lights.

While some dealers may attempt to program a certain function for you, none of them will attampt to re-code a module. Every module can only be coded so many times and they can very easily be fried causing a nightmare for all electronics. BMW warranty will not cover a module fried during recoding and none of the modules are cheap. Most BMW Indy shops have the GT1 which is now outdated and very few have the latest version of Progman or other tools required for programing. The rear fogs should be an easy one, as long as you can find someone to do it...

Hope that explanation is more informative. Sometimes it's just easy to say "Different electronics" and call it a day! :D

did you get auto hold to work? what was the process involved? my 07 does not have it either...and i would love to retrofit it...

I haven't received the auto-hold switch yet. I installed the rear fog switch, but to no avail, was not plug-n-play. I hope the auto-hold feature will work since it is a feature avail to the USA.

ok, keep us posted, as i would love to see if its plug and play...i really loved that option on another x5 i drove a while back...

keep us posted if you figure a way to get the rear fogs activated with the euro switch

No news yet. Switch is installed and all functions work properly except the rear fogs. It would appear that I need a dealer to reprogram the car and somewhere in the computer diagnostics, to turn on the feature with the switch.

was wondering... does it even display the rear fogs being turned on, on the instrument cluster?