Auto gear selector light stays on even after car is turned off

va_lemon · 06-09-2008, 10:11 PM

This is a cross-post from the DIY forums. Just want to see if anyone over here has seen this happen.
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Completed the illuminated sunglass tray install following the thread in the DIY forum. One thing I noticed after the install was that the gear selector light on the auto shifter base plate remains on even after the car has been turned off and all the lights go off. Anyone else have this happen? Mine's a 2008 335 Coupe.

I even disconnected the sunglass tray LEDs from the socket to see if I messed up on connecting the brown wires together. If I disconnect the blue plug on the left side of the auto shifter, the light turns off but without that plug connected you cannot switch to DS mode.

Any ideas? I haven't seen or experienced any other problems. How long might it take for that light staying on to drain the battery?

solefald · 06-09-2008, 10:22 PM

its always on. it was on even before you did sunglass tray DIY. and no, it will not drain your battery

va_lemon · 06-09-2008, 10:29 PM

Thanks for the reply, and I was beginning to suspect that. I just noticed it after I walked back to the car in the dark.

I read elsewhere that on some other models, the car goes to sleep after 16 mins and with it the gear selector light turns off too. Does that not happen on the 3-series?

solefald · 06-10-2008, 12:18 AM

not sure. i usually don't stick around the car for 16 minutes after i lock it

i know radio shuts off after some time, so the light probably does too

WaLLy350GT · 06-10-2008, 02:20 AM

I noticed this too just a few days ago. I totally forgot about it and never bothered to check if the light was on later on.

I'll try and remember in the morning before I unlock it and see if the light is on or off.

al4m · 06-10-2008, 02:59 AM

ever since i read about this, i have wondered it. finally i rememberd one day to look in my car before i unlocked it and sure enough, the gear selector light was off. mine's an 07 e90 btw.

va_lemon · 06-10-2008, 09:49 AM

Yep, walked up this morning and peeked in before unlocking. The light was off. It came on as soon as I touched the trunk handle to open it. Apparently, it stays on much longer than 16 minutes.

It is 335i · 07-31-2008, 12:35 AM

Hi everybody,

Let us straighten this up. I had the same problem where at the 15th, 30th and even the 40th minute the gear light was still On.
Beginning to worry I already prepared a short and emotional speech for the dealer next morning. Then I went and checked again and voila, the light on the gear was Off.

What a relief, so calm down everyone, just assume that the German clock runs at very low speed. We are all cool.

06-09-2008, 10:11 PM	#1
va_lemon Private 7 Rep 66 Posts Drives: 335i Coupe Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Alexandria, VA iTrader: (0)	Auto gear selector light stays on even after car is turned off This is a cross-post from the DIY forums. Just want to see if anyone over here has seen this happen. --------------------------------------- Completed the illuminated sunglass tray install following the thread in the DIY forum. One thing I noticed after the install was that the gear selector light on the auto shifter base plate remains on even after the car has been turned off and all the lights go off. Anyone else have this happen? Mine's a 2008 335 Coupe. I even disconnected the sunglass tray LEDs from the socket to see if I messed up on connecting the brown wires together. If I disconnect the blue plug on the left side of the auto shifter, the light turns off but without that plug connected you cannot switch to DS mode. Any ideas? I haven't seen or experienced any other problems. How long might it take for that light staying on to drain the battery? __________________ 2008 335i Coupe - Monaco Blue \| Saddle Brown \| Gray Poplar European Delivery April 18-28 2008
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06-09-2008, 10:22 PM	#2
solefald Nigerian Prince 385 Rep 2,180 Posts Drives: '11 F25 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List '11 BMW F25 [0.00]	its always on. it was on even before you did sunglass tray DIY. and no, it will not drain your battery __________________ http://soundcloud.com/djtchort
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06-09-2008, 10:29 PM	#3
va_lemon Private 7 Rep 66 Posts Drives: 335i Coupe Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Alexandria, VA iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the reply, and I was beginning to suspect that. I just noticed it after I walked back to the car in the dark. I read elsewhere that on some other models, the car goes to sleep after 16 mins and with it the gear selector light turns off too. Does that not happen on the 3-series? __________________ 2008 335i Coupe - Monaco Blue \| Saddle Brown \| Gray Poplar European Delivery April 18-28 2008
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06-10-2008, 12:18 AM	#4
solefald Nigerian Prince 385 Rep 2,180 Posts Drives: '11 F25 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List '11 BMW F25 [0.00]	not sure. i usually don't stick around the car for 16 minutes after i lock it i know radio shuts off after some time, so the light probably does too __________________ http://soundcloud.com/djtchort
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06-10-2008, 02:20 AM	#5
WaLLy350GT Psshh! 4 Rep 191 Posts Drives: E90 335i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (1)	I noticed this too just a few days ago. I totally forgot about it and never bothered to check if the light was on later on. I'll try and remember in the morning before I unlock it and see if the light is on or off.
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06-10-2008, 02:59 AM	#6
al4m Major General 149 Rep 7,390 Posts Drives: e90 328i - sgm Join Date: May 2007 Location: SF iTrader: (6) Garage List 2007 328i [0.00]	ever since i read about this, i have wondered it. finally i rememberd one day to look in my car before i unlocked it and sure enough, the gear selector light was off. mine's an 07 e90 btw. __________________
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06-10-2008, 09:49 AM	#7
va_lemon Private 7 Rep 66 Posts Drives: 335i Coupe Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Alexandria, VA iTrader: (0)	Yep, walked up this morning and peeked in before unlocking. The light was off. It came on as soon as I touched the trunk handle to open it. Apparently, it stays on much longer than 16 minutes. __________________ 2008 335i Coupe - Monaco Blue \| Saddle Brown \| Gray Poplar European Delivery April 18-28 2008
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07-31-2008, 12:35 AM	#8
It is 335i Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Hi everybody, Let us straighten this up. I had the same problem where at the 15th, 30th and even the 40th minute the gear light was still On. Beginning to worry I already prepared a short and emotional speech for the dealer next morning. Then I went and checked again and voila, the light on the gear was Off. What a relief, so calm down everyone, just assume that the German clock runs at very low speed. We are all cool.
	Appreciate 0 Quote