Tail lights unreliably light up when unlocking vehicle

[Adam135]

I have Blackline tail lights. In the past the tail lights would always light up when unlocking the car - even during the day when it's bright out. Now, even in the evening, they don't always light up. Door hands light up every time. My headlight switch is in the auto position. Any ideas?

[631twentyeighteye]

Test it with the headlight switch in the on position. Not sure if that will affect it but i know for a fact they should always light up with the headlight switch in that position when unlocking.

[Adam135]

Originally Posted by 631twentyeighteye

Test it with the headlight switch in the on position. Not sure if that will affect it but i know for a fact they should always light up with the headlight switch in that position when unlocking.

Didn't make a difference.

[631twentyeighteye]

Check fuses/bulbs or if your in warranty just bring it to the dealer. They'll probably replace both units. Could use it as an opportunity for LCI or LCI blacklines if you dig the look.

[Adam135]

Originally Posted by 631twentyeighteye

Check fuses/bulbs or if your in warranty just bring it to the dealer. They'll probably replace both units. Could use it as an opportunity for LCI or LCI blacklines if you dig the look.

Already running LCI blacklines lol. If I turn on the headlights the LED light bars light up, so they aren't busted.

[631twentyeighteye]

ooh looks like i can't read tonight hahah. So you mean the LED strip then? It's possible it's burned out.. but thats unlikely being that it is LED's. Maybe there's a loose connection or something strange going on. they don't like up at all correct?

[Adam135]

Originally Posted by 631twentyeighteye

ooh looks like i can't read tonight hahah. So you mean the LED strip then? It's possible it's burned out.. but thats unlikely being that it is LED's. Maybe there's a loose connection or something strange going on. they don't like up at all correct?

They light up when my headlights are on, but they no longer light up when I unlock my vehicle. I'm having battery drain issues (CC-ID 415) so it might not be lighting them up because it thinks the battery is low. I'll see what BMW says next week. Also getting this ID

[m7ammed]

Originally Posted by Adam135

They light up when my headlights are on, but they no longer light up when I unlock my vehicle. I'm having battery drain issues (CC-ID 415) so it might not be lighting them up because it thinks the battery is low. I'll see what BMW says next week. Also getting this ID

Do the fronts light up when you unlock? just to make sure do you have "Welcome Lights" option checked in the light settings?

[Adam135]

Originally Posted by m7ammed

Do the fronts light up when you unlock? just to make sure do you have "Welcome Lights" option checked in the light settings?

The turn signals flash when I unlock the car - that should mean Welcome Lights is enabled?

[m7ammed]

Originally Posted by Adam135

The turn signals flash when I unlock the car - that should mean Welcome Lights is enabled?

No, welcome lights are when the rear LED strips light up with the front angel eyes. Since your car is none i-Drive not sure how you would enable that. That's how it is on my car. Maybe I will do a quick video, just give me a couple of minutes.

[Adam135]

Originally Posted by m7ammed

No, welcome lights are when the rear LED strips light up with the front angel eyes. Since your car is none i-Drive not sure how you would enable that. That's how it is on my car. Maybe I will do a quick video, just give me a couple of minutes.

My angel eyes don't light up either. I appreciate your help! I looked through the menu and found some settings but nothing for welcome lights. I'm looking through the manual now.

The battery icon appears on the dash only a minute or so after going through the menu options. I wish I could just replace it myself.

[m7ammed]

[Adam135]

Originally Posted by m7ammed

vid

Yep, I swear mine used to be like that - but now it's not I still think it might be battery related.

[m7ammed]

Originally Posted by Adam135

Yep, I swear mine used to be like that - but now it's not I still think it might be battery related.

I remember the dealer saying that if the battery is going bad, then the car could through different random errors and behave unpredictably. Guess your battery is need of a change.

[x5mad]

Sounds battery related as a few here have already pointed to.

If your battery is low the car will try to conserve as much battery as possible so that the car can still start. This will involve turning off the welcome DRL and rear lights to conserve power.

This happened to my X5 when battery was low. Did not happen after I charge my battery.

[wv128bmw]

You can change your battery. Put a battery charger on the terminals then unhook them from old battery. Put in new hook up wires and the unhook charger.

[m7ammed]

Originally Posted by wv128bmw

You can change your battery. Put a battery charger on the terminals then unhook them from old battery. Put in new hook up wires and the unhook charger.

Batteries need coding

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Adam135

They light up when my headlights are on, but they no longer light up when I unlock my vehicle. I'm having battery drain issues (CC-ID 415) so it might not be lighting them up because it thinks the battery is low. I'll see what BMW says next week. Also getting this ID

Sounds like its your footwell module. They control all the lighting up and dimming of the lights on the car. They also control the Xenon AHL lights. And a new one ain't cheap! Maybe contact United or Tischer BMW for their price.


IF it is your battery - you can check it with a simple VOM (volt ohm meter). Read how many volts the battery is putting out with the engine off and car parked for a few hours(or over night). A good battery should have at least 12.8volts. Anything less and the battery is on its way out. Also check the battery voltage with the engine running. You should have at least 13.4 volts dc.

[Adam135]

I left my car connected to a Battery Tender Plus over night. When I unlocked it this morning the tail lights and AEs lit right up Will look at getting the battery replaced. I hope this helps someone else out in the future.

[ZLuxuryLife]

I also noticed there are times when my lights do not come on when I unlock the car.
(I am referring to all lights together associated with unlocking: front / rear / interior.)

However, I observed that this occurs with my vehicle only when I happen to repeatedly
lock and unlock the car, over the course of approximately five (5) to ten (10) minutes.

IE: This would be over the course of removing items from the car during multiple trips.
Typically, during the third or fourth trip back, my lights do not turn on during unlocking.

I believe it may be a function for the purpose of extending the lifetime of the lights, as
I know after a period of time leaving the vehicle parked and locked, the lights do turn
on when I unlock the vehicle. I have noticed this event occur with my car a few times.

I've been meaning to ask the dealer during my next visit. I will post my findings here.

[m7ammed]

Originally Posted by ZLuxuryLife

I also noticed there are times when my lights do not come on when I unlock the car.
(I am referring to all lights together associated with unlocking: front / rear / interior.)

However, I observed that this occurs with my vehicle only when I happen to repeatedly
lock and unlock the car, over the course of approximately five (5) to ten (10) minutes.

IE: This would be over the course of removing items from the car during multiple trips.
Typically, during the third or fourth trip back, my lights do not turn on during unlocking.

I believe it may be a function for the purpose of extending the lifetime of the lights, as
I know after a period of time leaving the vehicle parked and locked, the lights do turn
on when I unlock the vehicle. I have noticed this event occur with my car a few times.

I've been meaning to ask the dealer during my next visit. I will post my findings here.

Nomal my car dos this, I think it's a feature

[Dackelone]

^^+1. Yes, normal. I think if you were to open and lock your car twenty times... after a few times/cycles the lights would no longer come on, to save battery life. I've noticed this feature on my car.