[ksfrogman]

I once read an e90post a thread about someone who was having a hard time controlling his turn signals. I thought this was silly.

Weeks later, I received my car. I quickly noticed the triple turn signal feature that I initially liked. So I didn't disable this (though I easily figured out how). However, sometimes it was difficult to recall whether I had tapped the turn stalk (for only 3 blinks) or had pushed harder for continued blinks. Then came the instances in which I changed my mind about switching lanes (say because some ass was cutting me off) after already activating the blinkers. I would intuitively try to "deactivate" my blinkers by tapping the turn stalk in the opposite direction. Instead of cancelling my blinkers, I end up blinking them in the opposite direction. I realize my mistake and flip the stalk the other way, but then the blinkers blink in the original direction again. Call me flipper, because I not only want to flip off the ass who cut me off, but make an ass out of myself when I blink left right left right with no end in sight.

Needless to say, I decided to deactivate the triple blink feature. Today, I realized that I could cancel the blinkers simply by pushing in the stalk in the same direction the lights are blinking. If my left turn indicators are blinking left, simply push the stalk to the left. Voila! No more blinking. If the right blinkers are on, tap the stalk to the right. They stop!

The owner's manual probably says this, but hey, I'm a guy. I don't always read.

[sdorn]

That's good to know. I have had the same thing happen to me a couple times, where I actually blink the wrong direction trying to cancel the blinker. I do like the 3 blink feature though. It is very nice in Atlanta traffic.

[shimshimhada]

But you're a doctor, so you must read. I am disappointed.

[JSpira]

So did you put back the triple blink?

I think it´s the greatest invention in the history of turn signals. Esp. on the Autobahn, it is great because it blinks your intention long enough (not just one blink) and you can always press for a long blink for a turn.

[Ed_330i]

Originally Posted by shimshimhada

But you're a doctor, so you must read. I am disappointed.

please read
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14367




i like the triple turn signal feature, but i think that maybe 4 blinks would have been better.

[ksfrogman]

Originally Posted by shimshimhada

But you're a doctor, so you must read. I am disappointed.

Why should I read when I can just log onto e90post, and ask you to go onto WebMD?

Originally Posted by JSpira

So did you put back the triple blink?

I think it´s the greatest invention in the history of turn signals. Esp. on the Autobahn, it is great because it blinks your intention long enough (not just one blink) and you can always press for a long blink for a turn.

I will turn on the triple blink feature again and see how I like it in light of my most recent discovery.

[sdorn]

If I tap the blinker to use the 3 blink feature and then change my mind I just let it run out on its own. The 3 blinks happen in like 2 seconds.

[sdorn]

Originally Posted by JSpira

So did you put back the triple blink?

I think it´s the greatest invention in the history of turn signals. Esp. on the Autobahn, it is great because it blinks your intention long enough (not just one blink) and you can always press for a long blink for a turn.

Are you Jonathan Spira, the writer for Roundel? I was reading the article on European Delivery in the issue I just got in the mail and noticed your byline. I thought I recognized you from on here.

[ksfrogman]

Originally Posted by sdorn

If I tap the blinker to use the 3 blink feature and then change my mind I just let it run out on its own. The 3 blinks happen in like 2 seconds.

I realize this must be a quirk that affects some more than others but I sometimes wouldn't be sure whether I had just tapped the stalk or pushed it further. The blinkers would blink much longer in the latter case.

Ergonomically, this BMW turn signal function is quite novel, though slightly unintuitive to the uninitiated. Once I get used to this, I'll probably wish all turn signals were this way.

[vladinecko]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

The owner's manual probably says this, but hey, I'm a guy. I don't always read.

yup, it is in the manual...

[sdorn]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

I realize this must be a quirk that affects some more than others but I sometimes wouldn't be sure whether I had just tapped the stalk or pushed it further. The blinkers would blink much longer in the latter case.

Ergonomically, this BMW turn signal function is quite novel, though slightly unintuitive to the uninitiated. Once I get used to this, I'll probably wish all turn signals were this way.

When I took the car out for a test drive, I couldn't use the turn signals at all. The salesman had to explain them to me, and it still took me a while to figure them out. Now I do like how they work better than those in other vehicles.

[ksfrogman]

Also bear in mind that I had been given the wrong owner's manual twice before finally receiving the correct one for the 330i with iDrive.

[visor]

Glad it worked out for you.

I had trouble for the first week too, but now I have adapted to it.
Sort of...
Often times, I still have to look at the blinking light to be sure if it's on or not, especially when I have the Logic 7 quite loud. The blinking sound is not loud enough, and I'm missing the mechanical feedback from a regular turn-signal stalk.

[vladinecko]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

Also bear in mind that I had been given the wrong owner's manual twice before finally receiving the correct one for the 330i with iDrive.

how did they give you a wrong manual? didn't they or you check what was in that leather-bound case?

my SA actually gave me the correct manual, but all in german. he saw it right away and got me an english version of it

by the way, even though i knew how to work the turn signals from the very beginning (read the manual right away) i'm still making the same mistake and by reflex, i try to cancel it by pushing the lever in the opposite direction. it is kind of weird and even after 2 months of owning the car, i still make the mistake from time to time.

[ksfrogman]

Originally Posted by vladinecko

how did they give you a wrong manual? didn't they or you check what was in that leather-bound case?

my SA actually gave me the correct manual, but all in german. he saw it right away and got me an english version of it

by the way, even though i knew how to work the turn signals from the very beginning (read the manual right away) i'm still making the same mistake and by reflex, i try to cancel it by pushing the lever in the opposite direction. it is kind of weird and even after 2 months of owning the car, i still make the mistake from time to time.

Oh man, don't get me started on this one. I had posted an entire thread awhile ago when this first happened. I should find the link so you can be entertained.

In short, I received the car with no owner's manual. I noticed this within the first few seconds of looking her over. The SA didn't believe me and had to check for himself. He then gave me (correction, he placed in the car) the e46 325/330i owner's manual, which I noticed only after driving home. I then went back to Irvine and was given the non iDrive/DVD Navi e90 owner's manual (still the wrong one), which by the way looks almost exactly like the one I needed. I should scan my new owners manual cover and index and add this new info to the original post.

I was livid. The owner's manual should NEVER be separated from the car. They blamed it on the VPC/VPD.

[Oz]

I had a very difficult time when I was test driving the car while changing lanes because I simply had no clue what I was doing. But I really like this future and prefer it compared to the X5

[ksfrogman]

Originally Posted by Oz

I had a very difficult time when I was test driving the car while changing lanes because I simply had no clue what I was doing. But I really like this future and prefer it compared to the X5

The X5 has some other type of unconventional turn stalk?

[Oz]

I don't know what i's called but it's the older style turn signal. It's not hard but I find the E90 design to be more efficient. I am used to driving both now but my brother still needs to adapt a bit when he drives my car .

[ward]

it's pretty easy guys

if you push it far enough the stalk "breaks" and then goes back to center

if you can't feel that "break" point in the travel of the signal you either have a sensory problem or your car doesn't work like mine does

[ksfrogman]

Originally Posted by ward

it's pretty easy guys

if you push it far enough the stalk "breaks" and then goes back to center

if you can't feel that "break" point in the travel of the signal you either have a sensory problem or your car doesn't work like mine does

I believe this is what I implied within my very first post above. Hence, the title "Turn signal stupidity solved." Correct me if I'm misinterpreting you.

[ward]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

I believe this is what I implied within my very first post above. Hence, the title "Turn signal stupidity solved." Correct me if I'm misinterpreting you.

looked to me like you just figured out that you can cancel the turn signal by pushing it again (either direction works, but you'd just discovered the same direction works in your post)

Maybe I can't read, but looked to me like you were unable to tell if you'd pushed the stalk past the "break" point

if it makes you feel any better I don't even have the option to that function on/off in my car (I love it though, I like it on)

[alpinewhite3]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

I once read an e90post a thread about someone who was having a hard time controlling his turn signals. I thought this was silly.

Weeks later, I received my car. I quickly noticed the triple turn signal feature that I initially liked. So I didn't disable this (though I easily figured out how). However, sometimes it was difficult to recall whether I had tapped the turn stalk (for only 3 blinks) or had pushed harder for continued blinks. Then came the instances in which I changed my mind about switching lanes (say because some ass was cutting me off) after already activating the blinkers. I would intuitively try to "deactivate" my blinkers by tapping the turn stalk in the opposite direction. Instead of cancelling my blinkers, I end up blinking them in the opposite direction. I realize my mistake and flip the stalk the other way, but then the blinkers blink in the original direction again. Call me flipper, because I not only want to flip off the ass who cut me off, but make an ass out of myself when I blink left right left right with no end in sight.

Needless to say, I decided to deactivate the triple blink feature. Today, I realized that I could cancel the blinkers simply by pushing in the stalk in the same direction the lights are blinking. If my left turn indicators are blinking left, simply push the stalk to the left. Voila! No more blinking. If the right blinkers are on, tap the stalk to the right. They stop!

The owner's manual probably says this, but hey, I'm a guy. I don't always read.

Ah thank you! i have been having the same problem since i got the car and have been really frustrated by this turn signal business. I was going to turn the 3 blinker thing off tomorrow and see if that helped. On the highway, I would change my mind and would end up blinking the other way and then try to go back and blink the opposite way. It can get annoying because then people slow down thinking youre about to merge but then you start blinking in the other direction but then you decide to merge again. ah