[skimo]

I discovered two things today I am not sure what they are. Please see images.

I got the strange characters on the display by pressing and holding the reset button for > 5 secs after switching off engine..but key still in slot. The characters read: "01.00 FGSTNRKR56676"

Anyone have any idea what this means? I discovered this when i was trying to troublshoot an "electrical humming" noise comming from the dash. Like a mid frequency buzz...not mechanical. I know its electrical related cause when I flash lights or put on blinker, the frequency of the sound emitted changes...hard to explain.

Thanks
Skimo

[deutschmann59]

Hey skimo. Ha, that second pic you have that's circled with a "?"...that makes me laugh The first time on I saw that on my car, I was like, "what the heck is that thing?". I still don't know what it is. I haven't seen that in the manual at all.

I haven't tried that first thing you mentioned about holding in the button. So if anyone knows about either item, please let us know. Good luck fixing that problem you seem to be having.

[tima]

The item in your 2nd picture (glovebox) is a fob adapter for use with the black plastic(?) key. Insert the key into the fob, then use it like a regular fob to start the car. (cf. page 18 in online edition of U.S. manual.)

[romeo26]

and there you go i think tima nailed it

[skimo]

Ahhh...i get it. So when the original fob fails, and I enter the car manually using key...i will need this thing to start the car? (because the original fob is dead...) ?

Nice...

[drfluid]

the plastic key is actually for the valet parking... It enables a driver only to drive the car.
You don't want to give your real key fob to someone you don't trust.

[Kao BMW]

Hey skimo, didn't your sales guy explain all of this to you when he sold you the car. My sales guy almost put me to sleep explaing every single detail to my car.

[mwie]

Originally Posted by skimo

I got the strange characters on the display by pressing and holding the reset button for > 5 secs after switching off engine..but key still in slot. The characters read: "01.00 FGSTNRKR56676"

Hi,

check this web page for further info about the "strange" characters... >> left menu "Tipps/Tricks"

There's much more than only the "FGSTNR = Fahrgestellnummer" = chassis number... :rocks:

Michael

[powertrain]

Guys, I've just received my car in South Africa, let me explain what the circled thing is. You're given three keys right, two similar ones (like remote control keys as you know) then there's a third one called wallet key (to be kept literally in your wallet all the times) small light & made of black plastic material. When you've locked your keys inside the car (those with no comfort access option) or simply lost it and far away from home, you can gain access inside your car with the wallet key (ofcourse the alarm will be activated) then you open the cabin hole and insert the key inside that little container (circled) and pull it off whole thing and it just becomes a normal key that you can start the car with. The ignition is on and the alrm is off and there you go home. Safe and sound. Howzit?

[LEDZEP]

The first pic is the current software revision number. This is used by the techs so they know what software you have. The second, as has been explained (and is in the manual) is the spare key fob. The idea is to keep the black plastic key in your wallet, etc. for emergency. As previously stated, your sales person should have told you all about that.

[mwie]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

The first pic is the current software revision number. This is used by the techs so they know what software you have.

Sorry Ledzep, but this is not correct.

As written above it is showing the chassis number of your car. The SW version is shown in when selection number 01.06 - but this version number does not say anything about the CIP version of the car, just the version number of one small SW unit...

Michael

[skimo]

Thanks for the replies....

I hope its not SW version number though....im still at 1.00 ?

Skimo

[Steply]

Originally Posted by drfluid

the plastic key is actually for the valet parking... It enables a driver only to drive the car.
You don't want to give your real key fob to someone you don't trust.

You're close, but not quite right -- if you are getting valet parked, you switch on the trunk lock (in the glove box), remove the "valet key" and use it to lock the glovebox. Then you hand the key FOB to the valet parker (and you keep the metal "key").... without the fob, you cant start the car, but the fob will not open the trunk with the lock activated in the glovebox....

The adaptor should be left (empty) in the glovebox... it wont work unless the black "plastic" key is inserted. You should keep the black key in your wallet... That way if you lose your keyfob, you can just usse the key in your wallet to open the door, then insert into the adaptor in the car and insert the adaptor fob into the "key fob hole(?)" to start the car..

[silverado]

Steply,

So the fob can start the car without the key in it?

[skimo]

I noticed another thing today...when the driver door is open the auto-window close (pull the window tab and the window closes all the way even if u release) does not work. It only works when the driver door is closed. So basically if a door is open, the auto-window-all-the-way does not work. Hmm...another saftey feature ?

SKimo

[Dani]

I noticed a problem with the sunroof as well. If the key is in but car is off windows work but car actually has to be on for my sunroof to work. Is this a mistake? Seems like it should be.

[thrill30]

Originally Posted by skimo

I noticed another thing today...when the driver door is open the auto-window close (pull the window tab and the window closes all the way even if u release) does not work. It only works when the driver door is closed. So basically if a door is open, the auto-window-all-the-way does not work. Hmm...another saftey feature ?

SKimo

It's a continuation from the E46.... my E46 does the same thing if the driver's door is open.... I do not understand the logic in this feature at all.

[Armen52]

Originally Posted by Dani

I noticed a problem with the sunroof as well. If the key is in but car is off windows work but car actually has to be on for my sunroof to work. Is this a mistake? Seems like it should be.

Hey Dani, I noticed this problem too in the past day that I've had my car. Its pretty annoying that the windows work after the car is turned off but not the moonroof. I don't understand the logic behind that. Twice I've had to restart the engine to close the moonroof.

Anybody know why this is or ways around it?

[silverado]

Originally Posted by Armen52

Hey Dani, I noticed this problem too in the past day that I've had my car. Its pretty annoying that the windows work after the car is turned off but not the moonroof. I don't understand the logic behind that. Twice I've had to restart the engine to close the moonroof.

Anybody know why this is or ways around it?

I think you could press the start/stop button without pressing the brakes or the clutch, which puts the car in accessory mode without starting the engine, and then close the moonroof.

[skimo]

Originally Posted by Armen52

Its pretty annoying that the windows work after the car is turned off but .....

They do? Mine dont! I had to turn on engine the other day to close the windows...I need to double check that.

skimo

[thebigman]

A bit off topic, but is anyone else bothered by the fact that there is no right foot-rest (right hand drive cars)? IMHO this defeats the point of the cruise control.

The key-fob trick is stuff of genius. Trust the Germans.

[tima]

I can confirm - in my car anyway - that one gains access to most electricals (including the sunroof operation) without igniting the engine by pushing the start the button with fob inserted without depressing clutch (or brake).