How to Turn Off the Daytime Running Lights on a BMW 5 Series?
2 Answers
Start the vehicle and shift to P (Park) mode. Do not attempt this operation while driving, as it can be dangerous. Once the vehicle is safely parked, you can open the menu. After completing the previous step, proceed to select the lighting menu to continue with the settings. Choose 'External Lighting,' as you want to turn off the car's headlights. Once you open the external lighting settings, simply uncheck the option for daytime running lights.
When I first drove a BMW 5 Series, I also wanted to turn off the daytime running lights, thinking they were a waste of electricity during broad daylight. After starting the car, I pressed the iDrive knob to enter the menu, went into the vehicle settings, and found the external lighting options. There was a dedicated switch for the daytime running lights—just clicked 'off' and they turned off, which was quite convenient. After turning them off, I took a short drive to test it, and sure enough, they stayed off. However, on cloudy days or when entering tunnels, I felt less safe because the brightness warning for other cars was missing. Actually, daytime running lights don’t consume much power—they’re mainly designed for safety, reducing accident rates by about 30%. Later, I turned them back on, since safety comes first when driving. If you want to turn them off, make sure local regulations allow it to avoid fines—the manual has detailed guidelines.
