How to Turn Off the Lights When the BMW Engine is Running?

[LeFernando]

You can turn them off using the light control knob. Here are some relevant details: 1. BMW: BMW, the full Chinese name being Bavarian Motor Works Co., Ltd., is a German luxury car brand. BMW's vehicle series include I, X, Z, and pure numeric models, along with series 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and the M series, which is an enhanced version based on these series. 2. Car Headlights: Car headlights, also known as car front lights or car LED daytime running lights, serve as the 'eyes' of a car. They not only relate to the external image of the car owner but are also closely linked to safe driving at night or under bad weather conditions.

[LeEmilio]

I often encounter this situation when driving my BMW 3 Series. The operation is actually very simple: after parking, don't turn off the engine, find the light control knob on the lower left side of the steering wheel, and turn it from AUTO to the far left 0 position. Remember, this only turns off the headlights—the daytime running lights will still be on, as required by EU regulations. Another trick is to press and hold the lock button on the key for 3 seconds, and all the vehicle lights will turn off immediately. But be careful with the battery level—last time I waited for someone at the airport with the AC on for half an hour, and the dashboard showed an energy-saving reminder.

[Silva]

Here's a handy tip: In the iDrive system, go to Vehicle Settings - External Lighting, and simply uncheck the daytime running lights option. This way, turning the knob to position 0 will completely shut off all lights. BMW's lighting logic is quite intelligent—I particularly love the feature where the lights automatically turn on when unlocking the car, but it can be inconvenient during camping. Last week while barbecuing, I noticed the tail lights were especially hot when charging with the engine running. Later, I learned that to turn off all the lights, you need to go into the deep settings or simply shift to P and press the start button to cut power (without turning off the engine). After 15 seconds, the lights will automatically enter sleep mode.

[Angelo]

Operation done in two seconds: Press the brake and shift to P, then quickly press the start button twice without stepping on the brake. You'll notice the dashboard displays 'Ignition On'. Now, the light control is entirely in your hands—simply turn the knob on the left stalk to the bulb icon with a slash. Watch the dashboard for a yellow light indicator, confirming all exterior lights are off. Once, while waiting outside the ER with my wife, I used this trick to save battery and keep my phone charging.

[DeDaniella]

Tried three effective methods: The first is to open and then close the driver's side door, which temporarily turns off the lights (but they automatically come back on after five minutes of inactivity). The second is to use the BMW app on your phone to remotely turn off the lighting (requires ConnectedDrive activation). The most reliable method is to go into the central control screen and disable all external light sources in the 'Parking and Vehicle' submenu. Remember last winter when I was waiting in the car with the heater on and forgot to turn off the lights, leading to a dead battery—had to call roadside assistance, which was quite embarrassing. Now I’ve developed a habit: if I’m waiting for more than ten minutes, I always go into the settings to turn off the lights.

[OMolly]

Veteran BMW Owner Shares Tips: First, check your model year. For post-2018 models, simply say 'Hey BMW, turn off all lights' to the iDrive system. Older models require holding both the central locking + trunk buttons for 10 seconds to force transport mode. At a car meetup, we tested this – turning off lights with engine running can save up to 0.8L fuel per hour. Key reminder: Always activate hazard lights after turning off headlights, especially during nighttime stops, as it's dangerously hard for trailing vehicles to see you otherwise.