A couple of weird things on my 2002 E65

[piusfelix]

Greetings.

I have now had my 2002 E65 for about 3 weeks and have noticed a couple of odd behaviours.
I am heading to the dealer on monday and would like some ammo if anyone has thoughts...

1. iDrive croaks periodically. Most of the time it is fine, but sometimes it does not work at all right.
The periodic symptom will be one of:

* Not starting up at all. (Just shows the BMW screen)
This will persist for anywhere from 10 minutes to 6 hours after
which it is magically ok. (But only after a car restart)

* Slow starting. BMW screen shows for 10 - 15 seconds after key in.

* Black screen for 10 - 15 seconds after key in.

* Regular screen with message "Initializing" for 10 - 15 seconds

2. Odd lurch after shutting off the car. My power down sequence is thus:
Parking Brake ON, Shift to Park, Press Start/Stop Button, Eject Key.
5 seconds or so later , the whole car gives a kind of lurch and makes a
kind of creaking sound.

3. Speaking of creaking, should my suspension creak when I get out of it?
I mean, I am a big guy and all, but this is a 7 and is made for big guys, right?

4. Odd very slight creaking sound from behind either the steering wheel
or the instrument cluster. Sounds a bit like the crackly celophane on a
piece of hard candy (you know the sound) Tends to make this sound
if the road is a little rough or while turning. It is more frequent at speed.

5. Finally when I shift the vehicle from R to D, even if I wait a few seconds to press
the accelerator, the first few feet of traveling feels like I am on rough road...then
it smooths out. Is this a normal transition from Reverse To Drive?

Any ideas on these would be grand. I don't want to sound like a complete "ID Ten T"
when I get to the dealership on monday.

Thanks!

PF

[Strahan]

Just like a Windows box, make sure the dealer has applied all the iDrive patches and software fixes and such. From what I read on forums, that helps alot with iDrive anomalies.

[silver50]

ditto-I'd make sure the dealer tests the car for a few days after the necessary re-programming has been done to ensure everything is working fine.

[jwunder]

Agree with the others. However, when parking, keep your foot on the brake and press the start button. No need to shift to Neutral or press the Park button. The transmission will automatically enter Park, the engine will stop and the key will be ejected in that order. Then set the parking brake.

[greene08]

I've always set the parking brake on my cars after the car has been shut off and while my foot is still on the main brake. Not that that would help anything, just how I do things... wish I had a start/stop button.

Do the E65 7's allow you to enter/run the car without the key at all? Does comfort access allow that function? Or is that only on newer E66s? Or not at all yet?

[jwunder]

I don't have comfort access so I can't speak to the keyless function with authority, but I believe you can start the car without the key inserted. The other symptoms on your list certainly dictate a trip to the dealer for remedial action. I have had none of these problems except for the slight park/lurch "feature". Using the park/stop/key eject sequence noted earlier prevents the problem at least for me.

[piusfelix]

Thanks one and all! I am at the dealer monday and I will report back with what they find...

[unirok]

Agree with the others. However, when parking, keep your foot on the brake and press the start button. No need to shift to Neutral or press the Park button. The transmission will automatically enter Park, the engine will stop and the key will be ejected in that order. Then set the parking brake.


My 2002 745i wont do this. if I hold the brake and press the start button the car just shuts off in D and I have to still press park and press for the key to release. I think alot of features like this need to be enabled at the dealer.

My car now locks the door when I put the car in D since I asked the dealer to enable that feature.

[jwunder]

I don't recall asking for the start/park/eject sequence when I had my key programmed, but you may be right. Ask the dealer to add it to your key and try it. The steering wheel moves up to the top position as part of the sequence as well. Several fewer buttons to push when parking.

[asci01]

My 2002 745i wont do this. if I hold the brake and press the start button the car just shuts off in D and I have to still press park and press for the key to release. I think alot of features like this need to be enabled at the dealer.

My car now locks the door when I put the car in D since I asked the dealer to enable that feature.

Don't just press the button. Hold it down for a couple of seconds. The engine will shut off, the transmission will go into park, and the key will be ejected automatically.

[piusfelix]

Ok, I changed my shut down procedure to this:
Foot on brake.
Press Start/Stop until the engine shuts of.
Eject Key
Press Parking Brake Button.

Lurch is gone.

[jwunder]

Great. Now try using "AutoPark". I have it enabled through the steering wheel macro button (lower right Star button) for easy on/off. With AutoPark enabled (turned on) a Green "AutoPark" display appears near the top of instrument display. Using the same brake/stop button / key eject sequence the car also automaticaly engages the parking brake. One less button to push when shutting of the engine. Check your owners manual for use of the macro button and where to find the iDrive menu for AutoPark.

[piusfelix]

Great. Now try using "AutoPark". I have it enabled through the steering wheel macro button (lower right Star button) for easy on/off. With AutoPark enabled (turned on) a Green "AutoPark" display appears near the top of instrument display. Using the same brake/stop button / key eject sequence the car also automaticaly engages the parking brake. One less button to push when shutting of the engine. Check your owners manual for use of the macro button and where to find the iDrive menu for AutoPark.
I tried using Auto Park and found it to be annoying. I live in Los Angeles and there is a good bit of start / stop driving and it seemed to just get in the way.

I wish there was an "Auto Set Parking Brake when Engine Is Turned Off" setting.

Thanks for the advice tho!