2008 BMW 535xi - getting out of car

[bostonyahoo]

i've had my car for 5 months now and it still bugs me that when i shut the car off, in order to open the drive or front passenger car, you have to open the door handle TWICE. At first i thought it had to be intentional - maybe som esafety feature or somthing. But it's the dumbest thing on the car if that's the case so i figure i'd ask the experts.

is there a setting somewhere or is this just the way it is? I'm sick of telling my passengers - yeah, you have to pull it twice.

anyone?

thanks in advance!

[Teh Prof]

Presumably, the car computer is set to auto-lock when the vehicle is put into drive. This is a good safety feature, and I have it programmed on my E39 and on my old E36 as well. You have two options. 1. Push the unlock button before exiting the car. 2. Reprogram the central locking not to lock automatically when the vehicle is put into drive. If I were you, I'd go with (1), being both cheaper and safer. You may have to have a dealer charge you to do (2), although changing that option might be available somewhere in iDrive.

[m1rza]

id leave it the way it is.. your passenger is riding in a BMW it shouldn't be a problem for them to pull the damn handle 43 times before getting out.

[bostonyahoo]

exactly. they (and me) are riding in a 60 thousand dollar BMW so i shouldn't have to pull the same handle twice for the single action required. my tahoe and mustang both lock the door when the car is put in drive so the doors can't be opened from the outside, but both know that the passenger when pulling the handle knows they intend to exit. I would be fine with this on the rear doors for the kids if it's a safety issue but i'm an adult and don't need that kind of forced "safety" issue. It's like on my computer when it prompts "are you sure you want to shut down?" - YES i'm sure, that's why i took the 3-step action to command it.

and if it was simply a safety issue to prevent accidental door opening while moving, then have it that way until the car is shut off in park (when it can't possibly be moving) then allow the single pull. They seemed to think of every other convenience except this obvious oversight

[AlpineSixAndSeven]

Originally Posted by bostonyahoo

exactly. they (and me) are riding in a 60 thousand dollar BMW so i shouldn't have to pull the same handle twice for the single action required. my tahoe and mustang both lock the door when the car is put in drive so the doors can't be opened from the outside, but both know that the passenger when pulling the handle knows they intend to exit. I would be fine with this on the rear doors for the kids if it's a safety issue but i'm an adult and don't need that kind of forced "safety" issue. It's like on my computer when it prompts "are you sure you want to shut down?" - YES i'm sure, that's why i took the 3-step action to command it.

and if it was simply a safety issue to prevent accidental door opening while moving, then have it that way until the car is shut off in park (when it can't possibly be moving) then allow the single pull. They seemed to think of every other convenience except this obvious oversight

It is to prevent OTHERS from getting in no you falling out....
so your $60k car doesn't get carjacked...
i have this programmed on my seven.... check the Idrive and see if you can turn in off threw there! or just hit the unlock button before exiting the vehicle

If you need that to keep you from falling out then you have bigger issues

[bostonyahoo]

(post below)

thanks for the response below but that argument doesn't hold. like I said, i'm fine with the doors locking but every car i've owned including my current mustang and tahoe both lock the doors but both unlock the door automaticlaly when you pull the handle from the inside. Further, they both unlock when the engine is shut off (since pressumably you'll be exiting when you shut the car off). I would expect BMW to be able to figure out that when i pull the handle from inside, if the door is locked, to unlock it. Everyone else has figured this out (except ponitiac if i remember correctly)

Originally Posted by AlpineSixAndSeven

It is to prevent OTHERS from getting in no you falling out....
so your $60k car doesn't get carjacked...
i have this programmed on my seven.... check the Idrive and see if you can turn in off threw there! or just hit the unlock button before exiting the vehicle

If you need that to keep you from falling out then you have bigger issues

[RaveD]

I admit this bugged me at first but I got used to it in about a day.

How about those cup-holders

[AlpineSixAndSeven]

.... when you FIRST pull the handle it unlocks the door then the second to open the door... if it a big deal go to the dealer and have then reset it for you

[Diotima]

Originally Posted by AlpineSixAndSeven

If you need that to keep you from falling out then you have bigger issues

what is it with you and the 'issues' lately.....

I fell off the bed friday night have a humungous bump on knee

[AlpineSixAndSeven]

... everyone has issues.... you and i seem to have more then most
of to work..

[winters97E39]

Originally Posted by RaveD

I admit this bugged me at first but I got used to it in about a day.

How about those cup-holders

The 5 series has the greatest cup holders ever made in the history of the universe. Praise be to the fine german engineering that went into those...

BTW all 4 of mine are broken.

My cup holder now sits besides me. She also makes a mean lasagna..

[Dirty_Tool]

"Auto locking after starting off" can be turned off in the I-drive. Theres no need to take it to the dealer. Unfortunately thats the only way to get rid of the "2 pull" issue. At this point BMW has not recognized it as a problem so there is no update programming available to change it and there is nothing your dealer can do about it so I wouldnt waste your time. I agree that its not a very desirable thing but it is what it is. I havent specifically looked but i think its still the same even on the 08 models.