Hi guys I’m new here having just purchased my first ever bmw.

I have the lights in the exterior handles but they don’t work. Anyone else have this issue ??

Hi Paul

Welcome to the Forum

As your car is basically new have you had a conversation with your BMW Dealer ?

Normally the door lights are as tough as old boots, my X5 2009 vintage has them and they all still work (that's jinxed them)

Dave

Hi Dave. I’ve been on to my dealer and they can’t confirm if they do or don’t have them. I’ve seen plenty with them with a lower spec than mine so I’m disappointed really. No glovebox light either. £50k and only half the bits are there.

Morning Paul

If you know someone who has INPA/ISTA just plug in and the program will let you know what equipment the car was built with (list and codes) your dealer could do it but it sounds like yours falls into the "can't be bothered to help a customer" category

You could also use a BMW Vin Decoder several online to pull up the same information

I must say I thought pretty much all top of the range Beemers had them so worth a search

Dave

Just had a reply from BMW uk

Hello Paul

Thanks for contacting the BMW Customer Information Team regarding the lights on the door handles and glovebox. I understand how frustrating this is.

I’ve checked your vehicle’s factory specification against the VIN you provided. The exterior door handle lighting and glovebox illumination are not part of the standard equipment on your M135 (F70) build.

The illuminated door handles only operate when the car is ordered with the Welcome Light/Ambient Lighting package, which was not specified on your vehicle. Likewise, BMW no longer fits glovebox lights as standard on this model.

If you would like further confirmation or to discuss retrofit options, we recommend contacting your BMW Centre directly.

You can find the nearest BMW Centre here.

In the meantime, if there's anything else I can do for you, please let me know.

Kind regards

Minko

BMW
United Kingdom
Min Ko
Customer Information Consultant
BMW Customer Support
Summit ONE
Summit Avenue, Farnborough
Hampshire, GU14 0FB

Tel: +44 (0)1252 920317
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.bmw.co.uk

Can anyone explain to me what they are talking about when saying about welcome lighting and ambient please

Hi Paul

First check yourself using a BMW Vin decoder (if you haven't already) I work on the old "in God we Trust everyone else we check on principle 😅

There are LED light sources in each door light is fed to the door handle by a Fibre Optic cable, when the car is unlocked the area below the handle is illuminated they call them Welcome lights. Inside the car there are Ambient door lights above the door pockets and in some cases speaker lights

If your car was built without them you will probably find a Dealer sucking their teeth and explaining what a difficult job it is £££££

If they are important to you I would find a good BMW Specialist (there is a Register) and talk to them

The real question would be if the wiring/power source is there if it is then it should be a fairly straight forward retro fit and coding process

Dave

BMW have said I need to subscribe to digital premium apparently which I have free until February 🙈🙈

Hi Paul

So I would guess it is all there, I hope this isn't like VW with the ID3 where you have to pay a subscription to keep things like Heated Seats or Heated Steering wheels working !!

Keep us up to speed please

Dave

Yes Dave I’m told I have to get the premium bit but I emailed back and said got it. guess what …..no reply as of yet.

Had a reply from BMW after being told they should work. Than I got this

Dear Paul

Thanks for getting back in touch with BMW ConnectedDrive. I'm sorry to hear that you're going through this.

The BMW Digital Premium includes personal welcome from the Welcome Light Animation. It offers lighting effects for the front and rear lights. These animations greet you when you approach or unlock your vehicle.  

The exterior door handle lighting are not part of the standard equipment on your M135 (F70) build, which is why it's not functional.

If you would like further confirmation or to discuss retrofit options, we recommend contacting your local BMW Centre. You can find the nearest BMW Centrehere. 

If you require any further assistance, please get back in touch.

Kind regards

Muhammad

BMW
United Kingdom
Muhammad Dawood
Customer Support Executive
BMW Customer Support
Summit ONE
Summit Avenue, Farnborough
Hampshire, GU14 0FB

Hi Paul

There is me thinking that the M135 is pretty much top of the range with the 1 series why wasn't it fitted ?? Especially as the car has the rest of the so called "welcome lighting" package just doesn't make any sense to me

Is there a small clear lens under the door handle ?

Dave

Hi Dave

Yes there’s a light in all handles. My next step is to take out the handle to see if there’s anything connected and behind the clear light cover. Ridiculous they don’t fit them when they are there. Even removed the glovebox light. 1st and last Bm me thinks mate

Morning Paul

Just checking on ISTA wiring Diagram for your model

Inside the door there should be a twisted pair of wires Grey with a yellow trace and Brown with a yellow trace (earth) (same on all doors) They run back to the BCP (basic central platform)

When checking there are Grey with Mauve trace and Yellow with Grey trace they are Can Bus feeds to the Door lock mechanism (it also shows feeds to the door mirror Ground lights)

Knowing BMW they may earth through the door lock so it may be just a single wire Grey with yellow trace

If the wiring is there it could simply need activation through the BCP ? That may require a piece of software downloaded from BMW. It would also make there Email at best confusing

The plot thickens Good Luck

Dave

Morning Dave

Hope you’re well mate.

Thank you so much for the info Dave. I used to be in the motor trade as a strip fit guy in my last years so I can definitely take the car apart. The electrical bits I can probably manage with the info you’ve kindly found. Over Christmas I’ll be hiding from the wife in the garage so if I leave the lights off she won’t bother looking for me in there.

You’re a top guy Dave and thank you for all your interaction so far. I will let you know my findings in due course. 🎄🎄

Hi Paul

If all the wiring is in place it's just a case of activation apparently you could have Kidney Grill lights as well

So to activate it you may need the help of someone with ISTA-P my first port of call would be check the Register of BMW Specialists online and talk to a few close by they tend to be more customer friendly than BMW Dealers and around half the cost

Hope it's all there

Enjoy your Christmas

Dave

Hi Dave

I have the kidney grille as I had tech plus pack so I believed the handle lights were part of the welcome lighting but as you’ve seen BMW says it’s not after saying I need packages I actually have. Confusing mate.