[vinnyy]

Have been driving my car for 1 yr and still can't figure out when and how to stop the signal light. In my old E46, the level will stay in position and i can manually pop it back after lane change.

In the new BMW, when you move the signal lever past the resistant point (say you sitting in traffic and waiting to merge in. 3x blinker not ideal for this case.) to activate the turn signal. After I merge, I turned it off by hitting the lever in counter direction. But sometimes that activates the opposite signal light! Anyone has this problem?

[rich8566]

Originally Posted by vinnyy

Have been driving my car for 1 yr and still can't figure out when and how to stop the signal light. In my old E46, the level will stay in position and i can manually pop it back after lane change.

In the new BMW, when you move the signal lever past the resistant point (say you sitting in traffic and waiting to merge in. 3x blinker not ideal for this case.) to activate the turn signal. After I merge, I turned it off by hitting the lever in counter direction. But sometimes that activates the opposite signal light! Anyone has this problem?

Actually - to turn the signal off you can tap it up or down. You don't have to tap it in the opposite direction. As a matter of fact, to avoid inadvertently signaling in the opposite direction, you should tap in the same direction to turn the signal off.

[xantdieselx]

Originally Posted by rich8566

Actually - to turn the signal off you can tap it up or down. You don't have to tap it in the opposite direction. As a matter of fact, to avoid inadvertently signally in the opposite direction, you should tap in the same direction to turn the signal off.

This. Tap in same direction to cancel .

[Beartato]

I learned something new today.

[raleedy]

Originally Posted by Beartato

I learned something new today.

This isn't new. It's the way every new BMW model has worked since the E65 was introduced in 2002. It is described in the owner's manual.

[Sportstick]

I find it reliably easy to just tap the lever in the opposite direction briefly and it stops the signal. It's a gentle and momentary move and works consistently.

[Xi-Xi]

Originally Posted by xantdieselx

This. Tap in same direction to cancel .

Get the heck outta here. I never knew this, either. great info.

[Troppo]

Great tip, thanks.

[Beartato]

Originally Posted by raleedy

This isn't new. It's the way every new BMW model has worked since the E65 was introduced in 2002. It is described in the owner's manual.

Ok...? I just said I learned something new, never implied it's new to BMW or that it's not in the manual. Chillax, fam.

[SerenVoX]

Originally Posted by rich8566

Actually - to turn the signal off you can tap it up or down. You don't have to tap it in the opposite direction. As a matter of fact, to avoid inadvertently signally in the opposite direction, you should tap in the same direction to turn the signal off.

You are awesome and the op for asking this question! Learned somthing new and much more convenient! Hate looking stupid when I press it counter to turn off but then it signals the otherway when that isn't my intention

[raleedy]

Originally Posted by Beartato

Ok...? I just said I learned something new, never implied it's new to BMW or that it's not in the manual. Chillax, fam.

You're right, of course. My bad. It just baffles me over and over again that people buy an expensive and sophisticated car and make no effort to figure out how it works. Unlike you, I'll never learn.

[Maynard]

Originally Posted by rich8566

Actually - to turn the signal off you can tap it up or down. You don't have to tap it in the opposite direction. As a matter of fact, to avoid inadvertently signally in the opposite direction, you should tap in the same direction to turn the signal off.

I've gotta try this - had no idea you could hit it again the same direction to shut off - I just assumed it had to be counter to the 'on'. Like OP, I also do what I think of as the 'super spaz' sometimes, hitting 'off' too hard and signaling the other direction, usually when I'm doing something fast in traffic, so I'm sure it makes me look especially dorky.

[Maynard]

Oh yeah, not that I actually use my turn signals - don't wanna ruin a perfectly good stereotype.

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by rich8566

Actually - to turn the signal off you can tap it up or down. You don't have to tap it in the opposite direction. As a matter of fact, to avoid inadvertently signally in the opposite direction, you should tap in the same direction to turn the signal off.

Great tip! Add me to the list of owners who did not know this.

Yes, to raleedy's point, it sort of is in the manual, but not super obvious. My 2015 manual says:

"To switch off manually, press the lever to the resistance point."

From this, I did not realize you could press the lever in either direction.

[Beartato]

2016 manual says the same thing. For the record I read the manual online before I took delivery. This is literally all the manual says about the signals:

[Sportstick]

This all comes down to noting the difference between "beyond" and "to". The new news is that the lever can go in either direction to cancel the indicator, which is helpful.

[BentZero]

I learned this during the first week of ownership.......after looking like a dumbass because I kept vacillating between the left and right signals. I quickly figured out that I just need to press it in the same direction again.

As a side note, I coded the "quick signal" to flash 5 times. 3 just isn't anywhere near enough.

[Beartato]

Originally Posted by BentZero

As a side note, I coded the "quick signal" to flash 5 times. 3 just isn't anywhere near enough.

Ditto. Who thought 3 was enough? 5 is perfect.

[rich8566]

Originally Posted by BentZero

I learned this during the first week of ownership.......after looking like a dumbass because I kept vacillating between the left and right signals. I quickly figured out that I just need to press it in the same direction again.

As a side note, I coded the "quick signal" to flash 5 times. 3 just isn't anywhere near enough.

I also coded mine to signal 5 times. 3 is just never enough.

[42395_skyline]

I too learned this the first week of ownership, especially after I switched back and forth between signals a few times and looked like an idiot driving! Didn't read the manual yet, but I learned about the 3 second flash and to go in the same direction with testing.

I love seeing BMW's on the road hit the turn signal in the opposite direction when trying to turn them off. I always thought it was weird until I got my car and learned why they do it. Now it's just amusing.

[harma24]

Originally Posted by 42395_skyline

I love seeing BMW's on the road hit the turn signal in the opposite direction when trying to turn them off. I always thought it was weird until I got my car and learned why they do it. Now it's just amusing.

It's not just BMW drivers who do that. I know I've seen Audi drivers do it too. I was following an A4 a few weeks back and the poor guy kept activating the opposite blinker every time he changed lanes. Happened 3 or 4 times while I could see him.

[MZWIE]

Why is this so difficult. I think it's one of the best innovations in a while. It's so very easy to use. Push on - push off. Makes perfect sense

People like this scare me. Wonder if they have garanimals to get dressed in the morning.