Car Wash Proximity Alarm

[Takuwind]

So I just got my new X5 (3.0 2008). I also managed to have an accident with it in the car wash tunnel.

First, I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to get it into neutral. Finally figured it out and started inching down the tunnel. No problem.

But then the damn Proximity Alarm started going off all around me. Front and back because of the Car Wash mechanisms. Half way down the tunnel, I had the bright idea that if I turned off the engine, maybe the alarms would stop. Actually would have been a good idea 20 years ago, but apparently if you switch a modern car off, it electronically puts you into PARK. Needless to say, in the panic that ensued while trying to get the motor started and back into park the car behind slammed into me. Grrrrr.

Ok, so how the hell do I disable the proximity alarms, and why the HELL are thy going off while in Neutral? They should only turn on while I am in REVERSE!

[Qsilver7]

Are you sure the e70 has "proximity" alarms? I thought it had interior motion sensors and tilt sensors.

I believe there's a section in the owners manual that explains the procedure for using an automated car wash. And it also explains the interior motion and tilt sensors...and how to disable them. Perhaps a re-read will be helpful for use in the near future.

Info below is from the back of the 2009 E70 X5 owners manual...so page nbrs may be slightly different...but the info will be the same. Check the index in the back of your owners manual to find the same info that is highlighted within the red boxes.

[m5james]

Why the HELL are thy going through a car wash in the first place?! Love her and wash her by hand.

[Poppyboy]

Are you sure you’re not talking about park distance control (PDC)? Simple: Push the button in the forward center console to turn it off.

[Naz24]

This post is amazing.

You were annoyed enough about the park distance control that you turned the car off. There is a PDC button right above the cupholders...

[Takuwind]

Originally Posted by Naz24

This post is amazing.

You were annoyed enough about the park distance control that you turned the car off. There is a PDC button right above the cupholders...

How about being more polite - I literally just bought the car and don't know anything about it.

[Takuwind]

Originally Posted by Poppyboy

Are you sure you’re not talking about park distance control (PDC)? Simple: Push the button in the forward center console to turn it off.

It is the sensors around the bumpers that detect how close the care is to objects. I will look for this button, thanks!

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by Takuwind

... I literally just bought the car and don't know anything about it.

AH...then a good read of the owners manual will be of big help. These vehicles have lots of features that can be unknown or overlooked or unseen...but a good read of the owners manual can/will reveal a lot of info to help you truly understand all that it has and how to operate/use them.

[omgboost]

Are you sure you didn't put it into reverse while trying to get into neutral?

[Ryan5034]

Don't worry dude had the same problem at the car wash first time.

PDC button like most told you above.

Also be advised the doors have to be closed to move in D or R. I had to figure that out as well.

[windsailor]

Originally Posted by m5james

Why the HELL are thy going through a car wash in the first place?! Love her and wash her by hand.

Agree but, it does not work in winter time and temps under 10C😉

[heatmizr]

In your confusion to get the vehicle into NEUTRAL I assume you probably pushed the lever into REVERSE at some point, which activates the PDC and sensors will sound. Even after you put the trans in Neutral (or Drive) the PDC stays activated briefly. An example of this is when you backup an dsee the backup camera displaying on the i-drive screen; once you move into DRIVE it takes ~5 secs or ~10 mph to turn off the backup camera.
Same thing with the sensors, if you back into a parking spot, you will hear the sensors report anything in range, and if you need to move into Drive to straighten it out, etc, the PDC remains active for some time.

I know there is a lot going on with the features on this car, if its brand new to you there is definitely a ramp up period. Here's another useful tip while parking - when in reverse you can push down on the idrive controller to alternate between backup camera view and the overhead view from the side cameras, this helps me see that I am straight in the parking spot lines or close to the curb. You can alternate between those 2 views by bumping the controller down as often as needed.

Also, if the PDC gongs are alarmingly loud, you can turn the volume of those down some in the Idrive menu. I did this, as well as all other alarm/gongs.
You'll get it sorted and become more adept at all that stuff over time.

[Huz-Z]

Not to be a jerk, but I always avoid car washes for fear that they will damage my car. So for me, its hand-wash only with the garden hose. There are so many sensors, cameras etc. on these cars that I don't want to subject them to high-pressure water.

[omgboost]

Sometimes people don't have access to a garden hose if they live in an apartment complex or condo. I use to live in a condo and couldn't wash my own car so I'd take it to the car washes. Once I moved to a house, I start washing my own car. Only a few times during the winter do I use the car washes if it is really dirty or have salt on the undercarriage.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by windsailor

Agree but, it does not work in winter time and temps under 10C😉

I beg to differ...I washed mine this morning in those temps. Summertime I use a handmit and wash in the evening after the suns gone down so it doesn't dry before finishing, but in the colder months I'll wash in just about any time of the day using a car washing handle (check Google images) so that my hands stay dry and it's still getting 95% of the car washed vs a drive thru likely only getting 80% done.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by Takuwind

How about being more polite - I literally just bought the car and don't know anything about it.

How about being more accountable for your own actions - you literally just bought the car and didn't read the manual on how to operate things. If you're a millennial, blame the salesman for not showing you; otherwise this is on you. At the end of the day you did something embarrassing and still willingly chose to post it for the public...then are getting mad because you're not receiving only sympathetic replies We've all screwed up, but I don't know what it is with people nowadays who love to spew their feelings (good, bad and embarrassing) all over social media, online, to strangers, etc and expect to get rubber stamps and pats on the head to tell them it's OK...don't want criticism, constructive or otherwise, don't post it online. But hey, guess what you'll hopefully never do again

You gonna post pics of the damage since you said the other person slammed into you or is that an exaggeration for the sake of drama?

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by m5james

I beg to differ...I washed mine this morning in those temps. Summertime I use a handmit and wash in the evening after the suns gone down so it doesn't dry before finishing, but in the colder months I'll wash in just about any time of the day using a car washing handle (check Google images) so that my hands stay dry and it's still getting 95% of the car washed vs a drive thru likely only getting 80% done.

Highly recommend trying out the carpro microfiber madness car wash handle. Really high quality

[m5james]

IncrediPole...funny, my GF calls it the same thing Ordered, thanks for the tip...no pun intended

[-c-]

Yea theirs a parking button on your dash under the cd slot, when your having it go crazy hit that button and it will cycle off the parking system. Super easy.

Same as if you want the parking system to turn on let's say if your creeping up to a wall and want to judge how far you are from hitting it, just push the button and it will turn it on.

You don't have to put it in reverse to turn it on. But by putting the car into reverse it will turn on by itself so if you don't want it on just hit the button and it will turn it off immediately.