Lost settingas after battery disconnected

walker1c

Member
 Huntingdonshire
Yesterday I disconnected the battery to install a Mediabridge audio device. After reconnection, the car seemed to have lost various settings. The most obvious thing is that the display at the bottom of the speedo (outside temp, mpg, range etc) now just shows "... | ..." and I have to select what to display every time. The most annoying is that the windows don't do one-touch raise and lower, which I'm pretty sure they did before, and I'm not sure that the behaviour of the windows when the roof is raised and lowered is the same as it was.

Is this usual when the battery is disconnected? I would have expected the settings to be stored in some kind of non-volatile memory.

I'd be very grateful if anyone could point me to a crib-sheet for how to reinstate these settings.
 
Hi, it's normal to have to re teach the windows etc after a battery disconnect, all the info you need is on here if you utilise the search facility :thumbsup:
Regards
 
Thanks. This morning I realised what the "-- : --" is when I saw the radio displaying it too. It is, of course the clock.

I'm so accustomed to computer clocks that keep time when the device is powered down that it never occurred to me. Also, most clocks that re-initialize after a power cycle just start again at midnight, rather than waiting to be set.
 
If anyone has a link for the re-teaching of windows can you please post it. I've tried to follow some advice on here and can't get it work.

Any definitive info would be great. My passenger window goes up automatically but not the drivers one and I can't fix it :-(
 
Rich88 said:
If anyone has a link for the re-teaching of windows can you please post it. I've tried to follow some advice on here and can't get it work.

Any definitive info would be great. My passenger window goes up automatically but not the drivers one and I can't fix it :-(

There was a question about window gaps and this was posted

1: Window Reset Procedure #1
Try this first - it fixes most problems and is the quickest / easiest to try
CODE: SELECT ALL
1: Put key in ignition and turn to position 1 (lights/radio on, but NO dash lights)
2: Push and hold down the open window button (do one window at a time)
3: Once fully open, KEEP the button depressed for between 5 and 10 further seconds (do not release the button between step 2 and 3)
4: Pull and hold up with close window button until the window fully closes.
5: Release button and turn off ignition
6: Turn ignition back on and check window operation.
7: Repeat for other window if required.


2: Window Reset Procedure #2
Incase the first doesn't work!
CODE: SELECT ALL
1: Put key in ignition and turn to position 1 (lights/radio on, but NO dash lights)
2: Push and hold down the open window button (do one window at a time)
3: Once fully open, release the button, then depress four more times within ten seconds of the window fully opening
4: Close window partially
5: Push and hold down the open window button until the window fully opens
6: Pull and hold up the close window button immediately after the window fully opens
7: Once fully closed, continue to hold up the close window button for 2 more seconds then release
8: Immediately repeat steps 5 to 7 one more time
9: Turn off ignition
10: Turn ignition back on and check window operation
11: Repeat procedure for other window if required


3: Adjust rake angle of window glass
Try this if the front of the glass is lining up perfectly, but the rear doesn't appear to be high enough to make a seal along the top edge.
OR, if the rear of the window is too high and is stopping the front of the glass from fully closing.
CODE: SELECT ALL
1: Lower the window fully
2: Open the door
3: Look under the door and locate the rear-most plastic cover (it is oval in shape)
4: Remove the grommet
5: Inside you will find a small adjustment screw about two inches inside the door - NOT the 10mm nut!
6: Rotate this screw clockwise to raise the rear of the glass / anti-clockwise to lower the rear of the glass
7: Re-raise the window fully during the adjustment to check alignment
8: Replace grommet


4: Adjust camber angle of window glass
Try this if the glass is either pushing up too tightly to the seal, stopping it from closing properly.
OR if the glass is not pushing up against the seal sufficiently enough to cause a good seal.
CODE: SELECT ALL
1: Close the window fully
2: Open the door
3: Look under the door and locate the rear-most plastic cover (it is oval in shape)
4: Remove the grommet
5: Inside you will find a 10mm but (with the window up, you wont see the adjustment screw, so you can't get it wrong ;))
6: Loosen this bolt so that it is free to spin, but don't take it off
7: Using a flat-blade screwdriver, gently prise the loosened nut and stud either towards the outside of the door (if the glass is not close enough to the seal), or towards the inside of the door (if the glass is too close to the seal)
8: Re-tighten the nut
9: Close door GENTLY and check alignment.
10: If the glass is too close and appears to bend slightly whilst closing the door, you've pushed the nut/stud too far towards the outside - adjust it back immediately WITHOUT closing the door, as you risk the glass shattering..
11: Once alignment is complete, ensure the nut is fully tightened
12: Replace the grommet


5: Adjust the castor angle of the window glass
Use this if the glass appears to either be too far forward in the door, or too far back
CODE: SELECT ALL
1: Open the window approximately half way (if you have a convertible, use the "open roof" button, as this will perfectly position the window for you!)
2: Remove the door card (plenty of guides here) - no need to remove airbag, and you will want to keep the power on, so don't disconnect it either.
3: Peel back the foam protector in the bottom rear corner of the door (it's held in place with butyl tape - use a sharp knife and be careful!)
4: Locate a large circular hole in the frame, (has an approximate diameter of 1.5 inches)
5: Through this hole, you should be able to feel the rear window lifting cradle.
6: in the center of this cradle is a large black bolt, with a female torx 45 head
7: If this screw is not perfectly accessible via the hole, either raise or lower the window slightly until it is.
8: loosen but do NOT remove this bolt. You are able to get your hand around to the back of this bolt and feel when it is almost undone.
9: With the bolt loosened, grab hold of the window glass and pull it either towards the rear of the door, or push it towards the front of the door.
10: Once adjusted, re-tighten the cradle bolt.
11: Repeat adjustment as required.
12: Once final adjustment is complete, tighten cradle bolt fully
13: Re-attach foam protector to the door (if you didn't destroy the butyl tape, heat it up slightly with a hairdryer and it will become sticky and pliable once again)
14: Re-attach door card


Now, BMW suggests that instead of what I've listed in step 5, you actually remove the outer door handle, and undo the same bolt from the outside.
This does work, and will allow approximately 5mm more of movement of the window, but it does require a special tool in order to remove the door handle correctly.
My recommendation is that you try step 5 first, and if that doesn't work, either buy the special tool from BMW, or (and it's probably cheaper!) take it to BMW to adjust..


Hope this helps others as much as it's helped me!
 
@firebobby

Many thanks for posting these comprehensive instructions. I did a search and found a paragraph about window programming in the forum FAQ, but this is much more comprehensive.

I have to wonder what BMW were smoking when they decided to manage the configuration of the car by way of weird rituals with keys, window switches, dashboard buttons etc. "Stand on one leg facing the setting sun, press the close button on the key three time, make a widdershins turn, get in the car, switch the radio off and on, press the window switch for 7.5 seconds, then blip the wipers...". A keypad or a digital connection of some kind surely wouldn't have broken the budget.
 
walker1c said:
Thanks. This morning I realised what the "-- : --" is when I saw the radio displaying it too. It is, of course the clock.

I'm so accustomed to computer clocks that keep time when the device is powered down that it never occurred to me. Also, most clocks that re-initialize after a power cycle just start again at midnight, rather than waiting to be set.

BMW still don't use RDs to set the clock, so unless your mdeia bridge can do this (like the Intravee) you will have to reset the clock yourself.
 
thepits said:
RTFM springs to mind? :poke:

Fair point. Unfortunately the FM has gone missing at some time in the 8 years before I acquired the car. I have a PDF copy of the manual on my phone, but it's something of a challenge to find things in it.
 
walker1c said:
I have to wonder what BMW were smoking when they decided to manage the configuration of the car by way of weird rituals with keys, window switches, dashboard buttons etc. "Stand on one leg facing the setting sun, press the close button on the key three time, make a widdershins turn, get in the car, switch the radio off and on, press the window switch for 7.5 seconds, then blip the wipers...". A keypad or a digital connection of some kind surely wouldn't have broken the budget.
What BMW were really thinking was "we want the owners of our cars to hand over large wads of cash to our dealers whenever they want anything, no matter how trivial, done to their car"!
 
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