X5 running, idling for over 9 hours!!!

[rntaylor]

So I get to the parking garage around 7:00am this morning. As I'm parking my car I notice this X5 with it's headlights on. I don't think much about it, I figured someone was sitting inside, so I go on about my business and leave and head to work; which is in another building.

Around 12:30 I go to the garage, because I have to take my car to BMW for some scheduled maintenance. The X5 is still running!!! I take this picture and then go back up to the office to show them the picture (License) in hopes of them being able to contact the owner. (If you park on this particular level you have a monthly parking pass). He said thanks and that he has to go down and get the number off of the parking placard that we hang on the rear view mirror. I let him know that it's been running since this morning and then I leave.

After dropping off my car at BMW I return with a loaner (330i) at approximately 2:00pm. The X5 is still running!?!?!?! I'm like wow he must not have been able to contact the owner. So I keep it moving and go back to the job.

So now it's 4:00pm, time to go home. I walk into the building and I see the dude that I talked to earlier. He said the X5 didn't have it's placard on the rear view mirror so he wasn't able to contact the owner! WOW! So when I get into the garage I walk up to the X5 this time to see if the door is unlocked so that I could at least turn it off, but it was locked. There was nothing else I could do, so I left.

When I looked inside the temperature gauge was normal, so it didn't overheat. My guess with it being a newer vehicle everything will be fine. Probably just wasted a few gallons of gas.

I could see how this mistake could happen, especially with the push button start/stop and no key. But, I'm glad I almost always turn around and look at my vehicles when I walk away.

[admranger]

If it is running, the key has to be inside. Probably could have opened it by pulling on the door handle if it had comfort access (or do they all have that now...I don't clog my limited RAM capacity with that sort of stuff).

[r33_RGSport]

Wow, hopefully it is not some murder case going on there.
Maybe should try to call BMW Assist and gave them the VIN to contact the police.

[rntaylor]

Originally Posted by admranger

If it is running, the key has to be inside. Probably could have opened it by pulling on the door handle if it had comfort access (or do they all have that now...I don't clog my limited RAM capacity with that sort of stuff).

Actually, it can be running and you can get out with the key FOB and lock the vehicle. People do it all the time if they are letting their vehicle heat up or cool down while they are inside their homes, etc. And if the key FOB isn't on the person attempting to unluck the vehicle with comfort access the vehicle will not unlock.

[rntaylor]

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

Wow, hopefully it is not some murder case going on there.
Maybe should try to call BMW Assist and gave them the VIN to contact the police.

Didn't seem like any foul play. I did all I could do. I live in the DMV, (DC, MD & VA) area. Rush hour traffic is one of the worse in the nation. The later you leave the longer the commute home.

[turboawd]

this almost happened to me. i park, press the start/stop button, get out and try locking the door but get no confirmation chirp. i'm like what's going on. i go back and see the engine is still running. oops. i guess i just didnt press the start/stop button hard enough. and this has happened more than once.

[turboawd]

and idling that long is not good for an engine. oil flow is at a minimum. carbon can build up in combustion chambers.

[Almaretto]

When you lock car with engine running, you are supposed to get horn honk.
When you lock car with engine off, you get alarm chirp.

Unless it is an xdrive40e (very quiet), I do not see how owner could not know it is running.

[Chadmatic]

Originally Posted by Almaretto

When you lock car with engine running, you are supposed to get horn honk.
When you lock car with engine off, you get alarm chirp.

Unless it is an xdrive40e (very quiet), I do not see how owner could not know it is running.

Yes, horn honks if you try to arm while engine is running.

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by Chadmatic

Yes, horn honks if you try to arm while engine is running.

Unless coded off for those that like to leave car idling without disturbing neighbors.

[barcelona]

Originally Posted by Almaretto

When you lock car with engine running, you are supposed to get horn honk.
When you lock car with engine off, you get alarm chirp.

Unless it is an xdrive40e (very quiet), I do not see how owner could not know it is running.

Yes for x6, very loud honk when locking with engine running. For x3 chirp for locking whether engine on or off.

I have left x3 locked and engine running at car park. I always double check that the engine is off, especially in the home garage.

[rntaylor]

Originally Posted by Almaretto

When you lock car with engine running, you are supposed to get horn honk.
When you lock car with engine off, you get alarm chirp.

Unless it is an xdrive40e (very quiet), I do not see how owner could not know it is running.

True, the horn does honk when you lock the vehicle while the engine is running. But, if this is the persons first BMW/X5 they may not know that. Because, other model vehicles the horn honks when you lock the vehicle when it isn't running.

Not making excuses for the person, but it's my guess they got out of the vehicle, walked away and armed the vehicle. Heard the horn and thought that was the indication that it was lock and all was good. Not realizing it was letting him/her know the vehicle was still running.

[rntaylor]

UPDATE...Well the owner beat me in to the parking garage this morning, but as you can see they backed in. Probably so that they can clearly see the headlights...

[Chadmatic]

Originally Posted by rntaylor

UPDATE...Well the owner beat me in to the parking garage this morning, but as you can see they backed in. Probably so that they can clearly see the headlights...

Put a note under the wiper blade that says you noticed that the car was running and the door was unlocked so you did him a favor and turned it off and locked the doors. He will think he is going crazy!

[Habs11]

Originally Posted by Chadmatic

Put a note under the wiper blade that says you noticed that the car was running and the door was unlocked so you did him a favor and turned it off and locked the doors. He will think he is going crazy!

OMG Yes !!!

[Flying Ace]

not a problem on an M car! The fucking garage knows that I've arrived.

[rntaylor]

Originally Posted by Chadmatic

Put a note under the wiper blade that says you noticed that the car was running and the door was unlocked so you did him a favor and turned it off and locked the doors. He will think he is going crazy!

I literally laughed out loud when I read your comment!

[Snow-Kidney]

I did this once. Luckily I had to go back to my X5 to grab something after 10 min. I felt like a jackass.

I turned off my chirp when locking so I never got the warning horn letting me know I effed up.

[turboawd]

my x5 does not honk horn. there is silence when i try locking with the engine running.

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by turboawd

my x5 does not honk horn. there is silence when i try locking with the engine running.

It varies by chassis, software, and production whether it honks from factory. You can code it to honk if you desire.

[Florida-X3]

OK, I'll admit it .... I have done this. When I first got my Infiniti, my wife and I and two friends went out for the evening. I parked at the upper level of a parking garage (aka the roof so it was outside). I was so engaged in a conversation with my friend that I just got out of the car and locked it. I never heard the engine running or the warning. Luckily it wasn't for 9hrs, only 4. I felt like such a fool and the first thing I thought of was what were all the people walking by thinking about this idiot. The car seemed fine, temp was normal, etc. My guess is the battery was probably a little low since it wasn't at a good RPM to charge. So ..... I can see how it can be done. Still have the Infiniti, 36k miles and all seems well.

[jlstyle]

I did the similar thing before...I went to get a hair cut, thinking I turned off the car, exited vehicle, locked the car with key. Two hours later, I got out and tried to open the door and noticed no unlocking sound, then found that I left the car on.
Stupid me. I'm getting old and this comfort access is making me dumber.