XSeries-forum

What do the inner switches do? I assume the top one is audio in some way?
The originals on mine are selectable, but in reality, i never use them. The question is, when swapping steering wheels, would these switches be compatible to swap, or do i need to split and transfer them?

If you mean on the upper image then the upper button changes the entertainment source and the bottom is air recirculation mode. My manual doesn’t list the buttons on the lower piccie. Whether they will work I can’t say. They’ll do something, but maybe only what is already there rather than something different.

X5Sport wrote: Fri Aug 01, 2025 1:03 pm If you mean on the bottom image then the upper button changes the entertainment source and the bottom is air recirculation mode. My manual doesn’t list the buttons on the upper piccie. Whether they will work I can’t say. They’ll do something, but maybe only what is already there rather than something different.

Ive edited as i had the images the wrong way round. Could you clarify for me please You have an LCI model of course

On pre LCI the two symbols can be assigned to different options in the idrive, though what they are off hand i don't even know, but i could get off my butt and have a look i suppose

It seems the LCI models have a simplified system. Pre LCI had assignment options in the menu.. I've set up the idrive options to match the LCI steering wheel buttons, which is all i need, if that

I can’t reassign any buttons. They are ‘fixed’ and as per my comment. The top picture is the one I’m referencing. The inner pair are Entertainment source (upper) and air recirc (lower). My X6 was amongst the first of the later CIC (rather than CCC) cars. The later ones have more buttons on the idrive controller. I never use those two either.

Oh so CIC was changed shortly after being introduced as well then. I know the paddle operation on My E71 is original, push pull on either side which i prefer, though very rarely use, to single operation up/down paddles. It doesn't apply to the E70 so it doesn't matter.

From recollection, downtime after battery negative disconnection is twenty minutes for safe airbag removal?

CIC with Combox instead of TCU (telematics) was from October 2010. Paddle controls on mine are both moving in either direction rather than one up and the other down. I don’t think BMW changed that until the E71 became the F16 (but may be wrong) in 2013 or so. It never got the LED angel eyes either.

20 mins sounds fine, and to be really safe remove +ve as well and touch both battery leads together. Not essential, just depends upon how ‘safe’ is safe enough in your mind

Just had an oil change again on mine and had to get the Dealer to do the headlight beam change. Service rep thinks they have a special tool now as he agreed the levers are a cast iron to swap. Didn’t charge me

Point taken on touching the terminals together. As best I remember, the positive terminal block is pretty busy. I'm not inclined to disturb it tbh. Maybe I'll just give it half an hour after taking the negative off

Always appreciate your input. I've asked a lot of questions since acquiring the E70, unlike the E71, which has always been a dealership maintained car. I can barely justify that nowadays. I absolutely can't justify it on the E70, so getting stuck in is the only option which can actually be rewarding. I'll only ever be a tinkerer though, never a real spanner man unfortunately.

It will probably be obvious, i'm swapping the steering wheel for a better condition used item. This is with an item showing a label dated 01.11.2010, so obviously LCI era.

Is E71 headlight flipping not possible, despite what we are lead to believe?

The headlights are swappable for driving on the Continent. Dealer did it yesterday and didn’t charge me. The local techies have found a way to do it without needing Orangutan length arms and small hands. They have an ‘unofficial’ tool of some sort. I didn’t really want to put masks on the front of the lights as the adhesive may damage the anti-UV (prevents/reduces the plastic going misty) coating and it can’t be repaired.

I dread to think how costly new OEM light units might be!

According to them, the later cars from around 2013/4, especiallly with LED, have geolocation and it’s all automatic.

"Geolocation" is a new word to me. I dislike masks to, they block a lot of light output ime.

My replacement steering wheel is now fitted drama free. I only lost the clock and date display, which is easy to reinstate. The 'new' buttons now operate steering wheel functions as LCI cars are designed to, having pre programmed them via the idrive. I was pleasantly surprised the radio and seat memories were retained.

No images as i doubt anyone would want them

X5Sport wrote: Fri Aug 01, 2025 3:26 pm CIC with Combox instead of TCU (telematics) was from October 2010. Paddle controls on mine are both moving in either direction rather than one up and the other down. I don’t think BMW changed that until the E71 became the F16 (but may be wrong) in 2013 or so. It never got the LED angel eyes either.

This got me thinking. Do your cars paddles look like these?
Or like these?

The lower version.

I also have a switch in the middle of the right hand inboard pair for steering wheel heating.

Really, thats a surprise.

Ignorance is bliss in my case, i had assumed LCI models would have the later minus/plus type.

A heated steering wheel will be nice, but if i ever manage to relocate, it would be superfluous. Having looked into buying an X5 locally, none seem to have heated seats. Both are unnecessary in a hot climate i suppose.

Every day's a school day.

I’m not certain when (or if) BMW introduced an ‘LCI’ for the E71. There’s no record of it in the parts databases. It wasn’t treated the same way as the E70 was. Although the engine line-up was changed to the N-series, 8-speed gearbox added and other electronics changed in 2010 for the 2011 model year (which mine is), these were different to the E70. The E71 retained its standard and clever torque distribution rear transmission. No LED angel eyes ever appeared until the F16 model. Optional LED headlights arrived in Summer 2011 for the 2012 model year. They can be retrofitted but as huge cost (around £6k at the time). MY2012 could have them on factory orders.

Externally all E71 look the same even if under the hood a lot was updated. It’s possible that incremental changes were introduced every 6 months or so. I know the functions such as RTTI arrived a few months after mine was built, but that was a minor hardware & software update in the radio system.

I think BMW took what worked for the E70 and added them in over the years rather than create an official ‘LCI’. It may have been related to sales. The X6 E71 sold very well in a few countries, but nothing compared to the market share that the E70 had.

£6k for LED headlights