Hi guys,

I have been meaning to ask this question for a long time but it always slips my mind so here goes...

Does anybody know how the E60 or infact any BMW or Mini is able to power its interior light, SOS function and hazard flashers after an accident if the battery power is disconnected by pyrotechnics on the battery at the moment of impact? Is there a second battery that does these functions?

Thanks for reading my niggling question, i do hope somebody knows the answer.

 

There is just one battery in the car. If the battery power is total disconnected nothing will work...

 

There is a double connection to the single battery. 1) the main connection that separates upon a major impact via a small "pyrotechnic device" and disconnects everything from the battery except for...2) a separate wire that is connected to the battery but not part of the main connection and does not separate upon impact. This wire connects lower amperage features such as emergency lights, bmw assist capabilities and other needed features that should not come near leaking gasoline and cause a fire. There is a picture of this double connection in the marketing brochure I believe.

 

Oh and the Mini's cant do that... the MINIs can... haha sorry I had to correct that being a former MINI owner.

 

In addition to what Veight says, the car, on impact, will automatically unlock all doors, turn on the interior lights, and turn on the 4-way flashers. Again, this is something that BMW has been doing for quite some time now -- it's not new to the E60 -- I think they started it back around 1997 or 1998...