After the most recent update, my iDrive beeps at the top of the hour every hour.
3 beeps, 2 short one long. (beep beep, beeeeep)
I know this was available on the E39 and you can switch it on and off.

Can you switch it off from the iDrive?

 

Yes you can. I believe it is in the settings menu of the i-Drive. But it can deffenetly be turned off.

 

Yep, it's in the iDrive.....

 

In the idrive under clock setting, untick the message memo!

 

I might be wrong but I think on mine it's called "hour memo."

I'm pretty sure the name was changed with version 12.

 

That might have changed with software 12.
Mine says "Nachrichten Memo" (Nachrichten is "News" OR "message", so the translation was obviously wrong and that's why they probably switched it on s/w 12).

 

The hourly beep happen about 10 seconds before switching to the next hour.
Anyhew, thanks for the tips

 

On mine the last beep is exactly on the hour.

 

I have just enough time to punch the radio on if I am already tuned to a new station. Otherwise, I'm late getting there.

 

Mine is exactly on the hour too, but when i had Business Nav it was early!!!
I guess Bus Nav isn?t precise enough.