Every other day or so, I have been getting a series of random beeps while driving. It's three short beeps and a long, about one second apart. It reminds me of the beeps they use in competitive downhill alpine skiing at the starting gate.

When I hear it, I quickly scan my dashboard for any sign of flashing warning lights, but nothing appears, just the beep. Any idea of what this might be?

 

sounds like your hourly chime. you can turn it off via the iDrive...

 

...except it doesn't go off on the hour :>)

 

How often does it go off? The hourly chime actually goes off prior to the hour. Could also be a speed limit warning, again something set in the iDrive. No telling what it might be beyond that...

 

I agree... I think its the hourly chime - check your idrive for that first. The way you describe it sounds exactly how I remember that annoying option before I figured out what it was myself!

Also, while you are in the idrive check for any error messages if you havent already...

 

I'm new to the E60 and have heard the same series of beeps the past few days. I believe it is the hourly chime since I recall the beeps always occurring at the top of the hour. I will have to check out the iDrive menus to remove this "feature".

 

It turns out that it indeed is the hourly chime. However, I notice that it doesn't seem to exactly coincide with the time that has been set. It's a minute or two off from the time displayed on the dash. Does it perhaps get it's time from the satellite or the radio frequency? If so, that's easy enough to correct.

 

It is based on the time displayed on your dash / on idrive screen. It goes off at :56 seconds, so 11:59:56 you will hear beep one, then at ::57 beep two, then at ::58 beep three, then at ::59 a longer beep four, then 12:00:00 will display. That's how it works on mine, and my wifes, and the other two BMW's we've had.

 

The hour memo should sound one minute before the top of the hour. I think it's three short beeps followed by a longer beep.

It is useful for those wanting to catch the news at the top of the hour, with the accompanying reports on traffic and weather. It is also useful for reminding long-distance drivers to take regular rest stops every X hours or so. Or use it as a reminder to report on status and location of your precious cargo, if you're a professional driver

"The Hire"

 

Hmmmm, that's not what I experienced this morning. After I heard the chime at 7:59, I waited to see how long before it flipped to 8:00. It was more like 30 seconds. That's why I thought I'd just advance the time one minute. I need to note it for sure on my way home tonite...