Tag: BMW

BMW symbols page gets the new color treatment

BMW logoBMW symbols page

Our BMW symbols page has now been aligned by color. We’ve have now transformed several pages, including our primary symbols page, to reflect the new color ordering.

The page feature more than 80 indicators, now ordered red through white, which generally provides a “mostly serious” to “simply letting you know” range. We used the term “mostly serious” for red indicators because many of them do not point to problem with the vehicle.

Regardless, the new ordering provides a cleaner, simpler option for drivers searching for information.

Cars are changing, and among those changes is the growing number of symbols and indicators that will invariably show up on your dashboard or instrument panel. Every year, new features are added to vehicles, each of which is accompanied by a new symbol or symbols and likely a new acronym.

At DashboardSymbols.com, our aim is to help you understand what is happening to your vehicle at the first sign of trouble – a new warning light illuminated on your instrument panel. Its all here on this website. Our first intention is to bring the latest technologies down to earth and understandable for everyday drivers.

The BMW symbols page can be found here.

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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/10/bmw-symbols-page-gets-the-new-color-treatment/

BMW dashboard symbols update includes an intriguing new pair of indicators

BMW logoBMW dashboard symbols update

Our latest BMW dashboard symbols update added a number of new indicators, with two in particular that stood out. They are the first of what will very likely be many Intersection Collision Warning symbols industry wide over time.

Intersection collision warning leftIntersection collision warning rightThe intriguing part is that the pair face different directions, pointing to which way the danger is approaching! They are shown here on either side. It remains to be seen if drivers will find them an effective warning mechanism. They are certain to be part of any future self driving software developed by BMW.

Other notable additions include alternate Pedestrian Detection symbols, unnecessary in our opinion, and Manual Speed Limiter indicators.

All in all, there are more than 80 symbols that can be seen on our BMW symbols page here.

Cars are changing, and among those changes is the growing number of symbols and indicators that will invariably show up on your dashboard or instrument panel. Every year, new features are added to vehicles, each of which is accompanied by a new symbol or symbols and likely a new acronym.

At DashboardSymbols.com, our aim is to help you understand what is happening to your vehicle at the first sign of trouble – a new warning light illuminated on your instrument panel. Its all here on this website. Our first intention is to bring the latest technologies down to earth and understandable for everyday drivers.

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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the  use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/09/bmw-dashboard-symbols-update-includes-an-intriguing-new-pair-of-indicators/

BMW iX back-up entry adds a surprise

BMW logoiX back-up entry

We got our first look at a BMW iX EV in 2023, and thus our first look at the iX back-up entry process as well. This is needed if and when the battery in the key fob dies.

We wrote it up, but got an important bit wrong!

BMW ix key holeBelow the iX door handle is a small door on the far right that hides the key hole (right). The door is pushed to release and pulled open to reveal the key hole, as you can see. This handle has since spread to the ICE-powered 7-Series and will likely find its way to other models.

We wrongly assumed that, once the key hole was exposed, all a driver would need to do is insert and turn the key to unlock the car. This much is actually true, but in fact, the door handle does not work! The small door itself needs to be pulled to actually open the car! See the gif running below.

BMW iX open

We of course had to modify our BMW page, which you can see here. You’ll also find a link to our BMW video page with an updated iX video.

Smart Keys or Intelligent Keys, or Access Keys – or whatever the manufacturer of your chooses to call them – that let you into your car and start it with just a touch use up their internal batteries at alarming rates, catching busy drivers unawares – even though the car had tried to warn you.

Our goal is to help you feel safe – and keep you moving or get you moving if at all possible – rather than leave you fretting whenever your key fob stops working. The instructions for getting into and starting most keyless start cars can be found on our pages – without roadside assistance.

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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the  use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/08/bmw-ix-back-up-entry-adds-a-surprise/

Polestar back up entry and start update points to manufacturer schizophrenia

Polestar-logoPolestar back up entry and start update

Our latest Polestar back up entry and start update really points to a manufacturer trying to figure it out. The schizophrenia leads to each new model having a different back up entry process and, while both the Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 use essentially the same back up start process, one model holds an interesting surprise.

Polestar 4 back up entryPolestar-3 door handleA mechanical key is not available to unlock the Polestar 3 or Polestar 4. The smart phone app or the vehicle’s key card will be needed. With the Polestar 3, the card is touched to the front of the driver’s door handle (right). With the Polestar 4, the card is touched to the middle of the door pillar just behind the driver’s door (far right).

Polestar 3 card readerBoth models use a card reader at the front of the center console to start the car when the key fob’s battery has died. The reader doubles as a phone charger as well as a key fob charger for the Polestar 3!

Only BMW has tried this and it never left the one vehicle it was assigned to.

You can see the Polestar back up open processes here and the back up start processes here.

Smart Keys or Intelligent Keys, or Access Keys – or whatever the manufacturer of your chooses to call them – that let you into your car and start it with just a touch use up their internal batteries at alarming rates, catching busy drivers unawares – even though the car had tried to warn you.

Our goal is to help you feel safe – and keep you moving or get you moving if at all possible – rather than leave you fretting whenever your key fob stops working. The instructions for getting into and starting most keyless start cars can be found on our pages – without roadside assistance.

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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the  use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/08/polestar-back-up-entry-and-start-update-points-to-manufacturer-schizophrenia/

When to call service and not your salesperson!

BMW logoWhen to call service

I wanted to pass along something that happened to me recently, which really pointed out the knowledge gap between salespeople and service personnel, and when to call service!

I was trying out a new electric model, BMW‘s iX, and of course I had to ask about how to get at the key hole in case of the key fob battery dies. I was talking to the salesperson at the time.

Once we determined and demonstrated what the process was, he happened to say that it it was so much easier than another model, where one ends up scratching the paint!

540i key hole capNow I immediately knew that there was no model in the related line up that would ever see paint damage when getting to the key hole. He walked me over to one, a 5-Series, and I had the cap hiding the lock cylinder off in a single move. See the instructions here.

The point here is that he had clearly fielded at least one call from a customer trying to get into his or her car, and neither of them took the time to talk to a service advisor.

This is not exclusive to BMW at all, so regardless of make or model, this was a time to call the service department!

Smart Keys or Intelligent Keys, or Access Keys – or whatever the manufacturer of your chooses to call them – that let you into your car and start it with just a touch use up their internal batteries at alarming rates, catching busy drivers unawares – even though the car had tried to warn you.

Our goal is to help you feel safe – and keep you moving or get you moving if at all possible – rather than leave you fretting whenever your key fob stops working. The instructions for getting into and starting most keyless start cars can be found on our pages – without roadside assistance.

——————————————————————-

Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the  use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/08/when-to-call-service-and-not-your-salesperson/

2024 New York International Auto Show Reflections

Who Showed, Who Didn’t

The 2024 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) was notable as much for who still didn’t show up as for what we found on the show floor.

Since the pandemic shut down the show for two years, Mercedes-Benz and BMW have yet to reappear. And while Mazda and Mitsubishi made appearances in ’22 and ’23, there were a no show this year. And from Fiat Chrysler — or Stellantis — only Jeep showed up with its outdoor test climb.

The value of industry trade shows was questioned in the wake of the pandemic. They are expensive to put on, requiring the movement of large numbers of people and vehicles and booth materials. There’s no EV trackevidence of Mercedes and BMW suffering from ignoring this and other trade shows.

Further evidence of a cut back in show attendance were the tiny booths set up by both Volvo and Audi. Barely room for a few car. For the second year in row, Hyundai took advantage of available floor space to make its own test track. The EV track (right) remained on the first level.

EVs in the Limelight

ID BuzzPolestar 4Elsewhere, EVs remain a focus of the show, clearly an attempt to acquaint the buying public with the shift to electric driving. Volkswagen’s ID Buzz (left) made and appearance. Polestar was at the show for the first time and brought its 2, 3, and 4 models. The Polestar 4 (right) won’t be available to order for another few months with deliveries expected in 2025.

Acura ZDXPorsche line upPorsche featured all four of its available electric line: the Tacan, Macan, Cayenne and Panamera (left), all open and available to crawl through. As always with Porsche, the styling is impeccable.

Acura brought its first EV, the ZDX (right), but kept it locked tight. Seems a bit short sighted if you’re hoping to generate interest.

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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the  use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/03/2024-new-york-international-auto-show-reflections/

EV Efficiency: Range’s Ignored Stepsister — While We Ignore MPGe

EV Efficiency

Most commonly any talk about EVs is about range. And while that’s certainly important, we want to shift the focus to fuel efficiency. And yes, there is such a thing! Click here for charging speed information.

The industry talks about kilowatts used per 100 miles, which is just so far from anyone’s experience and difficult to truly understand, unless maybe you’re an electrical engineer.

We use miles per gallon when talking about internal combustion engine or ICE cars, so how about miles per kilowatt?

We offer this as part of our continuing efforts to simplify the latest in automotive technology as much as possible. And yes, we in turn are choosing to ignore miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent (MPGe). It is a tortured stat meant to compare EVs to vehicles run on liquid fuels. It will be extinct soon enough.

The chart below is a translation primarily but not exclusively of work from ev-database.org, and I’ve linked their chart here. It’s in kilometers and the twisty kW per 100. I did a video as well that is also posted below, but here can be updated easily as improvements are made and new models are introduced. Note that our chart focuses on EVs available in North America while ev-database goes world wide and that the it can be expanded to show all entries.

ManufacturerModelBattery (kWh)Range (mi)Miles per kW (m/kW)Fleet Ave. m/kW
Renault
R552 kWh2494.84.8
Lucid
Air Pure / Touring88336-3483.8-4.03.8
Air Dream112405-4193.6-3.7
Tesla
Model 3582524.33.7
“75286-3013.8-4.0
Model S95348-3573.7-3.8
Model Y582183.8
“75258-2703.4-3.6
Model X95283-2953.0-3.1
Hyundai
Ioniq 6542274.23.7
“74273-3083.7-4.2
Kona481863.9
“652483.8
Ioniq 5541833.4
“74239-2423.2-3.3
Lexus
RZ300e712663.73.6
RZ450e632003.5
Volkswagen
ID.7863233.83.5
ID.7772923.8
ID.4521773.4
ID.477249-2553.2-3.3
Honda
Prologue85273-2963.2-3.53.4
BMW
i481280-3203.5-4.03.4
“672674.0
i581264-2953.3-3.6
iX65230-2363.5
“71-74224-2393.2
i7102314-3233.1-3.2
iX105301-3142.9-3.0
Polestar
494348-3723.7-4.03.4
278255-2733.3-3.5
3107292-3052.7-2.9
Chevrolet
Bolt652594.03.4
Bolt EUV652473.8
Silverado2004502.3
Kia
Niro652393.73.3
e-Soul391433.7
“642303.6
EV674224-2553.0-3.5
“54190-3.5
EV9100280-2862.8-2.9
Nissan
Leaf391463.73.3
Leaf e+592113.6
Ariya632083.3
“87252-2802.9-3.2
Porsche
Taycan models84236-2862.8-3.43.3
“71230-2363.2-3.3
Macan100310-3813.1-3.8
Genesis
G80832743.33.2
GV6074227-2423.1-3.3
GV70742182.9
Volvo
EX30491743.63.2
“64224-2303.5-3.6
C40662213.4
“79249-2613.2-3.3
XC40662143.2
“79242-2523.1-3.2
EX90107280-2892.6-2.7
Lotus
Eletre1123543.23.2
Audi
Q4 e-tron52239-2643.4-3.53.1
“77177-1833.1-3.4
e-tron GT85252-2613.0-3.1
Q8 e-tron89261-2772.9-3.1
“106283-3262.7-3.1
Fisker
Ocean1053263.13.1
“752363.1
Acura
ZDX102288-3252.8-3.23.0
Mercedes
EQS Sedans108336-3953.1-3.72.9
EQS SUVs108301-3112.8-2.9
G-Wagon1162502.2
Ford
Mach-e91264-2982.9-3.32.9
“702333.3
Lightning982302.4
“1313202.4
Vinfast
VF 8882643.02.8
VF 91233232.6
Rolls Royce
Spectra1022602.62.6

The Rankings

So, I’ve ranked manufacturers by efficiency, based on the fleet average miles per kW. This is exactly what we’re used to using in ICE vehicles — fleet average miles per gallon. The miles/kW figures are derived simply by taking a vehicles range and dividing by the battery’s kWh size. Note that the numbers are rather small, which may be what drives the use of kilowatts per 100 miles, but they are still very telling.

Few models reach or exceed an efficiency of 4 miles per kilowatt. Further, those numbers are nearly all associated with smaller models and often with smaller batteries! For instance, the industry leader is Tesla’s Model 3 with the 58 kWh battery! A smaller battery weighs less and is thus more efficient, while lacking some range. The higher range Model 3 features a 75 kW battery.

*In fact a May, 2024 update finds a Renault R5, available only in Europe, a small car with a small battery, comes in at 4.8 m/kW! It now leads the list!

Overall, Lucid, Tesla and Hyundai lead with the most efficient fleets. Oddly, Kia in particular and Genesis as well fall short of their Hyundai cousins. Kia’s smaller vehicles should have it neck and neck with Hyundai, who’s offerings tend to be smaller as well.

Bigger batteries, while offering more range generally, are not a guarantee. Note that Vinfast’s VF 9 models holds a whopping 123 kWh battery, but only 323 miles in range and lands at the bottom of our list at 2.6 miles per kilowatt. This is a full 40% less efficient than the 58 kWh Tesla Model 3.

Speaking of big batteries, battery power trains are already heavier than their ICE counterparts. For example the Ford F150 Lightning weighs in at 2500 lbs more than the gas powered version. The battery alone in the upcoming Hummer is said to weigh 2900 lbs.

The hyphenated ranges and efficiencies are identical models most often with single vs dual motors. Single motor variants are always more efficient. In some cases there are adjustments that up the horse power as well, which then cuts into efficiency.

Note who’s missing from this list: Toyota/Lexus (since added)! Honda/Acura (since added). Mazda. Subaru (missed this one)! Stellantis (at work in Europe). Even those we’ve added remain well behind a changing landscape…

So we’ll keep an eye on that landscape. Expect to see battery chemistries get more efficient and to see weight reductions, also adding efficiency.

We also expect to see faster and faster charge rates — which is also an upcoming topic.

Updates:

  • 8/21/23, Acura introduces a ZDX EV, but comes in near the bottom. Big battery, low average efficiency.
  • 12/21/23, Rolls Royce Spectra added. Also a big battery and landed at the very bottom of the list…
  • 1/21/24,  Two Lexus models added. Just above the middle on the list.
  • 2/3/24,  Porsche Macan added, which moved the brand average from 3.2 to 3.3 m/kW.
  • 5/21/24,  Renault R5, available only in Europe, a small car with a small battery, comes in at 4.8 m/kW!
  • 5/21/24, Honda intros the Prologue with an 85 kWh battery and nearly 300 miles of range.
  • 5/22/25, the Mercedes adds the G-Wagon and drops fleet efficiency from 3.1 to 2.9.

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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2023/07/ev-efficiency-ranges-ignored-stepsister/