What’s this light for?

[JW911]

There’s a flashing red light in my cup holder (640i). Flashes about once per second the whole time (engine on or car locked). If the ignition is on (engine off) or immediately after start for a few seconds, it pulses quickly before going back to once per second. Any ideas?

[Pica-Pica]

It looks like an ‘alarm set’ indicator, but that seems an unusual place to have one. In the past mine have been:
E36: on door button
F30: under the interior rear view mirror.
An obvious question - have you checked the handbook?

[JW911]

I have and couldn’t find anything obvious. The alarm light is in the bottom of the rear view mirror (F06 so effectively F10 underneath). Only flashes when the car is locked and alarmed, as you would expect.

This one is constant seemingly.

Edited by JW911 on Sunday 29th January 14:57

[Pica-Pica]

Is it an additional aftermarket alarm? Do the bezel and hole seem to have been added later? Has the hole been drilled out rather than in the original moulding?

[bmwmike]

Looks aftermarket/DIY. If you pull the cupholders out I bets it's a 12v flashing led piggy backed off the cigarette lighter.

[Panamax]

bmwmike said:

Looks aftermarket/DIY. If you pull the cupholders out I bets it's a 12v flashing led piggy backed off the cigarette lighter.

Yup, I'll put my 50p on that one as well.

Some years ago I had a similar set-up. No, it didn't stop scrotes wrecking the door lock and trashing the dashboard to nick my stereo...

[595Heaven]

I'd agree - it is almost certianly a flashing LED. I used to fit them in my cars back in the day.

[Pica-Pica]

bmwmike said:

Looks aftermarket/DIY. If you pull the cupholders out I bets it's a 12v flashing led piggy backed off the cigarette lighter.

So a ‘make-believe’ after-market alarm?

[JW911]

Not sure why it’s there though. The cup holder lid is closed all the time. It also doesn’t look aftermarket and the rest of the car is totally standard.

Not sure if this has anything to do with it but there’s a single ring of thin cable with black sheathing beneath the rubber base of the right cup holder (not the left) which may or may not be connected to the light in question. It’s a perfect circle, fits exactly beneath the base and looks for all the world like it’s supposed to be there and has been from build.

[595Heaven]

JW911 said:

Not sure why it’s there though. The cup holder lid is closed all the time. It also doesn’t look aftermarket and the rest of the car is totally standard.

Not sure if this has anything to do with it but there’s a single ring of thin cable with black sheathing beneath the rubber base of the right cup holder (not the left) which may or may not be connected to the light in question. It’s a perfect circle, fits exactly beneath the base and looks for all the world like it’s supposed to be there and has been from build.

Wireless chargers are circular but wouldn't be in the base of the cup holder as the phone wouldn't make contact.

Unlikely, but it could be a pickup for an aftermarket tracker device. Some have a 'driver identification' device that maybe needed to be placed on the cupholder for the car to start. Not sure it is linked to the LED though. Very odd it is in the cupholder which as you say could be closed

[JW911]

The twin cable at the bottom is to the flashing light. If it was some sort of security device, it no longer works as the car starts in the normal way.

On reflection, there was some weird device about the size of two grains of rice in that cup holder when I bought the car. Was disposed of back to the supplying dealer at the time.

[595Heaven]

JW911 said:

The twin cable at the bottom is to the flashing light. If it was some sort of security device, it no longer works as the car starts in the normal way.

On reflection, there was some weird device about the size of two grains of rice in that cup holder when I bought the car. Was disposed of back to the supplying dealer at the time.

Yep, I'd be certain that grain of rice thing was a transponder for an aftermarket tracker / immobiliser and that coil was detecting it - was it something like this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182579090210

Perhaps the original tracker box will still be in the car. If the subscription has run out, maybe it defaults to letting the car start normally. My SLK55 had a Tracker device which was no longer subscribed but was draining the battery. Managed to find it and remove it.

I'll revise my initial thought and say the LED might be related. If it is all working, I'd leave it alone!

Edited by 595Heaven on Sunday 29th January 16:29

[E-bmw]

That looks like a transponder antenna, so as above likely for an aftermarket alarm/immobiliser/etc with the expectation that the other bit is dropped in there when starting the car.

Is your car "keyless" if so it could also be a charging loop for the keyfob to be dropped into.

[CoolHands]

The coil is interesting though it looks OEM the way it fits. So what does it do

[JW911]

Keyless go, not keyless entry.

I’ll go with the transponder theory. Will get the specialist to hunt for it when it next goes in.

[Pica-Pica]

Cup warmer?

[E-bmw]

JW911 said:

Keyless go, not keyless entry.

I’ll go with the transponder theory. Will get the specialist to hunt for it when it next goes in.

Sorry, that is what I meant keyless stop/start, I should have been more specific.

Either that or, as I said aftermarket transponder.

[JW911]

595Heaven said:

Yep, I'd be certain that grain of rice thing was a transponder for an aftermarket tracker / immobiliser and that coil was detecting it - was it something like this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182579090210

Perhaps the original tracker box will still be in the car. If the subscription has run out, maybe it defaults to letting the car start normally. My SLK55 had a Tracker device which was no longer subscribed but was draining the battery. Managed to find it and remove it.

I'll revise my initial thought and say the LED might be related. If it is all working, I'd leave it alone!

Edited by 595Heaven on Sunday 29th January 16:29

Very similar looking so some kind of transponder then. I’ll chat to the specialist but I suppose “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” may be the way forward.

[DanL]

It’s after market I think - my cup holders look like the picture below (forgive the crap in them - clearly hasn’t been cleaned since I last had the roof down!).



I can’t think of any option which would have a red flashing LED there.

[JW911]

After a bit of Googling, it looks like one of these, not necessarily this make.