[Dukat]

This morning I received an alert in the spot where you get those triangle vehicle alert messages that said, \"Outside temp 37F\" in large lettering taking up the entire space beneath the regenerative braking graphic.

It beeped, triangle appeared with that msg and the disappeared within a few seconds.

Anyone know what that was? Why would it appear and then vanish?

The vehicle info screen has no record of the alert.

Thanks

[cheesebag]

Would imagine its a risk of ice warning????

[clivem2]

It just a warning that temp is getting to the point where frost or ice can occur. Probably your heated mirrors have been turned on too....

[cooldude00]

yeah.. it's standard across the bmw range.. just saying that it's cold though i wonder why cos u can feel it!

[Dukat]

Good to know. I was nervous the computer was acting up,

Thanks

[greg2step]

it means winter is almost here, time to crank the seat heaters.

my e91 did it as well - my VW Passat before that did it as well, but the temperature was 39 not 37 on that....

[Botwin]

Every BMW I have had since 95 has done that. The purpose is to warn you that ice could develop on the roads. VW's do this too.

[BMWZ4]

Yep...page 62 in the OM....

"External temperature warning

If the display drops to 37 ℉/3 ℃, a signal sounds and a warning lamp lights up. There is the increased danger of ice. Ice on roads Even at temperatures above +37 ℉/+3 ℃, there can be a risk of ice on roads."

[LEDZEP]

... was wondering when we'd see the first of these. Every year, just like clockwork!

At 37 degrees F, water freezes just enough to have a layer of liquid at the top (much more slippery than just solid ice). Also, with the condensation that occurs in fall, there is a real potential for "black ice". That is what the warning is for.


Also, to remind you that you should be wearing your sweater.

[married w/X3]

Must be pretty standard on many cars these days. I'm driving a lowly Nissan Rogue rental on my job right now and it's giving the ice warning.

[Razel]

I get the same warning on the K1300GT. Snowflake in the display.

[Nahoa]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

... was wondering when we'd see the first of these. Every year, just like clockwork!

At 37 degrees F, water freezes just enough to have a layer of liquid at the top (much more slippery than just solid ice). Also, with the condensation that occurs in fall, there is a real potential for "black ice". That is what the warning is for.


Also, to remind you that you should be wearing your sweater.

Sweaters protect us from black ice? All these years and I never knew . . . I guess mom was right.

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by Dukat

This morning I received an alert in the spot where you get those triangle vehicle alert messages that said, \"Outside temp 37F\" in large lettering taking up the entire space beneath the regenerative braking graphic.

It beeped, triangle appeared with that msg and the disappeared within a few seconds.

Anyone know what that was? Why would it appear and then vanish?

The vehicle info screen has no record of the alert.

Thanks

ICEY road warning it's STD on all new cars now.

[Rodion]

But it is actived only between temps like +3C ... -4C.

As if it wouldn't be slippery when outdoor temp is -25 C

[caesardog]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

... was wondering when we'd see the first of these. Every year, just like clockwork!

At 37 degrees F, water freezes just enough to have a layer of liquid at the top (much more slippery than just solid ice). Also, with the condensation that occurs in fall, there is a real potential for "black ice". That is what the warning is for.


Also, to remind you that you should be wearing your sweater.

Water freezes at 32 degrees. How is 37 even close to being a problem. I think the warning should not come on until say 34 degrees.

[clivem2]

Originally Posted by caesardog

Water freezes at 32 degrees. How is 37 even close to being a problem. I think the warning should not come on until say 34 degrees.

Air temp vs road temp? 3C air temp is generally thought of as being the point at which you should think about ice. Also you might be at 3C then drive down a dip where it's cooler.

[Lotus7]

Originally Posted by caesardog

Water freezes at 32 degrees. How is 37 even close to being a problem. ...

If there is any significant wind velocity, the additional evaporation can cause evaporative cooling that can easily drop the surface of the water to 32 deg. F. causing ice crystal formation. Also, the BMW warning is via a probe in the left grill opening that is well above the road surface. It's measuring air temperature not road temp. On a cold morning, the air temp. at that level may be well above the road surface temps. in shaded areas that have not begun to warm up. The temperature probe accuracy is probably another factor since it probably has a possible error of a couple of degrees F. either way.

37 deg. F. (2.7 Deg. C.) seems to be the informally agreed upon value that every manufacturer uses. Our old, 1999 A4 chimed at 37 F. as does our 2005 Subaru Legacy and almost every new car that has an outside temp. readout.

Finally, It's a warning. Most drivers would rather have a warning before something potentially dangerous was going to possibly happen, rather than later.

[T-race]

That technology's been around for a while. My '85 325e *dinged* at 36 degrees.

[Lotus7]

Originally Posted by T-race

That technology's been around for a while. ...

How true....Philo of Byzantium, an ancient Greek engineer, made crude thermometers, or "thermoscopes" in the second century B.C. In 1592, Italian mathematician and astronomer Galileo invented the first “modern thermometer”. Both men were far ahead of their times fully anticipating the need for automobile ice warning systems. Neither one collects any royalties from the use of their inventions. Very sad.

[T-race]

Originally Posted by Lotus7

How true....Philo of Byzantium, an ancient Greek engineer, made crude thermometers, or "thermoscopes" in the second century B.C. In 1592, Italian mathematician and astronomer Galileo invented the first “modern thermometer”. Both men were far ahead of their times fully anticipating the need for automobile ice warning systems. Neither one collects any royalties from the use of their inventions. Very sad.

20 years or 2000, its just decimal points.

[LEDZEP]

Originally Posted by caesardog

Water freezes at 32 degrees. How is 37 even close to being a problem. I think the warning should not come on until say 34 degrees.

Maybe they should have called you first before they embarrassed themselves.

Funny thing about water is that it is not purely a liquid at 33 degrees and purely a solid at 32 degrees. Freezing is a process of crystalization and slowing of the molecules, which happens somewhat gradually. There isn't a "head molecule" with a thermometer watching for 32 and hollering "okay, everybody... STOP!"

The most slippery ice is the kind that is "warm" and has a very thin layer of liquid water on top. Ask the manager of your local ice rink. 37 degrees is the point at which there is sufficient crystalization of the water to form a solid with a very thin liquid layer on top.

[tuco44]

Originally Posted by caesardog

Water freezes at 32 degrees. How is 37 even close to being a problem. I think the warning should not come on until say 34 degrees.

Just brilliant.....