We have to press the start/stop button twice to shut off the radio/CD player. If we press it once to shut off the engine, will the radio keep playing until the battery wears down? I'm not sure but I think it shut off after about 10 minutes. We have the Comfort Access. Any thoughts here?

The radio should shut off after you stop the car and open the door, but if not there are safeguards in the car that automatically shut the radio off before the battery drains after the car has been shut off.

Mine shuts off as soon as I lock the car with the fob

I have a question about that: how can one listen to the radio while the engine has stopped? is there an "accessory" feature in the X3?

jlr_1304 wrote

I have a question about that: how can one listen to the radio while the engine has stopped? is there an "accessory" feature in the X3?

It's only the ignition, nothing to do with the engine being on or off. You can listen to music, use the iDrive etc with the engine off and the ignition on. Pressing stop-start button once is equivalent of turning the "key" one click, stop start plus brake pedal is turning the "key" two clicks, i.e. engine start

jlr_1304 wrote

I have a question about that: how can one listen to the radio while the engine has stopped? is there an "accessory" feature in the X3?

The radio is actually powered by the electrical system and can draw current from the battery. There is no mechanical linkage between the engine and the radio.

But seriously, yes - BMW has what is called "radio ready mode". If you have CA, this mode is attained by pressing the Start/Stop button a single time without your foot on the brake - this turns on the electrical system, including but not limited to: radio, homelink, sunroof controls, iDrive system, bluetooth pairing, etc.
If you shut off the engine with a single push of the start/stop button, you stop the engine, but return to "radio ready mode". A second push will turn off the electrical system. Opening the driver's door will also shut down the system.

Sorry for my strange questions, but i'm a newbie with BMW.

jlr_1304 wrote

Sorry for my strange questions, but i'm a newbie with BMW.

No problem - everyone is at some point!! A good bit of the knowledge I have is from the benefit of E90Post members who knew more than me sharing their information. The rest is from owning BMWs for several years...

Couldn't resist the wise-crack, but happy to inform if I can.

I took a look at the demo videos on the us bmw website. Very informative and cannot believe all the functions this car has.

Also if you push the start stop button once after the engine has been running, the engine will turn off and the radio will stay on for about 10 minuites and then will turn off automatically. So you don't need to worry about draining the battery.

Like was mentioned above, it will also turn off after locking the doors.

1. Opening the door sdoes not hut off the radio.
2. If you press the Start/Stop button a second time (that is, after shutting off the engine) with the brake pedal depressed, the engine will restart.

ifiwasinmyvw wrote

Like was mentioned above, it will also turn off after locking the doors.

That's good to know.

Me again. The radio will absolutely not shut off when you open the door. You either have to press the start/stop button twice, press the volume button, lock the car via the CA fob, or just have confidence that the radio will shut off after 10 minutes (which it does so far). If anyone has found a way to have the radio shut off when you open the door to get out (without relocking), please advise. btw, the radio/CD with the premium option draws a fair amount of current from the battery (plus it's a little weird to have the radio playing in the garage after you go into the house)

Is there any way to have the radio stay on for more than 10 minutes? It gets a little annoying when you're sitting or waiting in your car, listening to music and have to turn the car back on every few minutes.

Beyu wrote

Is there any way to have the radio stay on for more than 10 minutes? It gets a little annoying when you're sitting or waiting in your car, listening to music and have to turn the car back on every few minutes.

Once I've switched mine back on once (after the first time it switches itself off) it stays on for a long time. I spent at least 30 minutes once with no shut off. Maybe it's only if you aren't pressing any buttons?

That is some stupid feature... I hope they made some software update to correct this...

You can turn the radio on just by pushing the volume button. Not sure how long it stays on but more than 10 min.

Simply opening the door does not shut off my radio. I either have to 1) push the start / stop button a second time (foot not in the brake), 2) close the door and lock the x3, or 3) walk away and let it time out. Pushing the on / off knob on the radio simply mutes it.

DouginNC wrote  

Simply opening the door does not shut off my radio. I either have to 1) push the start / stop button a second time (foot not in the brake), 2) close the door and lock the x3, or 3) walk away and let it time out. Pushing the on / off knob on the radio simply mutes it.

Right. To turn the radio off you either need to push the start/stop button twice or lock the doors. If you are sitting in the car and it is off, to play the radio just push the radio volume button. You do not need to turn the car on

Having to hit the start/stop button twice to shut everything down is a strange "feature", but I think of it as "a double tap for a kill shot"