Will leaving seatbelt buckled at all times drain battery?

iiwilsonii · 10-04-2023, 12:58 AM

My passenger seat seatbelt alarm always chimes even when I have nothing on it. I don't really care to get it fixed right now so I just keep the passenger seatbelt buckled in at all times, even know I exit and lock the car. Will having it buckled in like this while parked and locked have an effect on the battery? I just don't want it to go dead if I leave it parked for too long.

AP · 10-04-2023, 03:02 AM

I think you should be fine I assume the idrive is off once you’ve locked the car?
If that was on then I’d be concerned but assuming it’s off and the alarm is on ) red leds flashing on the mirror£ then to me that would indicate it’s normal behaviour

Joe-BMW33 · 10-04-2023, 05:24 AM

Common problem and easy DIY. Attached.

oldtexasdog · 10-04-2023, 09:32 AM

As my passenger side seat belt tends to rattle against the A Pillar I leave it attached all the time. No Problems but I do lock my car in the garage and everywhere else.

AP · 10-04-2023, 10:15 AM

Yeh that seatbelt a pillar rattle is very annoying!!

Joe-BMW33 · 10-04-2023, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AP

Yeh that seatbelt a pillar rattle is very annoying!!

Pull the sliding guide up real high so the buckle is up against the felt and not the plastic. Problem solved until someone uses the seatbelt and it slides back down.

AP · 10-04-2023, 11:46 AM

Nice one!

kosmokratur · 10-24-2023, 07:22 PM

You could also code off the chime...

NGT2 · 10-24-2023, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kosmokratur

You could also code off the chime...

I did this and it’s the best thing I’ve done. Along with code off the warning message on startup. And code off auto start stop.

Joe-BMW33 · 10-25-2023, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NGT2

I did this and it’s the best thing I’ve done. Along with code off the warning message on startup. And code off auto start stop.

I'm a big believer in wearing a seatbelt, not saying you aren't. I just fear coding out the gong may make me less likely to buckle up over time. Putting it on is part of the sequence of starting the car for me, so the gong reminder never comes into play. It also makes my passengers buckle up whereas without the gong, I may not know they aren't.

Killed the warning message and ASS like you though.

NGT2 · 10-25-2023, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I'm a big believer in wearing a seatbelt, not saying you aren't. I just fear coding out the gong may make me less likely to buckle up over time. Putting it on is part of the sequence of starting the car for me, so the gong reminder never comes into play. It also makes my passengers buckle up whereas without the gong, I may not know they aren't.

Killed the warning message and ASS like you though.

I’m pretty much conditioned for the seat belt. It doesn’t really affect me remembering to wear it. But it does keep it from going off when I’m moving the car around the parking lot at work or at the house. My office building is in a big commercial complex that includes a Whole Foods and in the winter I’ll drive through the parking lots to go there for lunch.

I actually left it on for passengers for the reasons you stated. Especially so I’ll know if the 6 year old unbuckles for some reason.

My father is notorious for not wearing his. He will sit there and listen to it ding until it goes off. Wildly obnoxious if you’re riding with him. Unfortunately, this behavior has rubbed off on my youngest sister.

Joe-BMW33 · 10-25-2023, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NGT2

I’m pretty much conditioned for the seat belt. It doesn’t really affect me remembering to wear it. But it does keep it from going off when I’m moving the car around the parking lot at work or at the house. My office building is in a big commercial complex that includes a Whole Foods and in the winter I’ll drive through the parking lots to go there for lunch.

I actually left it on for passengers for the reasons you stated. Especially so I’ll know if the 6 year old unbuckles for some reason.

My father is notorious for not wearing his. He will sit there and listen to it ding until it goes off. Wildly obnoxious if you’re riding with him. Unfortunately, this behavior has rubbed off on my youngest sister.

Haha, my Dad (RIP) used to do the same thing. I'd have to yell at him to buckle up. I don't think he could actually hear the gong enough to bother him.

I'll be as deaf as he was someday after listening to music at ear bleed levels since I was 10 years old.

kosmokratur · 10-25-2023, 10:50 PM

I frequently have 3 or 4 teenagers in my M550. Doesn't everybody's instrument cluster have the three little indicators showing whose seatbelt is on and whose isn't? I'm embarrassed to say my own kid is usually the last to get hers fastened, but she still usually gets it done without me bitching lol.

Joe-BMW33 · 10-26-2023, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kosmokratur

I frequently have 3 or 4 teenagers in my M550. Doesn't everybody's instrument cluster have the three little indicators showing whose seatbelt is on and whose isn't? I'm embarrassed to say my own kid is usually the last to get hers fastened, but she still usually gets it done without me bitching lol.

Yes, but without the gong, those three little indicators aren't in your face enough to tell me who is not buckled.

NGT2 · 10-26-2023, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Yes, but without the gong, those three little indicators aren't in your face enough to tell me who is not buckled.

The indicators don’t even pick up my 6 year old in his booster. Guess he doesn’t weigh enough.

Warp Ten · 10-26-2023, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I'm a big believer in wearing a seatbelt, not saying you aren't. I just fear coding out the gong may make me less likely to buckle up over time. Putting it on is part of the sequence of starting the car for me, so the gong reminder never comes into play. It also makes my passengers buckle up whereas without the gong, I may not know they aren't.

Killed the warning message and ASS like you though.

Exactly my approach. When my wife rides in my car (or in hers) she often doesn't put the belt on right away and the gong sounds. I wish manufacturers would simply add a 5 or 10 second delay to the gong (maybe some do) so it doesn't go off the moment you start the car without a passenger belted. I have gotten so when my wife is with me I don't move the car until she buckles up. Personally, I don't even start the car without putting my belt on first, and I am sure it is partly to avoid the gong. Been doing that since about 1968 when I had a summer job at Ford's Dearborn test track as a mechanic and a driver. Ford was just beginning crash testing there (they towed a car into a concrete wall at 30 mph with a wire cable attached to a '68 Thunderbird with a 390). You didn't have to see too many of those crashes to get you to buckle up.--Bob

ezaircon4jc · 10-26-2023, 02:39 PM

I just don't want to code it out for the next owner of my car. After getting gas at Costco I drive over to the parking lot unbuckled. Drives my wife crazy (my favorite NAVAID is CZI... crazy woman!) that I don't buckle and she hates hearing the gong, I just tune it out.

10-04-2023, 12:58 AM	#1
iiwilsonii Enlisted Member 19 Rep 32 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW 540i Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Tempe iTrader: (0)	Will leaving seatbelt buckled at all times drain battery? My passenger seat seatbelt alarm always chimes even when I have nothing on it. I don't really care to get it fixed right now so I just keep the passenger seatbelt buckled in at all times, even know I exit and lock the car. Will having it buckled in like this while parked and locked have an effect on the battery? I just don't want it to go dead if I leave it parked for too long.
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10-04-2023, 03:02 AM	#2
AP Major General 2783 Rep 5,095 Posts Drives: G30 M550 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I think you should be fine I assume the idrive is off once you’ve locked the car? If that was on then I’d be concerned but assuming it’s off and the alarm is on ) red leds flashing on the mirror£ then to me that would indicate it’s normal behaviour
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10-04-2023, 09:32 AM	#4
oldtexasdog Private First Class 64 Rep 166 Posts Drives: 2020 M550I X Drive Join Date: Dec 2022 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	As my passenger side seat belt tends to rattle against the A Pillar I leave it attached all the time. No Problems but I do lock my car in the garage and everywhere else.
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10-04-2023, 10:15 AM	#5
AP Major General 2783 Rep 5,095 Posts Drives: G30 M550 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Yeh that seatbelt a pillar rattle is very annoying!!
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10-04-2023, 11:46 AM	#7
AP Major General 2783 Rep 5,095 Posts Drives: G30 M550 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Nice one!
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10-24-2023, 07:22 PM	#8
kosmokratur Second Lieutenant 142 Rep 252 Posts Drives: 2018 M550, '00 750, '97 540,.. Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Finger Lakes, NY iTrader: (0)	You could also code off the chime...
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10-25-2023, 10:50 PM	#13
kosmokratur Second Lieutenant 142 Rep 252 Posts Drives: 2018 M550, '00 750, '97 540,.. Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Finger Lakes, NY iTrader: (0)	I frequently have 3 or 4 teenagers in my M550. Doesn't everybody's instrument cluster have the three little indicators showing whose seatbelt is on and whose isn't? I'm embarrassed to say my own kid is usually the last to get hers fastened, but she still usually gets it done without me bitching lol.
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10-26-2023, 02:39 PM	#17
ezaircon4jc Major General 4484 Rep 5,366 Posts Drives: 2019 540i M Sport Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	I just don't want to code it out for the next owner of my car. After getting gas at Costco I drive over to the parking lot unbuckled. Drives my wife crazy (my favorite NAVAID is CZI... crazy woman!) that I don't buckle and she hates hearing the gong, I just tune it out.
	Appreciate 0 Quote