NJ weather drop to freezing overnight. Turned the engine on this morning and saw my first "warning" light - snowflake in a triangle. I looked in the manual but only identify as cooling function. I dont think its ac related so what is that mean?

 

It means the temp outside has dropped below 37 degrees and to drive carefully due to possible icy road conditions.

 

This used to happen on my BMW all the time. It's the most useless and silly warning light ever created. It's basically telling you that it's cold outside in case you weren't able to figure that our yourself. The "official" BMW explanation of it that I got is that it's warning you that you may encounter ice, especially on overpasses.

 

It means there may be ice on the road. No worry your car is fine.

 

It is your offical on board weatherman telling you it is going to snow with in the next 24 hours...

 

Thanks folks, reading the manual more closely it is outside temp caution - a quick scan this morning before work meeting. But, I know it's cold outside, dont need my car telling me it's cold. Love my cm but really............

 

Most BMW motorcycles from the past decade also show this low temp warning on their OBC displays.

Yes, I do ride in freezing temps. It's refreshing. 8)

 

Doesn't it mean to put a coat on?

 

It's actually handy for us dumb Californians who have to drive to snow instead of dealing with it and shoveling it. It's 65 degrees when we leave home and 30 when we get to where we're going.
We're also considered too inept to drive in snow which is why we spend unbelievable amounts of tax money having CalTrans block the roads to ask us to put chains on our 2WD vehicles whenever there is threat of a flake of snow.

 

+1

If you drive in mountainous areas in the fall, winter, or spring this feature is reassuring. I can personally vouch for the fact that frost CAN form/remain on bridges with temps > 32º. Also, the ambient temp sensor can be off a bit so if the outside temp is in the upper 30ºs and I am in the mountains I use caution. Yes, I'm a wuss, but I've got over 60 years under my belt!

 

Mine came on yesterday running some twisties. Sun was out and 40ish.
Got in a dark raven and headed for a tight corner and it warned me it was colder back in the shaded sides of the hill. I checked up as I ussually hit that uphill tight left hander pretty hard when I have open road. It is tight and in the trees on the north side of a hill. It was covered in frost and very slick. It was the only spot that was like that but I appreciated the early warning. Stock RF's are pretty poor under 35 degrees unless you have them warmed up good like on a track.Takes at least 2 full laps on a cold day before you get any bite you can trust. You see lots of spins on cold mornings with cold tires at the track on lap 1. The light is common on many Euro cars.

 

I just picked up my X5 last night and got that light this am. Thankfully I was on here last night reading up, so I didn't freak out, but I could have!

 

Yep,

This indicates the 37 degree mark that tell you it may be icy on overpasses.

When the weather hovers around 37 this these ding all day.

 

I wonder if it's different every time it pops up (you know how no two are supposed to be identical).

 

lol, thats great.

 

It is telling you to leave your car parked if you still have your summer tires on it.