This is driving me completely mad and I have been unable to find an answer in the forums. OK - it's a 2004 Mini Cooper S w/ Xenons. My wife (her car) has repeatedly left the lights on while at work. There is no warning bell, chime, buzzer when you open the door with the lights still on. Thus - if you don't notice the dash lights on or see the running lights on (it's light by the time she parks) - then you your out of luck and the battery drains. Come the end of the day - you've got a dead battery.

I've read about half-dipped, automatic lights, etc... and none of it makes sense. Any ideas? I find it odd that it has taken so much time to figure out something so simple that every car does these days. Somehow it was deprogramed at the dealer?