I was cleaning my wife's car today 2005 X5 and noticed there is a knob on the side of the wheel under the tilt knob. It is small and you can either turn it or push it. If you turn it one way it a small light turns red and if you turn the other it turns green. It makes a chirping sound like a radar detector when turning it. I can't find anything in the manual about it and was curious what the heck it is. My guess is something to do with alarm or a radar detector but I really have no clue.

Thanks,

Did you buy the X-5 new or used. My guess is that you bought it used and the previous owner had a remote radar installed. Normally there are no other knobs in that area on the column.

Can you take a pic and post it so we can see it ??

Could be something to do with a radar detector, or possibly a valet mode switch.

may be the memory for the steering position or eazy access steering option

YEP

I can't post a pic because I let my membership lapse. I will post pic on the other site.

sounds like a K40 radar detector/ the old version