diff --git a/vehicle/vw/eudataact/eudataact_test.go b/vehicle/vw/eudataact/eudataact_test.go
index 1c0cd8482..1cb73adf4 100644
--- a/vehicle/vw/eudataact/eudataact_test.go
+++ b/vehicle/vw/eudataact/eudataact_test.go
@@ -239,15 +239,34 @@ func TestSocBatteryStateReportOnlyFallbackField(t *testing.T) {
 
 // TestGetLimitSocBcamThreshold reproduces issue #32241: the Audi Q4 e-tron
 // reports its battery care mode SoC limit only under the battery care mode
-// field, not under the generic target soc field.
+// field, not under the generic target soc field, while battery care mode is
+// active.
 func TestGetLimitSocBcamThreshold(t *testing.T) {
-	data := []point{{Name: FieldChargeBcamThreshold, Value: "80"}}
+	data := []point{
+		{Name: FieldChargeBcamThreshold, Value: "80"},
+		{Name: FieldBcamActivation, Value: BcamActivationActivated},
+	}
 
 	limit, err := testProvider(data).GetLimitSoc()
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, int64(80), limit)
 }
 
+// TestGetLimitSocBcamThresholdInactive reproduces issue #32520: with battery
+// care mode inactive, the care mode threshold is unrelated to the actual
+// target soc and must not shadow it.
+func TestGetLimitSocBcamThresholdInactive(t *testing.T) {
+	data := []point{
+		{Name: FieldTargetSoc, Value: "100"},
+		{Name: FieldChargeBcamThreshold, Value: "80"},
+		{Name: FieldBcamActivation, Value: "BCAM_ACTIVATION_DEACTIVATED"},
+	}
+
+	limit, err := testProvider(data).GetLimitSoc()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(100), limit)
+}
+
 // TestPoints guards that a data point with a generic field name ("value") is
 // stored once yet found by both its unique key and its name.
 func TestPoints(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/vehicle/vw/eudataact/provider.go b/vehicle/vw/eudataact/provider.go
index fcc65c310..08df1f8e8 100644
--- a/vehicle/vw/eudataact/provider.go
+++ b/vehicle/vw/eudataact/provider.go
@@ -188,7 +188,14 @@ func (v *Provider) GetLimitSoc() (int64, error) {
 		return 0, err
 	}
 
-	if p := lookup(data, FieldTargetSoc, FieldChargeBcamThreshold); p != nil {
+	// the battery care mode threshold only reflects the target soc while care
+	// mode is active; otherwise it is unrelated and must not be used (see #32520)
+	fields := []string{FieldTargetSoc}
+	if p := find(data, FieldBcamActivation); p != nil && p.Value == BcamActivationActivated {
+		fields = append(fields, FieldChargeBcamThreshold)
+	}
+
+	if p := lookup(data, fields...); p != nil {
 		f, err := strconv.ParseFloat(p.Value, 64)
 		return int64(f), err
 	}
diff --git a/vehicle/vw/eudataact/types.go b/vehicle/vw/eudataact/types.go
index 8b5ffa5ab..b382e1dce 100644
--- a/vehicle/vw/eudataact/types.go
+++ b/vehicle/vw/eudataact/types.go
@@ -132,6 +132,10 @@ const (
 	// target soc
 	FieldTargetSoc           = "settings.target_soc"
 	FieldChargeBcamThreshold = "battery_care_mode.charge_bcam_threshold" // Audi Q4 e-tron battery care mode target soc
+	FieldBcamActivation      = "setting.bcam_activation"                 // only equals target soc while battery care mode is active
+
+	// battery care mode activation values (see FieldBcamActivation)
+	BcamActivationActivated = "BCAM_ACTIVATION_ACTIVATED"
 
 	// range
 	FieldRangeCombined       = "cruising_range_combined"