M4 Headlight Adjustment for Europe???

HL11 · 05-30-2016, 10:05 AM

Hi All, planning a trip to the German Alps in the M4 and was shocked that the user manual suggests that the dealer can provide "Light Benders"!!! Are these just stickers or something more sophisticated that the dealer will need to fit and of course remove? My E92 330i had levers behind the lights to make the temporary adjustment, shocked that a vehicle at twice the list price and top of the 4 series range may require stickers. I have the standard headlights (non adaptive), Bi-Xenon I believe. Has anyone been through this and received a definitive answer/solution from BMW? Thanks in advance HL11.

antych · 05-30-2016, 12:12 PM

Welcome to the club. I have a trip planned as well and it looks like it's going to be stickers.

HL11 · 05-30-2016, 12:55 PM

Hi Antych, is that the official line from BMW?

jbtco · 05-30-2016, 04:10 PM

The user guide says stickers and I got some for a trip to France last year (for adaptive LEDs) but didn't bother fitting them as didn't need to drive at night. They are very small and certainly not worth the cost. They look fiddly to fit.

Seems crazy that for lights at that price with all they can do having to use stickers.

antych · 05-30-2016, 05:56 PM

You can get stickers from halfords for £8, or just use some tape.

ClawHammer · 05-30-2016, 06:13 PM

I'm really surprised at this. The wife's LR doesn't need anything, no stickers and no adjustment to the lights, to drive in France. My previous car, Audi A5, the lights were adjusted through the MMI to enable driving in Europe. Why is the M4 so far behind in this respect?

workpermit · 05-30-2016, 07:50 PM

I don't have the LEDs, but the regular adaptive units. Does the same apply? I'll need to check my manual now, but I really can't believe that we have to resort to stickers!

I go to Le Mans every year and since 2008 I've not had a car that didn't have a configurable setting for this. I made the (not unreasonable) assumption that we hadn't gone back in time in this regard. I previously had BMW after BMW and then defected to Porsche, Audi and then AMG, but it's little things like this that bug the hell out of me about returning to BMW! WTF?!

antych · 05-31-2016, 08:11 AM

Yeah, it is a big WTF, especially considering what adaptive headlights can do, why don't they just adapt themselves to right side traffic... this could be a software feature.

gatsojon · 06-01-2016, 05:08 AM

The advice from my dealer last year was to switch off the Auto function (I have adaptive) and then no need for any stickers or the like. I drove in the dark and never got flashed so assumed all was well.

Wills2 · 06-02-2016, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatsojon

The advice from my dealer last year was to switch off the Auto function (I have adaptive) and then no need for any stickers or the like. I drove in the dark and never got flashed so assumed all was well.

This was the process on the e92 with adaptive lights as well, I thought they all had a flat beam so didn't need adjusting.

Odd if the F80 series has reverted back to the old ways.

mofomat · 06-05-2016, 09:23 AM

For several years now (around March 2013 I think), BMWs have not needed their lights adjusting for travel between the UK and the continent. This is from experience driving a UK BMW on the continent and MANY continental BMWs in the UK, both non-adaptive xenons, adaptive xenons, and adaptive LEDs. I've rarely had any issues, and the odd time I've been flashed, I suspect it was one of those rare occasions where the angle just happens to catch an oncoming car and they've panicked.
As Wills2 says, the lights now have a flat beam, so they don't need adjusting. I usually leave the "auto" function setting on and still I've not had issues.

jbtco · 06-05-2016, 10:02 AM

I hear what you say But the user guide specifies stickers and BMW sell them for the LEDs. Totally stupid don't see how they can't program a fix.

mofomat · 06-05-2016, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbtco

I hear what you say But the user guide specifies stickers and BMW sell them for the LEDs. Totally stupid don't see how they can't program a fix.

There's nothing to fix. The stickers have not been needed for several years now, believe me. It's more likely that the user guide hasn't been updated. I'm speaking from experience of using various BMWs extensively; 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, in both RHD and LHD, xenons and LEDs. It used to be an issue until about March 2013 and then they changed the beam to a flat one.

JovanUK · 06-05-2016, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mofomat

There's nothing to fix. The stickers have not been needed for several years now, believe me. It's more likely that the user guide hasn't been updated. I'm speaking from experience of using various BMWs extensively; 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, in both RHD and LHD, xenons and LEDs. It used to be an issue until about March 2013 and then they changed the beam to a flat one.

So there is no need to swap the beam over? Just drive as usual? Seen a few UK m4s in Europe and they didnt have stickers, so this must be the case.

mofomat · 06-05-2016, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JovanUK

So there is no need to swap the beam over? Just drive as usual? Seen a few UK m4s in Europe and they didnt have stickers, so this must be the case.

No need at all. I own a RHD UK registered M135i with adaptive xenons and drive frequently between the UK and Holland, where I live. I've never had an issue whilst driving on the continent at night, on any type of road. I've never made any adjustments to the headlights and I don't even switch the dial over from the "auto" setting to the dipped setting. I'm never flashed by anybody.

I also drive lots of BMWs in LHD form in the UK. I'm talking maybe 25-30 different examples in the last three years, including basic xenons right up to fully adaptive LED headlights on the 7 Series. Again, never an issue at all. Two weeks ago I was in the UK in a 318d with adaptive LED headlights and drove about 600 miles at night. Not flashed once. This contrasts with pre-2013 cars where I DID get flashed. It was around about that time the beam was flattened by BMW so that you don't have to worry about the stickers.

The user guide may say you need to adjust your headlights, but I can say 100% from experience that you don't have to adjust your headlights or use stickers. This has been the case for about three years now.

If it makes people happier, then manually turn on your headlights rather than use the "auto" setting, but I don't do that and never have problems.

05-30-2016, 10:05 AM	#1
HL11 New Member 2 Rep 19 Posts Drives: M4 Coupe F82 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: London iTrader: (0)	M4 Headlight Adjustment for Europe??? Hi All, planning a trip to the German Alps in the M4 and was shocked that the user manual suggests that the dealer can provide "Light Benders"!!! Are these just stickers or something more sophisticated that the dealer will need to fit and of course remove? My E92 330i had levers behind the lights to make the temporary adjustment, shocked that a vehicle at twice the list price and top of the 4 series range may require stickers. I have the standard headlights (non adaptive), Bi-Xenon I believe. Has anyone been through this and received a definitive answer/solution from BMW? Thanks in advance HL11. Last edited by HL11; 05-30-2016 at 10:13 AM..
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05-30-2016, 12:12 PM	#2
antych Lieutenant 246 Rep 435 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW M4CP SO Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: London iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW M4 [10.00]	Welcome to the club. I have a trip planned as well and it looks like it's going to be stickers.
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05-30-2016, 12:55 PM	#3
HL11 New Member 2 Rep 19 Posts Drives: M4 Coupe F82 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Hi Antych, is that the official line from BMW?
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05-30-2016, 04:10 PM	#4
jbtco Captain 163 Rep 641 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	The user guide says stickers and I got some for a trip to France last year (for adaptive LEDs) but didn't bother fitting them as didn't need to drive at night. They are very small and certainly not worth the cost. They look fiddly to fit. Seems crazy that for lights at that price with all they can do having to use stickers. __________________ M2 competition, Alpine White Previously Owned : X3 M 40i, F80 M3 Comp Pack, DCT, Yas Marina Blue, F80 M3, DCT , E92 M3 Comp Pack, E92 M3, Z4MC, E46 M3 CS, E46 M3
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05-30-2016, 05:56 PM	#5
antych Lieutenant 246 Rep 435 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW M4CP SO Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: London iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW M4 [10.00]	You can get stickers from halfords for £8, or just use some tape.
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05-30-2016, 06:13 PM	#6
ClawHammer Lieutenant 239 Rep 407 Posts Drives: M4 Convertible SS/SS Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Liverpool, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 Range Rover Ev ... [0.00] 2016 BMW [0.00]	I'm really surprised at this. The wife's LR doesn't need anything, no stickers and no adjustment to the lights, to drive in France. My previous car, Audi A5, the lights were adjusted through the MMI to enable driving in Europe. Why is the M4 so far behind in this respect?
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05-30-2016, 07:50 PM	#7
workpermit Private 62 Rep 80 Posts Drives: 2016 M4 Competition Pack Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: London iTrader: (0)	I don't have the LEDs, but the regular adaptive units. Does the same apply? I'll need to check my manual now, but I really can't believe that we have to resort to stickers! I go to Le Mans every year and since 2008 I've not had a car that didn't have a configurable setting for this. I made the (not unreasonable) assumption that we hadn't gone back in time in this regard. I previously had BMW after BMW and then defected to Porsche, Audi and then AMG, but it's little things like this that bug the hell out of me about returning to BMW! WTF?!
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05-31-2016, 08:11 AM	#8
antych Lieutenant 246 Rep 435 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW M4CP SO Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: London iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW M4 [10.00]	Yeah, it is a big WTF, especially considering what adaptive headlights can do, why don't they just adapt themselves to right side traffic... this could be a software feature.
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06-01-2016, 05:08 AM	#9
gatsojon Lieutenant Colonel 498 Rep 1,502 Posts Drives: M4 CP SSII/SS Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Manchester, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 BMW M4 CP [10.00]	The advice from my dealer last year was to switch off the Auto function (I have adaptive) and then no need for any stickers or the like. I drove in the dark and never got flashed so assumed all was well. __________________ Current: F82 CP SS/SS
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06-05-2016, 09:23 AM	#11
mofomat Colonel 792 Rep 2,234 Posts Drives: Audi R8 V10, BMW 330e Touring Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Maastricht, NL iTrader: (0)	For several years now (around March 2013 I think), BMWs have not needed their lights adjusting for travel between the UK and the continent. This is from experience driving a UK BMW on the continent and MANY continental BMWs in the UK, both non-adaptive xenons, adaptive xenons, and adaptive LEDs. I've rarely had any issues, and the odd time I've been flashed, I suspect it was one of those rare occasions where the angle just happens to catch an oncoming car and they've panicked. As Wills2 says, the lights now have a flat beam, so they don't need adjusting. I usually leave the "auto" function setting on and still I've not had issues.
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06-05-2016, 10:02 AM	#12
jbtco Captain 163 Rep 641 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	I hear what you say But the user guide specifies stickers and BMW sell them for the LEDs. Totally stupid don't see how they can't program a fix. __________________ M2 competition, Alpine White Previously Owned : X3 M 40i, F80 M3 Comp Pack, DCT, Yas Marina Blue, F80 M3, DCT , E92 M3 Comp Pack, E92 M3, Z4MC, E46 M3 CS, E46 M3
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