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      06-16-2008, 11:53 PM   #1
TPLSM3
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Adaptive headlights not fully working...?

So my wife & I are heading home back from dinner tonight and finally get a good look at how awesome the adaptive headlights works. We've just had the car a few days now. I pull up to my garage and decided to see the adaptive xenon headlights in action. Being that I was up against my garage, I could completely see the beams move. I noticed though that the drivers side headlight beam doesn't seem to move as much as the passenger headlight beam. It just seems like the drivers beam doesn't move nearly half as much to the right or left like how the passenger beam moves. Are any of you guys experiencing this too or is it normal? I've searched on here and there doesn't seem to be any threads on my "issue". The drivers beam seems to move to the right slightly, but will only move to the center when going left.
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      06-17-2008, 12:00 AM   #2
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Interesting. Were you parked? I tried this while parked and they didn't move at all. Only while moving. I'm not sure about your issue though. I would assume they should be symmetrical...as in both move the same distance. Just an assumption though. Good luck.
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      06-17-2008, 12:00 AM   #3
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It may be that they limit it to prevent them from blinding an oncoming car. Try turning the high beams on and doing the same thing. It would make sense that they would assume if the lights are on high, there are no oncoming cars, and maybe allow full movement. Just a thought.
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      06-17-2008, 06:50 AM   #4
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I noticed that effect also and believe Jeremy has the correct answer to the enquiry.
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      06-17-2008, 09:34 AM   #5
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They don't move the same. Also, you must be moving for it to move. If you turn the wheel while stationary, nothing much happens (eg no extra lamp on, no adaptive lights).
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      06-17-2008, 09:49 AM   #6
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Mine move while stationary.
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      06-17-2008, 09:54 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Qube View Post
They don't move the same. Also, you must be moving for it to move. If you turn the wheel while stationary, nothing much happens (eg no extra lamp on, no adaptive lights).
No true for US spec cars.
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      06-17-2008, 11:11 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisK View Post
No true for US spec cars.
Are you sure? I could have sworn when I was showing it that time I had to roll the car for it to move AND light up the secondary lights.

I'll have to check whenever I get to touch her car again...
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      06-17-2008, 11:33 AM   #9
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1 lights the way...

The adaptive lights are not symmetrical in thier movement. They maintain light in front of the vehicle while simultaneously illuminating the theoretical direction of travel in a curve.

Yes, the adaptive lights move while the vehicle is stationary. One of my friends thinks it is cool to "wink" at people when stopped.
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      06-17-2008, 01:02 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Qube View Post
Are you sure? I could have sworn when I was showing it that time I had to roll the car for it to move AND light up the secondary lights.

I'll have to check whenever I get to touch her car again...

Did you have the hand brake on or have the car in park? That might disable them.

GM used to kill the DRLs under those circumstances. They assume you don't need them when you're sitting still.
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      06-17-2008, 01:44 PM   #11
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I'm not sure about the 1er but on my wife's Volvo XC90, the adaptive headlights will not work when you are not moving. Not sure if this is the case but try moving slowly towards a wall or building and turn...see if the lights turn with you.
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      06-17-2008, 04:52 PM   #12
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They move while stationary and the left sides don't move as much in the US (as I suspect that the rights don't in the UK) so as not to overwhelm oncoming traffic. The cornering lamps also need to be taken into account. They throw light sideways at sharp angles and slower speeds IIRC.
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      06-17-2008, 09:03 PM   #13
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If something was wrong with the adaptive headlights, the green LED on the light switch would blink constantly.

Another interesting tidbit: When you put the car in reverse, both turning lamps come on.
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      06-17-2008, 09:14 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mad Dragon View Post
Another interesting tidbit: When you put the car in reverse, both turning lamps come on.
It's been a while since I learned something new about the 1er, but this I did not know!

Thank you, sir!
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      06-18-2008, 12:14 AM   #15
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Thanks for the answers guys. I was thinking the same that the left side doesn't move as far to the left so that it would not blind oncoming traffic. I just wanted to verify that it wasn't just mine. The car was stationary and it does move while parked.
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      06-23-2008, 12:34 AM   #16
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I have actually had a few issues with the headlights - one of which is the fact that the main headlight wire/plug (in the braided silver sheathing) was being pinched in the headlight housing cover from the factory. This caused the headlight plug to eventually work itself loose after repeated stretches of the active headlights to the left. The car had to be brought in to have the software reset. After that - the housing was fogging up and I had to bring it back in to have a new housing installed.

Now, on hard acceleration, the lights flicker on and off - not the safest situation at night.
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      06-23-2008, 01:22 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Colorob View Post
Now, on hard acceleration, the lights flicker on and off - not the safest situation at night.
that's the new road rage mode. nothing scarier than the car behind you running up on you blinking its lights on and off.:eyebulge:
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      06-23-2008, 11:30 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mistermojorizin View Post
that's the new road rage mode. nothing scarier than the car behind you running up on you blinking its lights on and off.:eyebulge:
They do that all the time in other countrys. I remember when I was in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil that was the norm to blink lights and beep when wanting to pass. But it was the norm. Nobody took it as a jerk trying to pass everybody. Was actually polite and people would move aside without any fingers raised as you went by.

But I dont think it would go over too well where I live.
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      06-23-2008, 03:13 PM   #19
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yea, here people like to do 60 in the passing lane (which they incorectly believe is the fast lane) and will get pissed when you flash them.
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      06-24-2008, 12:53 PM   #20
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Now that we've exhausted discussion on the left/right movement of the adaptive headlights, I'd light to bring up the vertical auto-leveling capability of the Xenons.

In my case, it does not seem like it does any sort of auto-leveling when driving. On my E46, I would clearly see the xenons do their "leveling thing" whenever the car pitched up and down when going over crests, etc.

In my 135i, I do not see any such leveling. bmwusa.com states that the 135i has "Xenon Adaptive Headlights with auto-leveling, and cornering lights." I see the Adaptive (light moves left/right while cornering), I see the cornering lights. But I do not see any auto-leveling except when the lights are first turned on.

Are they supposed to auto-level during driving, or does "auto-leveling" mean it auto-levels only once when the lights are first turned on?
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      06-24-2008, 01:56 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by plien69 View Post
Are they supposed to auto-level during driving, or does "auto-leveling" mean it auto-levels only once when the lights are first turned on?


Mine auto level while driving. It's most noticable when you're out in the country with no ambient lighting. If you nail the brakes hard and then let off, you can see the headlights re-adjust. Same thing if you go WOT in the lower gears and let off suddenly. The headlights stay level while you're accelerating and then go low for a split second.

If yours aren't doing that I'd have the dealer look into it. Do you see them do the "self adjust" movement when you first turn them on?
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      06-24-2008, 03:47 PM   #22
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I see them self-adjust when I turn them on. But I don't see them level when driving.

My driveway has an incline in the first part, then levels off. On my E46 I could see the headlight pattern on my garage doors and see the leveling effect. I don't see a similar effect with the 135i.

I have a service appointment tomorrow. I'll try and do some experimenting tonight, otherwise I'll have the dealer look into it. Thanks!
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