[_Ascension_]

I'm driving over to France over the Christmas period and as such, need to ensure my lights don't blind everyone over there once I've crossed the channel.

I've done some searching on the net for how I go about this for my car and found a lot of conflicting information.

Apparently, for a pre-LCI with Xenons (mine is an 08), there is a lever which I can use to toggle the direction of bea. This should also be referenced in the owner's handbook, but having looked through, I just can't find it. Now, this could well be my short attention span and skim reading, but I had a pretty good hunt through and didn't have any luck.

So, a couple of questions:

1) Is there a lever which I can switch myself on my lights to change the pattern of my beam?
2) If not, what is the best way to avoid blinding on-coming traffic on the continent? Is it still the little stickers that I remember from a long old time ago? I have no idea whether these even work with xenon headlights to be quite honest.

Any information/tips much appreciated!

[themanthatcan]

Do you have regular xenons or adaptive?

The reason I ask is because the adaptive have a flat beam pattern to prevent them blinding oncoming traffic when turning, and as such don't have a lever.

[djgandy]

This thing is a pain in the ass. It's a white plastic prong type thing that you push down on and it will in turn lift up a metal lever. When I pushed down on mine it actually came off and went into the unit. So I got some thin wire rod and made a hook on it and used that to pull the metal level up manually. This is easy if you can see the metal thing, its obscured. I ended up doing both in this way as the prong thing is pretty useless, it doesn't seem to catch on the metal lever or have the range. to flick it fully from one position to another.

Why they designed it like this I don't know, espsecially when I have adaptive headlights!

I can post you a picture of what you are looking for when I get to my car. The prong is sat in my arm rest as it is near impossible to re-attach without taking the unit apart.

[_Ascension_]

Originally Posted by themanthatcan

Do you have regular xenons or adaptive?

Regular I think- with adaptive I assume I'd see movement in the lights when I turn the wheel?

Originally Posted by djgandy

I can post you a picture of what you are looking for when I get to my car. The prong is sat in my arm rest as it is near impossible to re-attach without taking the unit apart.

That would be great if you could post a picture, thanks Is there a prong on each light, or is it one side which then controls both?

[djgandy]

Originally Posted by themanthatcan

Do you have regular xenons or adaptive?

The reason I ask is because the adaptive have a flat beam pattern to prevent them blinding oncoming traffic when turning, and as such don't have a lever.

I am 99% certain that I have adaptive xenon. The pattern still rises slightly to the left and the bias is to the left. I blinded the crap out of people in Spain until I could finally get them adjusted.

[xenon]

^ that's not adaptive - adaptive is where the lamps swivel as you go around corners and with adaptive you DON'T get the switch-over lever in the unit because it's not necessary - you turn off the adaptive function and you just get a flat pattern that works whether you're on the left or right.

For non-adaptive you have to flick the lever inside the headlamp assembly.

From my old e92:

Remove cover:



Flick lever - screwdriver outlined in red 'cos hard to see:

[djgandy]

Originally Posted by Ascension335i

Regular I think- with adaptive I assume I'd see movement in the lights when I turn the wheel?



That would be great if you could post a picture, thanks Is there a prong on each light, or is it one side which then controls both?

It's on each light. If you look into the unit you can probably see a metal shutter in front of the beam of light. This level moves this shutter so that the light is cut off more.

Here is a reference from another thread
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...75&postcount=8

[ed330D]

My E92 has bi-xenons. It does not have adaptive.

The beams are flat and there is no change over switch.

Find a flat surface to shine your lights on and it should be obvious whether or not you have flat beams.

The handbook says that the headlights should be switched on using the mainlamp position, and not using the automatic position. I've no idea why, having tried both switch positions and being unable to see any difference whatsoever.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about it.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by ed330D

The handbook says that the headlights should be switched on using the mainlamp position, and not using the automatic position. I've no idea why, having tried both switch positions and being unable to see any difference whatsoever.

That's because that position switches off the adaptive function if you have it - if you don't, you'll see no difference in beam pattern.

[ed330D]

Originally Posted by xenon

That's because that position switches off the adaptive function if you have it - if you don't, you'll see no difference in beam pattern.

Thanks Ian, wondered why I couldn't see a difference. Learn something new every time I log on.

[djgandy]

What is the SA code for Adaptive Xenons? I have the beam that moves across the road and up and down depending on speed, braking etc. I was confused as to why I needed this switch. My beam is fairly flat though, not as high as some others I have seen, but there is definitely a slight dip on the drivers side.

edit nvm.
http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E9...ing/headlight/

SA524, which I have on my car....

[xenon]

With non-adaptive the beam still moves with position sensors on the suspension to auto-level the lights but you'd definitely know if you have adaptive because the pointing around corners effect is hugely noticeable.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by djgandy

What is the SA code for Adaptive Xenons? I have the beam that moves across the road and up and down depending on speed, braking etc. I was confused as to why I needed this switch. My beam is fairly flat though, not as high as some others I have seen, but there is definitely a slight dip on the drivers side.

edit nvm.
http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E9...ing/headlight/

SA524, which I have on my car....

In that case just switch to normal lights instead of auto, as Ed described.

[djgandy]

Originally Posted by xenon

In that case just switch to normal lights instead of auto, as Ed described.

I did that when I was abroad but it didn't solve the problem of the beam pointing into oncoming traffic when driving straight.
- The beam still angles very slightly upwards towards UK pavement
- The beam still biases towards UK pavement

I don't understand how being adaptive (unless hooked into the SATNAV and it knows you are abroad), negates the need for adjustment. When you are driving straight the beam still biases towards the pavement as it is a UK car. Being adaptive however should mean that you can adjust for abroad through iDrive rather than mechanically

This image shows the problem. Oddly, they seem to be using a RHD car as an example for some German marketing?

[xenon]

Simply because with adaptive the light throw is done automatically when the lights are in the "auto" position. When it's in the manual position the lights are shaped NOT to have any LHD/RHD bias at all and no swivelling. So it's not perfect but doesn't dazzle traffic.

I must admit I'm talking from the standpoint of the F-series cars with the full "variable light output" functionality but I thought the basic "throw" pattern worked on all adaptive cars, even the previous generation.

[djgandy]

Originally Posted by xenon

Simply because with adaptive the light throw is done automatically when the lights are in the "auto" position. When it's in the manual position the lights are shaped NOT to have any LHD/RHD bias at all and no swivelling. So it's not perfect but doesn't dazzle traffic.

I must admit I'm talking from the standpoint of the F-series cars with the full "variable light output" functionality but I thought the basic "throw" pattern worked on all adaptive cars, even the previous generation.

Maybe the F-Series or slightly newer cars are better. I don't think mine is bad by some standards of what I see on the road, but being xenon even a touch of beam will blind you and I stopped getting flashed after I adjusted the lever.

[djgandy]

So the first photo is the white thing. As you press on the back the bottom fork goes up and raises a metal level. As you lift the back the top fork goes down and pushes the lever back down. i.e. the lever is always between the two forks.

I couldn't get you a picture of the lever as it is too dark. In the second photo I have highlighted roughly where it is in yellow. The red ring is where the white thing would be IIRC. Mine is not there as it came off. The forks face forward and push the lever.

Does that make sense?

[_Ascension_]

Cheers for the responses all.

Checked my beam pattern last night in the Auto and On positions and it was no different, so they're definitely not adaptive and I'll have to get under the bonnet and hunt those little levers out!

[djgandy]

The difference between Auto and On is so tiny you'd barely notice. I tried it last night and could see it but it was so tiny. The beam crossed nearer the middle by about 6 inches on a wall 50ft away. Not a big difference. The beam is still not flat though and I have the adjusters and definitely have adaptive lights.

If you need help let me know, I'm either in Watford or Staines.