Automatic High Beams

SgtGigglebox · 03-13-2013, 09:56 AM

On the car's maiden voyage home from the performance center, I briefly played with the automatic high beams, but it would error out every few minutes (errors presented to all screens in the car) and would turn itself off. I had suspected that my radar detector might be interfering with its ability to see the world, but hadn't had a chance to test it thoroughly until a couple days ago.

With the radar detector moved a little bit higher and a little closer to the passenger side, I had a 3 hour late night drive on Monday. Didn't get a single error. Since this was really the first time that I had seen it operate normally, I felt compelled to share... it was pretty awesome. It made a few strange lighting decisions here & there, but for the most part was spot on. Even with lots of REALLY bright reflectors on the PA turnpike, it was consistently able to distinguish between them and the lights of oncoming cars and those traveling the same direction in front of me.

It was certainly one of the stranger options that I added, but I'm glad that I did.

army_men · 03-13-2013, 10:24 AM

That's pretty cool. I didn't realize this option was available for the E89. Do most owners have this option on their car?

ManiacGT · 03-13-2013, 10:30 AM

Nah, I only do local / city driving so no point for me.

Desmo85 · 03-13-2013, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManiacGT

Nah, I only do local / city driving so no point for me.

+1

Vintage · 03-14-2013, 08:12 AM

we also have the automatic high/low beam and before I used them I thought it was a silly option that probably would not work well - now all BMWs I order in the future will have it as it works great!

SgtGigglebox · 03-14-2013, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManiacGT

Nah, I only do local / city driving so no point for me.

No doubt. Hell, I've had the car for over 3 months and this was only the first real occasion to use them. That said, it did make an out of the ordinary late night, very rainy drive a bit better. For $250, seems like a win.

Asbjorn · 03-14-2013, 10:07 AM

I don't have it. In China alot of people drive with the high beams on constantly regardless of on-coming traffic. It does not help to flash at them, and most drivers wont flash at you if you forget it either... (dont ask me how I know)

Is the system on the '13 similar to that of an F30 or similar to that of an E90?

CedarZ4 · 03-14-2013, 11:47 AM

I have the automatic high beams on my Merc... and I found it pretty useless. You pretty much have to be in pitch darkness, and I mean pitch black without any street lights, and be driving around for a few minutes, before the high beams turn on.

From the good reviews I'm reading, I'd imagine BMW's works better.

JavierBayArea · 03-14-2013, 11:57 AM

Hey, i have a 2009 model, it rotates the lights left and right when i turn, but it doesn't seem to have automatic high beams. Is this a newer package?

CedarZ4 · 03-14-2013, 12:48 PM

The swiveling is the adaptive bi-xenon. This is standard on the e89.

The automatic highbeam is a $750 option

z4z4z4 · 03-14-2013, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CedarZ4

The swiveling is the adaptive bi-xenon. This is standard on the e89.

The automatic highbeam is a $750 option

I would agree but the owner's manual has me wondering. The below excerpt is within the Adaptive Light Control section.......probably just wishful thinking on my part. I'll have to go try to initialize tonight.

InsanePineapple · 03-14-2013, 03:21 PM

I imagine it wouldn't be very useful if there are a lot of street lamps?

z4z4z4 · 03-14-2013, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morfinx

I imagine it wouldn't be very useful if there are a lot of street lamps?

Probably true.
Here's m3 video of the option in action. Dark highway and impressive reaction times.

ManiacGT · 03-15-2013, 11:29 AM

It looks a) good, b) weird, and c) my only worry is with them moving around constantly that they'll wear out and 3 years down the road you're left with one lamp pointing at the sky and another in your face?

SgtGigglebox · 03-15-2013, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManiacGT

It looks a) good, b) weird, and c) my only worry is with them moving around constantly that they'll wear out and 3 years down the road you're left with one lamp pointing at the sky and another in your face?

Nobody likes a googley-eyed car.

ManiacGT · 03-15-2013, 11:58 AM

There's a saying in some parts of the UK... 'he's got one eye going to the chippy and one eye coming home' (a chippy is somewhere that sells fish and chips (fish and chunky fries)). Our version of 'googley eyes'.

Asbjorn · 03-15-2013, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManiacGT

It looks a) good, b) weird, and c) my only worry is with them moving around constantly that they'll wear out and 3 years down the road you're left with one lamp pointing at the sky and another in your face?

Well, the only thing we can know for sure is that if this problem can actually happen, it will happen with your car first.

No, ok, what I am really trying to say here is that I need a button where I can vote for forum group hugs for unlucky* owners like ManiacGT...

When people reach a point in their lives where they are afraid that their cars could become googley-eyed, then it's a signal to me that a big forum group hug is called for.

*see other threads

nicknaz · 03-15-2013, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManiacGT

It looks a) good, b) weird, and c) my only worry is with them moving around constantly that they'll wear out and 3 years down the road you're left with one lamp pointing at the sky and another in your face?

BMW has put these swiveling / auto leveling / auto on-off xenons on the cars for many years now and it seems to be robust.

The auto high beam just opens and closes the blocker plate that is inside the housing (which we manually actuate with the high beam switch).. Pure speculation but I think this is purely a software tweak and no added parts were put on the car. (which is why its $250)

Rafale · 03-15-2013, 03:23 PM

Well it probably needs some sensors to detect the incoming light? Could look up on RealOEM if there are specific parts for it.

nicknaz · 03-15-2013, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rafale

Well it probably needs some sensors to detect the incoming light? Could look up on RealOEM if there are specific parts for it.

Already comes standard because the adaptive xenons are auto on off

SgtGigglebox · 03-15-2013, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicknaz

Already comes standard because the adaptive xenons are auto on off

Interesting, it never occurred to me that it might be the same sensor.

For whatever its worth, there is a plainly visible sensor on the forward facing side of the rearview mirror on mine. Can someone confirm that such a creature exists on a non-auto high beam car?

Vintage · 03-17-2013, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigglebox

Interesting, it never occurred to me that it might be the same sensor.

For whatever its worth, there is a plainly visible sensor on the forward facing side of the rearview mirror on mine. Can someone confirm that such a creature exists on a non-auto high beam car?

oddly, I first owned a 2009 Z4 35i w/out the high beam assist and now we own a 2010 Z4 35i with it - the 2009 did not have the extra, plainly visible, and large sensor for the option

03-13-2013, 09:56 AM	#1
SgtGigglebox Lieutenant 100 Rep 494 Posts Drives: '13 Atacama 35is Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Washington D.C. Area iTrader: (0)	Automatic High Beams On the car's maiden voyage home from the performance center, I briefly played with the automatic high beams, but it would error out every few minutes (errors presented to all screens in the car) and would turn itself off. I had suspected that my radar detector might be interfering with its ability to see the world, but hadn't had a chance to test it thoroughly until a couple days ago. With the radar detector moved a little bit higher and a little closer to the passenger side, I had a 3 hour late night drive on Monday. Didn't get a single error. Since this was really the first time that I had seen it operate normally, I felt compelled to share... it was pretty awesome. It made a few strange lighting decisions here & there, but for the most part was spot on. Even with lots of REALLY bright reflectors on the PA turnpike, it was consistently able to distinguish between them and the lights of oncoming cars and those traveling the same direction in front of me. It was certainly one of the stranger options that I added, but I'm glad that I did.
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03-13-2013, 10:24 AM	#2
army_men Lieutenant 46 Rep 406 Posts Drives: E89 Z4 35i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW Z4 35i [10.00]	That's pretty cool. I didn't realize this option was available for the E89. Do most owners have this option on their car? __________________
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03-13-2013, 10:30 AM	#3
ManiacGT Major 85 Rep 1,448 Posts Drives: Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Manchester, UK iTrader: (0)	Nah, I only do local / city driving so no point for me.
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03-14-2013, 08:12 AM	#5
Vintage Colonel 379 Rep 2,588 Posts Drives: BMW G80 (MT), 718 Spyder Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Austin, Texas iTrader: (0)	we also have the automatic high/low beam and before I used them I thought it was a silly option that probably would not work well - now all BMWs I order in the future will have it as it works great!
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03-14-2013, 10:07 AM	#7
Asbjorn Captain 90 Rep 833 Posts Drives: Z4 N54 DCT (VTT GC lites) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: European in China iTrader: (0)	I don't have it. In China alot of people drive with the high beams on constantly regardless of on-coming traffic. It does not help to flash at them, and most drivers wont flash at you if you forget it either... (dont ask me how I know) Is the system on the '13 similar to that of an F30 or similar to that of an E90?
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03-14-2013, 11:47 AM	#8
CedarZ4 Captain 68 Rep 715 Posts Drives: G05 M50i, Tesla M3P Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: SoFL iTrader: (2)	I have the automatic high beams on my Merc... and I found it pretty useless. You pretty much have to be in pitch darkness, and I mean pitch black without any street lights, and be driving around for a few minutes, before the high beams turn on. From the good reviews I'm reading, I'd imagine BMW's works better.
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03-14-2013, 11:57 AM	#9
JavierBayArea New Member 2 Rep 26 Posts Drives: sdrive35i Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: mountain view iTrader: (0)	Hey, i have a 2009 model, it rotates the lights left and right when i turn, but it doesn't seem to have automatic high beams. Is this a newer package?
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03-14-2013, 12:48 PM	#10
CedarZ4 Captain 68 Rep 715 Posts Drives: G05 M50i, Tesla M3P Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: SoFL iTrader: (2)	The swiveling is the adaptive bi-xenon. This is standard on the e89. The automatic highbeam is a $750 option
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03-14-2013, 03:21 PM	#12
InsanePineapple Shenanigans 84 Rep 1,252 Posts Drives: See Signature Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (1)	I imagine it wouldn't be very useful if there are a lot of street lamps? __________________ [Current] Tesla Model 3 Performance [Retired] Audi R8 V10 6MT, BMW i3 BEV, BMW i3 REx, BMW Z4 sDrive35i DCT, BMW 335i Coupe 6MT
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03-15-2013, 11:29 AM	#14
ManiacGT Major 85 Rep 1,448 Posts Drives: Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Manchester, UK iTrader: (0)	It looks a) good, b) weird, and c) my only worry is with them moving around constantly that they'll wear out and 3 years down the road you're left with one lamp pointing at the sky and another in your face?
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03-15-2013, 11:58 AM	#16
ManiacGT Major 85 Rep 1,448 Posts Drives: Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Manchester, UK iTrader: (0)	There's a saying in some parts of the UK... 'he's got one eye going to the chippy and one eye coming home' (a chippy is somewhere that sells fish and chips (fish and chunky fries)). Our version of 'googley eyes'.
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03-15-2013, 03:23 PM	#19
Rafale Zed Quatre 24 Rep 410 Posts Drives: '11 Z4 35is & '11 535xi GT Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Portland, OR. USA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 535i GT xDrive [0.00] 2011 Z4 35is [7.00]	Well it probably needs some sensors to detect the incoming light? Could look up on RealOEM if there are specific parts for it. __________________
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