Adaptive headlights

J

Johnbmwz4

Active member
 North Yorkshire
Hi how do adaptive headlights work? Do you need to be on the move for them to work? My ford transit van has cornering headlights so when I put on full lock a lamp shines from the side of the headlights but this can be done when stood still but when I do it in the Z4 not much happens. Also do the adaptive headlights Look any different from the outside compared to a standard head light?

Thanks
 
Adaptive Headlights only operate when the light switch is at the automatic position (one click anti-clockwise). The beams are steered into the bends as the steering wheel is turned. There are no additional lights that come on. They look no different from the outside as non-adaptive headlights.
 
Johnbmwz4 said:
Hi how do adaptive headlights work? Do you need to be on the move for them to work? My ford transit van has cornering headlights so when I put on full lock a lamp shines from the side of the headlights but this can be done when stood still but when I do it in the Z4 not much happens. Also do the adaptive headlights Look any different from the outside compared to a standard head light?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Silly question but are you sure you have adaptive John? They're not standard.
 
It says so on the vin code decoder so assuming it has but haven't noticed anything different really when driving in dark
 
Which code do you have?
Not sure it's standard for xenons such as I have, but I have the 'Automatic' option (1 turn anticlockwise) on switch whereby the headlights come on when going through tunnel or when it gets dark etc.No beam movement to follow bends.
522 XENON LIGHT
 
I know my Dad has it on his X5 and I'm pretty sure you need to be on the move as there are different modes one for driving, one for cornering etc- speedlinked perhaps. Could be wrong about this.
try googling perhaps...
 
If you've got adaptive headlights, and you are in auto light mode, you'll see them go through a self test when you start the car in low light conditions. They move up/down, left/right (can't remember the order exactly), then settle in the position relevant to your current sterring direction.
 
Disappointingly, its nowhere as good as the system on the other bmw models. This is how good they are:

https://youtu.be/CBUYm5AghVI
 
However, you also notice on a misty dark morning that even on the Z4, they do more than you might think.

As well as moving with the steering, they stretch forward, extending and narrowing the beam as you speed up past arond 30 mph. The opposite happens at lower speed as the beam widens.

You see the adjustment when you pull up in traffic behind another car. The beam moves and adjusts and can be seen on the rear of the car in front.

its not bad at all and actually reduces your car insurance premium (well, it did mine!).
 
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