Converting Head Lamps for the Continent

[AlanG]

I have a 2015, E89 Z4, with Xenon headlamps. I remember in the past the necessity to realign the headlamp beams, using sticky bits of plastic. I contacted my BMW (supplying) dealer, who informed me that these headlights DO NOT require any adjustment. Not confident in their response, I sought additional confirmation from BMW Customer Services, who contradicted this statement? I have looked at several internet sites, all of whom provide conflicting advice. The handbook by-the-way, fails to provide any 'illumination' on this subject!

Does anyone have a definitive answer? :headbang:

 

[Smartbear]

The low beam on E89's appears flat so wouldn't require any mods to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic imho
Rob

 

[AlanG]

Many thanks Smartbear.

 

[Busterboo]

The low beam on E89's appears flat so wouldn't require any mods to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic imho
Rob

Mmm ... but will the French believe that? :roll:

 

[Smartbear]

The low beam on E89's appears flat so wouldn't require any mods to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic imho
Rob

Mmm ... but will the French believe that? :roll:

I've just been over there & never got flashed once so I doubt I dazzled any natives :wink:
Rob

 

[Busterboo]

The low beam on E89's appears flat so wouldn't require any mods to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic imho
Rob

Mmm ... but will the French believe that? :roll:

I've just been over there & never got flashed once so I doubt I dazzled any natives :wink:
Rob

If you'd flashed the natives, would they have been dazzled? :roll:

 

[ronk]

I have a 2015, E89 Z4, with Xenon headlamps. I remember in the past the necessity to realign the headlamp beams, using sticky bits of plastic. I contacted my BMW (supplying) dealer, who informed me that these headlights DO NOT require any adjustment. Not confident in their response, I sought additional confirmation from BMW Customer Services, who contradicted this statement? I have looked at several internet sites, all of whom provide conflicting advice. The handbook by-the-way, fails to provide any 'illumination' on this subject!

Does anyone have a definitive answer? :headbang:

Yes.
I went thro this process, various dealerships etc and customer services were of no help. Indeed most gave well intentioned advice which conflicted.
However after sending my vin number, the BMW homologation team sent me this:-

Dear Mr K,
As both your vehicles have the adaptive headlight option fitted , no adaptors are required as the beam is flat and therefore will not dazzle oncoming traffic. This is covered in your owner manuals also as below. Turn off adaptive lights setting.
“Adaptive Headlights, When driving in a country where you drive on the opposite side of the road from the country the car is licensed, do not drive with the setting, otherwise this could cause a dazzling effect from the cornering light.”

Kind regards
The Homologation Team

Needless to say, I've printed a copy to keep with the car docs while on the continent for the police that might stop me!

 

[Busterboo]

How do you turn off the Adaptive Lights setting, then?

 

[ronk]

How do you turn off the Adaptive Lights setting, then?

Operate the headlight manually ie. Not Auto On.

 

[eff1guy]

How do you turn off the Adaptive Lights setting, then?

Operate the headlight manually ie. Not Auto On.

Good to know, planning a road trip to Germany in August. Thanks guys

 

[ronk]

How do you turn off the Adaptive Lights setting, then?

Operate the headlight manually ie. Not Auto On.

Good to know, planning a road trip to Germany in August. Thanks guys

I will be there the first two weeks of August !
Montabaur (Rheinland Pfalz)and Staufen im Breisgau (Schwarzwald)
Ending the holiday in Europe with few days in Arnhem

 

[eff1guy]

I will be there the first two weeks of August !
Montabaur (Rheinland Pfalz)and Staufen im Breisgau (Schwarzwald)
Ending the holiday in Europe with few days in Arnhem

Not too far away from where we're planning then :lol: No fixed date yet but hoping for a quick 3 night dash over to Nurburg (Fri - Mon) for the 1st weekend in August. I'll keep my eyes peeled for another 35is, yet to see one on the road

 

[Greg 01]

Hi guys .
I did a road trip late last year and I never touched my headlamps .
I never once got flashed or seemed to dazzle anyone ,or it may be my halogen bulbs .

 

[RickRob]

Excuse me evidencing my mammoth non-understanding of most things technical, but is all of the above re Adaptive Lights saying that the lights behave differently depending on whether they came on "automatically" or manually?

I am increasingly driving my Zed with the lights on manually all of the time, as I think that with more and more new cars with permanent running lights my Zed seems to becoming less and less visible! I just need to check that I am not missing out on hidden features depending on how the lights were switched on.

Off to Le Mans next week, so would be good for me to understand why I'm doing whatever I do!

All (very simple) explanations much appreciated.

 

[Smartbear]

Excuse me evidencing my mammoth non-understanding of most things technical, but is all of the above re Adaptive Lights saying that the lights behave differently depending on whether they came on "automatically" or manually?

I am increasingly driving my Zed with the lights on manually all of the time, as I think that with more and more new cars with permanent running lights my Zed seems to becoming less and less visible! I just need to check that I am not missing out on hidden features depending on how the lights were switched on.

Off to Le Mans next week, so would be good for me to understand why I'm doing whatever I do!

All (very simple) explanations much appreciated.

Some e89's came with adaptive lights which turn with the wheel to see round corners better, it depends on wether the light switch is on "auto" or "on" to make them active, as far as I know e85/86 cars never had them
Rob

 

[RickRob]

Excuse me evidencing my mammoth non-understanding of most things technical, but is all of the above re Adaptive Lights saying that the lights behave differently depending on whether they came on "automatically" or manually?

I am increasingly driving my Zed with the lights on manually all of the time, as I think that with more and more new cars with permanent running lights my Zed seems to becoming less and less visible! I just need to check that I am not missing out on hidden features depending on how the lights were switched on.

Off to Le Mans next week, so would be good for me to understand why I'm doing whatever I do!

All (very simple) explanations much appreciated.

Some e89's came with adaptive lights which turn with the wheel to see round corners better, it depends on wether the light switch is on "auto" or "on" to make them active, as far as I know e85/86 cars never had them
Rob

Thanks Rob. I am pretty sure I don't have these.

I already have some stick-on beam deflectors which I will take with me and only stick on the cari if there's a chance of dlrivinrg in the dark, which I am not planning to do. Thanks again.

 

[ackers888]

Rink re the email you got from the BMW homologation team, do you still have the email address that you contacted please? I’m about to move to France and would like a similar document to take with me , cheers

 

[ronk]

I will dig it out for you! Is tomorrow ok - you’re not setting off tonight I would guess.
I must admit that I Printed a copy for my handbook / doc folder to present to the Polizei just in case.

 

[Silverstar]

Rink re the email you got from the BMW homologation team, do you still have the email address that you contacted please? I’m about to move to France and would like a similar document to take with me , cheers

I imported my UK car to Spain and during their MOT check in order to register onto Spanish plates they failed it saying the beam was not deflecting correctly according to test machine even though BMW UK told me exactly the same thing that the beam pattern is flat and there is no need to adjust anything. The beam pattern is indeed flat and never did I have problems driving through France or Spain at night but according to the beam pattern test machine at the MOT / ITV test centre it didn't pass! I had to change the deflection via a switch inside the headlight which you can only access by removing the wheel and part of the wheel liner.

 

[ronk]

I didn’t think the E89 had this facility ?