Headlight adjustment for driving in Europe?

D

David-H

Senior member
 Prees, Shropshire
I'm going to Spain at the end of the month and rang my local dealer to ask if my 2016 sDrive 35i had a means of adjusting the headlamp beams for continental driving or if I needed a lens adapter / foil to stick on the headlight as there is nothing in my handbook. Initially their advice was that I needed a foil but when I asked them to order one for me they rang back to say that BMW did not make one for the E89 and therefore "the headlights are probably a 'flat' beam and so nothing needs to be adjusted or changed".
From that I take it that they don't really have a clue! :roll:
Can anyone on here advise please?
 
I know in my last merc the computer had an option to switch headlights to the other side for driving abroad. I remember doing this in the Channel Tunnel train and being surprised that rather than the beam moving sides it just went 'flat line'.
So they may be right!
If you cannot get foils then it doesn't matter anyway as you have no other options..
 
I suggest you find a nice flat wall to point your car at and look at your headlight pattern, can be done during the day but better at night, and see for your self.
 
I asked the same question at two main dealers and got two different answers!
I contacted BMW tech and got the answer in writing — my cars have adaptive headlights and they say if used / switched manually no adjustment is required for driving on the right hand side!

I’m in France now and nobody has flashed yet :thumbsup:
 
Bmw also sent me a summary of the passage in the hand book although it doesn’t make it particularly clear. For safety’s sake I take a hard copy of their reply to produce to any continental bobby who may not believe me - I will post when I get home.
 
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