Auto Headlamps – Not a problem, Just curiosity

[blktoptrvl]

They work just great at night, always on when dark. Yet during the day, they seem to come on ‘when they feel like it.’

For example, I usually leave the house at 8:AM. At that time, it seems bright enough to me, however, the lights choose to be on and stay on all the way to work (30 min drive). At lunch break and until about 4:30PM they stay off.

Today was a very overcast day, darker than most mornings when I leave for work, yet they decided to be off for ALMOST the entire trip to work – except for five minutes or so when they were on then off.

So the question is, does anyone know what the algorithm for the lights is?

[EKS PYB]

I was wondering the same thing. I also have AutoDL and when i leave the house, its dark but by the time i arrive at work sun is up but the lights are still on.

But when I do drive on weekends and its in the middle of the day and sunny as it can be, I look at the switch and the ADL is sometimes on and sometimes it is off.

I always believed that the ADL will automatically go on within a certain time like (3-5mins) when its dark, like you stop under the bridge or when it gets dark or when you're in the parking lot but when you get out in the sun it would turn off by itself.

[fatboyoz]

Originally Posted by blktoptrvl

They work just great at night, always on when dark. Yet during the day, they seem to come on ‘when they feel like it.’

For example, I usually leave the house at 8:AM. At that time, it seems bright enough to me, however, the lights choose to be on and stay on all the way to work (30 min drive). At lunch break and until about 4:30PM they stay off.

Today was a very overcast day, darker than most mornings when I leave for work, yet they decided to be off for ALMOST the entire trip to work – except for five minutes or so when they were on then off.

So the question is, does anyone know what the algorithm for the lights is?

Automatic low beam switched on in bright conditions
E39, E46, E53, E65, E66, E85, R50, R53 with rain sensor and automatic low beam control (option 521)




When "automatic low beam control" is activated, the dipped headlights come on unnecessarily, or switch off late (in the judgment of the customer) in bright conditions. This may happen in particular in bright, sunny weather (cloudless skies).
Due to the design of the system, it is not possible for the low beam sensor to reproduce human perception of the light conditions in all situations.
To ensure that the dipped headlights are switched on reliably at the onset of twilight, a sensitive configuration of the low beam sensor has been selected at the factory. This can cause the dipped headlights, by human perception, to switch on too early or off too late in bright conditions.
There is no fault in the low beam sensor. A replacement of the part would not change the situation and must therefore not be performed.
E39, E46, E53, E65, E66, E85, R50, R53 with rain sensor and automatic low beam control (option 521)
Manufacturing period: E39, E46, E53, R50, R53 from September 2001 Manufacturing period: E65, E66, E85 from start of series production
In case of complaint, the situation should be explained to the customer.
If the customer requires a different characteristic for the automatic low beam control, this can be set:
E65, E66, E85 - in the CIP program (encoding, individualisation, programming) E39, E46, E53, R50, R53 - in the "Car Memory" program
Invoicing under warranty is not possible.



Don't know who provides their hardware. My wife's VW Golf also has auto lights and they definitely work better than the BMW's.
Regards Colin.

[UncleBob]

i might sound like an old fart but i don't get things like auto headlights. i mean, how much trouble is it to reach down and turn a switch? i'm all for technology when it can do a better job than i can, like ABS or DSC, but headlights?? sorry, a computer cannot make as good a decision as i can.

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by fatboyoz

Automatic low beam switched on in bright conditions
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E39, E46, E53, E65, E66, E85, R50, R53 with rain sensor and automatic low beam control (option 521)
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Thanks, very informative.

[dkl]

Originally Posted by fatboyoz

Don't know who provides their hardware. My wife's VW Golf also has auto lights and they definitely work better than the BMW's.
Regards Colin.

It's not a hardware issue. It's the default setting for the sensor that BMW picked to ensure that it will work properly the majority of the time. They would rather have the headlights come on early than never at all - safety issue.

[dkl]

Originally Posted by UncleBob

i might sound like an old fart but i don't get things like auto headlights. i mean, how much trouble is it to reach down and turn a switch? i'm all for technology when it can do a better job than i can, like ABS or DSC, but headlights?? sorry, a computer cannot make as good a decision as i can.

I mean, how lazy can one get that they don't even want to turn the dial? I always turn my headlights on/off manually. Am I the only one that has the auto-headlight switch, but never use it?

[cj10jeeper]

Originally Posted by UncleBob

i might sound like an old fart but i don't get things like auto headlights. i mean, how much trouble is it to reach down and turn a switch? i'm all for technology when it can do a better job than i can, like ABS or DSC, but headlights?? sorry, a computer cannot make as good a decision as i can.

I understand fully the point you make but have several situations that I find it really useful:

My home city is full of underpasses where lights shoudl be used - the car handles this perfectly switching on an off (mine act instantly)

Driving in Europe - lights must be switched on and off at the entry and exit of every tunnel, underpass, etc.. Try South coast of Spain - it has hundreds of them.

Going into my garage it lights it up

I'm sure driving in most situations its a waste but they can be turned to a manual mode.

[xnsf]

Originally Posted by dkl

I mean, how lazy can one get that they don't even want to turn the dial? I always turn my headlights on/off manually. Am I the only one that has the auto-headlight switch, but never use it?

I don't find it useful. Many times, it unnecessarily comes on, like under a long overpass, or when I just am stopped underneath one. ...twitch...on...twitch...off

[jpnut]

Thanks for the auto light switch topic! I won't ever touch that switch again!