Weird Headlights

[X5Ghost]

Hey guys, my headlights switch is set on auto and the lights come on when it's dark but they stay on during the day and in direct sun? what's causing them to stay on? where is the sensor? It may be blocked or dirty that it thinks it's always dark!! Any help is appreciated . Thx

[Curious Joel]

I think the light sensor is built into the rain sensor. Is it your xenon low beams that come on, or is it your high beams? Are you sure it isn't your daytime running lights?

[X5Ghost]

It's my Xenons that come on? not sure what you mean by daylight running light? where is the rain sensor then?

[Curious Joel]

Originally Posted by X5Ghost

It's my Xenons that come on? not sure what you mean by daylight running light? where is the rain sensor then?

Well, the auto light sensor should turn on the xenon lights, which are the low beams. Are those the ones that stay on during the day? Your car might have the Daytime Running Lights programmed, which are the halogen high-beams. Which of them is staying on during the day?
The rain sensor is at the top of the windshield. It's the thing that's sort of connected to the rear-view mirror and it's black, and it touches the windshield. The light sensor is built into that.

[B&DCalgary]

Originally Posted by Curious Joel

Well, the auto light sensor should turn on the xenon lights, which are the low beams. Are those the ones that stay on during the day? Your car might have the Daytime Running Lights programmed, which are the halogen high-beams.

Close, but not quite correct.

True, the HID's will come on automatically when it gets dark (at their low beam setting). The larger, round, inboard halogens, however, act as both the daytime running lights (in a low setting) or as passing lights (high beam flash when you pull back on the light stalk). They don't act as high beams. The HID's act as both low beam and high beams.

This photo http://www.x3world.com/articles.php?...icle&artid=179 shows an X3 with the HID's lit up in low beam setting and the inboard halogen daytime/passing lights turned off. This is the normal configuration when they come on automatically (daytimes will turn off) or if the lights are turned on manually.

I think X5Ghost might be getting confused between the two and may think it's the HID's that are on during the day when it's actually the halogen daytime running lights.

[UCrewX5]

Originally Posted by B&DCalgary

Close, but not quite correct.

True, the HID's will come on automatically when it gets dark (at their low beam setting). The larger, round, inboard halogens, however, act as both the daytime running lights (in a low setting) or as passing lights (high beam flash when you pull back on the light stalk). They don't act as high beams. The HID's act as both low beam and high beams.

This photo http://www.x3world.com/articles.php?...icle&artid=179 shows an X3 with the HID's lit up in low beam setting and the inboard halogen daytime/passing lights turned off. This is the normal configuration when they come on automatically (daytimes will turn off) or if the lights are turned on manually.

I think X5Ghost might be getting confused between the two and may think it's the HID's that are on during the day when it's actually the halogen daytime running lights.

Actually for a 2002 I believe CJ is correct. The scenario you describe is for newer X5's with the bi-Xenon lights.

[X5Ghost]

my low beam Xenons are the ones that stay on and don't trun off!!

[UCrewX5]

The likely cause is the sensitivity of the sensor needs to be adjusted. There is a BMW Service Bulletin out for this problem. It is B630502. The dealer will have to reprogram the RLS through the VKM to adjust the sensitivity of the system.

[X5Ghost]

If it is a sensetivity issue, shouldn't it happen in both the on and off positions? They come on ok at dark however, the only problem is they stay on during the day!! Again, those are the low beam Xenons.

[B&DCalgary]

Originally Posted by UCrewX5

Actually for a 2002 I believe CJ is correct. The scenario you describe is for newer X5's with the bi-Xenon lights.

Not only did I miss that, but for some reason I thought I was in the X3 Forum. What a goof