OEM Coming Home lights

[timothyc]

Hi guys,

One day I accidentally turned on coming home lights when leaving the car.
I was really surprised because I didn't know my X had that function.

The next day I wanted to use it again... but how?
I took the manual with it, but I guess there has gone something wrong in the translation process...

If I translate it back to english it sais the following:
"Operate the lights after parking" And that really is the only sentence.
I've tried every combination that came up my mind.

Sadly there are too many combinations possible with that vague explanation.
after parking = is that before or after turning off the engine
operate the lights = which lights? theoretically that could be even the foglights.

I was quiete amused with this, in a way it's funny
especially if you would've seen me trying all sort of things

anyway enough of the nagging, who knows the right sequence to turn on the coming home lights?

Thanks !!

[amacman]

I think that function requires you to pull on the high beam light lever.
the lights remain on for a few minutes if the key is removed before activating .

[AzNMpower32]

The ignition must be fully off. Pull the highbeam stalk towards you. The lights will stay on for 40secs unless otherwise set in the Key/Vehicle settings.

[timothyc]

Must have missed that combination.
Thanks! I'm going to try it right away

[powers1]

Let me know if this works for you.
I never used this feature,as I am always so battery conscious..

[lordviper]

does anyone know of a way to have this happen automatically?
by using some ibus modding software maybe?

[Zulu95]

Originally Posted by lordviper

does anyone know of a way to have this happen automatically?
by using some ibus modding software maybe?

All you need is a solenoid connected to the headlamp flash stalk and a control circuit so that as soon as you turn off the ignition it activates the solenoid to pull on the stalk. If inclined you could have a light sensor in the control circuit so it only happens when it is dark.

[timothyc]

Originally Posted by powers1

Let me know if this works for you.
I never used this feature,as I am always so battery conscious..

Yes!!

Thank you all, this does work.

1. turn off ignition completely
2. pull highbeam stalk towards you shortly.

ps: is this bad for the oem xenon? I often read that xenon shouldn't be turned on if it's only for a very short time ...

[mrbmwx5]

It will not harm the xenon.

[tdgard]

Originally Posted by mrbmwx5

It will not harm the xenon.

I'm going to be a little picky here. Harm-as in screw them up-no. Harm-as in shorten the lamp life-absolutely.

I have been a distributor for Osram, Ushio, and GE lamps as well as using arc lamps up to 18,000 watts day to day for the past 20 years. Each one of them will tell you that on/off cycles significantly influences lamp life.

Startup voltages on a cold lamp wear the electrodes much faster than operating a warm lamp. Even worse is hot restriking an arc lamp. Most simply will not turn back on. Automotive lamps need to for safety reasons-therefore the voltages are even higher. Assuming you have just gotten home and are using the pathway lighting, a hot restrike is exactly what you are doing. Eventually the electrodes become far enough apart to not support an arc.

I personally will use the pathway lighting when I need to. I think the auto function is far more destructive to the lamps. Constantly turning on/off while driving through downtown areas-parking garages-etc day after day really does more damage than anything. I think my original owner must have left that on all the time. Got the car with 22k mi & had to replace both lamps at 35K mi. Under warranty-but someone ponied up the $960.