Auto headlight not working in 10 x35d

[London Lad]

Don't you guys ever read your handbooks ? :-)

[z2g]

Originally Posted by London Lad

Don't you guys ever read your handbooks ? :-)

I did. I don't think it really mentions much about the auto headlights. It does mention the daylight running lights though and how to turn those off.

[anzer]

Nope ..there's a definite issue with the autolight function.

Mine worked fine for first few weeks (little green light at the 11am postion "A" would go out if turned from "O" during the day - and at night time when left in the "A" position would come on - along with headlights)

BUT ... noticed that the headlights (and little green indicator light) are always on now when in "A" position ....

I tried playing around with settings in iDrive but reality is that's only to do with daytime running lights - nothing to do with the "A" function ...

so BMW have a problem ..and I suspect its a faulty sensor - perhaps it gets dirty ? does anybody know where that sensor would be ? (surely outside somewhere to pick up day vs night?)

[Quicksilver]

Has anyone thought of taking this issue to the dealer to be fixed?
You folks do have warranties correct?

[z2g]

In the past week, I've noticed that my auto headlights are working properly now. Only the angel eyes are on during the day now.

[anzer]

I only discovered its a problem for me yesterday ..will book into service this week and see what they say / do

[marshotel]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

Has anyone thought of taking this issue to the dealer to be fixed?
You folks do have warranties correct?

I have and it has done nothing but cause frustration. They shine an artificial light into the sensor, the lights turn off and they say that "the lights are working according to specs". It was much worse with the long shadows of winter but even now my lights are on 90% of the time. I have had other BMW's with auto headlights and they all worked perfectly.

[anzer]

Yep, the problem is the random sensitivity of the 'sensor' .. mine came right again today for about half day ..then just decided to turn on lights in middle of the day ..we are approaching winter here so I think you're spot on in terms of shade / cloud etc just tripping the sensor .. I wonder if there's a way to adjust the sensitivity for seasons ...my $9.90 outdoor spotlights have that technology ... wonder if my $120k BMW does nah ... would be asking too much .... perhaps they'll fix via software patch down the track as enough people bitch to the service desk ...

[Quicksilver]

So your saying "When you keep it on auto, headlights stay on during day time instead of the
daylight lamps has been recreated at the dealer and their saying "the lights are working according to specs"?

If indeed this behaviour is not the way the lights are suppose to operate
and the fault is demonstrated at the dealer then the "frustration" should be theirs.

I've had the issue of my light coming on during the day as well.
It was kept for two days and tested until the sensor was replaced.
But of course I had to explain that I don't turn the lights on
during the day the BMW does that and it's not suppose to.
So let's see what can be done to fix it. And yes there is a way to
adjust the sensitivity.

Point is you paid for a vehicle that has a warranty. Be nice but
Tell em that they are "NOT" working according to specs so please
fix the problem.

Originally Posted by marshotel

I have and it has done nothing but cause frustration. They shine an artificial light into the sensor, the lights turn off and they say that "the lights are working according to specs". It was much worse with the long shadows of winter but even now my lights are on 90% of the time. I have had other BMW's with auto headlights and they all worked perfectly.

[marshotel]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

So your saying "When you keep it on auto, headlights stay on during day time instead of the
daylight lamps has been recreated at the dealer and their saying "the lights are working according to specs"?

If indeed this behaviour is not the way the lights are suppose to operate
and the fault is demonstrated at the dealer then the "frustration" should be theirs.

I've had the issue of my light coming on during the day as well.
It was kept for two days and tested until the sensor was replaced.
But of course I had to explain that I don't turn the lights on
during the day the BMW does that and it's not suppose to.
So let's see what can be done to fix it. And yes there is a way to
adjust the sensitivity.

Point is you paid for a vehicle that has a warranty. Be nice but
Tell em that they are "NOT" working according to specs so please
fix the problem.

The car has been in 2 times for this issue and I always treat the service people the way I want to be treated so my delivery isn't the problem. the first time they couldn't re-create the problem because they were using an artificial light directly on teh sensor. The 2nd time I did what they told me, I stopped in one day when I was in the neighborhood to show them that the lights were still on at noon. They changed their tune at that point. Their new argument was that there is no sensitivity adjustment and even if there was they couldn't adjust it for safety reasons.