Auto Headlights
 

Hello All, First post here. I have just picked up a 2001 X5 w/4.4. It needs lots of love and I am slowly getting there. The truck has auto wipers and obviously the windshield sensor. I do not have auto headlights but heard that the sensor for those is in the same location as the wiper sensor. Can anyone confirm this and if so can I just pick up a junked auto HL switch and install? THanks

You'll need a windshield that allows the sensor to 'see' the light.

Here's a shot of the sensor on a rain-sensing windshield. This is when I had a light sensing windshield installed on my 2000 E39 which did not come with auto lights.

I think you'll also need to code it.

Does it follow that if the car has auto lights, it has rain sensing wipers? Or are those two separate sensors?

It definitely can be done but is not as simple as plug n play, even though all of the components just plug in. You need an RLS and windshield mount, LCM4 and the switch with auto position. You will need NCS Expert (that's what I used) and coding cable. The RLS must be coded for e53/e39 (have to generate code for 2002+ model year to do the coding in-car as NCS must think the car has the auto headlamp option) or make sure you get on already coded properly. You will need an LCM4 and basically read the configuration and manually code to match your options in the new LCM4. You then need the PASoft software to properly update the vehicle mileage in the LCM otherwise the tamper dot will be displayed on the odometer. You can search for and read my posts about the process and problems I encountered. I successfully completed the retrofit and am very happy with it but was a tedious process.