Flashing High Beams versus Using High Beams
 

OK, don't beat me up too bad, but I've owned my X5 for several years now, and just realized on a recent road trip (+4500 miles - averaged 21.4 miles/gal) that flashing the high beams uses the inner lights (non-projector) producing a rather nice "flood-light" pattern down road, but only stays on with a pull of the right-hand stalk. Pushing the same stalk forward for extend High-beam use used the projector outside lights, which are adjust (aim) the low-beam lights higher, which in my option, provides poor light coverage.


Please do not flame me too much . . . .

I begged to differ. The xenon high (with the shutter open) beam throws out a nice bright flood...much brighter than the flash-to-pass halogen can.

:iagree: The HID high beams rock compared to the halogen ones. You really notice the difference driving down a tree lined dark road. The HID's high beams light up all the trees for a long way.

when you hit the high beam, you get both projector and inner high beam, when flash only inner

Maybe in Sweeden.....

In the states if you put the h-beams on the shutter opens on the HID lamps, the flash to pass feature is the only time the center lights will come on and those have to be done by pulling on the stalk.

In the states you can't have more then 4 front lamps lit for high beams. Which is why when the high beams are on your fog lamps would go off.

Did not know that...
I can have the foglights on as well

Ahhh - sounds like this is a regional option you should be able to get reprogrammed. Talk to your service guy.

Not surprised, you don't have US DOT specifications.

umm i had to read your post twice to understand what you were trying to say...

high beams are in the inner part of the headlamp. so flashing or pushing the stalk forward would activate the inner headlamp. you cannot flash xenon lowbeams.

OK, let's try this again...From what I can tell...The temporary "flash" meaning you pull on the stalk: the outer lowbeam xenons stay lit as is, and in addition the inner projector lights come on.

However, the constant high-beams, meaning you PUSH on the stalk: the inner projector lights do NOT come on. The outer xenons do switch to high beams.

I agree with Bimmer's point that they do seem to be different lighting patterns. However, to me they are just different, I can't really tell that one is "better" than the other.