E70 Lighting System
 

I've seen many threads about the E70's lighting system in the past few months, so I'm going to try to clear some things out here: :thumbup:

Exterior:

Bi Xenon headlamps: uses cornering feature for low beams (high?) based on
vehicle speed, yaw, DSC, and steering wheel angle. Automatically turned on with auto feature.

Dual halogen Fog Lights: activated when the fog light switch is depressed.
Cornering feature, used in conjunction with the dynamic headlights, activates a reflector in the fog light housing, and depending on the degree of turn, turns on and adjusts the brightness of the light.
example: sharp right turn, 40 mph= headlights swivel to the right, right cornering light (fog) switches on full power.

DRL: When the DRL feature is turned on in I-Drive, the front halo lights come on (inside one is brighter) along with a small bulb located in the inside light housing. LED taillights are also switched on.

Parking Lights: same as DRL except amber bulb in turn signal housing is switched on, at low power.

Apon unlock:
Bright White LEDs in the door handle illuminate
Halo lights and Taillamps are switched on until driver's door opened.
Interior lights switch on

Exterior Notes:
Headlights are washed every third windshield cleaning.
When auto headlights are on, Fog Lights are switched on in Reverse.
Rear turn signals are red. Side signal is amber LED with clear casing.
Brake lights (except CHMSL*) are not LED.

(* Center High Mounted Stop Light)

Interior:

Main interior lights: operate when doors or opened. Include lamp in overhead console, and above the rear passenger doors.

Map/Reading lights: located next to the main lights

Ambient lighting: small, faint, orange LED in every interior door handle. Small, faint, orange LEDs in front and rear door bins. No overhead ambient lighting like in the E53.

Trunk lighing switched on when trunk opened.
----
Anything I missed?


Overall, an excellent lighting system, the most important thing for people who drive a lot at night, like myself. Headlights are very very bright. No need to mod them.
Hope this clears some things up and helps!
:thumbup:

Great summary.
Here is a poor shot of the exterior lighting. I will work on a better one soon.

another really bad shot...the interior ambience is very hard to capture. This is the light coming from above onto the gear shift. These lights are located next to the reading lights (YES, there is lighting from overhead)

Are some of these features part of a package? Because the ext. door light action... not happening on my x.

Not sure, I have pretty much everything....what packages do you have?

EDIT: looks like its a standard feature.

Space Gray 4.8i Packages, Rear Climate, Sport, Tech, Comfort Acces, Head-up Display, 20" Wheels, Bluetooth, Running Boards, Heated Seats.

I think you have to turn on pathway lighting in the idrive menu.

looks like its part of the Premium Package then

yes in idrive select menu, vehicle/tires, lighting, pathway lighting.

you will have several options to enable here.

The exterior path lighting is a Standard feature, the interior ambiant lighting is part of Premium Package.

It's on! 45 s :dunno:

Do you see any lense under the keyhole on the handle?

This is suppose to illuminate the ext. door handle... correct?

No! should it be there?

yes, plus it really illuminates the ground along the entire side of the vehicle. See my photos in post 2...the white light on the ground is from these lights.

Mmmm..maybe it is part of the ambient package in premium package?

according to the Ordering Guide it is Standard

You do understand these only come on during certain situations. If the car is locked, leave it alone for several minutes, then push the "lock" button on the key...it should activate these lights.

...but he has checked and there is no lense under the handle so it's not there. I think it may be part of the Premium Package "light package" I think it's option 563.

he is in the US...we have different options.

In the US manual page 97 it describes "Pathway Lighting"...all the optional items have an asterick (*)...Pathway does not have an *

it is standard...thats strange...wait...don't you have Comfort Access? Try hitting "unlock" after the car is locked.

where? :dunno:

here is a shot of the light under the handle.

Pathway must not include that feature. lense are definitely not there???
My question is... did they forget at the factory???

there are two next to the map lights

You are right, pathway is the headlamp illumination. These must be part of Ambient lights which is included in Premium Package.

really....I've never noticed...strange...
In the back too?

edit: talking about ambient roof lights

never noticed in the back. They are very faint and barley illuminate anything.

Problem solved. Thanks you guys! :thumbup:

so what was it? I'm lost. :D

Does anyone know if the hatch light switches off automatically after a set time? I like to keep my hatch open in the garage to air out the car and I wouldn't want to run down the battery.

The ext. door handle illumination must be part of premium package.

see the two small holes on either side of moonroof switch, these are the led lights

Yes it does , not sure on time though.

yours doesnt have premium?

Did not see the need for any of it.

Why don't you set the car ventalion feature to air out the vehicle at a preset time?

canamx5: do you have interior pics?

No, what would you like to see?

the interior with out Premium. Do you have a sunroof? What does your mirror look like? Do you have wood or aluminum trim?

Thanks for the suggestion. I thought the "low tech" way might work better, and I'd be all ready to load up the back for the next "expedition".

OK. I will take some asap! Yes on the wood and no on the sunroof. I have a 325ci for the days I want to fry myself. :rofl:

I was just wondering...:) Take your time....:)
I've got a convertible too.. I tend to look a little burned after some fun in the sun! :D

Here you go!

Cool! Your wood looks nicer than mine! I bet your interior is nice and cool in the summer.
btw, I can't place those wheels on the car next to the 3. What is it? :)

The CEO'S MB R 500.

I knew it was some sort of MB...:D
Have a good one

That's pretty interesting...when time permits, would you mind snappin a few of the seats and center console as well please?

No prob... charging camera. pics should be up in 20.

Here they are.

Thank you for the pictures. Those are the sport seats correct ? Do you like them ?

Yes, great support and comfy.

Thnaks for the pics. You don't actually lose too much by not ordering PP with the 4.8i, do you? So many of the features are standard. btw, your avatar pic looks very sharp. Big pic of that? :)

Sorry, just changed it.... which one? Is it this one?

The one right before this one. Angled shot from front-driver's side.

I'm surprised they let you have nav. With the E53, PP was required to order Nav.

Hope this works!

That's the one..great shot! You have Aero kit?

Yes!

Sweet..thanks for the shots. :thumbup:

Aero kit makes the E70 10x better can you order it on the 3.0? Also what is the price painted and installed?

I don't see why not? Total cost (kit, paint-instal) $2100.00

Thanks I am really considering a E70 now, I was all gung ho on the Cayenne S Titanium but seeing these pics makes me change my mind. I just have to make the choice on a 3.0 or 4.8 ;)

:trustme: I had a pepper s for 3 years before the E70 and you are making a good decision. The X is superior in every way IMO.

canamx5, your X5 looks the best IMO out of all the members here! Including me!
DrJ, I found the 3.0si has more than adquate power...not tons, though. The engine from the 335 may find it's way under there at some point.

Thanks trueX5er! :thumbup: The X is in good company here.

Do the buttons on the overhead console (moonroof, reading light buttons) light up with the headlights on or are they just painted?

Does anyone have any pics of the door bin led's by any chance?

The three reading lights do not light up. The moonroof and help switch do.

it's very hard to take pics of the door bin LEDs...they are very dim..

Thanks you guy are making my descision WAY to easy :rofl:

Hello To All,

I was wondering the following....

I am getting an E70 3.0si without the Prem. pkg.

I really like the LED lights under the Door Handles, they only come with the Prem pkg.

Does anyone know if I ordered just the part to replace the NON-LED door handles with the LED Door handles...will they work. (Will the LEDs work)? are all of the cars prewired for them???


Please let me know as parts are no expensive...

Here is the link to the OEM site.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...50&hg=41&fg=40

and the part number

Front Drivers Door -
51217162439$21.76
Front Pass. Door
51217162434$17.86
Rear Driver Door
51217162433$17.86
Rear Pass Door
51217162434$17.86
LED FOR DOOR TRIM PANEL
4

63316971823
Please let me know if anyone knows anything about doing such a MOD....

Thank you.