Why do you all bother about this?

I see no issue in the fact that my headlights turn on when it isn't really needed... Even when I run into the garage I'm used to the fact that the beemer will tun the headlights on... What's the problem with that?

Personally I'm starting to understand the US dealers :D . If someone would come in with his vehicle to complain that the headlights turn on when they drive into the garage... :stickpoke

I've ran a replacer a while ago with no automatic headlights and that was hell for me: not turning on in tunnels, not turning on when rain, not turning on when little dark, not turning on in complete darkness,... Although I didn't have a problem that they didn't turn on when pulling into my garage :p:

^ I also have no problems with the lights coming on when going into the garage. Why wouldn't/shouldn't they come on? Besides, you're turning the vehicle off 5 seconds later and the lights WILL go off then.

I'm on the road and can't look this up, but I thought I remembered that at least the 2004 manual said that one way to shorten te life of the xenons was to have them turn on and off many times even if just briefly.
See 2008 manual, p. 248.
Do I have this wrong?

xenons last almost forever...they aren't like halogen.
No need to worry about them burning out.

I don't have a problem with them going on in the garage. I have a problem with them coming on at 2:30 in the afternoon in bright sunlight--on the 405 freeway.

Aside from that, there is the core issue stated at the onset of this thread: the linking of the adaptive headlights to the automatic on switch is questionable.

Joel

I think the ability to turn adaptive headlights to non adaptive to be a great thing, you can turn them from "auto" to "on" without the lights going out if you want to turn the adaptive function on.

I personally dont like driving round towns with foglights turning on and off as you turn corners at 5mph. Its just too pretentious.
I use the adaptive drive when driving down country lanes at nightby turning to auto, but the rest of the time just keep them "on"