[andyoxon]

My E91 335i 2009 Xenon lights are not as bright or as far reaching as I expected. The Xenons on my old Audi S3 were better also I'm sure the Xenons on our 123D 2011 are much better. I deffinately would like better light further away I do not feel I can drive nearly as fast at night with this car purely down to not being able to see whats coming up in the distance. Also the auto dipping/high beam function gets tripped by every reflective sign so it is practically useless, where as the same function on the 123d works well... most of the time. The headlights are clean.

Can the sensitivity of the driver assist headlights be adjusted and are there alternative bulbs for more effective light output and if so any recommendations.

many thanks

[Triggster]

Maybe they could do with a readjustment?

[335_MI6]

I have the same feeling, I have been in a lot of cars and I haven't found as good as xenons as on my range rover. It has a perfect center line and it goes on for a nice distance.

[doughboy]

OP, same here, as xenons have a marked beam 'cut off' if they are too low, it's just dark above that line.

I have adaptive lights too, and I simply adjusted them upwards a little using the adjuster screw on the headlights. This is the correct adjustment point and it just moves the self levelling 'centre' point.

Don't go too far mind to avoid dazzling people, I got it just right so when following a car the beam cut off is just on their bumper line, where as before the beam seemed to cut off about 10 yards up the road.

100% better reach on low beam and it passed the MOT fine.

High beam is still superb, like match night at old trafford.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by 335_MI6

I have the same feeling, I have been in a lot of cars and I haven't found as good as xenons as on my range rover.

That's coz RRs are designed to dazzle the peasants & poor people in your way, before mowing them down like rabbits caught in the glare as you 'off-road' your way to John Lewis.


You know its true

[335_MI6]

Originally Posted by doughboy

That's coz RRs are designed to dazzle the peasants & poor people in your way, before mowing them down like rabbits caught in the glare as you 'off-road' your way to John Lewis.


You know its true

I debadged my range rover, well at least part of it. I took off the G and the E from the range and the R from the rover, so it reads ran over lol.

[m1bjr]

Originally Posted by 335_MI6

I debadged my range rover, well at least part of it. I took off the G and the E from the range and the R from the rover, so it reads ran over lol.

LOL - I like your style.
Beats having the name of a Bird on the back...

[andyoxon]

Thanks Doughboy, will have a play but it is the high beam that I thought wasn't that good it's fine for normal driving but I wasn't that happy at slightly higher speeds. Just tried the lights in the driveway and I can't get the inner lights, the ones with the opaque glass to light up, only the outer lights and the angel eyes seem to work. I may be doing something wrong as i couldn't get the inner lights to come on on the 123D either or do they only work when the car is moving? If the car was an old banger I would just fit some good old rally style ones but that would look so wrong....ok on a mark one Ford Escort or original Audi Quattro.

[shane55]

The xenons are "bi-xenon" therefore the xenon is always lit and high and low beam is performed only by a shutter lifting and dropping as you pull and push the stalk! The inner halogens are for adaptive cornering headlights which I believe light in conjunction with the xenons and also for headlight flash!

Shane.

[doughboy]

Yup, on LCI bi-xenons, main xenon light is always on and a shutter just cuts the beam down for dip.

OP - The inner lights are only for adaptive low speed cornering lights, they are not headlights and do no light normally. The respective side comes on when you indicate or turn the wheel at low speed to light up side roads and the curb etc. Get someone to turn the wheel / indicate when parked and you'll see them working.

Suprised that high beam is your problem, my high beam is like BAM! daylight at night. I live in the country, on bendy, fast unlit A roads. and they are the best lights i've ever had, perfect for higher speeds in the dark. The high beam is cut off at about tree top height ahead, which is perfect as there's no need to light any higher than that.

The problem is when you go to dip you can't see!

Agree - the high beam assist is shite, it just dips as it mistakes reflective signs for oncoming cars (usually sharp bend chevrons, just when you don't need auto dip!) And it's too slow to go back to high beam and leaves you floundering in the dark after a car has passed. It also always dips if you go below 30mph, as it assumes you must be in an urban area! FFS! Theres loads of times you want high beam when doing less than 30mph, obviously its not designed for rural use!

[xenon]

Sounds like the level sensor arm has popped off the ball joint. My e46 was always doing that - then the headlamps point down at their lowest position.

With the D1s bulbs with the incorporated ignitor the xenon is also used for flash, not the inner lamp.

[doughboy]

Could be,

When you start the car and the lights come on they will run through a little routine, auto level fully up / fully down / then up to correct 'auto' level as given by the level sensors.

If they just go fully up / fully down and then stop right down then they are in their 'safety' position where they go if there's a problem with the leveling system.

Try it and see.

[xenon]

I think the HBA is brilliant but I think the design may have changed of late. I had a friends 2006 M6 for a lucky week and agreed the the HBA was a complete waste of time as it dipped for reflections. HOwever, the HBA on my 2011 F10 is perfect and i use it all the time.

[doughboy]

Xenon,

On your new HBA, is there no pause before going back to high beam when a car has passed?

I find that the 1/2 to 1 second in the dark waiting for high beam is very dangerous. You've travelled 100 feet at 70mph without being able to see in 1 second!

When you operate the beam by 'human power' manually, you go to back main whilst the passing car is still alongside so you can see continuously, i'm sure no auto system is that quick.

[xenon]

I'm not sure exactly how long it takes, DB, but put it this way: it doesn't cause me an issue and I find it more relaxing; ergo it comes on quick enough. I take your point, however.

[335DEE]

Originally Posted by andyoxon

Can the sensitivity of the driver assist headlights be adjusted and are there alternative bulbs for more effective light output and if so any recommendations.

many thanks

I'd be interested to find out more about this .

There must be some sort of sensitivity adjustment , on a car like that with all those systems on board, i'd be really surprised if it couldn't be adjusted , either software or hardware.

[shane55]

The HBA is made for BMW by Gentex and called smartbeam... It works like a digital camera in that it has a CMOS sensor and uses an algorithm to decide what to do with with the lights when certain criteria are met. I think when doing say 60mph the reaction of the HBA is far quicker than when pottering about a windy road at 40... Mine also seems to detect streetlights very far ahead...coming into a built up area from the country it will dim as quick as I can! I'm sure it's like the other components within the car and can be calibrated or reprogrammed with new software!

[Bee Pee]

DB,

The HBA on my LCI e91 works a lot better since a recent service call to dealer. Perhaps a SW tweak ?

Dave

[Dziqsek_]

Yes newest frm software upgrade have some tweaks for adaptive lights