[Spacer]

Just a quick request for help. Picked up a new 330D today, with vis pack. When I'm out tonight, the dancing lights part of high beam assist isn't working. It's either high beam or low beam. The headlight switch is at auto. Any ideas please?

[dopper99]

I take it you pressed the lower button on the left stalk. Should have an symbol with A on the dash?

[Spacer]

Yep, I have that. But I just don't have the anti dazzle part of the high beam assist, the dancing lights as some people call it. It will go to high beam, but dips straight to low.

[dopper99]

I had exactly the same problem when my car was new. Took it in the dealers and they said nothing was wrong with it. But within a week it had sorted itself out and just started working properly. Someone else on here had the same problem a few months ago.

[Spacer]

And it has just started working on mine too. Stopped the car and restarted and it's working fine now. Weird! It's pretty amazing. I take it yours has worked fine ever since? Thanks for the replies :-)

[dopper99]

Yep I've had no problems since. In fact here is the thread of the other guy who had the same problems....
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1099195

[dopper99]

Anyway, good that it appears to be working.

[Spacer]

Weird. Must have to calibrate or something. But they are super cool!

[Beancounter_74]

They are brilliant.
They have made it onto my list of "things I will not order a car without".

[TheLiverBird]

I've yet to try mine out (had the car less than 24hrs to be fair) but how will I know they work - the only times I travel at night are on main roads that are fully lit, and usually have other traffic on them - will I be able to tell under these conditions or do I need unlit roads with little or no traffic?

[sweels]

Originally Posted by TheLiverBird

I've yet to try mine out (had the car less than 24hrs to be fair) but how will I know they work - the only times I travel at night are on main roads that are fully lit, and usually have other traffic on them - will I be able to tell under these conditions or do I need unlit roads with little or no traffic?

Yes, you need to be on unlit roads (or ones with very few street lights) and going more than approx 30mph. And as noted here, be patient first time you use them as you'll think they're not working for the first few mins. But then the witchcraft will start....

[Kal101]

Only been able to use mine a couple of times

In fairness really freaked me out when they started dancing !!!

Quickly turned them off in a panic thinking I must be dazzling everyone whilst looking like a low flying UFO

[Tengocity]

Remember that you have to have the headlamps set to A for auto for them to work.

[sweels]

Originally Posted by Kal27

Only been able to use mine a couple of times

In fairness really freaked me out when they started dancing !!!

Quickly turned them off in a panic thinking I must be dazzling everyone whilst looking like a low flying UFO

I sometimes wonder this (and even if not actually dazzling people will some people think you're driving aggressively as they might think you are going to high beam quite frequently as even if not directly dazzled they will probably see the light pattern changing.

One day I will drive or passenger in a car in front of mine whilst it is driven with auto lights on. I suspect it barely registers with the driver in front.
The only time I think it is caught out is if a car is waiting to pull out from a side turning on the right then the lights don't always dip which is a but unfair to the other driver.

[Beancounter_74]

I spend a significant amount of time on the A1(M) at night between Essex and Yorkshire and the lights are brilliant. The only time I've dazzled someone was a lorry driver who's lights were hidden by the armco and the car didn't recognise there was something (a lorry) there.

Aside from that, they have worked superbly. I especially love when you approach a car in front and the beam splits left and right around the car in front.

[rich100]

Originally Posted by TheLiverBird

I've yet to try mine out (had the car less than 24hrs to be fair) but how will I know they work - the only times I travel at night are on main roads that are fully lit, and usually have other traffic on them - will I be able to tell under these conditions or do I need unlit roads with little or no traffic?

Sounds like an excuse to take it out and drive some unlit A or B roads at night to me.

[rich100]

Originally Posted by sweels

I sometimes wonder this (and even if not actually dazzling people will some people think you're driving aggressively as they might think you are going to high beam quite frequently as even if not directly dazzled they will probably see the light pattern changing.

One day I will drive or passenger in a car in front of mine whilst it is driven with auto lights on. I suspect it barely registers with the driver in front.
The only time I think it is caught out is if a car is waiting to pull out from a side turning on the right then the lights don't always dip which is a but unfair to the other driver.

Agree with this and would be interested to understand what the lights look like from the point of view of the driver in front.

I do tend to override mine from time to time as whilst very good they are not infallible. Bends to be a good example if when they can be slow to react but also when the road is undulating .

It's a great piece if kit though and I would definitely spec again. Apart from this the xenons in my opinion look so much better from a visual perspective than the standard halogens.

[TheLiverBird]

Originally Posted by rich100

Sounds like an excuse to take it out and drive some unlit A or B roads at night to me.

Was thinking exactly the same - I'm not too far from some great roads out through the Peak District so will go experiment one night over the bank holiday

[crustyloafer]

Stupid question but I am assuming there is a difference between high beam assist and the full adaptive headlights which allows it to split the full beam around oncoming vehicles etc.

It was a little unclear when I ordered my car but how do I know which I will be getting. I have on order a 335d m sport touring with the m sport plus package and visibility package.

I had thought that only if you also purchased the LED headlight option did you get the full "dancing lights" functionality and with just then Xenons it would just turn into the corner with you and switch high beam on or off but now I'm not sure.

Can anyone explain all the headlight options and their levels of functionality in laments terms.

[TheLiverBird]

Originally Posted by crustyloafer

Stupid question but I am assuming there is a difference between high beam assist and the full adaptive headlights which allows it to split the full beam around oncoming vehicles etc.

It was a little unclear when I ordered my car but how do I know which I will be getting. I have on order a 335d m sport touring with the m sport plus package and visibility package.

I had thought that only if you also purchased the LED headlight option did you get the full "dancing lights" functionality and with just then Xenons it would just turn into the corner with you and switch high beam on or off but now I'm not sure.

Can anyone explain all the headlight options and their levels of functionality in laments terms.

AFAIK...

High beam assist detects oncoming cars (via a front sensor / camera) and switches high beam on and off respectively. This can be specced separately so you can have HBA without adaptive.

Adaptive actually alters the lateral angle of the light beam to aid going round corners (using angle of steering and gps data I think?) and not blinding oncoming traffic. If you spec this it includes HBA, so you can't have adaptive without HBA.

With respect to the Xenon / LED differences. Xenon can have HBA, or both HBA/adaptive added as extras, but LED comes with both as standard (I think, but you'd need to check with dealer) and may well be better thanks to the newer tech. Although I'm more than happy with my Adaptive Xenons.

Hope this helps (and is correct?)

[Ice Man]

Stop it! I am trying hard to keep the spec to my pending 4GC order down this doesn't help!

[doomsday runner]

With the new LCI model, you can have LED's without adaptive, I have been told its an extra £300 for adaptive!