Headlights not bright enough?

Dipdidi · 08-07-2008, 11:42 AM

Is it just me or are these stock headlights not bright enough? Got a fully loaded 2008 e90 and sometimes during night time its hard to see a few meters in front of you - wtf? Also, whats with the fog lights not being on when i leave the lights on "auto" (for adaptive lights)? I can only the fog lights on when i manually turn the headlights on rather then leave it on auto?

Im coming from a '04 TL which had really nice bright headlights...

darkphantom · 08-07-2008, 11:45 AM

: I have the xenons and they work great!

Also, the fogs will stay on if you hit the foglight button when the lights are in auto. If it is day, then your full headlights will come on.

do you have the xenons?

oilcrankinject · 08-07-2008, 11:48 AM

Yea do you have xenons or not? Answer that first and then we can help you.

edb5020 · 08-07-2008, 11:49 AM

Ok, if you have the switch set to auto, the fog lights will ONLY turn on if the auto-system has the headlights engaged. You know if the system has the headlights on by the green light next to the switch.

About the brightness issue, I am not really sure, I have driven cars with halogen headlights most of my life, so the difference is huge in my BMW with Xenon lights. Not to get you worries, but maybe, just maybe the headlights need to be re-aligned. I heard stories on this forum of people's Adaptive Xenon's getting out of whack and they would point more towards the ground than they should. Just a thought, if it is really bothering you, I would let the dealer check it out.

Lassaxi · 08-07-2008, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dipdidi

Is it just me or are these stock headlights not bright enough? Got a fully loaded 2008 e90 and sometimes during night time its hard to see a few meters in front of you - wtf? Also, whats with the fog lights not being on when i leave the lights on "auto" (for adaptive lights)? I can only the fog lights on when i manually turn the headlights on rather then leave it on auto?

Im coming from a '04 TL which had really nice bright headlights...

What model E90 do you have? Xenons are optional on the E90 328, but you mentioned that the car is fully loaded, so I am assuming that you either have a 335 (on which xenons are standard) or a 328 with them.

If you do have the xenons, then perhaps they need to be adjusted. Some other members have reported that their xenons seem to be adjusted abnormally low from the factory. If that is the case, it is very easy to fix.
If the problem is that you have the halogens and not xenons, that will be more expensive to fix.

I am not sure I understand what you mean by the fog lights not being on in Auto mode. Do you mean that they don't come on automatically? Or do you mean that when you try to switch them on in Auto mode, they won't come on? When in "A" mode, the fog lights do not come on automatically. You should be able to switch them on after the headlights come on.

tintivilus · 08-07-2008, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edb5020

Ok, if you have the switch set to auto, the fog lights will ONLY turn on if the auto-system has the headlights engaged. You know if the system has the headlights on by the green light next to the switch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lassaxi

You should be able to switch them on after the headlights come on.

This is not the case in my experience. On both my E92 (2007 335i) and our E46 (2004 325i) turning on the fog lights with the headlights in "auto" but off causes both the headlights and fog lights to turn on. On the E92 you can see that the green LED lights up when you press the foglight button during the day.

I use this all the time in inclement weather (hit the fog button instead of turning headlights to "on") so I don't have to remember to turn them back to auto again later.

darkphantom · 08-07-2008, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tintivilus

This is not the case in my experience. On both my E92 (2007 335i) and our E46 (2004 325i) turning on the fog lights with the headlights in "auto" but off causes both the headlights and fog lights to turn on. On the E92 you can see that the green LED lights up when you press the foglight button during the day.

I use this all the time in inclement weather (hit the fog button instead of turning headlights to "on") so I don't have to remember to turn them back to auto again later.

+1 yup...fog lights will NEVER come on automatically to my knowledge, you always have to turn them on manually...

I just keep my lights on auto, and should I want to turn my main lights on in the day, just hit the fog light button

Lassaxi · 08-07-2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tintivilus

This is not the case in my experience. On both my E92 (2007 335i) and our E46 (2004 325i) turning on the fog lights with the headlights in "auto" but off causes both the headlights and fog lights to turn on. On the E92 you can see that the green LED lights up when you press the foglight button during the day.

I use this all the time in inclement weather (hit the fog button instead of turning headlights to "on") so I don't have to remember to turn them back to auto again later.

Interesting. That definitely does not happen on my car. Either the headlights or the corner markers need to be on for the fog lights to work. Pushing the fog button with my headlight switch in "A" mode does not do anything unless the headlights are actually on.

ex-poster · 08-07-2008, 01:00 PM

I had to do some night driving in rural Minnesota the other week, and they've nicely upgraded all their signs to a more reflective coating (probably a new 3M product).

Unfortunately, with the Xenons in my E90, they were actually too damn bright, I couldn't use my brights in a lot of situations where there was no other traffic.

So, yeah, they're bright, at least the Xenons.

Dipdidi · 08-07-2008, 01:22 PM

To confirm: I have a 335xi w/Xenons. Sorry i left this important detail.

Hmm, so i might need to pay the dealer a visit.

catcher22 · 08-07-2008, 01:34 PM

Funny, I was just thinking the exact opposite last night. But then again, I came from an old shitty American car with crap headlights, not a nice TL.

i2iSTUDIOS · 08-07-2008, 02:05 PM

aim them higher. I turned my screws 2 full turns clockwise on each side, the cut off was too low, now they are much better now. I also put in 5000k HID bulbs, 5k is actually the brightest color temp.

darkphantom · 08-07-2008, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i2iSTUDIOS

aim them higher. I turned my screws 2 full turns clockwise on each side, the cut off was too low, now they are much better now. I also put in 5000k HID bulbs, 5k is actually the brightest color temp.

5k? what about the 8k/10k/12k bulbs?

goofygrin · 08-07-2008, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkphantom

5k? what about the 8k/10k/12k bulbs?

blue purple civic (in that order)

Don't got over 6-6500K on your bulbs please.

i2iSTUDIOS · 08-07-2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkphantom

5k? what about the 8k/10k/12k bulbs?

anything after 5k starts to go down in brightness and up in blueness.

dmboone25 · 08-07-2008, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i2iSTUDIOS

anything after 5k starts to go down in brightness and up in blueness.

+1

Higher Kelvin temps do not mean higher levels of brightness.

simp0man · 08-07-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmboone25

+1

Higher Kelvin temps do not mean higher levels of brightness.

Thats a FACT.

BK · 08-07-2008, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tintivilus

I use this all the time in inclement weather (hit the fog button instead of turning headlights to "on") so I don't have to remember to turn them back to auto again later.

+1 A good way to make sure your headlights come on and stay on, without having to switch out of "auto."

wj4 · 08-07-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmboone25

+1

Higher Kelvin temps do not mean higher levels of brightness.

Yep. I believe the best output is around 4200-4300 Kelvin. People go higher to get a blue tint or sometimes even purple shade to look 'cool', but the compromise is that the visibility won't be at its best.

To the OP- you will get used to it. You came from a TL, Honda uses some of the best projectors out there. My friends with TL, TSX, S2k all have better light pattern output than my 335i.

Orient330iNYC · 08-07-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i2iSTUDIOS

aim them higher. I turned my screws 2 full turns clockwise on each side, the cut off was too low, now they are much better now. I also put in 5000k HID bulbs, 5k is actually the brightest color temp.

incorrect.

stock 4150K lumen bulbs put out ~3500 lumens
5000K bulbs ~2900 lumens
6000K bulbs ~2400 lumens

they look brighter due to the glare from the blue.

alex2112 · 08-07-2008, 05:20 PM

I would say that if you find the xenons to not be bright enough they are probably not aimed properly, or the adaptive feature is malfunctioning. I read about someone on this forum having an issue where his lights were stuck pointing straight down (like when the lights move down, then up when you start the car). Might want to have them checked out. That said, I find the xenons to be absolutely great. This is my first car with xenons and after recently driving my brother's Honda at night with halogens it felt like I was trying to see using a small cheap flashlight.

-=Hot|Ice=- · 08-07-2008, 05:33 PM

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ight=headlight

Fallow the directions and you're set. It sounds like your lights are too low. That's the thread you were looking for.

08-07-2008, 11:42 AM	#1
Dipdidi Private 9 Rep 91 Posts Drives: none Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Headlights not bright enough? Is it just me or are these stock headlights not bright enough? Got a fully loaded 2008 e90 and sometimes during night time its hard to see a few meters in front of you - wtf? Also, whats with the fog lights not being on when i leave the lights on "auto" (for adaptive lights)? I can only the fog lights on when i manually turn the headlights on rather then leave it on auto? Im coming from a '04 TL which had really nice bright headlights...
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08-07-2008, 11:45 AM	#2
darkphantom Banned 595 Rep 5,946 Posts Drives: E93 335i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The place for Bimmers iTrader: (4)	: I have the xenons and they work great! Also, the fogs will stay on if you hit the foglight button when the lights are in auto. If it is day, then your full headlights will come on. do you have the xenons?
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08-07-2008, 11:48 AM	#3
oilcrankinject Captain 79 Rep 996 Posts Drives: nothing Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Yea do you have xenons or not? Answer that first and then we can help you.
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08-07-2008, 11:49 AM	#4
edb5020 Private First Class 17 Rep 167 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 328xi Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	Ok, if you have the switch set to auto, the fog lights will ONLY turn on if the auto-system has the headlights engaged. You know if the system has the headlights on by the green light next to the switch. About the brightness issue, I am not really sure, I have driven cars with halogen headlights most of my life, so the difference is huge in my BMW with Xenon lights. Not to get you worries, but maybe, just maybe the headlights need to be re-aligned. I heard stories on this forum of people's Adaptive Xenon's getting out of whack and they would point more towards the ground than they should. Just a thought, if it is really bothering you, I would let the dealer check it out.
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08-07-2008, 01:00 PM	#9
ex-poster Lieutenant 19 Rep 482 Posts Drives: 2000 328, 2006 330 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Burbs iTrader: (0)	I had to do some night driving in rural Minnesota the other week, and they've nicely upgraded all their signs to a more reflective coating (probably a new 3M product). Unfortunately, with the Xenons in my E90, they were actually too damn bright, I couldn't use my brights in a lot of situations where there was no other traffic. So, yeah, they're bright, at least the Xenons.
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08-07-2008, 01:22 PM	#10
Dipdidi Private 9 Rep 91 Posts Drives: none Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	To confirm: I have a 335xi w/Xenons. Sorry i left this important detail. Hmm, so i might need to pay the dealer a visit.
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08-07-2008, 01:34 PM	#11
catcher22 Captain 294 Rep 922 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi Coupe Join Date: May 2008 Location: Virginia iTrader: (2)	Funny, I was just thinking the exact opposite last night. But then again, I came from an old shitty American car with crap headlights, not a nice TL.
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08-07-2008, 02:05 PM	#12
i2iSTUDIOS Captain 88 Rep 870 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Coupe Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH iTrader: (1)	aim them higher. I turned my screws 2 full turns clockwise on each side, the cut off was too low, now they are much better now. I also put in 5000k HID bulbs, 5k is actually the brightest color temp. __________________ 2007 E92 335i / 6MT / Monaco Blue Metallic / Gray Dakota Leather / Comfort Assist / Premium / Sport / Heated Seats / Navi / Active Steering / Active Cruise Control / Park Distance Control / Rear Sunshade / Sirius MODS PicoTray / M3 Steering Wheel / Front OEM Aero Lip / Bimmian Aluminum Pedals / CDV / Ram Air Scoops / Painted Reflectors / HID 5000k / LED Angels / M Perf. Shifter / Euro Light Switch / 8500 x50 / Center Armrest Pouch / JB4 / BT
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08-07-2008, 05:20 PM	#21
alex2112 Lieutenant 26 Rep 444 Posts Drives: 2016 X1 M-Sport Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: MA iTrader: (4)	I would say that if you find the xenons to not be bright enough they are probably not aimed properly, or the adaptive feature is malfunctioning. I read about someone on this forum having an issue where his lights were stuck pointing straight down (like when the lights move down, then up when you start the car). Might want to have them checked out. That said, I find the xenons to be absolutely great. This is my first car with xenons and after recently driving my brother's Honda at night with halogens it felt like I was trying to see using a small cheap flashlight.
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