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What are Adaptive Headlights?

#1 User is offline   Lomag 

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Post icon  Posted 05 August 2004 - 07:45 PM

What are Adaptive Headlights?

Adaptive Headlights automatically swivel in the direction of the road ahead, even up hills and around curves. Sensors measure the vehicle's velocity, direction and yaw. This information, combined with the movements of the steering wheel, is fed into an on-board computer. Based on this data, the system calculates the direction in which the vehicle is heading, and automatically points the headlights in that direction.


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#2 User is offline   Iceman 

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Posted 07 August 2004 - 09:15 AM

A great feature that makes driving safer!
Only works when car is in motion (when parked it only works a little bit in one direction) and when the headlight switch is on auto position.
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#3 User is offline   530E60NL 

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Posted 07 August 2004 - 09:58 AM

Iceman, on Aug 7 2004, 08:15 AM, said:

when parked it only works a little bit in one direction

It only works in the right direction and not left when you are at a standstill.
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#4 User is offline   Iceman 

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Posted 07 August 2004 - 10:01 AM

530E60NL, on Aug 7 2004, 04:58 PM, said:

It only works in the right direction and not left when you are at a standstill.

not all the way and if your car is a UK spec it works to the left side...
That's to make sure you are not dazzling the traffic on the opposite site when you are at a stand still.
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#5 User is offline   Rudy 

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Posted 08 August 2004 - 05:28 AM

BMW's version of how Adaptive Headlights work, including a short video, can be found in the BMW Technology Guide.
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#6 User is offline   qualityauto 

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Posted 05 June 2008 - 07:30 PM

I think my new 550 has that. I turn and the headlights turn so I could see around the corner heh.

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#7 User is offline   1600 

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Posted 12 June 2008 - 07:28 PM

They were available std. beginning 9/06 in the 550i.
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#8 User is offline   JayDee427 

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Posted 03 August 2008 - 11:15 AM

View Post1600, on Jun 12 2008, 08:28 PM, said:

They were available std. beginning 9/06 in the 550i.
Can you tell if a headlight has the adaptive feature just by looking at it (off the vehicle)? I cracked the lens on my adaptive headlights and was going to purchase a used one from ebay.

#9 User is offline   Rudy 

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Posted 03 August 2008 - 11:19 AM

View PostJayDee427, on Aug 3 2008, 12:15 PM, said:

Can you tell if a headlight has the adaptive feature just by looking at it (off the vehicle)? I cracked the lens on my adaptive headlights and was going to purchase a used one from ebay.

If you look around the perimeter of the main (outer) beam, it will say "BMW Dynamic Xenon" if they are adaptive. Keep in mind before buying one on eBay that the lights are different between LCI and pre-LCI cars. Also, there are differences between some countries so be careful that you get one that matches the one you're replacing...
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#10 User is offline   sixcard 

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Posted 03 August 2008 - 03:26 PM

There is an excellent article in the current issue of BMW Mag. on this topic.
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#11 User is offline   JayDee427 

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Posted 03 August 2008 - 06:53 PM

View PostRudy, on Aug 3 2008, 12:19 PM, said:

If you look around the perimeter of the main (outer) beam, it will say "BMW Dynamic Xenon" if they are adaptive. Keep in mind before buying one on eBay that the lights are different between LCI and pre-LCI cars. Also, there are differences between some countries so be careful that you get one that matches the one you're replacing...

Thanks Rudy, however I made the purchase and realized that although my original and replacement are both adaptive, the new one does not fit my ballast. I think because my car is a 2004 545i (07/2004) and the replacement is from a 2006 503i. BMW probably made the changes after the 2004 model year. I guess it's back to the drawing board and start looking for an early built (2004) headlight assembly.

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#12 User is offline   530ilbc 

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Posted 22 December 2008 - 05:21 PM

View PostJayDee427, on Aug 3 2008, 07:53 PM, said:

Thanks Rudy, however I made the purchase and realized that although my original and replacement are both adaptive, the new one does not fit my ballast. I think because my car is a 2004 545i (07/2004) and the replacement is from a 2006 503i. BMW probably made the changes after the 2004 model year. I guess it's back to the drawing board and start looking for an early built (2004) headlight assembly.


Hey so what did you?? I have the exact same problem. I bought the headlights for the driver's side and realized the ballast would not fit. Looks just like the ones you got picture.
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#13 User is offline   .:reza:. 

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Posted 26 December 2008 - 03:38 PM

kinda lucky my car came with this option. I love how they move upwards and then back down when starting the car...
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adaptive headlights
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