Behaviour of automatic headlights

[iDrive]

Hi All,

I like to leave my headlights on the automatic setting but realise that on my E60 LCI, it doesn't necessarily turn off in daylight.

For e.g. when I drive out of the basement carpark in my house in the morning around 8am, the headlight stays on and I've noticed that it usually turns off only around 8:30am or so if I am still on the road. There have also been occasions when I drive through depot road which is rather shady around 8:45am -ish and the lights come on as well.

Is the light sensitivity of the automatic headlights so low by default on an E60?

I remember in the past in my Odyssey, the automatic headlights will turn off the moment it exits the basement carpark as long as there's daylight. Feel really weird about this behaviour. :ehhh:

 

[dash]

Re: Behaviour of automatic headlights

hi iDrive,

this has been touched on before in the forum.
this is normal, we cannot adjust the sensitivity of the daylight sensor which turns on the headlamps.
its either on or off.
you will soon get used to it, as I have done. in fact now i love it, cos in shady areas during the day, when the headlamps come on, coupled with the orange brow, our cars look damn fierce.

enjoy your ride, and join us in our ad hoc e60 meetups.
PM you my contact already. cheers.

 

[Jason8822]

Re: Behaviour of automatic headlights

hi dash,

i'm interested in the e60 meetup, can i join you guys when there is gtg.

 

[iDrive]

Re: Behaviour of automatic headlights

hi iDrive,

this has been touched on before in the forum.
this is normal, we cannot adjust the sensitivity of the daylight sensor which turns on the headlamps.
its either on or off.
you will soon get used to it, as I have done. in fact now i love it, cos in shady areas during the day, when the headlamps come on, coupled with the orange brow, our cars look damn fierce.

enjoy your ride, and join us in our ad hoc e60 meetups.
PM you my contact already. cheers.

Hi Dash,

Thanks! Replied to your pm oledi!

Actually I did a search on the forums as well in Google as well but wasn't 100% sure so I decided to post to see if I could get any feedback from bros here. Gonna post a question about the aircon next in another thread.. hehe

 

[delrosa81]

Re: Behaviour of automatic headlights

Hi All,

I like to leave my headlights on the automatic setting but realise that on my E60 LCI, it doesn't necessarily turn off in daylight.

For e.g. when I drive out of the basement carpark in my house in the morning around 8am, the headlight stays on and I've noticed that it usually turns off only around 8:30am or so if I am still on the road. There have also been occasions when I drive through depot road which is rather shady around 8:45am -ish and the lights come on as well.

Is the light sensitivity of the automatic headlights so low by default on an E60?

I remember in the past in my Odyssey, the automatic headlights will turn off the moment it exits the basement carpark as long as there's daylight. Feel really weird about this behaviour. :ehhh:

Our cars compared to the Japs especially lexus and honda are less sensitive in the sense that, when U notice Jap cars pass by an over head bridge on the expressway, the headlights can come on and off almost immediately after passing thru the over head bridge. This is very sensitive settings which I feel would compromise the xenon ballast and bulb lifespan. Bcos when U switch on the headlights, the ballast needs to "strike" the bulbs to switch on and takes a few seconds for the bulbs light to stabilise. so leaving it on longer would be better IMHO.

And yes mine e90 is also the same, after coming out from KPE the light still stays on in the mid afternoon hot sun till I reach almost prince edwards exit before the lights goes off automatically...

 

[highbury]

Re: Behaviour of automatic headlights

The headlight sensitivity is quite low.

In fact, for my E60, sometimes the headlights dont turn off when driving in bright daylight. The sun can be shining but the headlight is still on. I can tell by the reflection on the bumper of the car in front of me and by looking at the speedo. Fortunately, this erractic behaviour only happens for a short while like one afternoon. By the next day, it is back to normal :thinking:

 

[iDrive]

Re: Behaviour of automatic headlights

Our cars compared to the Japs especially lexus and honda are less sensitive in the sense that, when U notice Jap cars pass by an over head bridge on the expressway, the headlights can come on and off almost immediately after passing thru the over head bridge. This is very sensitive settings which I feel would compromise the xenon ballast and bulb lifespan. Bcos when U switch on the headlights, the ballast needs to "strike" the bulbs to switch on and takes a few seconds for the bulbs light to stabilise. so leaving it on longer would be better IMHO.

And yes mine e90 is also the same, after coming out from KPE the light still stays on in the mid afternoon hot sun till I reach almost prince edwards exit before the lights goes off automatically...

The headlight sensitivity is quite low.

In fact, for my E60, sometimes the headlights dont turn off when driving in bright daylight. The sun can be shining but the headlight is still on. I can tell by the reflection on the bumper of the car in front of me and by looking at the speedo. Fortunately, this erractic behaviour only happens for a short while like one afternoon. By the next day, it is back to normal :thinking:

Glad to know that I'm not alone.

In fact, with reference to delrosa81's comments, my Odyssey's Xenon lights were changed 3 times in 6 years!! All 3 were changed during warranty as it started flickering and each time they changed, it got less and less white. By the 3rd time, thank God the flickering seldom happens so I just tried to ignore it.

 

[delrosa81]

Re: Behaviour of automatic headlights

Glad to know that I'm not alone.

In fact, with reference to delrosa81's comments, my Odyssey's Xenon lights were changed 3 times in 6 years!! All 3 were changed during warranty as it started flickering and each time they changed, it got less and less white. By the 3rd time, thank God the flickering seldom happens so I just tried to ignore it.

No worries Enjoy your ride! Mine is 3yrs + and touchwood, headlights still good as new

 

[James1500]

Re: Behaviour of automatic headlights

I thought the sensitivity is good. I cant imagine driving into the carpark - lights on and the very moment i leave the carpark, the light will go off. This will inadvertently kill the lifespan of the headlight.