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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > Regional Forums > UK > UK Technical Forum > Automatic headlamp control does not work



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      02-12-2007, 06:11 AM   #1
Beefy
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Automatic headlamp control does not work

I realised that the headlight seems to be on all the time regardless of the ambient condition when it is in auto mode (position 1). Does any experience or notice the same?
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      02-12-2007, 06:19 AM   #2
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Check your Daytime Running Lights are not on... (DRL's)
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      02-12-2007, 06:28 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beefy View Post
I realised that the headlight seems to be on all the time regardless of the ambient condition when it is in auto mode (position 1). Does any experience or notice the same?
The DRLs are off by default, unless you or your dealer has been playing with your car's settings!

The automatic headlamp control seems to turn the dipped beams on quite a lot, although I do actually enjoy that fact!

If you want to adjust the sensitivity (with idrive) click the Menu button -> Push for the imenu -> Vehicle settings -> Lighting -> Auto headlamps -> change the sensitivity to suit you

All the best.

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      02-12-2007, 10:17 AM   #4
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Just out of interest, where's the sensor for automatic headlamps? Does it use the windscreen wiper sensor at top of the windscreen, or is it somewhere else?
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      02-12-2007, 11:37 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by red-max View Post
Just out of interest, where's the sensor for automatic headlamps? Does it use the windscreen wiper sensor at top of the windscreen, or is it somewhere else?
I'm pretty sure the ambient light sensor is part of the rain sensor, at the top of the windscreen.

Have a play with it- cover it up / shine a bright light on it & see what happens!

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      02-12-2007, 11:39 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vivekk View Post
I'm pretty sure the ambient light sensor is part of the rain sensor, at the top of the windscreen.

Have a play with it- cover it up / shine a bright light on it & see what happens!

Viv
Yeah, I did that with mine to confirm!
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      02-12-2007, 11:49 AM   #7
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Also if you have adaptive lights, they will only "adapt" when in Auto mode. Try the other mode and you will notice that the lights do not swivel when you turn.
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      02-12-2007, 11:52 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beefy View Post
I realised that the headlight seems to be on all the time regardless of the ambient condition when it is in auto mode (position 1). Does any experience or notice the same?
Either:

1) Your sensors need recalibrating. The sensitivity of the sensors can be adjusted by the techs.

2) Your sensors are blocked/dirty. Try cleaning your car/windshield and see if the problem is still there.
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      02-12-2007, 02:48 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by yellowg555 View Post
Also if you have adaptive lights, they will only "adapt" when in Auto mode. Try the other mode and you will notice that the lights do not swivel when you turn.
never knew that....I will check it out tomorrow morning
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      02-13-2007, 04:02 AM   #10
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I’ve checked the idrive setting just now, the daytime running light option is unchecked, and the lights are still on even on a bright day like today.
Changing the sensitivity setting didn’t make any difference.
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      02-13-2007, 04:09 AM   #11
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Is there any way to change the sensitivity on non-idrive cars?
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      02-13-2007, 07:19 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Z4 Beemer View Post
Is there any way to change the sensitivity on non-idrive cars?
Only the dealer can do it for you
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      02-13-2007, 07:21 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beefy View Post
I’ve checked the idrive setting just now, the daytime running light option is unchecked, and the lights are still on even on a bright day like today.
Changing the sensitivity setting didn’t make any difference.
Ask your dealer. Maybe the light sensor is faulty? Mine are ok on the least sensitive setting.
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      02-21-2007, 08:32 AM   #14
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I’ve contacted the dealer and here is what they explained:-

To ensure that the dipped headlights are switched on reliably at the onset of twilight, the sensitivity rating of the low beam has been carefully selected by the factory. The vehicle standard phototransistors, which are used in the rain/light sensor (RLS), are mainly sensitive to light in the infrared range, which acts with a higher intensity on the light sensor in very cloudy conditions. In contrast to this, human eyes are more sensitive to the blue light range. These different sensitivities mean that sensor receives a much lower proportion of infrared light when there is light cloud cover or clear blue skies – particularly in the winter and the RLS switches the lights on earlier or leaves them switched on for longer than the driver would.

…..sounds like the automatic headlamp feature appears to switch on too early or too late is part of the characteristic of the car, it can’t be changed/adjusted.

Case closed!
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      02-21-2007, 10:38 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beefy View Post
I’ve contacted the dealer and here is what they explained:-

To ensure that the dipped headlights are switched on reliably at the onset of twilight, the sensitivity rating of the low beam has been carefully selected by the factory. The vehicle standard phototransistors, which are used in the rain/light sensor (RLS), are mainly sensitive to light in the infrared range, which acts with a higher intensity on the light sensor in very cloudy conditions. In contrast to this, human eyes are more sensitive to the blue light range. These different sensitivities mean that sensor receives a much lower proportion of infrared light when there is light cloud cover or clear blue skies – particularly in the winter and the RLS switches the lights on earlier or leaves them switched on for longer than the driver would.

…..sounds like the automatic headlamp feature appears to switch on too early or too late is part of the characteristic of the car, it can’t be changed/adjusted.

Case closed!

Sounds very familiar to my car...so far even on the brightest of winter days the lights seem to remain on.

BMW E92 the new Volvo 240
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      01-04-2009, 12:30 PM   #16
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Auto headlights not 'autoing'

Have selected the left hand position with the A..
Have tried changing the sensitivity..
But they simply do not turn off when in daylight.

Today was fairly bright, but even on 'Sensitive', they stayed on. Not sure where it's located, but has the light sensor gone? Is there a setting on the iDrive that's overridden it?
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      01-04-2009, 12:35 PM   #17
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I have found mine to stay on recently even on blue sky but very low sun days. I think it's just the current Winter low light levels.

Where is the 'sensitive' setting located you mentioned?

There is a 'Daytime Running Light' setting which can over ride the Auto setting
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      01-04-2009, 12:37 PM   #18
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Sensor is up on top of windscreen isn't it? Look where the rear view mirror is, maybe some shite on it.
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      01-04-2009, 02:30 PM   #19
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Mine are always on at the moment when in auto. But it is rather dull in the winter aint it.
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      04-05-2009, 03:17 PM   #20
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Im having similar problem as Beefy, think its too sensitive. Previous 320d didnt have this feature but my new 330d has it.

Tried shining a torchlight into the sensor and after a while the dipped lights turns off. When the torchlight removed away, the light went on immediately.

I still feel mine is overly sensitive, today while driving around 5/6 pm and the sun was still out albeit some clouds, its relatively a bright day most car have their headlights off.. and mine was on most of the time.
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      04-02-2010, 03:21 PM   #21
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I have the same problem with my 3 months old car. I turn the switch to position 3 (automatic headlamp control) hoping that the light would be off during the day. Today was a quite sunny spring day. I was driving for about 5 hours (from 10am to 3pm) on the interstate and the light never went off. Felt like a fool.

How can I check if the sensor is faulty? Can I do it with a flashlight placed right on the windshield glass (over the sensor)?
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