Headlights in auto mode
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 114
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From: Lisbon, Portugal
I've noticed on several occasions that, having the headlights switch in auto mode, the system decides to switch them on for apparently no good reason.
E.g., I leave my office building from the garage, the head lights are on until getting to the outside, and after some seconds on direct sun exposure, they go off.
This is expected. What it isn't is that several Km later, I notice my headlights reflected on the car in front of me, and I check the light on the switch and there on. On a crystal clear sunny day.
This happenned to me several times, for the time being I've given up on the auto headlights mode.
Did any of you guys experienced the same ?
Cheers.
E.g., I leave my office building from the garage, the head lights are on until getting to the outside, and after some seconds on direct sun exposure, they go off.
This is expected. What it isn't is that several Km later, I notice my headlights reflected on the car in front of me, and I check the light on the switch and there on. On a crystal clear sunny day.
This happenned to me several times, for the time being I've given up on the auto headlights mode.
Did any of you guys experienced the same ?
Cheers.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,008
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From: Los Angeles. CA
My Ride: 2004 545i 6 spd Sports Package | NAV | PDC | Logic 7 | BT retrofit | SW V13.3
Originally Posted by seakat' date='Nov 8 2004, 03:13 PM
I've noticed on several occasions that, having the headlights switch in auto mode, the system decides to switch them on for apparently no good reason.
E.g., I leave my office building from the garage, the head lights are on until getting to the outside, and after some seconds on direct sun exposure, they go off.
This is expected. What it isn't is that several Km later, I notice my headlights reflected on the car in front of me, and I check the light on the switch and there on. On a crystal clear sunny day.
This happenned to me several times, for the time being I've given up on the auto? headlights mode.
Did any of you guys experienced the same ?
Cheers.
E.g., I leave my office building from the garage, the head lights are on until getting to the outside, and after some seconds on direct sun exposure, they go off.
This is expected. What it isn't is that several Km later, I notice my headlights reflected on the car in front of me, and I check the light on the switch and there on. On a crystal clear sunny day.
This happenned to me several times, for the time being I've given up on the auto? headlights mode.
Did any of you guys experienced the same ?
Cheers.
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Senior Members
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,117
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From: Nottingham (UK)
I think a lot of this behaviour is due to the season. We know from TIS bulletins that the auto headlamps work poorly when the sun is low on the horizon (for whatever reason). So I think that in winter, we get more spurious operation.
Anyone with MB/Audi auto headlamp experience have any similar experience?
Anyone with MB/Audi auto headlamp experience have any similar experience?
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 247
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From: Barrington (outside of Chicago), IL, USA
My Ride: 2005 530i, Jet Black, Black Leather, Automatic, Cold Weather, Sirius Prep and Radio, Premium Package, Xenon Lights.
I thought I was going crazy with the exact same response from mine. I just hope they don't go ON by themselves when I park it for a few days at the airport. 
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: USA
Originally Posted by Ed520' date='Nov 8 2004, 07:35 PM
maybe u could try get ur dealer to adjust the sensitivity of the light sensor to the lowest.
[snapback]54039[/snapback]
. they said it'll probably screw something up 
. i know they certainly screwed me up .
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Netherlands
My Ride: [i][b][u]Since 19 august 2004[/u][/b][/i]: [color=red][b]530i[/b] High Executive[/color], Silvergray with beige interior, Popular wood, Servotronic, Sportssuspension, electric foldable and dimmed mirrors, dimmed interior mirror, pappelmaser braun wood, cupholders, styling 123 18" wheels, Logic 7, Steptronic, alarm class 3, electric sunscreen in the rear and suncreens for sidewindows, Comfort seats, heated seats, Xenon with headlightwashers, Adaptive corner lights ALC, Advanced airconditioning, lightpackage, Nav Pro, 6 cd changer, side airbags rearseats, bluetooth siemens S55, chrome kidneys, gearlever with wood, voice recognition retrofit, front windshield with green band.
Waiting for trunkopener button from Hobi :)
Today with a very low shining sun my auto headlights also turned on by themselves. I'm not too anoyed by it as long as they turn on when it becomes dark!
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Joined: Aug 2004
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I have (or hopefully "had") a similiar problem. The lights would not go off during sunlight, usually after a tunnel or some such. My dealer did a test and the sensor (in the rear view mirror) did not properly work once "on"...they have ordered a new rear view mirror. I do recall seeing this problem in the past from many people on this site. In the interim, they did set the sensor to "very sensitive" which strangely enough makes it less sensitive...this is not a fix however.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 114
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From: Lisbon, Portugal
Thanks to all.
I'll mention this to the dealer and will see how they handle it.
BTW, this is probably more of a "problem" to me than for the other board members, as in my country nobody drives with the headlights on with regular daylight.
The ones who do, usually mean something like I'm a very agressive driver, get out of my way, and I don't want to play that role (I guess that seeing an E60 nose on the rear view mirror is a strong enough message)
Cheers.
I'll mention this to the dealer and will see how they handle it.
BTW, this is probably more of a "problem" to me than for the other board members, as in my country nobody drives with the headlights on with regular daylight.
The ones who do, usually mean something like I'm a very agressive driver, get out of my way, and I don't want to play that role (I guess that seeing an E60 nose on the rear view mirror is a strong enough message
)Cheers.
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 340
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From: Carlsbad, California
My Ride: 2007 BMW 550i Sport Pkg, 6MT
I noticed that my car has the exact same behavior as seakat's car (1st post). It's completely sunny here in San Diego and my headlights stays on like an idiot, even at 10:00am facing directly to the sun!
Dealer can't figure out why. Sensitivity set to "Very sensitive" and software upgrade (to CIP 20.00.00) do not help.
That's German Engineering...
Dealer can't figure out why. Sensitivity set to "Very sensitive" and software upgrade (to CIP 20.00.00) do not help.
That's German Engineering...