High Beam Assist enters the US!
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From: Australia
Originally Posted by bmw1986' post='451620' date='Jul 25 2007, 01:56 PM
Starting with September Production on all 5 Series, 6 Series, M5 and M6 Coupe and Cab; High Beam Assist will be available. The option code is 5AC. Price: TBA!
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From: Chicago, IL
My Ride: 2008 Sapphire Black on Black M5 - loaded sans soft close doors
I remember my Dad's Caddy having this like 30 years ago - did not work so well back then. Hopefully it is better today.
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From: Pittsburgh, PA USA
My Ride: G30 M550i
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Originally Posted by doug_999' post='451626' date='Jul 24 2007, 11:42 PM
I remember my Dad's Caddy having this like 30 years ago - did not work so well back then. Hopefully it is better today.
What's interesting is that GuideMatic wasn't Cadillac's first attempt at an automatic dimming system. Initially, back in the '50s! It didn't work very well so GuideMatic was the 2nd generation system they introduced sometime around 1960. I imagine they still have some system on current cars but I can only hope it's something more than the GuideMatic system from the old days!
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From: Sydney, Australia
My Ride: LCI E60 Individual (Onyx Blue, Piano Black trim, Marino Leather) M Sport Package, 19" M172 wheels, Sunroof, Professional Navigation, HUD, TV function, Voice Recognition, PDC, Active Steering, Comfort Access, Logic 7, iPod/USB Adapter, Xeon Headlights, Adaptive Headlights, High Beam Assist. Build completed August 2007.
I'm interested in how useful this will be. I have ordered it on my September arrival 530 - it was an option for only about US$80. I drive a lot on country roads at night so for US$80 it will either be useful, or never turned on. I guess I will have to wait and see.
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From: Sydney, Australia
My Ride: 2006 BMW 540i M Sports with professional pack
(2007 Mode Year and MSport option in US Speak)
Its actually more useful in Australia.
We drive on the other side of the road from Germany and the US, and when they do the right hand drive build cars they don't swap the high beam / blinker switch to the right hand side of the steering column.
End result of this is that at night when driving in manual mode out in the sticks where the police radar isn't, the hand you need to use to turn off the high beam is the same one that you need to change gears with. End result is usually the oncomming car cops a face full of high beam as you quickly lift your hand from the gears to the hi beam switch. My new 540i has high beam assist and I use it all the time, it reacts quite quickly and often reacts to the glare from over a hill and is down to low beam before the oncomming car actually crests the hill.
I can recommend it for all right hand drive markets where BMW don't swap the blinkers / washers (do they swap them in any market ????), it's the one pet hate I have of all European cars in Australia. Mercedes is the only euro manufacturer that used to swap the blinkers over, but even they have stopped doing that.
I think there would be a market over here for an aftermarket company to develop a change over kit for the more common models as I think a sizable majority of euro owners would beat a path to their door......
We drive on the other side of the road from Germany and the US, and when they do the right hand drive build cars they don't swap the high beam / blinker switch to the right hand side of the steering column.
End result of this is that at night when driving in manual mode out in the sticks where the police radar isn't, the hand you need to use to turn off the high beam is the same one that you need to change gears with. End result is usually the oncomming car cops a face full of high beam as you quickly lift your hand from the gears to the hi beam switch. My new 540i has high beam assist and I use it all the time, it reacts quite quickly and often reacts to the glare from over a hill and is down to low beam before the oncomming car actually crests the hill.
I can recommend it for all right hand drive markets where BMW don't swap the blinkers / washers (do they swap them in any market ????), it's the one pet hate I have of all European cars in Australia. Mercedes is the only euro manufacturer that used to swap the blinkers over, but even they have stopped doing that.
I think there would be a market over here for an aftermarket company to develop a change over kit for the more common models as I think a sizable majority of euro owners would beat a path to their door......
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From: Detroit, USA
My Ride: E46 330, E60 550 on order: Carbon Black/Natural Brown, 6MT.
Originally Posted by Rudy' post='451636' date='Jul 25 2007, 12:19 AM
Ah yes, "GuideMatic" was part of Cadillac's automatic headlight dimming system (not to be confused with "Twilight Sentinel" which turned them on at dusk and off at dawn.)
What's interesting is that GuideMatic wasn't Cadillac's first attempt at an automatic dimming system. Initially, back in the '50s! It didn't work very well so GuideMatic was the 2nd generation system they introduced sometime around 1960. I imagine they still have some system on current cars but I can only hope it's something more than the GuideMatic system from the old days!
What's interesting is that GuideMatic wasn't Cadillac's first attempt at an automatic dimming system. Initially, back in the '50s! It didn't work very well so GuideMatic was the 2nd generation system they introduced sometime around 1960. I imagine they still have some system on current cars but I can only hope it's something more than the GuideMatic system from the old days!
As we approached the intersection, the headlights happily flashed away in sync with the traffic signal.
IMO, this option is a solution in search of a problem, although I hadn't considered the right-hand drive issue.
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From: Tallinn
I have this feature and i like it. In my opinion it switches very fast and it is very close to ideal switch. Also high beam assistant somehow recognize when high beams light traffic signs and don?t switch the lights. I will reccomend high beam at any time 
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Joined: Nov 2005
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From: London, UK
My Ride: BMW E60 520d SE Saloon M47 2.0dTitanium Grey II, Grey−Dakota Leather, Visibility Package, Media Package, Through Load System, Lumbar support − fr seats, Automatic Air Conditioning−Advanced, High beam assistant, Hi−Fi Loudspeak
Model Year: 2006
I would NOT spend a penny on this option. This is the only option in the car that I paid for and NEVER use.
But it all depends on kind of what roads you travel by. If your travel takes you through areas where the high beam is needed or OK then this will be a good option. However for those who live in and travel around built up areas this option is absolutely useless. You never need (or can) switch to High beam and because the reaction of the light is a lot slower than you'd want it, it starts to become a safetly issue too. The system has too many limitations especially around corners etc.
Also you have to remember to switch it on and the only way to switch it off to put the level to manual High beam and then bring it back, which means you've just blinded the person in front of you for no reason.
But it all depends on kind of what roads you travel by. If your travel takes you through areas where the high beam is needed or OK then this will be a good option. However for those who live in and travel around built up areas this option is absolutely useless. You never need (or can) switch to High beam and because the reaction of the light is a lot slower than you'd want it, it starts to become a safetly issue too. The system has too many limitations especially around corners etc.
Also you have to remember to switch it on and the only way to switch it off to put the level to manual High beam and then bring it back, which means you've just blinded the person in front of you for no reason.
