Background
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I'm about to get my E60 back from my ED. On all of my past BMWs I had activated Daylight Running Lights(DRL) and loved it. My E60 has Adaptative Head Lamps (AHL) the "Auto Headlamp" feature to turn the lights on/off based on light conditions. Despite reading all BMW's technical, service and user documentation, I still don't understand how the Auto HeadLamp feature would be affected by the DRL.

The BMW documentation explains that the DRL operate differently on cars with Bi-Xenon headlamps (i.e. cars with AHL) from cars with the standard Halogen Headlamps.

Based on your answers and feedback, I'll determine if I ask my dealer to activate DRL.


Questions
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If you have an E60 with AHL and have activated DRL, can you answer the following questions...

1) What part of the headlamp assembly is turned on when DRL are active. Is it the high beam like older BMWs or the Angel Eyes?

2) Does Auto Lamp still work if DRL is active?

3) If Auto Lamp is active, how does it interact with DRL (i.e. when Auto Lamp activates what happens to the lights that were activated by DRL)?




Fran?ois
Previously: '93 E36 (325i) '94 E36 (325iS) '97 E39 (540i6) '99 E46 (328i) '00 E39 (540i6)
Now: '04 545iSMG with ZSP, ZPS, ZCW, ZIA, 206, 261, 416, 456, 465, 508, 609, 541, 610 (693 removed by BMW)

 

The DRL are the inner regular halogen bulbs. The auto-leveling, adaptive bi-xeon lights are the outboard pair, and are unneffected by DRL in any way. The inboard halogen pair is not auto-leveling (or at least I can't see them moving anytime...) Remeber, your bi-xeon lights (auto-leveling and adaptive) are used for both low and high beam, just the lens is moved.

For pictures of DRL in action click on this link.

Hope that helped answer your question.

 

Here are a few more DRL pics. Here in the "off" position.

 

...here in the "park light" position (angel eyes)

 

and finally, in the full on position. As you can see, the DRL's switch off in this position. Believe it's the same for the "auto" position.

 

Thanks to Icy & Chuck for the answers and Pics. I'll get my DRL activated based on your info!

Thanks!

Francois

 

Thanks for the pics guys.

 

Thanks for the pics.

 

Can one of you guys post a picture when you turn on the fog lights? I am curious if the DRL turns off.

Thanks

 

Cool!

Here in Sweden we have to drive with lights on all time
But our DLR is the Xenon light!! If I set the light switch in Auto, the lights (xenon) are turned on when you start the car.

If I set it in 0 (OFF) all lights are OFF.
Parking lights = Parking lights
Lights ON = DLR (with xenon) active as the "Auto" setup!

I can't use the light sensor because lights are always on in auto mode!

I would like it this way: In auto mode the lights (on the picture) shall be ON, or the parking lights + fog lights. When the evening comes and it is getting dark the light sensor should feel it and turn the Xenon lights ON!!