What are Adaptive Headlights?

Adaptive Headlights automatically swivel in the direction of the road ahead, even up hills and around curves. Sensors measure the vehicle's velocity, direction and yaw. This information, combined with the movements of the steering wheel, is fed into an on-board computer. Based on this data, the system calculates the direction in which the vehicle is heading, and automatically points the headlights in that direction.


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A great feature that makes driving safer!
Only works when car is in motion (when parked it only works a little bit in one direction) and when the headlight switch is on auto position.

It only works in the right direction and not left when you are at a standstill.

not all the way and if your car is a UK spec it works to the left side...
That's to make sure you are not dazzling the traffic on the opposite site when you are at a stand still.

BMW's version of how Adaptive Headlights work, including a short video, can be found in the BMW Technology Guide.

I think my new 550 has that. I turn and the headlights turn so I could see around the corner heh.

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Quality BMW 5 Series Headlights.

They were available std. beginning 9/06 in the 550i.

Can you tell if a headlight has the adaptive feature just by looking at it (off the vehicle)? I cracked the lens on my adaptive headlights and was going to purchase a used one from ebay.

If you look around the perimeter of the main (outer) beam, it will say "BMW Dynamic Xenon" if they are adaptive. Keep in mind before buying one on eBay that the lights are different between LCI and pre-LCI cars. Also, there are differences between some countries so be careful that you get one that matches the one you're replacing...

There is an excellent article in the current issue of BMW Mag. on this topic.