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I Don't Get My Auto Headlights

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Old Oct 1, 2009 | 05:33 PM
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I have never really understood my auto headlights. They always turn on at night. But they sometimes turn on in the middle of a sunny day. It hasn't been often enough to really bother me, but today they were on all day for some reason. I don't have daytime running lights. And all the interior/cluster lights are on. I would expect some flaky performance at dawn/dusk, but not in the middle of the day. Anyone else come across this?
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Old Oct 1, 2009 | 06:28 PM
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Originally Posted by jherm' post='1022609' date='Oct 1 2009, 09:33 PM
I don't have daytime running lights.
You sure?
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Old Oct 1, 2009 | 06:34 PM
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Originally Posted by DrLev99' post='1022641' date='Oct 1 2009, 10:28 PM
You sure?
Well the lights are off during the day far more often then they are on. Would the interior gauge lights be on with DRL?
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Old Oct 1, 2009 | 09:06 PM
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Originally Posted by jherm' post='1022609' date='Oct 1 2009, 09:33 PM
I have never really understood my auto headlights. They always turn on at night. But they sometimes turn on in the middle of a sunny day. It hasn't been often enough to really bother me, but today they were on all day for some reason. I don't have daytime running lights. And all the interior/cluster lights are on. I would expect some flaky performance at dawn/dusk, but not in the middle of the day. Anyone else come across this?
First, it would help to know the year of your car. There were some software updates early on the helped with this issue.

Even with the new software, however, you may find the lights on more often in broad daylight. Here's a link to a thread about this -- take a look at the second post (by me) that attempts to explain why:
https://5series.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=26988
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Old Oct 2, 2009 | 03:57 PM
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Maybe your light settings are too sensitive. You could try asking your dealer to change the sensitivity.
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Old Oct 2, 2009 | 04:23 PM
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I noticed this issue also...middle of the day auto comes on. I also figured out if you press your fog light toggle when in the auto position, it will turn your lights and fogs ON! I have been leaving in the off position just because it comes on and off to often.

(06 550i)
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Old Oct 2, 2009 | 04:26 PM
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that happens in both my vehicles when I go under an overpass or when I'm in the shade.
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Old Oct 7, 2009 | 05:51 AM
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In case anyone wants to know BMW's position, take a look at this:

si_b_63_11_08_headlight_sensitivity.pdf
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Old Oct 7, 2009 | 05:54 AM
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Ok, I kind of have the same problem. Sometimes when I leave work (it's still sunny in SoCal then) the normal headlights come on instead of the DRL's, other times the DRL's come on. When the normal headlights come on, they stay on. When the DRL's come on, when I pass under an overpass or bridge the headlights come on then turn off when I am back in the sun. What's up with that?
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Old Oct 7, 2009 | 06:07 AM
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Originally Posted by pjinca' post='1026728' date='Oct 7 2009, 09:54 AM
Ok, I kind of have the same problem. Sometimes when I leave work (it's still sunny in SoCal then) the normal headlights come on instead of the DRL's, other times the DRL's come on. When the normal headlights come on, they stay on. When the DRL's come on, when I pass under an overpass or bridge the headlights come on then turn off when I am back in the sun. What's up with that?
It sounds like everything is working as designed...did you read my earlier post (#4)?
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