Headlight Dance

mecheng77 · 12-19-2018, 08:18 AM

When I start my car, my xenon headlights move up then down very slightly in a small like dance move. When I turn the steering wheel they don't move so I thought that I don't have adaptive headlights.

What is the initializing movement for? Do I have adaptive headlights and they are simply not working? Thanks

TheMidnightNarwhal · 12-19-2018, 12:09 PM

Are your lights on automatic? If they are not then they won't turn with the wheel.

Mines do the up and down motion on light up to, but I believe the up and down is just for when you hit bumps.

ArmaNineTSeven · 12-19-2018, 01:50 PM

It's for calibration, it lets the motors know what the max and min height is and to level itself. I thought that this was mandatory with xenons, but halogens do the same. Helps for couple of reasons, like when you have a heavy load in the back or are pulling a trailer so you don't blind other people. They are also continually auto levelling while driving, if you have xenons you should see your light beam wiggle a bit up and down as if it is floating. Also for not blinding other drivers.

Greyfox · 12-19-2018, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

Are your lights on automatic? If they are not then they won't turn with the wheel.

Mines do the up and down motion on light up to, but I believe the up and down is just for when you hit bumps.

This...

If your light switch is not set to "A" for automatic, then they will not move side to side while driving. They also will not move side to side if under a certain speed.

mecheng77 · 12-19-2018, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

Are your lights on automatic? If they are not then they won't turn with the wheel.

Mines do the up and down motion on light up to, but I believe the up and down is just for when you hit bumps.

I'll have to check. So which mode do the adaptive headlights work.

So the up/down adjusts the headlight height, why would it change?

King Rudi · 12-19-2018, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mecheng77

I'll have to check. So which mode do the adaptive headlights work.

So the up/down adjusts the headlight height, why would it change?

Any of the other 4 posts above yours will answer your questions.

TheMidnightNarwhal · 12-19-2018, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mecheng77

I'll have to check. So which mode do the adaptive headlights work.

So the up/down adjusts the headlight height, why would it change?

Automatic headlght is all the way to the left on my selector.

A small green light should light up when they are on to.

mecheng77 · 12-19-2018, 06:36 PM

Sorry I didn’t see the follow up posts after I posted. Ok I understand how/why it works.

I tried in my garage to make the headlights swivel but they didn’t. The green light is only on in the auto mode so I put it in manual mode but it still didn’t swivel.

Is it possible I don’t have the swivel option with xenons? The next time I drive I will try the manual option.

ckanderson · 12-19-2018, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mecheng77

Sorry I didn’t see the follow up posts after I posted. Ok I understand how/why it works.

I tried in my garage to make the headlights swivel but they didn’t. The green light is only on in the auto mode so I put it in manual mode but it still didn’t swivel.

Is it possible I don’t have the swivel option with xenons? The next time I drive I will try the manual option.

It won't swivel if your not driving.

Welcome to NBA Jam · 12-19-2018, 10:30 PM

Your xenons automatically adjust depending on suspension load to prevent from blinding drivers and to give you ideal light output. The down-up motion is automatic calibration of this feature.

Xenons only swivel left/right when you're driving and your headlights are in auto mode. If you're stopped, they will only swivel a small number of degrees to the right; they will not swivel left in order to prevent blinding oncoming drivers.

mecheng77 · 12-20-2018, 07:16 AM

I don't think all xenons are adaptive, I don't see any swivel at all when driving this morning and at a stop turning right in Auto mode with green light on.

TheMidnightNarwhal · 12-20-2018, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mecheng77

I don't think all xenons are adaptive, I don't see any swivel at all when driving this morning and at a stop turning right in Auto mode with green light on.

What is your VIN number, look it up here https://www.mdecoder.com/ . For my car I see option "Adaptive headlights" in the list.

mecheng77 · 12-20-2018, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

What is your VIN number, look it up here https://www.mdecoder.com/ . For my car I see option "Adaptive headlights" in the list.

Thanks, it only shows:

S522A Xenon Light

12-19-2018, 08:18 AM	#1
mecheng77 Colonel 1006 Rep 2,243 Posts Drives: 2007 328i / 2014 M235i Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Ontario Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] [0.00]	Headlight Dance When I start my car, my xenon headlights move up then down very slightly in a small like dance move. When I turn the steering wheel they don't move so I thought that I don't have adaptive headlights. What is the initializing movement for? Do I have adaptive headlights and they are simply not working? Thanks
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12-19-2018, 12:09 PM	#2
TheMidnightNarwhal Major General 2657 Rep 6,290 Posts Drives: 11' 335is DCT Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Gatineau, Quebec iTrader: (0)	Are your lights on automatic? If they are not then they won't turn with the wheel. Mines do the up and down motion on light up to, but I believe the up and down is just for when you hit bumps.
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12-19-2018, 01:50 PM	#3
ArmaNineTSeven New Member 5 Rep 17 Posts Drives: BMW F30 320dA Sport 2012 Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Belgium iTrader: (0)	It's for calibration, it lets the motors know what the max and min height is and to level itself. I thought that this was mandatory with xenons, but halogens do the same. Helps for couple of reasons, like when you have a heavy load in the back or are pulling a trailer so you don't blind other people. They are also continually auto levelling while driving, if you have xenons you should see your light beam wiggle a bit up and down as if it is floating. Also for not blinding other drivers. __________________ - BMW E46 316i 2003 SOLD - BMW E90 320dA M Sport 2011 TOTALED - BMW F30 320dA Sport 2012 CURRENT
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12-19-2018, 06:36 PM	#8
mecheng77 Colonel 1006 Rep 2,243 Posts Drives: 2007 328i / 2014 M235i Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Ontario Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] [0.00]	Sorry I didn’t see the follow up posts after I posted. Ok I understand how/why it works. I tried in my garage to make the headlights swivel but they didn’t. The green light is only on in the auto mode so I put it in manual mode but it still didn’t swivel. Is it possible I don’t have the swivel option with xenons? The next time I drive I will try the manual option.
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12-19-2018, 10:30 PM	#10
Welcome to NBA Jam Is it the shoes!? 3884 Rep 5,112 Posts Drives: (Sold) 2011 E92 335i ZMP 6MT Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	Your xenons automatically adjust depending on suspension load to prevent from blinding drivers and to give you ideal light output. The down-up motion is automatic calibration of this feature. Xenons only swivel left/right when you're driving and your headlights are in auto mode. If you're stopped, they will only swivel a small number of degrees to the right; they will not swivel left in order to prevent blinding oncoming drivers.
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12-20-2018, 07:16 AM	#11
mecheng77 Colonel 1006 Rep 2,243 Posts Drives: 2007 328i / 2014 M235i Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Ontario Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] [0.00]	I don't think all xenons are adaptive, I don't see any swivel at all when driving this morning and at a stop turning right in Auto mode with green light on.
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