My F30 is afraid of the light....

popstar · 10-03-2012, 01:34 PM

When it is sunny (which admittedly is rare here!), my car keeps the headlights on when it is in auto; is this a common thing?

I park in an underground garage so my headlights always come on as matter of course but my mercedes always turned them off when it got to the sunlight but the F30 doesn't seem to want to turn them off!

(I have the xenon lights if that makes a difference)

ChiefBroady · 10-03-2012, 01:36 PM

You sure it's the headlights and not just the daytime running headlights, which is just the ring illuminated?

popstar · 10-03-2012, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefBroady

You sure it's the headlights and not just the daytime running headlights, which is just the ring illuminated?

nope definitely the headlights as the dash goes amber and when I turn it off auto the halos come on.

Hayir · 10-03-2012, 02:06 PM

Same experience. I park in a closed garage. WHen I leave my home sometimes thye turn off a couple minutes after but sometimes they don`t turn off until I reach work.

I think once they are on they don`t turn off that easy.

gnosis8 · 10-03-2012, 02:31 PM

The manual says that with the lights set to auto, they will stay on during certain morning hours regardless of how bright and sunny it is. I'd say it's somewhere between 7:00-8:30AM.

kokopuffs405 · 10-03-2012, 02:36 PM

happens to me all the time too

SomeRandomer123 · 10-03-2012, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gnosis8

The manual says that with the lights set to auto, they will stay on during certain morning hours regardless of how bright and sunny it is. I'd say it's somewhere between 7:00-8:30AM.

Nah, that's bollocks lol

They will turn on if the sun is bright, which it has been here on a few mornings surprisingly! If in bright sunlight, they will turn on as a safety feature, so other road users can see you more clearly.
Not a fault, and they do turn off if the lighting conditions are right. So don''t worry!

RobUK · 10-03-2012, 03:42 PM

I too thought my headlights were stuck on, but now know there's various things that trigger them including blue sky/low sun.

What with auto/rain-sensing/adaptive lights and high beam assist I just figure the car knows best and let it do it's thing now

David328M-Sport · 10-03-2012, 09:49 PM

Same morning thing happens with my E90 when lights are on auto.

cantona7 · 10-03-2012, 10:11 PM

I was wondering if they'd "fixed" this. Been happening since E46 days. LOL

EJIB · 10-04-2012, 12:48 AM

The auto headlights also detect dusk/dawn situation (seems calculating differences in light from various sensors) and consequentially in that situation also turn on . In this season it is quiet normal they turn on allthough I feel they are better programmed as in the E90 series. In the E90 serie auto headlight turned on much quicker than in the F30 series; maybe because DRL's are always on.

Drk280 · 10-04-2012, 06:25 AM

The Z4 is fine with the auto sensing but the X5 is terrible, extremely annoying since a ford light sensor appears to be more efficient than a German engineered one

Hayir · 10-04-2012, 08:58 AM

Today I turned the lights to off mode before starting the engine. I turn on the car start driving. It was sunny but not very bright outside. After a couple minutes I put it on Auto and the lights came on. I realized that the small screen didn`t turn to amber, it was still white. That means either there are two sensors one is for the screen one for the headlights or something is overriding the sensor and turns the lights on.

EJIB · 10-04-2012, 10:22 AM

There are indeed more than 1 sensor. It is the software taking care of deciding changing internal colour from amber to white and deciding whether to turn on lights or not. The same sensors are used to check if the sun is low on the horizon (blinding the display and controlling display brightness...)

JUSKIDN · 10-04-2012, 10:39 AM

and if you didn't know, you can turn off the daytime running lights through the idrive menu.

popstar · 10-04-2012, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JUSKIDN

and if you didn't know, you can turn off the daytime running lights through the idrive menu.

can't turn them off on the UK model... think its european law now for all new cars to have them...what useful politicians we have!!!

JUSKIDN · 10-04-2012, 01:34 PM

so its legal to drive 150 mph on the autobahn but its illegal to drive without daytime running lights. You Europeans have it made.

xDrive35i · 10-04-2012, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JUSKIDN

so its legal to drive 150 mph on the autobahn but its illegal to drive without daytime running lights. You Europeans have it made.

Think about it. DRLs are required BECAUSE it is legal to drive at those speeds. Other drivers can see you sooner with them on.

10-03-2012, 01:34 PM	#1
popstar New Member 4 Rep 20 Posts Drives: F30 320d Sport MG Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: London iTrader: (0)	My F30 is afraid of the light.... When it is sunny (which admittedly is rare here!), my car keeps the headlights on when it is in auto; is this a common thing? I park in an underground garage so my headlights always come on as matter of course but my mercedes always turned them off when it got to the sunlight but the F30 doesn't seem to want to turn them off! (I have the xenon lights if that makes a difference)
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10-03-2012, 01:36 PM	#2
ChiefBroady Private 2 Rep 78 Posts Drives: 2013 328i M sport Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	You sure it's the headlights and not just the daytime running headlights, which is just the ring illuminated? __________________ 2013 328i M-Sport, EB2, DHP, Adaptive Xenon, CA and some other stuff.
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10-03-2012, 02:06 PM	#4
Hayir Private First Class 8 Rep 173 Posts Drives: 328i modern line Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Detroit, MI iTrader: (0)	Same experience. I park in a closed garage. WHen I leave my home sometimes thye turn off a couple minutes after but sometimes they don`t turn off until I reach work. I think once they are on they don`t turn off that easy. __________________ 2013 328i Modern line imperial blue/oyster, ZPP, ZCW, ZDH, ZLP, ZTP, Harman Kardon, park distance, High beam assist, Sundahes
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10-03-2012, 02:31 PM	#5
gnosis8 Private First Class 5 Rep 125 Posts Drives: '13 F30 335i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Glen Mills, PA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW 335i sedan [0.00]	The manual says that with the lights set to auto, they will stay on during certain morning hours regardless of how bright and sunny it is. I'd say it's somewhere between 7:00-8:30AM. __________________ 2013 F30 335i \| Base line \| Mineral Grey / Dakota black leather / Burl Walnut trim \| Premium
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10-03-2012, 02:36 PM	#6
kokopuffs405 Yup 104 Rep 699 Posts Drives: BMW? Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Maryland iTrader: (10) Garage List 2014 BMW M5 [0.00]	happens to me all the time too __________________ Oh hello
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10-03-2012, 03:42 PM	#8
RobUK Brigadier General 2811 Rep 4,935 Posts Drives: 340i MPPSK Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Sussex, N.Yorks, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 340i MPPSK [0.00] 2001 Yamaha FZS1000 [0.00]	I too thought my headlights were stuck on, but now know there's various things that trigger them including blue sky/low sun. What with auto/rain-sensing/adaptive lights and high beam assist I just figure the car knows best and let it do it's thing now __________________ Life is a state of mind
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10-03-2012, 09:49 PM	#9
David328M-Sport Brigadier General 101 Rep 3,566 Posts Drives: F30 M-Sport 328i Estoril Blue Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Melbourne Australia iTrader: (0)	Same morning thing happens with my E90 when lights are on auto. __________________ 328i M-Sport, Estoril Blue, Carbon XP 35 Tint, front heated seats, black Dakota, Sports Suspension, Anthracite Headliner, HUD, Pro Nav, Sunroof, hk 600w, Bi-Xenon, 19" 403M wheels, Reversing Camera, DAB+, Xenon, BT Ext Connect, MST turbo intake pipe, MST Cold Air Intake, JB4 on Map 2 with Catless DP produces awesome performance in Sport.
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10-03-2012, 10:11 PM	#10
cantona7 Private 21 Rep 54 Posts Drives: Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (0)	I was wondering if they'd "fixed" this. Been happening since E46 days. LOL
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10-04-2012, 12:48 AM	#11
EJIB Private 0 Rep 99 Posts Drives: F30 Luxury 18D 143 BHP 320NM Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	The auto headlights also detect dusk/dawn situation (seems calculating differences in light from various sensors) and consequentially in that situation also turn on . In this season it is quiet normal they turn on allthough I feel they are better programmed as in the E90 series. In the E90 serie auto headlight turned on much quicker than in the F30 series; maybe because DRL's are always on.
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10-04-2012, 06:25 AM	#12
Drk280 Second Lieutenant 22 Rep 291 Posts Drives: 2012 F30 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Australia - NSW - Central Coast iTrader: (0)	The Z4 is fine with the auto sensing but the X5 is terrible, extremely annoying since a ford light sensor appears to be more efficient than a German engineered one
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10-04-2012, 08:58 AM	#13
Hayir Private First Class 8 Rep 173 Posts Drives: 328i modern line Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Detroit, MI iTrader: (0)	Today I turned the lights to off mode before starting the engine. I turn on the car start driving. It was sunny but not very bright outside. After a couple minutes I put it on Auto and the lights came on. I realized that the small screen didn`t turn to amber, it was still white. That means either there are two sensors one is for the screen one for the headlights or something is overriding the sensor and turns the lights on. __________________ 2013 328i Modern line imperial blue/oyster, ZPP, ZCW, ZDH, ZLP, ZTP, Harman Kardon, park distance, High beam assist, Sundahes
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10-04-2012, 10:22 AM	#14
EJIB Private 0 Rep 99 Posts Drives: F30 Luxury 18D 143 BHP 320NM Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	There are indeed more than 1 sensor. It is the software taking care of deciding changing internal colour from amber to white and deciding whether to turn on lights or not. The same sensors are used to check if the sun is low on the horizon (blinding the display and controlling display brightness...)
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10-04-2012, 10:39 AM	#15
JUSKIDN Captain 67 Rep 601 Posts Drives: 2013 EBII 328i M Sport Join Date: May 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, LA iTrader: (0)	and if you didn't know, you can turn off the daytime running lights through the idrive menu. __________________ It's not illegal. It's frowned upon, like masturbating on an airplane.
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10-04-2012, 01:34 PM	#17
JUSKIDN Captain 67 Rep 601 Posts Drives: 2013 EBII 328i M Sport Join Date: May 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, LA iTrader: (0)	so its legal to drive 150 mph on the autobahn but its illegal to drive without daytime running lights. You Europeans have it made. __________________ It's not illegal. It's frowned upon, like masturbating on an airplane.
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