[matt_435xi]

I live in one of the sunniest parts of the world and my parking light symbol is always ON? Our X5 and previous BMWs never had an issue with the automatic headlight setting being ON during the day time on a bright and sunny day?

Does anyone else have an issue like this?

[matt_435xi]

ok maybe i was wrong with my first post in this thread...but this is confusing since this symbol has not been in the 6 BMWs i have owned. i thought the symbol (see below) was telling me either my parking lights or low beams were turned on during the day. i swore i have had my headlight switch in the Auto position and not seen this symbol. So what does this mean?

[matt_435xi]

how do i know when the Automatic headlights are on? in my X5 and previous Z4 a tiny LED on the switch would illuminate when the headlights were on, in the Auto position.

[bananachipz]

Daytime runners?

[matt_435xi]

Originally Posted by bananachipz

Daytime runners?

thats what i am thinking, but according to the owners manual that symbol is for parking lights...and when i put the headlight switch in the AUTO position the parking light symbol is my only indication the low beams are on.

[pcbrew]

That symbol looks to be the parking lamps OR daytime running lights.
Can't help you more than that as I don't pickup my car until May 11.

Read the manual, pp 86-90.

[matt_435xi]

Originally Posted by pcbrew

That symbol looks to be the parking lamps OR daytime running lights.
Can't help you more than that as I don't pickup my car until May 11.

Read the manual, pp 86-90.

yes i am on pg 87 and there is no DRL symbol, this is the parking light symbol. which means my low beams AND parking lights are running during the day in the Auto position which makes no sense??

i just tested in my garage putting the headlight switch in the off position and toggling the DRLs ON/OFF from the iDrive menu. no parking light symbol above ever illuminates. ugh, why are my low beams going on during the day in sunny AZ.

[matt_435xi]

ok page 87 left column bottom portion of the page states:

Switch position <Auto Headlight Icon>: the low beams are switched on and off automatically, e.g., in tunnels, in twilight or if there is precipitation. The indicator lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.

That last sentence refers to the "indicator lamp" lights up, is that the parking lamp symbol above??

[MacAttackBMW]

When the exterior headlights turn in, the interior instrument cluster also lights up an the HUD turns orange instead of white... This is how I notice when my lights turn on when set to auto (where I always leave it bc I am lazy)

[pcbrew]

Originally Posted by matt_335Ci

i just tested in my garage putting the headlight switch in the off position and toggling the DRLs ON/OFF from the iDrive menu. no parking light symbol above ever illuminates. ugh, why are my low beams going on during the day in sunny AZ.

Have you verified they are really on when you see the symbol on the dash? Pull into a parking lot, get out of the car and look?

[matt_435xi]

Originally Posted by MacAttackBMW

When the exterior headlights turn in, the interior instrument cluster also lights up an the HUD turns orange instead of white... This is how I notice when my lights turn on when set to auto (where I always leave it bc I am lazy)

not during the day time, the HUD is still white when my lights are ON during the day time.

and i checked, the low beams are on during the day. i guess my sensor is broken.

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by matt_335Ci

and i checked, the low beams are on during the day. i guess my sensor is broken.

Is the sun lowish on teh horizon or do you have haze around ?
Is the windscreen clean by the sensor ? ( Behind the rear view mirror)

The sensor look at ultraviolet light and not visible light, so is sometimes tricked by certain light/atmospheric conditions.
Dirt over the sensor can also make it think its dark.

Also, are you sure its the low beams and not just the daylight running lights that are on ?

[justinnum1]

turn the circle knob on left of the steering wheel all the way to the right...

[matt_435xi]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

turn the circle knob on left of the steering wheel all the way to the right...

yes that turns the parking light symbol on too, and my HUD is still white during the day?

[matt_435xi]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Is the sun lowish on teh horizon or do you have haze around ?
Is the windscreen clean by the sensor ? ( Behind the rear view mirror)

The sensor look at ultraviolet light and not visible light, so is sometimes tricked by certain light/atmospheric conditions.
Dirt over the sensor can also make it think its dark.

Also, are you sure its the low beams and not just the daylight running lights that are on ?

i read that sentence in the manual - no the sun is not low on the horizon nor is it hazy. i live in Sunny AZ in broad day light in the AUTO position i see my parking light logo ON which means the low beams and parking lights are on. (yes i got out of my car and checked)

i have had 5 different BMWs in AZ and this is the only one that has an AUTO headlight switch malfunctioning.

Finally, why would the parking light logo come on during the daytime in the AUTO mode? this is the same logo that comes on when you switch into Parking Light mode or Low Beam mode.

[bimmerjph]

I am pretty sure you can get the dealership to program when your lights come on. I guess its a glitch?

[matt_435xi]

[matt_435xi]

excellent...it appears we (the F30) inherited this problem from our big brother, the F10.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=591275

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by matt_335Ci

excellent...it appears we (the F30) inherited this problem from our big brother, the F10.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=591275

No, the F30 uses a different sensor from the F10.
The F10 is also getting a new sensor from July.

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by matt_335Ci

i read that sentence in the manual - no the sun is not low on the horizon nor is it hazy. i live in Sunny AZ in broad day light in the AUTO position i see my parking light logo ON which means the low beams and parking lights are on. (yes i got out of my car and checked)

i have had 5 different BMWs in AZ and this is the only one that has an AUTO headlight switch malfunctioning.

Finally, why would the parking light logo come on during the daytime in the AUTO mode? this is the same logo that comes on when you switch into Parking Light mode or Low Beam mode.

Do you know when your car was built ?
The F30 sensor was changed in November 2011 production.

Your dealer should be able to change the sensitivity of the sensor and can trouble shoot the problem.


It may be as simple as a loose connector
Do you feel mechanically competent enough to take off the plastic surrounding behind the mirror to check the connector ? ( Dont take the mirror off )

If not, ask the dealer

[J Tiberius]

Originally Posted by matt_335Ci

I live in one of the sunniest parts of the world and my parking light symbol is always ON? Our X5 and previous BMWs never had an issue with the automatic headlight setting being ON during the day time on a bright and sunny day?

Does anyone else have an issue like this?

Mine does the same thing. Peculiar.

[matt_435xi]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

No, the F30 uses a different sensor from the F10.
The F10 is also getting a new sensor from July.

I guess that is good to hear. I will contact my dealer and report back!