[stevehecht]

Both the Xenon Adaptive Headlight description and the Adaptive Light Control description can be accessed under the Lighting Package when you configure your F30. I can't reproduce the wording here because they are just pop-ups when you click on the term. But they both seem to say the same thing: the headlights will pivot as you reach a curve so that the road stays illuminated throughout the curvature. (The Xenon Adaptive also has a self-leveling function as well.)

What's the story here? Is BMW selling/telling you the same thing twice in the same package? It sounds like you get the adaptive light control function as part of getting xenon headlights--it's not another feature above and beyond getting the xenons.

[JaakkoA]

Ok. You have the Xenon lights, which dont't follow steering. Then you can ad Adaptive headlights, which means pivoting headlights according to steering angle. Then you can add Headlight assistant, which you propably mean by that adaptive light control.

That adaptive light control (ALC) is very cool and practical feature. You can just leave your high beams on automatic and stop worrying. When car is coming straight towards you, ALC moves left beam left and right beam right, so there is a "black box" where the other car is. When the car comes closer, that side hogh beam shuts down and after passing both turn forward. This happens also, when you follow someone. Offcourse ALC switches on low beam, when there are streetlights. Works just as well you could hope!

Self-levelling should come with every version off Xenon lights. At least in Finland, self-levelling is oblicatory by law when you have Xenons..

[stevehecht]

Thank you! So do xenon headlights come with the base package or with one of the lines?

Do you add xenon headlights, adaptive (pivoting) headlights, and Adaptive Light Control when you add the Lighting Package?

[manicottiK]

Adaptive Light Control isn't available in the U.S. The swiveling feature and the auto-on/off is available, but the more advanced feature described by JaakkoA isn't available here because our federal lighting laws haven't been sufficiently updated to address newer technologies. (This is, apparently, an ongoing battle between the care makers and the federal government.)

[Feanor]

Originally Posted by JaakkoA

That adaptive light control (ALC) is very cool and practical feature. You can just leave your high beams on automatic and stop worrying. When car is coming straight towards you, ALC moves left beam left and right beam right, so there is a "black box" where the other car is. When the car comes closer, that side hogh beam shuts down and after passing both turn forward. This happens also, when you follow someone. Offcourse ALC switches on low beam, when there are streetlights. Works just as well you could hope!

It's been mentioned in other threads that they don't get this over in the US - the full beams just automatically switch completely on, or completely off. Apparently it's something to do with US law.

Just thought I should mention this as it looks like Steve is from the US, so wouldn't want him to be disappointed!

[Mobster1983]

Originally Posted by Feanor

It's been mentioned in other threads that they don't get this over in the US - the full beams just automatically switch completely on, or completely off. Apparently it's something to do with US law.

Just thought I should mention this as it looks like Steve is from the US, so wouldn't want him to be disappointed!

This. I ordered it on mine thinking I had the full package, but after doing more reading saw it just turned them on and off. Pretty disappointing for me, and since most of the roads here are well lit or have lots of traffic, mine usually stay off. It's still a nice function when I use it though, and if you drive on a lot of dark roads I would still recommend it.

[snowghost]

Originally Posted by Mobster1983

This. I ordered it on mine thinking I had the full package, but after doing more reading saw it just turned them on and off. Pretty disappointing for me, and since most of the roads here are well lit or have lots of traffic, mine usually stay off. It's still a nice function when I use it though, and if you drive on a lot of dark roads I would still recommend it.

Yeah it was disappointing to see the cool videos on the technology and find out after I get it, we Yanks getting ripped off.

Such backwards laws sometimes.

[stevehecht]

Wow, good thing I asked. I'm having second thoughts about getting the lighting package now. So what you get is xenon bulbs instead of halogen and automatic on/off?

[Rick4345]

Originally Posted by stevehecht

Wow, good thing I asked. I'm having second thoughts about getting the lighting package now. So what you get is xenon bulbs instead of halogen and automatic on/off?

I would still get the lighting package. I have owned two BMW's. One with halogen and one with xenons. Big difference in the two in my opinion. I think the brights are worth the price alone.

[snowghost]

Originally Posted by Rick4345

I would still get the lighting package. I have owned two BMW's. One with halogen and one with xenons. Big difference in the two in my opinion. I think the brights are worth the price alone.

True, the Xenons are awesome.

[rbe]

Originally Posted by manicottiK

Adaptive Light Control isn't available in the U.S. The swiveling feature and the auto-on/off is available, but the more advanced feature described by JaakkoA isn't available here because our federal lighting laws haven't been sufficiently updated to address newer technologies. (This is, apparently, an ongoing battle between the care makers and the federal government.)

Wrong my 2012 328i came with 524 Adaptive Light Control and 5AC High Beam Assist.

[stevehecht]

Originally Posted by rbe

Wrong my 2012 328i came with 524 Adaptive Light Control and 5AC High Beam Assist.

Well, alright! :


Please tell us the magic words.

[stevehecht]

Originally Posted by manicottiK

Adaptive Light Control isn't available in the U.S. The swiveling feature and the auto-on/off is available, but the more advanced feature described by JaakkoA isn't available here because our federal lighting laws haven't been sufficiently updated to address newer technologies. (This is, apparently, an ongoing battle between the care makers and the federal government.)

OK, one more time: What's the difference between "the swiveling feature" and Adaptive Light Control? And you might as well tell me how the self-leveling feature fits in. Which of these comes as part of the base package and which are only in the Lighting Package in NA?

[DVC]

Originally Posted by rbe

Wrong my 2012 328i came with 524 Adaptive Light Control and 5AC High Beam Assist.

Manicotti is correct; whether or not BMW still calls it Adaptive Light Control, what we get does not include the advanced features JaakkoA describes above.

The swiveling and high beam auto on/off is still pretty cool though...and xenons are a must!

[snowghost]

Originally Posted by DVC

Manicotti is correct; whether or not BMW still calls it Adaptive Light Control, what we get does not include the advanced features JaakkoA describes above.

The swiveling and high beam auto on/off is still pretty cool though...and xenons are a must!

It would have been cool if we got the Full Monty, but it is what it is. And what it is here is still pretty okay. Xenons are a must.

[shivaswrath]

I'm confused.

I have adaptive xenons.
When I turn they do too.

I have auto headlight high beams.

So....I'm also in the US.

[stevehecht]

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

I'm confused.

I have adaptive xenons.
When I turn they do too.

I have auto headlight high beams.

So....I'm also in the US.

What do you mean by "auto headlight high beams"? Do you mean pivoting headlights as you turn? Do you mean on/off or self-leveling? This is what comes with the NA Lighting Package. Or do you mean "the black box" as described by JaakkoA which is offered only on the other side of the pond?

Originally Posted by JaakkoA

You can just leave your high beams on automatic and stop worrying. When car is coming straight towards you, ALC moves left beam left and right beam right, so there is a "black box" where the other car is. When the car comes closer, that side high beam shuts down and after passing both turn forward. This happens also, when you follow someone. Offcourse ALC switches on low beam, when there are streetlights. Works just as well you could hope!

Per usual, BMW nomenclature is confusing things.

[sn3rd]

In South Africa, we get the Xenon lights that includes auto levelling. It's pretty much a calibration.

Then we can option adaptive headlights, which gives you the headlight swivel when turning. According to the tutorial vid in the iDrive menu, it also includes the levelling of lights over hills and valleys.

Then we can option high beam assist, which gives the car the ability to automatically raise or dip the lights (each side independently) based on traffic conditions, using a small camera built into the front-facing part of the rear-view mirror.

Interestingly, you can option these separately or as part of the Driving Lights Package. The package contains all of them, but is cheaper than adaptive on its own. The dealer was flabbergasted when I pointed this out.

[Feanor]

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

I'm confused.

I have adaptive xenons.
When I turn they do too.

I have auto headlight high beams.

So....I'm also in the US.

Adaptive xenons, where the headlights turn when you turn the wheel, aren't what we're talking about. That's always been available in the US and is different to auto high-beam.

Noone's saying auto high-beam isn't available in the US, just that the system you get isn't as sophisticated as the system in Europe & elsewhere. Read my post #5 again complete with the post I quoted, it should make sense then.

[shivaswrath]

Originally Posted by Feanor

Adaptive xenons, where the headlights turn when you turn the wheel, aren't what we're talking about. That's always been available in the US and is different to auto high-beam.

Noone's saying auto high-beam isn't available in the US, just that the system you get isn't as sophisticated as the system in Europe & elsewhere. Read my post #5 again complete with the post I quoted, it should make sense then.

Yeah my auto high doesn't have that, understood.
I though the "box" only appeared with LEDs?

[34.50]

Way too much confusion in this thread, and seems like people are giving multiple labels to the same feature.
On 335 US models:
Adaptive lights (w/ xenons) = lights turn with the steering wheel
Auto high beam = turns on high beam automatically based on if there are oncoming cars or not.

[stevehecht]

Originally Posted by 34.50

Way too much confusion in this thread, and seems like people are giving multiple labels to the same feature.
On 335 US models:
Adaptive lights (w/ xenons) = lights turn with the steering wheel
Auto high beam = turns on high beam automatically based on if there are oncoming cars or not.

Way too much confusion is correct. Let's see if we can go a bit further:

Adaptive lights w/xenons = lights turn with the steering wheel = pivoting headlights with steering angle. Correct?

Auto high beam = turns on high beam automatically based on if there are oncoming cars or not -- does NOT equal the automatic "black box" adjustments that shift headlights lights away from oncoming traffic that JaakkoA describes, being offered in Europe but not here. Correct?

The "black box" option is an enhancement of our auto high beam that is not available here because of current regulations. Correct?

Self-leveling headlights = comes standard with xenons in the USA. Correct?