Headlamp Courtesy Delay Feature

BMWs · 02-28-2012, 08:50 AM

I've read the manual and can't figure out how this works. I have the lights set in Auto position. When I turn off the car and lock it the lights go out. I thought they are suppose to stay on for the set amount of time so you can have your pathway lighting. This is how they work in other cars.

plob · 02-28-2012, 08:57 AM

Not sure if this is the same in the US but here is how it is supposed to work for UK models.
After switching off the ignition, you pull the headlight flasher (the stalk on the steering column) to flash the lights before getting out of the car. This should activate the low beam headlights for a duration set in the Settings | Lights | Home Lights section on the menus (via iDrive)

Hope that helps

bren · 02-28-2012, 09:03 AM

You have to first enable/set-up this feature in idrive. See page 80 in the manual.

plob · 02-28-2012, 09:51 AM

That's what I said

02420X3 · 02-28-2012, 09:57 AM

Briefly pressing the Diamond symbol (Panic Mode, Courtesy Headlights) on your remote may also turn on the Courtesy Headlights, depending on the options that you have.

BMWs · 02-28-2012, 10:05 AM

Thanks for the responses. Briefly pressing the panic button works for sure. Have to check and see about pulling the flasher before exiting. This is our first BMW and there are certainly quirks with it. On every other car I've had including my Audi the lights just stay on after locking for the amount of time selected.

Bill S · 03-06-2012, 04:10 PM

Flasher before exit does not seem to work on mine even after setting the delay time etc.

Manual seems to suggest it should work if the lights are switched off - this seems rather obtuse - surely it should work if the lights are (have been) switched on or in Auto when the car is switched off.

stooler · 03-07-2012, 09:55 AM

Just a suggestion - try doing it at night. If the car senses broad daylight, I don't think a 100 lb pull on the stalk would do anything. If the car senses night (pretty well dark) I think just a slight tug will get you the desired result. sam

Nahoa · 03-07-2012, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill S

Flasher before exit does not seem to work on mine even after setting the delay time etc.

Manual seems to suggest it should work if the lights are switched off - this seems rather obtuse - surely it should work if the lights are (have been) switched on or in Auto when the car is switched off.

What happens when you turn the car off? The lights go off. Then move the stalk. Obtuse.

plob · 03-08-2012, 01:31 AM

I picked my car up yesterday and tried this. After turning off the ignition and radio etc (two presses of the start/stop button - not sure if this is relevant), I pulled the stalk towards me briefly to flash the lights.
The lights stayed on whilst I got out of the car and stayed on for the duration I set up in the vehicle settings via iDrive.

The headlight switch setting was in the automatic position throughout

Do you have Xenon headlights? I don't know if that is relevant but maybe it only works for Xenons

MinnJim · 03-11-2015, 03:56 PM

I am new to this forum, and new to BMW (assuming you don't count a 325i 30 years ago). Two weeks ago, I picked up a 2015 X3 28i (USA). This forum has helped me immensely, and I truly can't thank everyone enough for all the valuable information they have provided. Two things continued to confound me, though. First, it took me forever to figure out the audio/Bluetooth/USB system, but I think I've now got a pretty good handle on that. Then there was the "Headlight Courtesy Delay Feature." The manual made no sense to me, and nothing I tried seem to work.
I just got off the phone with one of the "geniuses" at my dealership. Here is the exact protocol he recommended (I keep headlights in auto mode): (1) hit "Start/Stop Engine Button TWICE; (2) Open Driver's Door; then (3) Pull high beam flasher before exiting vehicle. Upon reflection, I had been pulling the flasher before opening the driver's door.
I have NOT tried this yet. I intend to do so this evening. But in the meantime, wanted to both provide you with this information and also again thank everyone for providing such a helpful resource.

02420X3 · 03-11-2015, 05:17 PM

Pull-after-open will work. You may wish to increase the amount of time that the courtesy lights stay on for. It is in iDrive under Settings, Lighting.

guyver626 · 03-11-2015, 05:20 PM

You do have to open the door first. Then you can pull the stalk towards you.

I use this feature every night.

02-28-2012, 08:50 AM	#1
BMWs Private 16 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 2012 X3 35i Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Pittsburgh iTrader: (0)	Headlamp Courtesy Delay Feature I've read the manual and can't figure out how this works. I have the lights set in Auto position. When I turn off the car and lock it the lights go out. I thought they are suppose to stay on for the set amount of time so you can have your pathway lighting. This is how they work in other cars.
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02-28-2012, 08:57 AM	#2
plob Private 7 Rep 90 Posts Drives: 650i GC Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Deepest, darkest Cheshire iTrader: (0)	Not sure if this is the same in the US but here is how it is supposed to work for UK models. After switching off the ignition, you pull the headlight flasher (the stalk on the steering column) to flash the lights before getting out of the car. This should activate the low beam headlights for a duration set in the Settings \| Lights \| Home Lights section on the menus (via iDrive) Hope that helps
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02-28-2012, 09:03 AM	#3
bren user 4 Rep 229 Posts Drives: German Camaro Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	You have to first enable/set-up this feature in idrive. See page 80 in the manual.
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02-28-2012, 09:51 AM	#4
plob Private 7 Rep 90 Posts Drives: 650i GC Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Deepest, darkest Cheshire iTrader: (0)	That's what I said
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02-28-2012, 09:57 AM	#5
02420X3 Captain 63 Rep 983 Posts Drives: 2011 X3 35i Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Briefly pressing the Diamond symbol (Panic Mode, Courtesy Headlights) on your remote may also turn on the Courtesy Headlights, depending on the options that you have.
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02-28-2012, 10:05 AM	#6
BMWs Private 16 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 2012 X3 35i Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Pittsburgh iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the responses. Briefly pressing the panic button works for sure. Have to check and see about pulling the flasher before exiting. This is our first BMW and there are certainly quirks with it. On every other car I've had including my Audi the lights just stay on after locking for the amount of time selected.
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03-06-2012, 04:10 PM	#7
Bill S Private 4 Rep 63 Posts Drives: F25 X3 30d N57 + E60 535d M57 Join Date: May 2011 Location: UK & USA iTrader: (0)	Flasher before exit does not seem to work on mine even after setting the delay time etc. Manual seems to suggest it should work if the lights are switched off - this seems rather obtuse - surely it should work if the lights are (have been) switched on or in Auto when the car is switched off.
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03-07-2012, 09:55 AM	#8
stooler New Member 8 Rep 24 Posts Drives: 2011 X3 xDrive28i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: GA iTrader: (0)	Just a suggestion - try doing it at night. If the car senses broad daylight, I don't think a 100 lb pull on the stalk would do anything. If the car senses night (pretty well dark) I think just a slight tug will get you the desired result. sam
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03-08-2012, 01:31 AM	#10
plob Private 7 Rep 90 Posts Drives: 650i GC Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Deepest, darkest Cheshire iTrader: (0)	I picked my car up yesterday and tried this. After turning off the ignition and radio etc (two presses of the start/stop button - not sure if this is relevant), I pulled the stalk towards me briefly to flash the lights. The lights stayed on whilst I got out of the car and stayed on for the duration I set up in the vehicle settings via iDrive. The headlight switch setting was in the automatic position throughout Do you have Xenon headlights? I don't know if that is relevant but maybe it only works for Xenons
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03-11-2015, 03:56 PM	#11
MinnJim New Member 2 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2015 x3 28i Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Minneapolis, MN iTrader: (0)	I am new to this forum, and new to BMW (assuming you don't count a 325i 30 years ago). Two weeks ago, I picked up a 2015 X3 28i (USA). This forum has helped me immensely, and I truly can't thank everyone enough for all the valuable information they have provided. Two things continued to confound me, though. First, it took me forever to figure out the audio/Bluetooth/USB system, but I think I've now got a pretty good handle on that. Then there was the "Headlight Courtesy Delay Feature." The manual made no sense to me, and nothing I tried seem to work. I just got off the phone with one of the "geniuses" at my dealership. Here is the exact protocol he recommended (I keep headlights in auto mode): (1) hit "Start/Stop Engine Button TWICE; (2) Open Driver's Door; then (3) Pull high beam flasher before exiting vehicle. Upon reflection, I had been pulling the flasher before opening the driver's door. I have NOT tried this yet. I intend to do so this evening. But in the meantime, wanted to both provide you with this information and also again thank everyone for providing such a helpful resource.
	Appreciate 1 Quote

03-11-2015, 05:17 PM	#12
02420X3 Captain 63 Rep 983 Posts Drives: 2011 X3 35i Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Pull-after-open will work. You may wish to increase the amount of time that the courtesy lights stay on for. It is in iDrive under Settings, Lighting.
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03-11-2015, 05:20 PM	#13
guyver626 Private First Class 26 Rep 131 Posts Drives: 2014 35i m-sport carbon black Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: nyc iTrader: (0)	You do have to open the door first. Then you can pull the stalk towards you. I use this feature every night.
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