[dan321]

Our X3 has adaptive headlights and they work as expected with the lights following the steering wheel as you turn.

But adaptive is off by default, you have to push a button on one of the stalks on the steering column to activate it.

Why do you think adaptive headlights are on a button? When would you not want to use them?

[swestland85]

Originally Posted by dan321

Our X3 has adaptive headlights and they work as expected with the lights following the steering wheel as you turn.

But adaptive is off by default, you have to push a button on one of the stalks on the steering column to activate it.

Why do you think adaptive headlights are on a button? When would you not want to use them?

Are you sure you're not taking about the high beam assist? That's is something you need to turn on. I guess because it's not a flawless system but something you turn on on dark highways or country roads.

It works perfect by the way, really impressive even on twisted roads! This is a must have option, not only because of the icon DRL which come with it but also because of the high beam assist. Unfortunately its turned off for the US (and Canada I guess).

[Aaaaaaaaa]

That's auto high beams. They're a neutered version anyway hardly use them.

[dan321]

Originally Posted by swestland85

Are you sure you're not taking about the high beam assist?

I asking about Adaptive Icon LED's. The one that have BMW Adaptive LED engraved on them.

The manual and various youtube videos are not clear, at least to me, about what enables what.

Here is how I think things are activated (2018 X3 M40i USA) and would like to know if I am correct.

If you have adaptive icon LED's you turn the headlight selector to the straight up position to enable their functionality.

But Adaptive Icon LED's can do much more than just bend around a curve. Highbeam gets turned off only on the left headlight when there is oncoming traffic (USA). In fact it doesn't just get turned off it gets progressively reshaped as the oncoming traffic gets closer. This functionality is enabled by the Highbeam assist button on the stalk. I would rather that this function was on by default or at least remembered its last setting.

If you don't have adaptive Icon LED's then button on the stalk just enables ordinary high beam on and off.

These youtube videos help clear things up for me...

I think the manual is not clear because it is trying to explain the controls for all the different headlight options available.

I'll have to go for a drive tonight just to confirm things...

[titomi]

Adaprive lights are on when the switch of the lights is in position with "A". Low beams, high beams.. everything is than "adaptive". Pretty clear to me from the manual (which is for EU).

[dan321]

Originally Posted by pheerIx

That's auto high beams. They're a neutered version anyway hardly use them.

This is what is on my build sheet...

S552A Adaptive LED Headlight
S5ACA Highbeam Assistant
S5APA Decode Antigare FLA Highbeam Assist

From what I can find the S5APA code is what disables the full capability of the adaptive LED's. Is that the case?

[verysideways]

Whether you have the high beam assist or the full ICON adaptives, the functionality is similar;
- Headlights in either ON or Auto (and dark enough to be on!)
- Stalk with two buttons, one for OBC and one for headlights

With the lights on when you press the headlight button on the stalk it either activates the high beam assist or the ICON adaptives.

In both cases you can still push that stalk away from you for full beam and then push it away again for dipped beam.
Or you can pull it towards you to 'flash' your full beam.

But that's for UK/Euro operation...

[titomi]

The stalk activates the auto hig-beam. The "adaptivnes" is controlled by the lights switch. 5AP is probably the part, that disables the full functionality of the adaptive lights.

[verysideways]

Originally Posted by titomi

The stalk activates the auto hig-beam. The "adaptivnes" is controlled by the lights switch.

How so?
I have tried the stalk button with the lights in Auto and the lights ON via the light switch (dial) and the ICON adaptive works the same way in both situations. This is on a 2018 X3 M40i.

[titomi]

Originally Posted by verysideways

How so?
I have tried the stalk button with the lights in Auto and the lights ON via the light switch (dial) and the ICON adaptive works the same way in both situations. This is on a 2018 X3 M40i.

All I know is the manual says it should work only with switch in Auto : Don't have the car, so can't says from experience.

[verysideways]

Originally Posted by titomi

All I know is the manual says it should work only with switch in Auto : Don't have the car, so can't says from experience.

I don't have mine yet either but close friends have one - whenever we go out together i get to drive it

(Mine should be here in 6 weeks)

I think you're right about the 5AP thing though, i'm assuming there's some sort of coding to deal with legislature that says that the adaptive functionality is restricted in certain markets.

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Originally Posted by dan321

This is what is on my build sheet...

S552A Adaptive LED Headlight
S5ACA Highbeam Assistant
S5APA Decode Antigare FLA Highbeam Assist

From what I can find the S5APA code is what disables the full capability of the adaptive LED's. Is that the case?

The Anti-Dazzle feature Euro cars have is disabled for US cars due to antiquated DOT laws. In Euro spec, each head can swivel independently to create a "light tunnel" to prevent glare to oncoming cars and cars in front while keeping the high beams on. It's been this way ever since the Adaptive LEDs have been released circa 2012-2013? I believe. The headlights will still swivel left and right with the steering wheel angle but the auto headlights just turn on and off and in most urban situations will pretty much never turn on because there's too much ambient light.

[MarkyM]

Originally Posted by verysideways

How so?
I have tried the stalk button with the lights in Auto and the lights ON via the light switch (dial) and the ICON adaptive works the same way in both situations. This is on a 2018 X3 M40i.

That's how it works on mine as well, you can also use the lights without the adaptive mode with the switch in the 0 position, that just acts as a standard auto setting with no adaptive function

[sor]

I believe in the US we only get the lights that turn with the wheel + the auto high beams. All the fancy stuff that tracks other cars and blocks the beam around them is not compliant with the outdated transportation laws.

[nogren]

Since there seems to be quite some differences depending on markets, and the options that people have on their cars, I am hoping that the tailored Driver's Guide App manual should help to explain exactly how Your car works.

/n

[swestland85]

See attachment; This button I need to press to turn on high beam assist which swivels the light around cars etc, it's adaptive not just high beam on/off. That's eu version. For the normal dim light (which turns into corners etc) I just need the lightswitch on auto, which I always keep like that.

[titomi]

My manual says otherwise, like I posted earlier. Maybe you just didn't notice that adaptive is working even without pushing that button (without high-beams), or the behaviour is different from what states in manual.

[MarkyM]

Originally Posted by titomi

My manual says otherwise, like I posted earlier. Maybe you just didn't notice that adaptive is working even without pushing that button (without high-beams), or the behaviour is different from what states in manual.

In the UK it is the same, Adaptive is partially on all the time when lights are on (unless switch is in 0 position then it is just standard auto low beams), the button on end of stalk activates the adaptive high beam assist feature that blocks out sections of light to prevent dazzling oncoming vehicles or vehicles you are following, I think this is the part the US have coded off?

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by dan321

Our X3 has adaptive headlights and they work as expected with the lights following the steering wheel as you turn.

But adaptive is off by default, you have to push a button on one of the stalks on the steering column to activate it.

Why do you think adaptive headlights are on a button? When would you not want to use them?

I always turn it on at night because it gets dark where I live thanks to 0 street lights.

Speaking of headlights, has anyone tried leveling out the driver's side beam to match the passenger side? Yes I know it could blind on coming driver's but the illumination difference between the sides is rather large plus people by me drive with their damn light bars on like a**holes

[darrylo]

Originally Posted by dan321

This is what is on my build sheet...

S552A Adaptive LED Headlight
S5ACA Highbeam Assistant
S5APA Decode Antigare FLA Highbeam Assist

From what I can find the S5APA code is what disables the full capability of the adaptive LED's. Is that the case?

Yes, "Decode" is BMW-speak for "disable". Other posts have explained why it's disabled in the US.

[PerryGunn]

Originally Posted by MarkyM

In the UK it is the same, Adaptive is partially on all the time when lights are on (unless switch is in 0 position then it is just standard auto low beams), the button on end of stalk activates the adaptive high beam assist feature that blocks out sections of light to prevent dazzling oncoming vehicles or vehicles you are following, I think this is the part the US have coded off?

Correct - but the US cars can be recoded to have the same functionality as the UK cars

On our F25, which has the Adaptive LEDs, I've coded the car to activate the Adaptive HBA/Anti-dazzle automatically when the headlights come on (switch has to be in the 'A' postion). You can still turn HBA off with the stalk switch but it defaults to on, IMO this is how it should have been set when it left the factory...

[dan321]

Thanks for all the info... looks like it is "ordinary" auto high/lo beam.