Headlight Question [Archive] - bimmerfest

HankM3

03-13-2003, 04:39 AM

Quick question (I have halogen headlights):

When the headlights are on, should the 2 amber lights (turn signals) on either side of the main lights be constantly illuminated?

I noticed last night that they are always on when my headlights are on... never owned a car that did this.

GSR13

03-13-2003, 05:36 AM

Yes, they should be. And now that you mention it, I am not sure if other cars do this or not.

Well, thanks for driving me nuts the rest of the day! Now I am going to have to hunt pictures of other cars.:D

mbr129

03-13-2003, 05:39 AM

I am pretty sure all cars by law do that.

HankM3

03-13-2003, 05:56 AM

Thanks for the info.

My old Honda didn't, although it did have 2 small amber lights on either side of the front bumper. I don't think they ever illuminated, except when I used the turn signal.

Ack

03-13-2003, 06:12 AM

Actually the 5-series corner markers do not light when the headlights are on. They only come on when you signal.

Some people were looking for a way to have the E46 corner lights stay off when the headlights are on, but this isn't an easy problem to solve.

jk330i

03-13-2003, 08:10 AM

Originally posted by Ack
Actually the 5-series corner markers do not light when the headlights are on. They only come on when you signal.

Some people were looking for a way to have the E46 corner lights stay off when the headlights are on, but this isn't an easy problem to solve.

Why would any person want to do this? Personally, I think the corner markers staying lit distinguishes our 3-ers from the rest.

Ack

03-13-2003, 10:27 AM

Originally posted by jk330i
Why would any person want to do this? Personally, I think the corner markers staying lit distinguishes our 3-ers from the rest.

Thats a good question. I remember reading about this over at fanatics. I actually like my corner markers lit.

Kaz

03-13-2003, 10:49 AM

Isn't it required by law in the US? Something has to turn on when the headlight switch is in the '1' position on any car. Just that not all cars light the lights immediately adjacent to the headlights. Some have them inside of the headlights, some below in or under the bumper.

It appears that E46s in Europe are configured differently to meet laws over there where the '1' position illuminates 'city lights' instead of the corners.

mbr129

03-13-2003, 11:03 AM

Originally posted by Kaz
Isn't it required by law in the US? Something has to turn on when the headlight switch is in the '1' position on any car. Just that not all cars light the lights immediately adjacent to the headlights. Some have them inside of the headlights, some below in or under the bumper.

It appears that E46s in Europe are configured differently to meet laws over there where the '1' position illuminates 'city lights' instead of the corners.

That is exactly what I though.