Headlight question

OK...so I can't figure this one out. On my '05 545 I have what appear to be two Zenon headlights on each side (plus the fog lights). With low beams on, the outermost pair are on. With the high beams on, the outermost pair remain on. The inside pair, as near as I can tell, don't ever light up. The fogs work as advertised. I'm sure there is an easy explanation, but looking for help!

Originally Posted by Torch

OK...so I can't figure this one out. On my '05 545 I have what appear to be two Zenon headlights on each side (plus the fog lights). With low beams on, the outermost pair are on. With the high beams on, the outermost pair remain on. The inside pair, as near as I can tell, don't ever light up. The fogs work as advertised. I'm sure there is an easy explanation, but looking for help!

We have bi-xenon lights so the two outermost lights are for both low and high beams. The lights inboard of that are for the DRLs or for flashing at other cars.

Thanks for the info...

Is there a position on the switch that turns on the daytime running lights only or is that something that has to be programed in at the dealer?

Originally Posted by Torch

Thanks for the info...

Is there a position on the switch that turns on the daytime running lights only or is that something that has to be programed in at the dealer?

I believe you do it via iDrive.


Bill

Nope, here in the U.S. (all of North America in fact) it is set by the dealer. A number of states and Canada require them so BMW doesn't want us turning them off on our own... At least the way it used to for '04 and '05 models, maybe '06 has changed.

I have a 2006 525i I took delivery on this past Saturday. I noticed the same thing with the DRL's. My automatic lights came on in the garage -- as you would expect them to -- but did not go out in the bright sunlight, at least not until I arrived and turned the car off. The DRL's never came on .

I contacted my dealer and they took about 20 minutes to reprogram the DRL's and the Automatic Head Lights Now the DRL's come on, I can see the reflection on the back of cars in front of me, and the Automatic Headlights go out in bright sunlight.

Originally Posted by dfortier

I have a 2006 525i I took delivery on this past Saturday. I noticed the same thing with the DRL's. My automatic lights came on in the garage -- as you would expect them to -- but did not go out in the bright sunlight, at least not until I arrived and turned the car off. The DRL's never came on .

I contacted my dealer and they took about 20 minutes to reprogram the DRL's and the Automatic Head Lights Now the DRL's come on, I can see the reflection on the back of cars in front of me, and the Automatic Headlights go out in bright sunlight.

I'm a little confused. Are you saying you want the DRLs to stay on regardless of how bright it is outside, and the headlights to only come on in low light / night situations? I've also got a 2006 525xi. I'd like the DRLs to not be on at all, but the headlights to come on automatically in low light or at night. Can that be done?

Originally Posted by bjf123

I'm a little confused. Are you saying you want the DRLs to stay on regardless of how bright it is outside, and the headlights to only come on in low light / night situations? I've also got a 2006 525xi. I'd like the DRLs to not be on at all, but the headlights to come on automatically in low light or at night. Can that be done?

Yes it can be done as long as Ohio doesn't require daytime running lights (DRL). If they don't, go to the dealer and have them deactivated. They are not required here in Louisiana so my dealer asked before delivery whether I wanted them on. If they are deactivaed, leave the headlight switch turned all the way to the left, or On (A) and that will leave the auto function active so that darkness triggers the lights.

Thanks. DRLs are not required in Ohio. I guess I'll be contacting my dealer.