Feedback about High Beam Assistant?

Hi 'Festers,

I am in the process of upgrading(?) from an E90 to F10 (yay!). I am a gadget guy so I plan include most of the technological goodies F10 has to offer in the spec. I am on fence about the High Beam Assistence though -- not because of cost, but its potential to be an irritant (too frequest switching between low and high beam) rather than useful technology. Can anyone please give any feedback about this option?

Truly excited about the upcoming F10 though . It's one of the best looking Bimmer, IMO.

Thanks,
-Neil

Originally Posted by neilsarkar

Hi 'Festers,

I am in the process of upgrading(?) from an E90 to F10 (yay!). I am a gadget guy so I plan include most of the technological goodies F10 has to offer in the spec. I am on fence about the High Beam Assistence though -- not because of cost, but its potential to be an irritant (too frequest switching between low and high beam) rather than useful technology. Can anyone please give any feedback about this option?

Truly excited about the upcoming F10 though . It's one of the best looking Bimmer, IMO.

Thanks,
-Neil

I'll say upfront, I don't have the option. However, high beam "assistant" functionality has been around since Cadillac (and maybe others) offered it in the 60's, maybe even the 50's. It's not very complicated. A sensor detects light sources ahead and dims the high beams in response. That said, I find I don't use my high beams all that often, so even at a modest $250, I didn't opt for it. I believe you can turn off the automated feature if it is bothersome.

I have it and it works well. However, like MarkL, I don't use it all that often. When I got the car, I lived in his neck of the woods in Northern VA, and almost never used my high beams. Down here in Houston, I use them a bit more frequently, but not enough to actually pay for the option.

If I lived in the Poconos or someplace where I used my high beams often, I'd buy it. It doesn't frequently flip. It's well thought out and executed.

And yes, you can turn it off.

it is a genius feature. I love it. I only get to use it when I am out of town. Miami is very well lit.

I have it on my E60. It works well. But like others have said, you won't use it but on roads that are less traveled.

I added the option on my recent F10 order. It's cheap so I just tacked it on even though I don't use it much.

-Corey

I've had the option on my 3 and now on the new 550. It works extremely well, if you ever use high beams you want this option.
We frequently drive between NJ and NC on roads that have little or no lighting this option saves me from turning on off at least 100x per trip.

It came on the 3 they found for us along with comfort access and window shades. These were all options I would not have ordered, but now I can't live without!

It works incredibly well and it's worth every penny. It does not confuse reflective road signs with oncoming cars. It holds the high beam just right when you are following someone and it reacts very quicklly to lights coming around a bend. It's one of those little things that I'll make sure to order when I get my next car.

I like it a lot, but have really only used it outside the city. It works especially well on twisty roads because you don't have to fumble with the stalk switch when you are using both hands to navigate constantly twisting cottage roads. Unfortunately in the city it is just not needed. As noted, it does have to be turned on.
Its cheap as a stand alone so go for it. On my car it was part of the Technology package anyway,

Works very well. Have on both f10 and x5. I find it better than what i had in my '10 e550- problem then was the hi beams always turned off whenever i got near a highly reflective sign. The bmw system is migh better at recognizing actual oncoming head/tail lights vs other objects or street lights

I have it and I like it. It is primarily useful for me in rural travel with no street lighting and limited traffic. It works extremely well. I am getting again on my next Bimmer.

Depends on the frequency of your travel in non-lit roads.

It's no longer a standard option? I believe it came standard on mine.

Originally Posted by mrcamp

It's no longer a standard option? I believe it came standard on mine.

No, it wasn't standard. I have a 2011 535i and definitely don't have the feature. Are you somehow confusing this with articulating xenon headlights -- those are standard.

Like others have said here the feature works as advertised and is useful. It detects ambient light so it turns off automatic when street lights are present

The feature is off by default so you have to turn it on when in use. The reason why this feature exists was because it was shown that high beam use far too low when needed, and an article read some time ago said that there was a significant safety improvement when used properly. BMW implementation works very well and I do think it improves safety.

I would be hard pressed to find a flaw with this option.

As for being standard, I was under the impression it was standard starting in 2012 model year, but I'm sure there is better sources for this info.

Originally Posted by mg650

Works very well. Have on both f10 and x5. I find it better than what i had in my '10 e550- problem then was the hi beams always turned off whenever i got near a highly reflective sign. The bmw system is migh better at recognizing actual oncoming head/tail lights vs other objects or street lights

I find quite the opposite. I tried using it several times in rural country roads in upstate NY and found that anytime it encountered a highly reflective sign, especially in a turn, the headlights would dim. It works better on wide straight roads such as here in Texas but then I find I don't use high beams all that much here. I would not purchase this option again unless forced to as part of a desired package as I did this time.