Thought I would share [Auto adjusting lights] - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

mweel · 12th July 2002, 09:09

I always knew the M5 had auto adjusting head lights to keep them level. However, I thought this process was only done on startup and never again. When you start the car you can actually see the lights nod.

When driving behind a white van I punched the gas. However, the lights did not go in the same direction as the front end (up).

I didn't realize the lights actually adjusted in "real time". Anyone that hasn't realized this yet I would do the following it’s pretty cool…

Find a point on the horizon where your headlights are and either slam on the breaks or punch it (preferably the latter). Watch the lights stay even with the horizon.

I'm sure everones realized this but me. However, I just wanted to share. I was pretty excited to discover it.

//MWEELS

EBMCS03 · 12th July 2002, 09:46

HUmm really?? I dont think everyone knows it... I never read about that... It adjusts in real time??? COOL!

Well they do need to compensate for those hard accelerations that M5 owners do u know... we cant have headlights pointing in the sky...

BimmerBoyM5 · 12th July 2002, 09:52

Yup!!! yet another display of German engineering (I did realize it as I must have a heavy foot!)

Gus · 12th July 2002, 13:15

I've always wondered how this works - it's clever stuff if you consider that it works on steep hills as well as on the flat stuff! Is there an accelerometer in there somewhere?

DZeckhausen · 12th July 2002, 13:51

Quote:

Originally posted by Gus
I've always wondered how this works - it's clever stuff if you consider that it works on steep hills as well as on the flat stuff! Is there an accelerometer in there somewhere?

Actually, there is a small linkage connected to a ride height sensor in both the front and the rear suspension, so the car knows if it is level or not.

-MVI- · 12th July 2002, 13:54

Newer cars with Angel Eyes have level sensors in front and rear axles.

The older models have the level sensor built in to the headlight housing.
These seem to react much slower.

When you start the car the system automatically checks the functionality of the leveling system by moving the lights from the up position to the down position and then move them back to the current "correct" level.

DZeckhausen · 12th July 2002, 14:01

Quote:

Originally posted by -MVI-
Newer cars with Angel Eyes have level sensors in front and rear axles.

The older models have the level sensor built in to the headlight housing.
These seem to react much slower.

When you start the car the system automatically checks the functionality of the leveling system by moving the lights from the up position to the down position and then move them back to the current "correct" level.

The headlight leveling system has nothing to do with the car being equipped with Angel Eyes. Instead, all the BMWs in the USA with Xenon lowbeams have auto leveling. The 1999 E39 with Xenon uses the exact same linkage mechanism in the suspension as does the 2002 model E39.

E39s with halogen lowbeams do not have auto leveling, even in 2001 and 2002 models with Angel Eyes.

CM5GO · 12th July 2002, 14:49

I've always thought this was very cool too.

-MVI- · 12th July 2002, 15:33

Quote:

Originally posted by DZeckhausen
The headlight leveling system has nothing to do with the car being equipped with Angel Eyes. Instead, all the BMWs in the USA with Xenon lowbeams have auto leveling. The 1999 E39 with Xenon uses the exact same linkage mechanism in the suspension as does the 2002 model E39.

When I thought about upgrading my older Xenon headlights to Angel Eyes, I was told that I also have to buy those level sensors in addition to the AE headlight assembly. I got the same answer when I asked about it directly from Hella.

Maybe it's different in Euro-models?

Quote:

Originally posted by DZeckhausen
E39s with halogen lowbeams do not have auto leveling, even in 2001 and 2002 models with Angel Eyes.

Oops, sorry. Yes, I ment those equipped with Xenons...

Diamond Dave · 12th July 2002, 17:43

Once again Dave Z has beat me to the punch and is correct. The feature is called self-leveling headlights and it accomplishes two things:

1. It aims the beam as far as possible down the road so as to give you the most forward view.

2. Keeps the glare of the Xenons out of oncoming traffic.

I'll never forget how many times I got the high beam flash when I first took delivery of my 993 Coupe equipped with what Porsche calls Litronic lights. Those weren't self-leveling way back when!

When my tech and I installed the Dinan Stage III suspension we literally had to drop most of the front end to get the struts in place. The passenger side was turning out to be a ***** clearance wise so I used a cheater bar to gain a few more inches. Pop! The self-leveling control box mounted to the passenger side suspension had just broken. Not good. Driving home was touchy that night as clearly the lights were not adjusting as they should. Inside this little box are something like 360 tiny little teeth around an oval yaw control. Some might say that technology like this adds weight, blah, blah, blah. I say it's friggin' awesome!

The same yaw control is mounted to the passenger suspension in the rear. The arm that actuates the yaw control box is made of black plastic for all those who dig spotting these kinds of things while under the car. Oh, and the box itself is about half the size of a Snickers bar - couldn't think of any other analogy!

If you think the self-leveling feature comes in handy on the M5, you need to drive an X5 at night. Truly a marvel to behold!!!

Regards,

DWP