Thoughts on automatic headlights and headlight washers? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Clem · 1st February 2006, 19:14

Did my due diligence and all I found is questions on adding automatic headlights. So here is my question:

The 2003 Beast has an "option" to use automatic headlights when you have the dial turned all the way to the left.

Now my problem when it is broad daylight the lights don't turn off. Doesn't that kind of render the term "automatic" useless? The manual states that the lights should go off in bright conditions and should turn on at night, in tunnels etc.... Am I missing something? Does the dealer need to set something? My lights are on all the time.

Now regarding the windshield washer... Any time I pull the stalk towards me the normal windshield washer jets go off but so do the headlamp washers. In my E46 the headlmap washers only went off after the windshield washers had been activated 5 times. Is this something I need to get checked out?

It is my unterstanding that pushing the button on the stalk on the wiper/washer stalk is the "power" wash option. Which is obvious since the windshield washer jets spray for a few seconds so I know I'm not using the wrong feature.

Michael_s · 1st February 2006, 19:23

Clem,

something sounds wrong with the lights. I have mine set to automatic and they only come on when its dark (or getting dark) tunnels, etc. They should not be on during bright sun.

As to the washer, the lights get cleaned once in a while when pulling the stalk (maybe the 5X you mentioned) but all the time when I do the power wash.

Not sure if this is helpful just my experience.

Michael

Clem · 1st February 2006, 19:30

Thanks Michael.

Looks like I've got an issue with my auto lights and my washer system. Thanks God I still have warranty till '07.

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Anzir · 1st February 2006, 19:59

I thought the headlight washers only activate when the headlights are on as well. I'm not sure if there is any formula for that or not. On my previous A4, they would pop up each time the stalk was pulled as long as the lights were on.

mottati · 1st February 2006, 20:44

are your fog lights on? Turing the fog lights on overrides the 'auto' function, since the car assumes it's foggy, the lights stay on. The auto function is only really auto if the fogs are off. If your fog lamps are off, there is something wrong.

The washers should work about every fifth time you pull the washers with the headlamps on, according to the manual. My car seems to follow this, the headlamp washers do not work each time.
Mike

gsfent · 1st February 2006, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clem

Did my due diligence and all I found is questions on adding automatic headlights. So here is my question:

The 2003 Beast has an "option" to use automatic headlights when you have the dial turned all the way to the left.

Now my problem when it is broad daylight the lights don't turn off. Doesn't that kind of render the term "automatic" useless? The manual states that the lights should go off in bright conditions and should turn on at night, in tunnels etc.... Am I missing something? Does the dealer need to set something? My lights are on all the time.

.

Don't Canadian cars have DRL's? Are you sure it is the headlights that are on, and not the reduced current DRL's?
Regards,
Jerry

Clem · 1st February 2006, 21:32

Interesting notions guys....

Canadian cars do have DRLs.

My foglights are on. I will retry the auto feature with the foglights off next time I am in the car.

Seems as though I do have an issue with the headlamp washers going off everytime the stalk is pulled. I don't think the headlights being on would affect this. Maybe I'm wrong.

jclyman · 1st February 2006, 22:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clem

Interesting notions guys....

Canadian cars do have DRLs.

My foglights are on. I will retry the auto feature with the foglights off next time I am in the car.

Seems as though I do have an issue with the headlamp washers going off everytime the stalk is pulled. I don't think the headlights being on would affect this. Maybe I'm wrong.

I believe the headlight washers go on every 5th time you use the regular washers when the headlights are on ... basically, mottati is exactly correct. My auto headlights work as advertised and I NEVER touch them ... not sure about my headlight washers, but I have to rotate the wiper dial every time I turn on the car for the auto wipers to work ... If I follow that procedure, they also work as advertised.

Clem · 2nd February 2006, 01:28

Ok haven't figured out the washer issue yet but the auto headlight problem was with the foglights. With the fogs on the headlights are defaulted on all the time in "auto mode"

Thanks for everyone's help.

Ag Surfer · 2nd February 2006, 02:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by mottati

are your fog lights on? Turing the fog lights on overrides the 'auto' function, since the car assumes it's foggy, the lights stay on. The auto function is only really auto if the fogs are off. If your fog lamps are off, there is something wrong.

The washers should work about every fifth time you pull the washers with the headlamps on, according to the manual. My car seems to follow this, the headlamp washers do not work each time.
Mike

+1

Stickman · 2nd February 2006, 18:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clem

My foglights are on.

Sorry to hear that it is always so foggy up there!

AWBoy · 1st August 2006, 06:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stickman

Sorry to hear that it is always so foggy up there!

I'm glad I found this thread and read about the fogs! I couldn't figure out why my auto headlights weren't turning off! Now I know.

And E39s look much better with the fogs on at night FYI!