135i non-zenon headlamp (next to grill) operation question...

[Fun w/N54]

So I hit a deer a few months back and both headlamp assemblies were replaced and programmed. Under most cases the rings and zenons work as expected, however ever once in a while the smaller lamp next to the grill will illuminate for a short period of time then go out. I've seen this in both lamps but never at the same time.

I did looked in the manual but nothing jumped out at me.

Thoughts?

[panoz7]

Those are the adaptive cornering lights. They'll light up at low speeds when you're turning. They also light up when you're in reverse. They seem too dim to really do much, but I guess they must serve some sort of purpose.

[Fun w/N54]

Not sure that's it...I mostly see one of them ON when waiting at a stop light from the reflection on the car in front of me with wheel facing straight. Car has no fog/driving lights and I just assumed the second lens was for the hi-beam on non xenon 1 series.

Thanks.

[tracer bullet]

It's working like they all do. You hit the turn signal it'll come on. You don't turn very soon it'll go back off. Start an actual turn and it'll come back on.

Do a little searching here on how they work, you'll find you are fine.

[AW128i]

The inner lights on the adaptive headlights (which all 135i's have) are the cornering lights. They come on when you put on the corresponding turn signal (I think the turn signal activates them) and/or when the steering wheel is turned. If you sit still and turn the steering wheel back and forth, you'll see the lights go on and off as you turn the wheel.

[1SerieStud]

If you see one on and your wheel is not turned, you probably have come to a stop with a turning signal engaged (which is why you see it on the car's reflection in front of you, and it should turn off after a few seconds). They also illuminate when you turn the wheel (only the one on the side your wheel is turned to), and both illuminate while in reverse.

[Another135i]

From BMW:

Cornering lights

Cornering lights provide additional illumination of the area to the side of the vehicle, making night-time parking and turning safer.

Cornering lights compliment the functionality of Adaptive Headlights. While Adaptive Headlights provide superior illumination of curves when driving at normal speeds, cornering lights give you better lighting when carrying out low-speed manoeuvres: parking, turning into a driveway, u-turns and taking extremely winding roads, for example.

To provide this additional light, the fog lamps are fitted with integrated swivelling reflectors; alternatively, the headlights are equipped with an additional lamp. When the indicator is activated at speeds below 40 km/h, these lights illuminate an area to the side of the vehicle, up to 80° of the direction of travel.
After the corner is taken, the cornering lights dim and extinguish automatically. Cornering lights also facilitate safe reversing: when reverse gear is selected, both the left and right lights illuminate the area around the vehicle.

[Fun w/N54]

Huh...and here I thought the Xenons were the adaptive ones since they do that little up-down dance when they come on.

Thanks to all.