[poldim]

From the manual

Originally Posted by September Manual Update, Page 93

Adjusting sensitivity
You can program how sensitively the system
reacts to ambient light.
iDrive concept, refer to page 16.
1. Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2. Press the controller to open the menu.
3. Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller.

From that, I think that the sensitive setting will turn on your lights in brighter conditions, and the normal setting will hold off until its a bit darker.




You can program how sensitively the system reacts to ambient light:
> "Sensitive"
> "Normal"
> "Slower"

[E90Fleet]

Eversince BMW have installed light sensors the "Sensitive" position has meant it is more sensitive to infra red light, thus would turn on lights later

I cannot see that they have changed this in the E90

"Slower" should mean its slower to react to change from dark to light, so lights will stay on longer

[rlc]

I have a non IDrive October 2005 production 330i with Xenons. I also feel the lights are coming on in lighting that does not require headlamps.

My Owners Manual states on page 76:

"The low beams remain switched on independent of the ambient lighting conditions when you switch on the fog lamps. When the daytime driving lamps are activated the low beam headlamps are always switched on when the switch is in the AUTO position and the ignition is on."

As far as I can tell from RTFM there is no mention of a way for the owner to adjust the sensitivity for the headlamp activation on the non IDrive cars. I'm checking with my SA on this tomorrow.

[poldim]

Originally Posted by rlc

I have a non IDrive October 2005 production 330i with Xenons. I also feel the lights are coming on in lighting that does not require headlamps.

My Owners Manual states on page 76:

"The low beams remain switched on independent of the ambient lighting conditions when you switch on the fog lamps. When the daytime driving lamps are activated the low beam headlamps are always switched on when the switch is in the AUTO position and the ignition is on."

As far as I can tell from RTFM there is no mention of a way for the owner to adjust the sensitivity for the headlamp activation on the non IDrive cars. I'm checking with my SA on this tomorrow.

That sucks. That why I like the fact that I did get iDrive. Excluding the obvious facts that it works.

Maybe its one of the things you can adjust of the dealer set up form. Its around on the forum somewhere.

[ThreeBimm]

From day 1 if mine go on they stay on until the engine is shut off. Even if I manually shut the lights to the off position and then turn it back to auto they will go back on if I haven't turned the engine off. I have an Oct '05 build with no iDrive and no xenons. I would love to change the sesitivity if I can figure it out.

[2006bmw]

Mine don't go ON if I start in bright daylight, but don't turn off. This is definitely new, they used to go off as soon as I left the garage on a bright day. Fog lights aren't on and DRL is not on either. In all honesty, I hope this is the biggest problem I'm going to have with this car.

[rlc]

Originally Posted by 2006bmw

Mine don't go ON if I start in bright daylight, but don't turn off. This is definitely new, they used to go off as soon as I left the garage on a bright day. Fog lights aren't on and DRL is not on either. In all honesty, I hope this is the biggest problem I'm going to have with this car.

I have the exact same problem and feel exactly the way you do...if these are our only problems I feel fortunate.

When I had DRL activated, often the running lights would come on, but once the lighting triggered the low beam headlights they would stay on until the car is shut down. The same is occurring with DRL NOT activated.....once the low beams come they don't turn off even in bright light.

I just talked to my SA and he says it can be adjusted at the dealer (hooked up to the computer) but there is no owner adjustable setting (non I-Drive).

Mine used to work, but now they stay on almost all the time. So, to answer your question, yes, I too have experienced the exact same problem you describe.

[poldim]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Eversince BMW have installed light sensors the "Sensitive" position has meant it is more sensitive to infra red light, thus would turn on lights later

I cannot see that they have changed this in the E90

"Slower" should mean its slower to react to change from dark to light, so lights will stay on longer

Tested it out today and I was correct. The sensitive setting makes them more sensitive to the light conditions and turns them on earlier.


Maybe they changed from what you last heard.

[rlc]

I got my car updated to CIP 20.1 today and it has helped with the auto headlight problem. Interestingly, the tech said that before the update the headlights were set at 'Normal' which is the lowest sensitivity level, and AFTER the update the setting is still 'Normal' but the system works much better. See the attached bulletin he provided for an explanation.....

Also, the software update did not solve the problem with the BMW BT receiver dropping Call1 when you accept Call2 with call waiting. The SA said this is a known problem - is not phone specific - and there is no fix available yet.

[JamieA]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Its supposed to be how sensitive they are to Infra red light

The more sensitive it is the later they will turn on because it still sees enough light to stay off when it becomes slightly dark

Sorry Fleet, but my actual experience with my car is the opposite to what you say. The sensitive option turns them on sooner, and the slower turns them on later. This is also what my dealer tells me.

This seems entirely logical to me, as I don't think (like most people I guess) in terms of infra-red light. Perhaps BMW have changed their nomenclature for the E90 after customer feedback.

[poldim]

According to that bulletin, my car works in the opposite way as I tested it as stated above.

[JamieA]

The names of the settings are different in the bulletin than on iDrive, but their positions on the bulletin list correspond with what the iDrive does.

I think E90fleet is working with the BMW "inside" view, not the user interface that is presented in iDrive. It looks to me that the service bulletin is referring to infra-red sensitivity which would make sense to engineers, but the iDrive is programmed with names that mean something to normal people like me, who don't car how the car does it's job with the headlights, as long as it does it reliably.

[cannonspike22]

i can't believe so many other members have this same problem; i thought i was the only one. as others have said, the lights turn on when car is in the garage, and remains on even after driving out into broad daylight. i hope bmw can have this fixed soon....its really pissing me off.

[2006bmw]

A short while after my original post, the lights are back to functioning like they should. ?????????????????

P.S. Just how lazy have we all gotten that we can't be bothered to turn on our own headlights and windshield wipers or take the keys out of our pockets?

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by JamieA

Sorry Fleet, but my actual experience with my car is the opposite to what you say. The sensitive option turns them on sooner, and the slower turns them on later. This is also what my dealer tells me.

This seems entirely logical to me, as I don't think (like most people I guess) in terms of infra-red light. Perhaps BMW have changed their nomenclature for the E90 after customer feedback.

Yes, ive always read the same as what it says in the bulletin posted above where it says the "Very Sensitive" setting will make the lights go on 1/2hour later and go off 1/2 hour sooner

[SCA]

I guess non-iDrive vehicles can not access this? i.e., E46, E53, E83, E85, and E90

[ShinyRedCar]

Originally Posted by JamieA

My lights usually go off as soon as I leave the garage...Lately they either don't come on when they should or come on when they shouldn't... I just go to manual mode, but it kind of defeats the purpose of having something which is supposed to be automatic if it doesn't work reliably.

I have had the same thing happen with my car. It can be pretty bright and still the lights will be on and other times they will be off. My only real gripe about this is that I live in central California where the fog can be very dangerous at times (like you can't see the lines in the road in front of you)...yet the lights won't come on! I just go to manual mode. I agree with Jamie though...kind of defeats the purpose.

[rlc]

Originally Posted by JamieA

...I just go to manual mode, but it kind of defeats the purpose of having something which is supposed to be automatic if it doesn't work reliably.

Another consideration is that the Adaptive Headlight feature does not operate if the switch is not it the 'Automatic' position. If you are using 'Manual' mode during daylight to defeat the lights remember to go back to Auto to get the adaptive feature back when you want the lights on.

This is not a problem that's hard to work around, but it's also not a problem I should HAVE TO work around. My car got updated to CIP 20.1 the other day and the auto headlight function seems to work much better - but still not as well as it does on our 2004 Volvo S80.

Just set mine to "slow" and now they seem to work fine. I originally changed them from "normal" to "sensitive" because they were on during the day, thinking it would be more sensitive to light and therefore not come on early. Doh!

[roburado]

Originally Posted by rlc

Another consideration is that the Adaptive Headlight feature does not operate if the switch is not it the 'Automatic' position. If you are using 'Manual' mode during daylight to defeat the lights remember to go back to Auto to get the adaptive feature back when you want the lights on.

What? That's ludicrous that it doesn't work in manual mode.

[JamieA]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Yes, ive always read the same as what it says in the bulletin posted above where it says the "Very Sensitive" setting will make the lights go on 1/2hour later and go off 1/2 hour sooner

So what I am saying about the iDrive options is correct then, because you are speaking BMW internal speak, not the user interface that is presented to the driver...