Light beams too low?

PGabriel · 03-30-2012, 08:02 PM

The front light beams of my M3 seem to light a shorter area in front of the car, than any other cars I've owned before. It even makes me feel insecure when driving at night.

Any thoughts?

SchnellM3 · 03-30-2012, 08:07 PM

Did you do any suspension mods that lowered the car? They may just need to be adjusted....

gblansten · 03-30-2012, 08:26 PM

Check this out:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...=adjust+lights

I did this as well...but I still find the lights drop down too much when going down a hill. I would prefer them to shine forward more and bounce less.

prubin · 03-30-2012, 08:59 PM

I had to crank my headlight adjustment about 5 turns counter-clockwise to get them to a reasonable position.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblansten

Check this out:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...=adjust+lights

I did this as well...but I still find the lights drop down too much when going down a hill. I would prefer them to shine forward more and bounce less.

PGabriel · 03-30-2012, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblansten

Check this out:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...=adjust+lights

I did this as well...but I still find the lights drop down too much when going down a hill. I would prefer them to shine forward more and bounce less.

I'll try that, thanks a lot!

Peahi · 03-30-2012, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGabriel

The front light beams of my M3 seem to light a shorter area in front of the car, than any other cars I've owned before. It even makes me feel insecure when driving at night.

Any thoughts?

I agree. I'm always on the lookout for damn tire shreds and other crap on the road....or god forbid a deer and other sources of disaster. At night, to compensate, when there aren't other people to blind on the road, I fire up the high beams. I don't have auto high beams, so I'm constantly adjusting the lighting situation so to speak.

DARK_M3 · 03-31-2012, 02:26 AM

Maybe the auto leveling feature is not working properly? I find the back and forth movement around turns to be quite distracting and could live without that gimmick.

Rshane · 03-31-2012, 04:01 AM

I used those knobs to raise my lights. They aim too low from the factory IMO.

MKE_M3 · 03-31-2012, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DARK_M3

Maybe the auto leveling feature is not working properly? I find the back and forth movement around turns to be quite distracting and could live without that gimmick.

I have long curvy poorly lit drivway at my work. I love the turning headlight feature, it really helps, it that situation anyway.

Tony B · 03-31-2012, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DARK_M3

Maybe the auto leveling feature is not working properly? I find the back and forth movement around turns to be quite distracting and could live without that gimmick.

If you are talking about the lateral movement that happens when you turn the steering wheel, that is to do with adaptive headlights and not auto levelling.

I find it very effective.

If you think it is a gimmick, you can always turn adaptive off. In idrive, or maybe the auto-on position, I forget which.

To the OP question - yes the "official" headlight hight setting is way too low.

I adjusted mine upwards significantly about 4 months ago. Many night hours later I have not had a single angry flasher incident from other road users, so my setting cant be too bad.

THE TECH · 03-31-2012, 09:21 AM

I definitely need to adjust mine.

DARK_M3 · 03-31-2012, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony B

If you are talking about the lateral movement that happens when you turn the steering wheel, that is to do with adaptive headlights and not auto levelling.

I find it very effective.

If you think it is a gimmick, you can always turn adaptive off. In idrive, or maybe the auto-on position, I forget which.

To the OP question - yes the "official" headlight hight setting is way too low.

I adjusted mine upwards significantly about 4 months ago. Many night hours later I have not had a single angry flasher incident from other road users, so my setting cant be too bad.

Holy shit!! I can turn that annoying thing off?! I love this car. Is there anything idrive can't do? Haha

The lights in "auto" mode doesn't seem to change anything.

OC3 · 03-31-2012, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGabriel

The front light beams of my M3 seem to light a shorter area in front of the car, than any other cars I've owned before. It even makes me feel insecure when driving at night.

Any thoughts?

Yes they are too low. Easy enough to adjust/raise the beams, though.

Tony B · 03-31-2012, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DARK_M3

Holy shit!! I can turn that annoying thing off?! I love this car. Is there anything idrive can't do? Haha

The lights in "auto" mode doesn't seem to change anything.

If we are talking about the adaptive function it is only active if you put the main light switch in "Auto", i.e. the switch position to the left of "off". Normal lights on, second position to the right of "off" will not give you the adaptive function, regardless of any settings in idrive...if there are any settings in idrive on this topic....I forget now...

M3PO · 04-02-2012, 02:46 PM

I need to adjust mine. They are pretty low. It usually doesn't matter because I am in urban areas that are well lit but it's kinda scary in rural areas.

03-30-2012, 08:02 PM	#1
PGabriel Enlisted Member Drives: M3 E90 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Brazil Posts: 42 iTrader: (0)	Light beams too low? The front light beams of my M3 seem to light a shorter area in front of the car, than any other cars I've owned before. It even makes me feel insecure when driving at night. Any thoughts?
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03-30-2012, 08:07 PM	#2
SchnellM3 Digger Drives: 03 E46 M3, 09 E92 M3, 09 X6 50 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pa Posts: 2,606 iTrader: (4) Garage List 2003 BMW E46 M3 Tra ... [4.00] 2009 BMW E92 M3 [4.17] 2009 Yamaha R1 (FOR ... [4.75]	Did you do any suspension mods that lowered the car? They may just need to be adjusted.... __________________ 2009 E92 M3 /// Melbourne Red /// Fox Red /// M DKG Full Innotech Exhaust - DINAN Intake - IND Engine Bay Appearance - IND Hand Stitched Boot Covers - and much more....

03-31-2012, 04:01 AM	#8
Rshane M-Flight Member Drives: 2011 E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Geilenkirchen, Germany Posts: 1,063 iTrader: (0)	I used those knobs to raise my lights. They aim too low from the factory IMO. __________________ 2011 Le Mans Blue M3// Black extended Novillo w/ Blue Grey Aluminum trim/DCT/ZTP/ZCW/ZPP/ZCP Premium Sound ///Akrapovic Evolution Exhaust 2012 Le Mans Blue 135i M Pkg DCT 2008 Brilliant Red Audi TT 3.2 Quattro 6M

03-31-2012, 09:21 AM	#11
THE TECH BimmerPost Supporting Vendor Drives: BPMsport 2012 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kansas Posts: 12,076 iTrader: (39)	I definitely need to adjust mine. __________________ Check us out on Facebook at BPMsportlabs

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03-30-2012, 08:26 PM	#3
gblansten Captain Obvious Drives: 2011 BMW M3 SSII/Black Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Thick ascending limb Posts: 1,288 iTrader: (0)	Check this out: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...=adjust+lights I did this as well...but I still find the lights drop down too much when going down a hill. I would prefer them to shine forward more and bounce less.

03-31-2012, 02:26 AM	#7
DARK_M3 Banned Drives: 08 E90, 89 Grand Wagoneer Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: So Cal Posts: 1,294 iTrader: (3)	Maybe the auto leveling feature is not working properly? I find the back and forth movement around turns to be quite distracting and could live without that gimmick.

04-02-2012, 02:46 PM	#15
M3PO Colonel Drives: '08 IB E92 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: OC Posts: 2,244 iTrader: (6)	I need to adjust mine. They are pretty low. It usually doesn't matter because I am in urban areas that are well lit but it's kinda scary in rural areas.