auto lights on in bright sunshine!?

mroll320 · 08-09-2012, 05:25 PM

We`re enjoying a few days sun in the UK, rather mystifying my lights are coming on in the brightest of sunshine! Any ideas or is it trip to the dealer?

thanx Martyn

ibimmer954 · 08-09-2012, 05:29 PM

My headlights occasionally turn on in the middle of the day if I go under a bridge. And then they don't turn off.

The X Men · 08-09-2012, 06:08 PM

Do you have something covering the light sensor?

MMVI · 08-09-2012, 11:45 PM

There is nothing you can do, it's bloody stupid and annoying.

AC_S5 · 08-10-2012, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMVI

There is nothing you can do, it's bloody stupid and annoying.

There's something you can do, turn it out of the A position.

I never like auto headlamps, always turn on by itself at the wrong time. They never get it right, perhaps that's why they allow you to turn it off manually.

vdubturbo · 08-10-2012, 07:20 AM

There's a whole thread on this somewhere. I believe the sensor uses UV light or something to detect on/off, as well as an algorithm for determining on/off cycles for time of day, etc...

The X Men · 08-10-2012, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vdubturbo

There's a whole thread on this somewhere. I believe the sensor uses UV light or something to detect on/off, as well as an algorithm for determining on/off cycles for time of day, etc...

Where is the sensor?

Alan l. · 08-10-2012, 09:48 AM

On my E90 the sensor is at the base of the rear view mirror.

gspannu · 08-10-2012, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mroll320

We`re enjoying a few days sun in the UK, rather mystifying my lights are coming on in the brightest of sunshine! Any ideas or is it trip to the dealer?

thanx Martyn

I've seen my previous E46, E92 and now the F10 do the same. I guess it has to do with the sun angle. Mine always seem to turn on in bright light, but generally when the sun is low in the horizon.

Most summer days (i.e. bright summer days, unlike this year's wet summer) I see this each time I'm driving early morning or late evening on straight clear country roads. The sun is super bright, but the lights come on.

I had spoken to the dealer (many many years back, the time of E46) on this and he said the lights turned on in such situations for additional safety in case of low sun glare...

The X Men · 08-10-2012, 11:51 AM

Is the sensitivity of the sensor adjustable?

SomeRandomer123 · 08-10-2012, 03:31 PM

My F30 does this in bright sunlight. It's a safety feature so other road users can see you more easily when there is a lot of glare. You guys aren't having issues.

Needsdecaf · 08-11-2012, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMVI

There is nothing you can do, it's bloody stupid and annoying.

Yes, you can. There is a global software update that was introduced in March and it addresses this issue (although it doesn't say it on the description).

I had it for my throttle lag and it totally solved the issue of the daytime headlights.

shiner · 08-11-2012, 02:56 PM

Other than it clearly being dark outside, I have no idea what causes the lights to turn on when in auto mode. Sometimes in brilliant sunshine they are on, and then when its quite dusky they are off and I have to manually force them on.

Odd. As always with these auto gizmos, common sense from the guy in charge, i.e. the driver required!

Scottish John · 08-12-2012, 04:57 AM

I was told by dealer if you purchased sun strip on front windscreen it may effect the sensor, i smell bull s*it but that is one theory.

SomeRandomer123 · 08-12-2012, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirkster

Other than it clearly being dark outside, I have no idea what causes the lights to turn on when in auto mode. Sometimes in brilliant sunshine they are on, and then when its quite dusky they are off and I have to manually force them on.

Odd. As always with these auto gizmos, common sense from the guy in charge, i.e. the driver required!

Read my post above!! It's a safety feature.

Needsdecaf · 08-12-2012, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SomeRandomer123

Read my post above!! It's a safety feature.

No, it's bad programming.

Not sure why people don't want to listen but I'll make it clear. My car, an early 2011 build, exhibited the same behavior as above. On in bright sunlight. Not on when it was dark. Never shutting off after coming out of garages, etc.

My car has gotten the global software update that was available in March of 2012 and now the lights work perfectly.

mroll320 · 08-15-2012, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

No, it's bad programming.

Not sure why people don't want to listen but I'll make it clear. My car, an early 2011 build, exhibited the same behavior as above. On in bright sunlight. Not on when it was dark. Never shutting off after coming out of garages, etc.

My car has gotten the global software update that was available in March of 2012 and now the lights work perfectly.

Mines an 11 too... software update required then, thanx all!

08-09-2012, 05:25 PM	#1
mroll320 Private First Class 6 Rep 120 Posts Drives: 530d Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: uk iTrader: (0)	auto lights on in bright sunshine!? We`re enjoying a few days sun in the UK, rather mystifying my lights are coming on in the brightest of sunshine! Any ideas or is it trip to the dealer? thanx Martyn __________________ diesel rules!
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08-09-2012, 05:29 PM	#2
ibimmer954 Major 138 Rep 1,424 Posts Drives: '23 i4 M50, '15 M3, '18 911 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego, California, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW M3 [9.75] 2023 BMW i4 M50 [0.00] 2018 Porsche 911 C4S [0.00] 2019 BMW X4 M40i [0.00]	My headlights occasionally turn on in the middle of the day if I go under a bridge. And then they don't turn off.
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08-09-2012, 06:08 PM	#3
The X Men Colonel 99 Rep 2,323 Posts Drives: 2013 X3 35i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	Do you have something covering the light sensor?
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08-09-2012, 11:45 PM	#4
MMVI Lieutenant 79 Rep 449 Posts Drives: 4 something Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	There is nothing you can do, it's bloody stupid and annoying.
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08-10-2012, 07:20 AM	#6
vdubturbo Second Lieutenant 42 Rep 299 Posts Drives: E90, E36, 997 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ATL iTrader: (0)	There's a whole thread on this somewhere. I believe the sensor uses UV light or something to detect on/off, as well as an algorithm for determining on/off cycles for time of day, etc...
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08-10-2012, 09:48 AM	#8
Alan l. Major General 5449 Rep 8,815 Posts Drives: 2020 F95 X5M Competition Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: United States iTrader: (9)	On my E90 the sensor is at the base of the rear view mirror. __________________
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08-10-2012, 11:51 AM	#10
The X Men Colonel 99 Rep 2,323 Posts Drives: 2013 X3 35i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	Is the sensitivity of the sensor adjustable?
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08-10-2012, 03:31 PM	#11
SomeRandomer123 Colonel 306 Rep 2,612 Posts Drives: F30 328i Luxury - Sport Auto Join Date: May 2011 Location: Lancashire, North West England, UK iTrader: (0)	My F30 does this in bright sunlight. It's a safety feature so other road users can see you more easily when there is a lot of glare. You guys aren't having issues. __________________ Gone: 2006 BMW E60 520d SE 6MT Gone: 2009 BMW E90-LCI 330d SE 6MT Current: 2012 F30 328i Luxury 8AT On Order: 2015 Audi A6 Avant Ultra, Black Edition (sorry!)
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08-11-2012, 02:56 PM	#13
shiner First Lieutenant 44 Rep 327 Posts Drives: 535D MSport Touring Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Nottingham iTrader: (0)	Other than it clearly being dark outside, I have no idea what causes the lights to turn on when in auto mode. Sometimes in brilliant sunshine they are on, and then when its quite dusky they are off and I have to manually force them on. Odd. As always with these auto gizmos, common sense from the guy in charge, i.e. the driver required!
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08-12-2012, 04:57 AM	#14
Scottish John Irvine John 8 Rep 33 Posts Drives: F10 Alpine White M sport auto Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland iTrader: (0)	I was told by dealer if you purchased sun strip on front windscreen it may effect the sensor, i smell bull s*it but that is one theory. __________________ I'm on a whisky diet. I've lost three days already.
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