[switchman]

I'm looking to purchase a 2018 540i but can't figure out what codes indicate headlight came with the car. I see " 8S4 Variable Light Decoding" but don't see any that may refer to headlight. I tried different vin decoder but none would show complete list. There used to be a free one that clearly show what was built in the car years ago.

I made a big mistake purchasing my 2014 3er that only came with halogen lights, and now have to make sure i have either Xenon or LED.

Appreciate any help with this matter.

[PetieD 7]

Originally Posted by switchman

I'm looking to purchase a 2018 540i but can't figure out what codes indicate headlight came with the car. I see " 8S4 Variable Light Decoding" but don't see any that may refer to headlight. I tried different vin decoder but none would show complete list. There used to be a free one that clearly show what was built in the car years ago.

I made a big mistake purchasing my 2014 3er that only came with halogen lights, and now have to make sure i have either Xenon or LED.

Appreciate any help with this matter.

You need to look for the "Icon LED" adaptive headlights (S552).

[SteveinArizona]

552 is the icon adaptive headlights. But I believe that in 2018 all G30s came with standard LED headlights.

I was pretty confident that all of the 2018 G30s come with LEDs and I just confirmed that on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety web site:

https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle...oor-sedan/2018

However, as you can see, the standard LEDs get only marginal approval whereas the adaptive get good approvals. If your car shows as having the Executive Package or the Lighting package, you got the good stuff; otherwise you get LEDs but the ones with marginal performance (still better than the prior generation halogens).

I think that if you have the decoding, you probably have the adaptive lights as I don't believe that there is any reason to decode the standard lights.

[switchman]

PetieD 7, SteveinArizona

[Quote] 552 is the icon adaptive headlights. But I believe that in 2018 all G30s came with standard LED headlights.

Didn't see S552 option; I'll take generic LED anytime than halogen.

For a car with lots of options like Gesture control, HUD Active Blind Spot Detection and others, why would BMW not equipped with better lights ?

I recently drove a '20 X2 loaner which have LED headlights which I really like in comparison to my '15 X5 with Xenon.

Anyway, thanks for you guys's responses.
Going to check the car out soon.

[ejlover06]

Originally Posted by switchman

I'm looking to purchase a 2018 540i but can't figure out what codes indicate headlight came with the car. I see " 8S4 Variable Light Decoding" but don't see any that may refer to headlight. I tried different vin decoder but none would show complete list. There used to be a free one that clearly show what was built in the car years ago.

I made a big mistake purchasing my 2014 3er that only came with halogen lights, and now have to make sure i have either Xenon or LED.

Appreciate any help with this matter.

In addition to what the others said; if your VO has "8S4 Variable Light Decoding" it means that your car has Adaptive/ICON LED Headlights since basic LED headlights don't have variable lighting feature there was no need to include 8S4 in VO

[Qsilver7]

In regards to (free) online VIN decoding sites...I can think of two that are up and running now. But there is one difference than before...in the past you could use the last 7 digits of the VIN.

Now...for the two sites below...you need to enter all 17 VIN digits. and answer the CAPTCHA question/puzzle correctly:

1. http://bimmer.work/
2. https://www.mdecoder.com/

[Bob in IL]

Originally Posted by switchman

I'm looking to purchase a 2018 540i but can't figure out what codes indicate headlight came with the car. I see " 8S4 Variable Light Decoding" but don't see any that may refer to headlight. I tried different vin decoder but none would show complete list. There used to be a free one that clearly show what was built in the car years ago.

I made a big mistake purchasing my 2014 3er that only came with halogen lights, and now have to make sure i have either Xenon or LED.

Appreciate any help with this matter.

My first BMW was a 2014 F30 3 Series with halogens. They were terrible headlights. Aimed too low from the factory and borderline dangerous. Even after getting them aimed properly they were still subpar. It was my mistake for buying the car with them.

[AlteBMW]

Originally Posted by Bob in IL

My first BMW was a 2014 F30 3 Series with halogens. They were terrible headlights. Aimed too low from the factory and borderline dangerous. Even after getting them aimed properly they were still subpar. It was my mistake for buying the car with them.

Same here. I had a 2014 F31 that I bought used in 2017. Not a bad car but the halogen headlights were absolutely terrible I also felt borderline dangerous. When a demo '19 X3 was offered to me last year, I leapt at it even though I had only about 30,000 mi on the F31. I had stopped driving it at night.

[Warp Ten]

If you are buying a car from a BMW dealer, you can ask them to pull the Vehicle Inquiry form for the car. That gives a complete list of options on the car and the original retail price for the car and options.- If you are not buying from a BMW dealer but have a good relationship with one, a friendly salesman can do it for you. It won't, however, show standard equipment and you typically won't be able to see the invoice costs as mine shows, just the MSRP numbers. -Bob

[switchman]

Warp Ten,,,, we have similar options except you have the M Sport brakes which I bought would be included in M Sport package. I have been on the lookout for cars optioned with M Sport brakes but had not seen one.
I got the car last week and I'm happy with it except audio system. I have HK sounds on my X5, standard hifi does not even come close to it.

[FoxberryJam]

Originally Posted by Ludovik

Hello, I have bought used BMWs several times and fortunately there were no problems with the cars.

that truly is fortunate...