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      05-01-2021, 04:57 PM   #1
greuntesop
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Cornering lights with adaptive lights

Hi, I’m considering to move from an E class to a 5 series. One thing I love on my current car are the matrix lights. I did read that BMW’s tech is a bit inferior so I’m doubting to go for it.

Does anybody here know if the standard LED lights have cornering lights? The brochure only mentions it with the adaptive ones.

Also, do the adaptive ones really adapt the beam depending on you driving on highway, in fog, in rain etc.

I’m afraid this ‘adaptive’ is just the same I had on my 3 series 8 years ago: basically being able to split the beam (xenon at the time). But none of the wizardry of my Merc.
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      05-01-2021, 07:19 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by greuntesop View Post
Hi, I’m considering to move from an E class to a 5 series. One thing I love on my current car are the matrix lights. I did read that BMW’s tech is a bit inferior so I’m doubting to go for it.

Does anybody here know if the standard LED lights have cornering lights? The brochure only mentions it with the adaptive ones.

Also, do the adaptive ones really adapt the beam depending on you driving on highway, in fog, in rain etc.

I’m afraid this ‘adaptive’ is just the same I had on my 3 series 8 years ago: basically being able to split the beam (xenon at the time). But none of the wizardry of my Merc.
I think they are on the non adaptive, but I would need someone to back me up on that. In the US, adaptive is standard.
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      05-02-2021, 07:14 AM   #3
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If you have it coded for anti dazzle and variable light distribution this will turn on the cornering lights. It's coded for certain markets from the factory for certain markets but not the US. This is a very popular coding and will run you $120 bucks or so. Pretty much everything else can be coded yourself with Bimmercode which is $30 bucks.

I have not had my lights coded. I'm still debating whether I really care as I don't drive at night all that much and the stock LEDs are already pretty strong.

The one thing about the coding. To turn this feature on, you have to hit the auto high beam button with every start up which is why I will probably pass.
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      05-02-2021, 08:55 AM   #4
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But the DLR signature is also different? That would indicate that the unit itself is different?
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      05-02-2021, 09:04 AM   #5
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Is the cornering lights where if the road curves it lights up that direction? This happens on my adaptive leds (2021 LCI). A separate light does this.
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      05-02-2021, 10:57 AM   #6
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According to the OP side bar he is in the UK. So he won't need to do VL Decoding as that should be standard for him.

My understanding is BMW Adaptive Lights are inferior to MB offering, but we don't get either one fully fleshed out here in the US so few have any first hand comparison experience.

Either way, I wouldn't go with the base headlights if the fully adaptive aren't standard in the UK. As I think you'll be disappointed entirely. Additionally, I would test drive the car and be sure it is fully adaptive as I didn't see steering adaptation on a MY2021 loaner I had which is a major step back IMHO. I don't know if that is an unwritten change for BMW or if it is due to component shortages...
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      05-02-2021, 11:12 AM   #7
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I have a uk spec car 2018 g30 with adaptive main beam headlights. They work by having a motor move a mirror so that the beam swings around vehicles in front and oncoming. They are not the same as matrix headlights where some leds do not illuminate to avoid vehicles.

With the BMW system you get full light output all the time just redirected.

They are an expensive option £1k but irreplaceable IMHO. T his was one of the few options I specced. If you live in a city don't bother as they only come on about 37mph. Below that on auto the lamps default to low beam automatically.

Vehicle also has cornering lights which is a separate light and motor. Big clue is the word adaptive etched in the glass and a led bar indicator.

Any worries? Yes failure of unit or accident. About £3k each
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      05-02-2021, 01:08 PM   #8
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My old f10 535xi had Xeon headlights, and had the cornering lights, so I wouldn't be surprised if the standard led lights also have them.
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      05-02-2021, 05:03 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LogicalApex View Post
According to the OP side bar he is in the UK. So he won't need to do VL Decoding as that should be standard for him.

My understanding is BMW Adaptive Lights are inferior to MB offering, but we don't get either one fully fleshed out here in the US so few have any first hand comparison experience.

Either way, I wouldn't go with the base headlights if the fully adaptive aren't standard in the UK. As I think you'll be disappointed entirely. Additionally, I would test drive the car and be sure it is fully adaptive as I didn't see steering adaptation on a MY2021 loaner I had which is a major step back IMHO. I don't know if that is an unwritten change for BMW or if it is due to component shortages...
I totally missed that, typical American, assume everyone is from here😉
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      05-03-2021, 12:37 PM   #10
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Thanks all!

So I'm guessing no show-y sequence when starting up the car or curtain like animation when it goes to full beam? Neither of which are useful obviously, but cool in my Merc :-)
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      05-03-2021, 07:56 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by greuntesop View Post
Thanks all!

So I'm guessing no show-y sequence when starting up the car or curtain like animation when it goes to full beam? Neither of which are useful obviously, but cool in my Merc :-)
Just the basic welcome lights when unlocking the car, and goodbye lights when locking.
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      05-04-2021, 02:02 PM   #12
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Going to chime in here, although not sure if that’s of any value since I am in US and OP is in Europe.

On my old 2018 540 I had Adaptive Full LED package (or whatever it was called back then). I would turn the wheel while driving and the beam of light would visibly change direction to match the steering wheel. I could clearly see the path of light moving as I was coming out of a corner. I do not see that behavior on the 2021 model (obviously US specs). I get that MY21 uses some matrix tech but the light does not visibly follow the steering wheel as I get out of the corner. In MY18 model I could easily replicate this use case by pulling closely to a wall and turning the wheel left and right by say 30 degrees (not all the way) and the headlight beam would follow the steering wheel motion. MY21 does not do that. Light remains static despite the steering wheel movement.

Now, I am NOT talking about turning the wheel all the way to the right or left while the car is parked or at a very slow speed. That works exactly the same on MY21 as it was on MY18. Car is parked, I turn the wheel all the way to the right or left and I see the side of the car gets illuminated more. That happens ONLY if I turn the wheel all the way to left or right.

So no idea how matrix tech works, but I definitely do not see headlight beam changing direction while I am driving, something that was easily noticeable on MY18.
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      05-04-2021, 02:16 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by COBodom View Post
Going to chime in here, although not sure if that’s of any value since I am in US and OP is in Europe.

On my old 2018 540 I had Adaptive Full LED package (or whatever it was called back then). I would turn the wheel while driving and the beam of light would visibly change direction to match the steering wheel. I could clearly see the path of light moving as I was coming out of a corner. I do not see that behavior on the 2021 model (obviously US specs). I get that MY21 uses some matrix tech but the light does not visibly follow the steering wheel as I get out of the corner. In MY18 model I could easily replicate this use case by pulling closely to a wall and turning the wheel left and right by say 30 degrees (not all the way) and the headlight beam would follow the steering wheel motion. MY21 does not do that. Light remains static despite the steering wheel movement.

Now, I am NOT talking about turning the wheel all the way to the right or left while the car is parked or at a very slow speed. That works exactly the same on MY21 as it was on MY18. Car is parked, I turn the wheel all the way to the right or left and I see the side of the car gets illuminated more. That happens ONLY if I turn the wheel all the way to left or right.

So no idea how matrix tech works, but I definitely do not see headlight beam changing direction while I am driving, something that was easily noticeable on MY18.
That's an unfortunate regression in MY2021 and it is unknown why currently that's the case. Is it due to part shortages? Is it due to a decision to redesign the light and remove this feature more generally?

For MY2020 and earlier all headlights on the G30 (in the US at least) were steering adaptive where the headlight would turn with the wheel and near the maximum steering angle (or with the turn signal) you'd get the cornering lights activating to enhance the visibility around corners.
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      05-05-2021, 08:29 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by COBodom View Post

So no idea how matrix tech works, but I definitely do not see headlight beam changing direction while I am driving, something that was easily noticeable on MY18.
So on my current car with Matrix lights, this happens by adding some elements in the matrix :-) So say you turn right, you see the beam widening to the right. There aren't any parts moving, it can just add/remove certain areas. It's quite smart actually, if there is a traffic sign that reflects too hard, it'll dim down that specific area.

I've always been told that this kind of wizardry isn't allowed in the US?
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      05-05-2021, 09:24 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by greuntesop View Post
So on my current car with Matrix lights, this happens by adding some elements in the matrix :-) So say you turn right, you see the beam widening to the right. There aren't any parts moving, it can just add/remove certain areas. It's quite smart actually, if there is a traffic sign that reflects too hard, it'll dim down that specific area.

I've always been told that this kind of wizardry isn't allowed in the US?
OK, yeah so that I guess is how the Matrix lights work vs lights with mechanical moving parts. It makes sense.

The only time I can see the beam widening to the sides is when the high beams go ON\OFF. In other words, I turn ON the automatic high beams and I can see when the beam is widening progressively from the center to left and right as the lights go ON/OFF when I am passing cars. That's the Matrix tech I guess.

This is only noticeable when the high beams go ON/OFF. Once the lights are ON the Matrix components remain static on turns. The individual "squares" do not go ON\OFF on turns.

Seems like we obviously have the Matrix tech in US (noticeable with high beams) but it does noting with respect to low beams and it is not steering adaptive. Low beams don't follow steering wheel.

In US, we could never get the fully adaptive high beams (regs?) and now, for MY21 we are dealing with what appears to be a clear downgrade of the low beams functionality. Nice going BMW !
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      05-05-2021, 09:41 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by COBodom View Post

Seems like we obviously have the Matrix tech in US (noticeable with high beams) but it does noting with respect to low beams and it is not steering adaptive. Low beams don't follow steering wheel.
Well, that might have to do with the poor man's implementation here :-) It seems there are only 4 segments available, which doesn't allow for much stuff to happen. And it seems to be far away of the 'projector' lights you can get now even on a merc C-class.
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      08-10-2022, 08:06 PM   #17
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      08-11-2022, 04:51 AM   #18
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I moved from a Merc with the matrix lights to a G30 with adaptive.

In the first few weeks i did feel like the Merc's lighting was superior (especially the 'light show' you get when they first turn on)

The biggest annoyance with the bMW is that you have to actively switch on the Auto headlight function, whereas in the merc you could leave the toggle on the stalk set to be on automatically.

I think the Merc lights project further and are a bit more intelligent (as you mentioned with the road signs), but after the honeymoon period, you wont notice the difference (or miss it should i say).

One other notable benefit i found with the BMW is that when auto headlights are on, and the car detects pedestrians/cyclists, it will flash a portion of the light straight at them and it is very noticable as driver (and the pedestrian) when this happens. it definatley helps with peripheral awareness.

Having said that, my car also has night vision so i dont know if that function is part of that package or the standard safety features (i think its standard).

long story short, get he adaptive lights. you may feel a little shortchanged to start with, but the lights are more than ample overall.

Also the sports/sports plus modes are more agressive in the Mercs than the BMW (i changed from an e400 to 540iX for reference).
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      08-11-2022, 07:11 PM   #19
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My old m340 had adaptive and my 22 550 does not and had no option to change, deff miss it
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      08-12-2022, 01:41 AM   #20
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jag81 Why not leave the lights on auto setting.

Or are you getting mixed up with High Beam Assistant?
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      08-12-2022, 03:15 AM   #21
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yes, sorry i was reffering to high beam assist. you can leave this on in a mercedes, but you have to toggle it on all the time in bmw.
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      08-12-2022, 04:44 AM   #22
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yes, sorry i was reffering to high beam assist. you can leave this on in a mercedes, but you have to toggle it on all the time in bmw.
One of my biggest wants. You can't even code it to remember last setting like on the F10.
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