[Ryan87]

My car is a pre LCI and doesn't have the angel eye headlights fitted.

My current headlights auto level whenever they are turned on. Is this a feature built into the car or the headlights themselves?

Do all E90 headlights do this or was it an option on the car? The reason I ask is I dont want to change the lights for LCI ones only to find out they no longer self level themselves.

Any help on this would be much appreciated.

[xenon]

This is not auto-levelling as such, you only get auto-levelling with xenons. What you see, when you switch the lights on, is the levelling motors (whether you have manual levelling halogens with the thumbwheel near the light switch or auto) being exercised by being driven to one end of the travel and back again, to stop the motors sticking. This is built into the LKM.

[m1bjr]

Auto levelling is a legal requirement with the xenons, as is a headlamp washer device.
This was part of the original design requirement as xenons, although we know are 'brighter' are actaully less wattage (typically 35w)

So to answer the question, if you are swapping to later NON Xenons (projector halogen with angle eyes) then I would imagine you'll have no issues.

I'm not sure the lights motoring up/down is to excercise the motors.
I think its a calibration routine. The pots that measure the attitude of the chassis are on the f&r nearside lower control arms.
But the module needs to know where the upper/lower travel of each motor is on switch on - hence the travel of the motors.
As the system is (like the Hondas i imagine) quite crude, it wont know where they were when turned off last time, and the attitude of the car may be changed (loading/passengers).

Steve

[xenon]

If that's the case, Steve, how come the travel to the full extent, up and down, only happens every five switch ons of the headlights, xenon or halogen? I'm not sure how the wattage is relevant either.

[shane55]

My headlamps go through the calibration everytime theyre switched on from "0 to dipped" on the rotary switch, the calibration is started in the sidelamps position so if you turn the switch slowly you wont see the beams rise and dip. If you are in auto or fast with the switch youll see them rise and dip!
You can clarify this by turning on the sidelamps with ignition on...you will hear the calibration process for approx 2 secs. eachtime you switch from "0 to sidelamps". I have xenons and if you get someone to flick the switch and you stand out front you'll see the inside of the headlight slide forward and back and slightly forward again...hope this helps

[Ryan87]

Thank you for the replies

Sorry if I didn't make it clear, I havn't got Xenon's just the standard headlights that seem to go through this calibration routine when switched on.

From what I gather then, I wont lose this by putting on LCI lights.

And just out of curioisty, what does LKM mean?

[shane55]

LKM - Loadable kernal module i.e. the cars brain.....

[Ryan87]

Originally Posted by shane55

LKM - Loadable kernal module i.e. the cars brain.....

Thank you, id never have guessed that

Well thank you all, now just need to find a decent set that are in good condition!

[shane55]

bump

http://cgi.ebay.ie/BMW-3-SERIES-E90-...item20bba06023

[Ryan87]

Originally Posted by shane55

bump

http://cgi.ebay.ie/BMW-3-SERIES-E90-...item20bba06023

I have seen them but the lugs have been repaired. Need to look under the bonnet and see if the lugs are visible once fitted.

I always check headlight lugs on cars when i buy them to see if theyve been repaired as it's a sign of front end damage so if there visible this could be an annoyance!

[Ryan87]

Is there any age where the LCI headlights won't fit anymore.

By this I mean have BMW changed the shape of them at all at any point. Eg. anything newer than 2010 will be a different shape to my headlights?

Thanks you again