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EnglishControls -> Lamps for your BMW 5 Series 2004-2010
Lamps
Automatic headlamp control*
Parking lamps/low beams
In switch position 3, the system activates the
low beams and switches them on or off in
response to changes in ambient light condi-
tions, for instance, in a tunnel, at dawn and dusk
and in case of precipitation. Adaptive Head
Light* is active. The LED next to the symbol
lights up when the low beams are on. You can
activate the daytime running lamps, refer to
page 109. In the situations named above, the
system then automatically switches over to the
low beams.
0
1
2
3
Lights off and daytime running lamps*
Parking lamps and daytime running lamps*
Low beams and welcome lamps
A blue sky with the sun low on the horizon can
cause the lights to be switched on.
The low beams remain switched on inde-
pendent of the ambient lighting condi-
tions when you switch on the fog lamps*.<
Automatic headlamp control*, daytime run-
ning lamps*, welcome lamps, Adaptive
Head Light* and high-beam assistant*
The automatic headlamp control cannot
serve as a substitute for your personal
If you open the driver's door with the ignition
switched off, the exterior lighting is automati-
cally switched off when the light switch is in
position 0, 2 or 3.
judgment in determining when the lamps
should be switched on in response to ambient
lighting conditions. For example, the sensors
cannot detect fog of hazy weather. To avoid
safety risks, you should always switch on the
low beams manually under these conditions.<
Parking lamps
In switch position 1, the front, rear and side
vehicle lighting is switched on. You can use the
parking lamps for parking.
Welcome lamps
The parking lamps drain the battery. Do
not leave them switched on for long peri-
ods of time, otherwise it may no longer be pos-
sible to start the engine. It is preferable to
switch on the roadside parking lamps on one
side, refer to page 110.<
If you leave the light switch in position 2 or 3
when parking the vehicle, then when you unlock
the vehicle, the parking lamps and interior light-
ing remain illuminated for a brief time.
Activating/deactivating welcome
lamps
Low beams
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page 16.
The low beams light up when the light switch is
in position 2 and the ignition is on.
1. Press the
button.
This opens the start menu.
2. Press the controller to open the menu.
3. Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4. Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
108
5. Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the
controller until "Lighting" is selected and
press the controller.
6. Select "Pathway lighting" and press the
controller.
7. Turn the controller to select the desired
duration.
8. Press the controller to apply the setting.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Daytime running lamps*
The daytime running lamps light up in
position 0, 1 and 3. If the light switch remains in
position 1, the parking lamps light up after the
ignition is switched off.
6. Select "Welcome light" and press the con-
troller.
Activating/deactivating daytime
running lamps*
The welcome lamps are switched on.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page 16.
1. Open the start menu.
Pathway lighting
2. Press the controller to open the menu.
3. Select "Settings" and press the controller.
When you activate the headlamp flasher after
parking the vehicle and switching off the lamps,
the low beams will come on for a brief period.
You can set the duration or deactivate the func-
tion via iDrive.
4. Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5. Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the
controller until "Lighting" is selected and
press the controller.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page 16.
1. Open the start menu.
2. Press the controller to open the menu.
3. Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4. Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5. Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the
controller until "Lighting" is selected and
press the controller.
6. Select "Daytime running lamps" and press
the controller.
The daytime running lamps are
switched on.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
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Roadside parking lamps, left or right*
Adaptive Head Light*
You also enjoy the option of lighting up just one
side of your vehicle when parking:
The concept
Adaptive Head Light is a variable headlamp
control system that enables better illumination
of the road surface. Depending on the steering
angle and other parameters, the light from the
headlamp follows the course of the road.
Switching on
After parking the vehicle, press the lever up or
down beyond the resistance point, arrow 3.
The roadside parking lamps drain the bat-
tery. Do not leave them switched on for
long periods of time, otherwise it may no longer
be possible to start the engine.<
In tight curves at speeds up to approx. 45 mph/
70 km/h, e.g. on mountainous roads or when
negotiating curves, turning lamps are switched
on that light up the inside area of the curve.
Switching off
Activating Adaptive Head Light
Briefly press the lever in the opposite direction
With the ignition switched on, turn the light
up to the resistance point, arrow 3.
switch into position 3, refer to page 108.
The turning lamps are automatically switched
on depending on the steering angle or the use
of turn signals.
High-beam assistant*
The concept
To avoid blinding oncoming traffic, the Adaptive
Head Light directs light towards the front pas-
senger side when the vehicle is at a standstill.
When driving in reverse, only the turning lamps
are active and illuminate the outer area of
curves.
This system automatically switches the high
beams on and off. A sensor on the front side of
the inside rearview mirror controls the process.
The assistant makes sure that the high beams
are switched on whenever traffic conditions
permit. This relieves you of the burden of con-
stantly switching back and forth and simulta-
neously provides you with the best possible vis-
ibility. Naturally, you can intervene at any time to
switch the high beams on and off as usual.
High beams/
roadside parking lamps
Activating system
1. Turn the light switch to position 3, refer to
page 108.
2. With the low beams switched on, briefly
press the turn signal lever in the high-beam
direction.
1
2
3
High beams
Headlamp flasher
Roadside parking lamps
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The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the high-beam
assistant is activated. The system
>
in sensing road users with poor inherent
illumination such as pedestrians, cyclists,
equestrians, horsedrawn vehicles, railroad
or shipping traffic close to the road, and at
deer crossings
automatically switches between high beams
and low beams, reacting to oncoming traffic,
vehicles ahead of you, and sufficiently lit areas,
e.g. in built-up zones.
>
>
in tight curves, on steep crests or dips, with
cross-traffic, or with partially hidden
oncoming traffic on divided highways
Manually switching between high
beams and low beams
in poorly illuminated areas and in the pres-
ence of highly reflective signs
If you wish or the situation requires, you can
intervene at any time.
>
>
in the low speed range
when the windshield is fogged up, dirty or
covered with stickers, decals etc. in the area
of the inside rearview mirror
>
>
>
If the high-beam assistant has switched on
the high beams, but you wish to use the low
beams, just switch on the low beams with
the turn signal lever. This deactivates the
high-beam assistant.
In order to reactivate the system, briefly
press the turn signal lever in the high-beam
direction.
>
when the sensor is dirty. Clean the sensor
on the front side of the inside rearview mir-
ror with a cloth slightly moistened with glass
cleaner
Moreover, no system can operate without limi-
tations. High-beam assistant operation is sub-
ject to conditions that may reduce the system's
ability to recognize the difference between
actual vehicle head lamps or tail lamps and, for
example, highly reflective signs, markers, and
streetlights. To be on the safe side, the system
may periodically interpret these situations as
conditions that require low beams. Below are
some of the situations in which premature
switching to low beams can occur:
If the high-beam assistant has switched on
the low beams, but you wish to use the high
beams, simply switch on the high beams as
usual. This deactivates the system and it is
up to you to switch back to low beams.
In order to reactivate the system, briefly
press the turn signal lever in the high-beam
direction.
When the low beams are on, use the head-
lamp flasher as usual.
>
approaching large and/or highly reflective
signs
System limits
>
approaching certain lights, such as drive-
way lighting and porch lights
The high-beam assistant is designed to
maximize the amount of time that high
beams can be safely used and to quickly switch
back to low beams when traffic approaches.
The system cannot completely replace driver
intervention when unusual conditions are
encountered. For this reason, switch to low
beams when circumstances so dictate. Failure
to do so can pose a safety risk.<
>
>
approaching certain traffic signals
approaching large reflective markers
In these situations, the system may interpret
the above conditions as a vehicle ahead requir-
ing a switch to low beams. When the conditions
return to normal, the system will reactivate the
high beams.
Below are a few examples of situations in which
the system may not react or may only function
to a limited degree, requiring personal interven-
tion:
The high-beam assistant cannot replace the
driver's responsibility for complying with state
laws on high-beam switching or for adapting to
visibility and traffic conditions.
>
in extremely unfavorable weather condi-
tions such as fog or heavy precipitation
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If the automatic headlamp control is acti-
vated, the low beams will come on auto-
matically when you switch on the fog lamps.<
Switching off via iDrive
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page 16.
1. Press the
button.
This opens the start menu.
2. Press the controller to open the menu.
3. Select "Settings" and press the controller.
Instrument lighting
4. Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5. Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the
controller until "Lighting" is selected and
press the controller.
You can control the lighting intensity by using
the knurled wheel.
Interior lamps
Control of the interior lamps, footwell lamps,
door entry lighting, courtesy lamps* and the
cargo bay lamps* is automatic.
6. Select "High-beam assistant" and press
the controller.
High-beam assistant is switched off.
With the courtesy lamps, LED lights are located
in the door handles to illuminate the exterior
area before the doors.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
To protect the battery, all lamps in the
vehicle are switched off approx. 15 min-
utes after radio readiness is switched off, refer
to Start/Stop button on page 61.<
Fog lamps*
Switching interior lamps on and off
manually
The parking lamps or low beams must be
switched on for the fog lamps to operate. The
green indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
lights up whenever the fog lamps are on.
Press the button.
The fog lamps are switched off whenever the
high beams are switched on.
If the interior lamps, footwell lamps, door entry
lighting and courtesy lamps are to remain
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switched off continually, press the button for
approx. 3 seconds.
Reading lamps
Reading lamps are located in the front and rear
adjacent to the interior lamps. Press the button
to switch the lamps on and off.
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