Are "low beams" supposed to be this low?

[keninpa]

On my wife's new 2004 325 Ci coupe, the low beams seem to project only about 50 ft in front of the car (not quite sure of the exact distance). It's like the light ends right there on a straight line. This is our 1st experience with a BMW. Was just wondering if this is normal or should it go back to the dealer? The car has the std headlights that come with the premium pkg., not the optional xenons.
These lights make it scary to drive at night because you can't see if a deer were to jump out in front of you.
The high beams are fine. Just the low beams.

thanks!
Ken

 

[codex57]

My low beams are pretty short too. They're aimed fairly low too. I have xenons. They're REALLY wide though. I'll be sitting in traffic and notice that my lights only reach up to like the top of the bumper of the car in front of me. Other cars around me with plain halogens will be aimed much higher.

I do notice that Mercedes xenons seem to go MUCH farther (least on our E320), but have a much narrower beam pattern. My friend who has a C32 also confirmed my observations.

 

[Fielding Yost]

I have the exact same issue with my e39. I don't have the xenons either. Trying to read street signs at night is absolutely maddening b/c the headlights only project about halfway up the street post.

I thought that all the '04 MY cars had self-leveling headlamps. I suppose it's possible that the self-leveling was just available for xenons. I've been very close to taking it back to the dealer, but I've also heard that it is possible to adjust it yourself as a DIY job. Haven't had the time or motivation to follow up with either.

I wish I could be more help, but I'm in the same boat as you. I just wanted you to know that you are definitely not alone on this BMW "low" light. Keep us posted (no pun intended).

 

[bmwrocks]

For everyone with xenons (sorry keninpa this doesn't answer your post):

My xenons light the road with amazing clarity and focus. When I am driving behind other vehicles I can see my lights lighting up all the signs on the road IN FRONT of the vehicle in front of me. In other words my lights are overriding his. I also see a similar thing on the highway. When I am in the left lane and there are cars in front of me in the right lane, I can see the signs light up with my lights IN FRONT of those vehicles.

I have also noticed how wide the xenon light beam is.

Our xenons beams are focused and well defined by design. Hence the eagle-eye lens for the xenon light.

Try this test at night. Park your car facing a large wide light colored wall about 50 feet away (like the side of a building). Turn on your xenons and look at the light cast on the wall. You will be amazed trust me.

 

[bahnstormer]

crap i can't find the diagram
bmw's lights are setup so they don't shine in ppl mirrors
i had nice sketch of how to properly adjust your headlights
i'll keep looking

 

[BavarianWheels]

bahnstormer wrote:
bmw's lights are setup so they don't shine in ppl mirrors

Where's the fun in that?

 

[PuShAkOv]

I rose my xenons slightly higher and I can see shaddows from my headlights about 2/3 of mile a head. Now that is lighting. [fake]

 

[bmwrocks]

I rose my xenons slightly higher and I can see shaddows from my headlights about 2/3 of mile a head. Now that is lighting. [fake]

Push, I bet you get your share of flashes like your hi-beams are on. It must be fun to flash your hi-beam xenons on when that happens.

 

[keninpa]

ok....since some of you are experiencing this same problem, i'll be giving the dealer a call today and reporting back to let you know whats up with this......

later~

Ken

 

[PuShAkOv]

Push, I bet you get your share of flashes like your hi-beams are on. It must be fun to flash your hi-beam xenons on when that happens.

Yes.. whenever I think a flash is comming I get excited & ready to flash back.... just to proove what a moron he is for thinking I have far lights on. [fake]

 

[andreyiv]

Yes.. whenever I think a flash is comming I get excited & ready to flash back.... just to proove what a moron he is for thinking I have far lights on. [fake]

Push, don't get me wrong, I don't want to flaame you in any way but it just shows what a moron you are not him. My logic behind this is that the person flashes the high beams to show you that your head lights are too high and when you flash your high beams you just prove to him that youre a moron who purposely likes to annoy people. How would you like it if that same person would do the same thing to his lgihts as you did and would drive with high beams all the time, don't think you'd like that. Also if a cop feels like screwing with people he/she may fine you for high low beams and I don't think that's such a good thing.

 

[j2azz]

Actually, I agree with Push, and so does the dealer that sold me the car (he drives a 5 series w/ Xenons). I will never flash someone unless I am absolutely sure they have high beams on. Typically with Halogen lights on cars, it means the inside lights are on (closest to the grill). But if I flash a guy that doesn't have his brights on, and I get flashed back, I feel like an idiot.

Honestly, even though I know this oppinion varies, I have never had a problem with opposing Xenon lights coming at me. But people ALWAYS seem to flash me and my Xenons. So as a result, I'm gonna flash them back so they shut their damn brights off. Some people are asses about it too, and instead of flashing you, they just turn their brights on. So yes, I like to prove to them I was driving correctly and if they feel like blinding me, I'll do it right back.

Also, never heard of a cop pulling someone over for having high beams on.. Thats a fairly ridiculous claim.

 

[PuShAkOv]

They cannot fine me since the headlights are manufacturer's original and consumers are not responsible for their headlight brightness.... however,.. if I installed some obvious aftermarket ones they would give a fine/warning to set them back to stock. They cannot make me pay if BMW did a poor job adjusting them.

I do not annoy people but like to rpoove them wrong. Its illegal to flash brights in any situation... so they are braking the law first .

 

[andreyiv]

I don't know about you but I wouldn't feel that good if people usually flashed me, it tells me that my low beams are too high and I would take care of it when I can. To me, anyone that has their high beams or not properly adjusted low beams is a jerk, I mean why would you blind some one on purpose? Why don't you just drive with your high beams on all the time if it's all the same to you? As I see it, flashing the high beams is a kind way of telling someone that their lights are a little bit too intense, by flashing those back it's like saying F you, I like them that way.

As for the cop pulling you over for driving around with your high beams or having poorly adjusted low beams, well, the cop may not actually stop you but if you break another little thing, he/she may give you a ticket for both, if he/she is in a bad mood or doesn't like you for whatever reason. I remember someone posting concerning an episode of Cops when they stopped rivers and gave them tickets for everything they could think of.

 

[PuShAkOv]

Yes, I am a jerk.

And I like the "splatter" affect the headlights create when they are slightly pointed up. Its personal.

 

[keninpa]

GEEZ guys!!!...how about getting back to the main question here????

I called the salesman today and he's going to talk to the service dept and get back to me.

The discussion is the low beams on halogen head lights!!! Surely there is something positive you can add to this thread???

Ken

 

[PuShAkOv]

if you think your headlights do not get enough light out do the following:

- When it is semi-dark, drive up to a flat white wall and park about 3-4 feet away.
- turn on your headlights, loosen the bolts, pusha back the headlight units back so the light beam is raised, and level them both to the same level.

You would be surprised how much more light you get.

Am I on subject?

 

[mikev]

Its illegal to flash brights in any situation... so they are braking the law first .

your jokeing arn't you??? i can't believe its illegal to do that. surely if it was they would disable the feature on the car when its sold???

 

[PuShAkOv]

NOPE! saw it on the news the other day.

It is not illegal to go with far lights ON on dark roads when nobody is ahead of you... but IT IS ILLEGAL to flash them.

If a cop sees you flashing them... even for innocent reasons,.. he has all the authority in the world to tocket you.

The law takes its root from the idea that you cannot immitate emergency vehicles that have flashing lights.

I guess you learn something everyday.

 

[membim]

My 04 couple headlights (non xenon) were aimed way too low. I had the dealership show me how to adjust them and they are set perfect now. Not too high and not too low. I never heard of this being a problem untill the 04 coupes went on sale. The first time I drove my car at night was scary. I really couldn't see 30 feet in front of my car.