How do Adaptive Headlights Work?

[@allenmueller]

Most of what is stated in this video is either inaccurate or completely wrong. There's at least two copies of the original copyrighted footage right here on KZbin. Both contain correct, albeit oversimplified explanations from BMW. Here's the answer I was looking for, so I'm adding it for the next person who is troubleshooting their headlights: 1.) "The ECU" is repeatedly mentioned in this clip. Nope. Adaptive Headlights are controlled by a separate computer, which BMW quite logically refers to as "Adaptive Headlight Control Unit" 2.) The animation from BMW excerpted here (and the original audio deleted from this video) was a demonstration of High Beam Assistance: an infrared camera in the rear view mirror monitors the road ahead, and communicates information for (predominantly lateral) movement of the beams to avoid blinding oncoming traffic, or vehicles you're approaching from behind. Stepper motors swing the lights along x and y axis based on this information. When the system is avoiding oncoming vehicles, the traffic-side high beam is briefly turned off as they pass. (Parts of this feature are disabled for late E through current F-series models that are shipped to the US, but can be reactivated with coding.) 3. Another feature of Adaptive Headlights is a system for pitch adjustment, designed to avoid blinding oncoming traffic as the vehicle crests a hill. Pitch adjustments are determined by information from accelerometers, ride height sensors, wheel and steering position sensors. 4. Cornering: If traveling below 20mph and equipped with fog lights, only the fog light on the inside of a turn will activate - regardless of whether they are actively turned on or off by the operator. Turn signals may trigger the same event, depending on configuration. 5. Troubleshooting your headlights? If Adaptive Headlight components are malfunctioning (throwing codes), you can avoid stressing internal mechanisms by leaving the headlight switch at the regular "on" position. The "A" position on the headlight switch is to activate the Adaptive Headlights System, even though it's often referred to as "Automatic" setting. 6. Now you can guess why this upgrade was around $5,000 for E90/92. It's a system... not just a pair of ~$1,400/each (oem new including xenon bulb and control unit) headlight assemblies.

[@munkeenevahrong239]

My headlights can send bat signals.