Get Controls -> Lights Guide for BMW M3 4 Door Fifth Generation (2014-2019)

Controls

Lights

Vehicle features and options

Symbol

Function

This chapter describes all standard, country-

specific and optional features offered with the

series. It also describes features that are not

necessarily available in your vehicle, e. g., due

to the selected options or country versions.

This also applies to safety-related functions

and systems. When using these functions and

systems, the applicable laws and regulations

must be observed.

Low beams

Instrument lighting

Parking lights, cornering

lights and roadside parking

lights

Overview

General information

Switches in the vehicle

Position of switch:

,

The exterior lighting is automatically switched

off at these switch settings if the driver's door

is opened when the ignition is switched off.

Parking lights

Position of switch:

The vehicle is illuminated on all sides.

Do not use the parking lights for extended pe‐

riods; otherwise, they might drain the battery

and it would then be impossible to start the en‐

gine.

The light switch element is located next to the

steering wheel.

Symbol

Function

When parking, switch on the one-sided road‐

side parking lamp, refer to page 98.

Automatic headlight control

Adaptive Light Control

Low beams

Position of switch:

Lights off

Daytime running lights

The low beams light up when the ignition is

switched on.

Parking lights

Roadside parking lights

Concept

The vehicle can be illuminated on one side.

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Lights

Controls

Switching on

Headlamp courtesy delay feature

General information

The low beams stay lit for a short while if the

headlight flasher is switched on after the radio-

ready state is switched off.

Setting the duration

Using iDrive:

1. "Settings"

With the ignition switched off, press the lever

either up or down past the resistance point for

approx. 2 seconds.

2. "Lighting"

3. "Pathway lighting:"

4. Set length of time.

The setting is stored for the driver profile cur‐

rently used.

Switching off

Briefly press the lever to the resistance point in

the opposite direction.

Automatic headlight control

Welcome lights and

headlamp courtesy delay

feature

Concept

The low beams are switched on and off auto‐

matically depending on the ambient bright‐

ness, for instance in tunnels, in twilight or if

there is precipitation.

Welcome lights

General information

Depending on the equipment, when switching

off the vehicle, switch position

General information

A blue sky with the sun low on the horizon can

cause the lights to be switched on.

or

.

Depending on the ambient brightness, individ‐

ual light functions may be switched on briefly,

when the vehicle is unlocked.

When emerging from a tunnel during the day,

the low beams are not switched off immedi‐

ately but instead only after approx. 2 minutes.

Activating/deactivating

Using iDrive:

Activating

Position of switch:

1. "Settings"

The indicator light in the instrument cluster is

illuminated when the low beams are switched

on.

2. "Lighting"

3. "Welcome lights"

Settings are stored for the profile currently

used.

System limits

The automatic headlight control cannot serve

as a substitute for your personal judgment of

lighting conditions.

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Controls

Lights

For example, the sensors are unable to detect

fog or hazy weather. To avoid safety risks un‐

der these conditions, you should always switch

on the lights manually.

Depending on the equipment version, Adap‐

tive Light Control consists of one or several

systems:

▷

Cornering light, refer to page 100.

Activating

Position of switch

switched on.

Daytime running lights

with the ignition

General information

Position of switch:

,

Cornering light

The daytime running lights light up when the

ignition is switched on. After the ignition is

switched off, the parking lights light up in posi‐

In tight curves, for instance on mountainous

roads or when turning, a cornering light is

switched on up to a certain speed. As a result

the inside of the curve is better lighted.

tion

.

The cornering light is automatically switched

on depending on the steering angle or the use

of turn signals.

Activating/deactivating

In some countries, daytime running lights are

mandatory, so it may not be possible to deacti‐

vate the daytime running lights.

When driving in reverse, the cornering lights

may be automatically switched on regardless

of the steering angle.

Using iDrive:

1. "Settings"

Malfunction

A Check Control message is displayed.

2. "Lighting"

3. "Daytime running lamps"

Adaptive Light Control is malfunctioning or has

failed. Have the system immediately checked

by a dealer’s service center or another quali‐

fied service center or repair shop.

The setting is stored for the driver profile cur‐

rently used.

Adaptive Light Control

Self-leveling headlights

The concept

The self-leveling headlights compensate for

acceleration and braking operations in order

not to blind the oncoming traffic and to achieve

optimum illumination of the roadway.

Adaptive Light Control is a variable headlight

control system that enables dynamic illumina‐

tion of the road surface.

General information

Depending on the steering angle and other pa‐

rameters, the light from the headlight follows

the course of the road.

High-beam Assistant

Concept

To avoid blinding oncoming traffic, the Adap‐

tive Light Control does not swivel to the driv‐

er's side when the vehicle is at a standstill.

The high-beam Assistant detects other traffic

participants early on and automatically

switches the high beams on or off depending

on the traffic situation. The assistant ensures

100

Lights

Controls

that the high beams are switched on, when‐

ever the traffic situation allows. In the low

speed range, the high beams are not switched

on by the system.

System limits

The high-beam Assistant cannot serve as a

substitute for the driver's personal judgment of

when to use the high beams. Therefore, man‐

ually switch off the high beams in situations

where required to avoid a safety risk.

General information

The system responds to light from oncoming

traffic and traffic driving ahead of you, and to

adequate illumination, for instance in towns

and cities.

The system is not fully functional in the follow‐

ing situations, and driver intervention may be

necessary:

▷

In very unfavorable weather conditions,

such as fog or heavy precipitation.

The high beams can be switched on and off at

any time as usual.

▷

When detecting poorly-lit road users such

as pedestrians, cyclists, horseback riders

and wagons; when driving close to train or

ship traffic; and at animal crossings.

Activating/deactivating

1. Depending on the equipment, turn the light

switch into position

or

.

▷

In tight curves, on hilltops or in depres‐

sions, in cross traffic or half-obscured on‐

coming traffic on highways.

2. Press button on the turn signal lever, ar‐

row.

▷

In poorly-lit towns and cities and in the

presence of highly reflective signs.

When the windshield in front of the interior

mirror is fogged over, dirty or covered with

stickers, etc.

Instrument lighting

Settings

The indicator light in the instrument

cluster is illuminated when the low

beams are switched on.

The parking lights or low beams

must be switched on to adjust

the brightness.

The headlights are automatically switched be‐

tween low beams and high beams.

Adjust the brightness with the

thumbwheel.

The blue indicator light in the instru‐

ment cluster lights up when the system

switches on the high beams.

Interior lights

The high-beam Assistant is deactivated when

manually switching the high beams on and off,

refer to page 70. To reactivate the high-beam

Assistant, press the button on the turn signal

lever.

General information

Depending on the equipment, the interior

lights, footwell lights, entry lamps, and cour‐

tesy lamps are controlled automatically.

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Controls

Lights

Thumb wheel for the instrument lighting con‐

trols brightness of some of these features.

3. "Ambient:"

4. Select the desired setting.

Overview

Setting the brightness

Depending on the equipment, the brightness

of the ambient light can be adjusted via the

thumbwheel for the instrument lighting or on

the Control Display.

On the Control Display:

1. "Settings"

2. "Lighting"

3. "Brightness:"

4. Adjust the brightness.

1

2

Interior lights

Reading lights

Switching interior lights on/off

manually

Press button.

To switch off permanently: press the button for

approx. 3 seconds.

Switch back on: press button.

Switching the reading lights on and off

manually

Press button.

Reading lights are located at the front and rear

next to the interior lights.

Ambient light

General information

Depending on your optional features lighting

can be adjusted for some lights in the interior.

Selecting color scheme

On the Control Display:

1. "Settings"

2. "Lighting"

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Controls -> Lights for Your BMW M3 4 Door Fifth Generation (2014-2019)

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