1998-2003 BMW M5 4 Door Advanced technology -> Visibility: Dimming mirrors / Xenon lamps User Manual
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Advanced technology -> Visibility: Dimming mirrors / Xenon lamps for Your BMW M5 4 Door Third Generation (1998-2003)

DSP sound system*  
Mirrors with automatic dimmer  
179n  
The electronic control system operates  
by comparing the respective levels of  
luminous intensity in front of and behind  
the car. The difference provides the  
basic parameter used to modulate an  
electrical current and induce chemical  
changes in a semisolid layer incorpo-  
rated in the lens.  
The semisolid reacts chemically to this  
electrical current, thus providing infi-  
nitely-variable dimming of the mirror  
(electrochromic technology).  
As a result, it is no longer necessary  
to dim the mirror manually, and the  
driver can maintain full concentration  
on traffic.  
The DSP Professional premium sound  
system features a special amplifier  
combined with Digital Sound  
The interior and exterior mirrors with  
automatic dimming feature reduce the  
glare from following traffic by adapting  
the intensity of the reflected images to  
correspond to levels of light registered  
by the unit's sensors. The mirrors revert  
Processing (DSP) and integrated  
speakers to surround you with crisp,  
true-to-life sound reproduction. The  
speaker system's subwoofers, woofers, to their undimmed setting as soon as  
midrange speakers and tweeters  
the light source disappears.  
furnish you with an impressively full-  
bodied listening experience. The loud-  
speakers are oriented in such a manner  
that they produce the aural sensation  
that you would experience facing the  
stage in a concert hall. The system also  
automatically adjusts the bass and  
treble settings to compensate for  
One sensor is mounted on the front  
of the interior mirror housing and is  
designed to monitor light levels in the  
area immediately forward of the vehicle.  
A second sensor is integrated within  
the mirror's glass.  
changes in volume and vehicle speed.  
 
180nIntegrated rearsuspension  
Rain sensor*  
When the "Intermittent" wiper speed  
position is selected, the wiper reacts  
immediately if water is splashed onto  
the windshield from vehicles traveling  
ahead, for example. As a result, the  
rain sensor provides a contribution to  
driving safety and comfort.  
The control arms on the patented inte-  
The rain sensor controls windshield  
grated aluminum rear axle assembly are wiper operation, depending on how wet  
not mounted directly on the body. They the windshield is.  
are mounted elastically on a chassis  
Infrared light is carried along the surface  
sub-frame which is joined in turn with  
of the windshield in an optical  
elasticity to the vehicle body. The  
conductor in such a manner that it is  
resulting double elastic suspension  
reflected completely when the wind-  
system effectively absorbs the forces  
shield is dry. The quantity of reflected  
resulting from bumps and road surface  
light is measured.  
irregularities.  
If there is moisture on the glass, the  
The compliance rates of the integrated  
rear axle assembly's control arm  
mounts have been precisely calibrated  
amount of light reflected is reduced  
since the infrared light at the surface  
of the windshield can escape. The  
to help provide supplementary adjust-  
quantity of reflected light is thus a  
ment in the tracking angle of the rear  
means of gauging the degree of  
wheels (programmed self-steer effect).  
wetness on the windshield.  
The ultimate result is enhanced safety  
and control under all conditions.  
 
Xenon lamps  
181n  
Xenon lamps improve the driver's  
visibility and orientation to the road,  
especially in adverse weather condi-  
tions and driving situations (driving at  
night in heavy rain or through road  
repair areas where there are no lane  
markers, for instance).  
Vehicles with xenon lamps are  
equipped with automatic headlamp  
range control. As a result, the highway  
is always optimally lighted, regardless  
of load conditions, and drivers in  
oncoming traffic are not blinded.  
Xenon lamps illuminate the side and  
front areas of the vehicle with signifi-  
cantly more brightness and uniformity  
than traditional halogen lamps.  
Xenon lamps make a significant contri-  
bution to highway safety since other  
highway users, or bicyclists and motor-  
cyclists in the right lane, and pedes-  
trians are more easily detected.  
In a xenon lamp, an electric arc replaces  
the filament in order to generate intense  
illumination. A gas mixture in a quartz  
glass tube with metal vapor is ignited by  
a high electric voltage. The arc that is  
generated is then sustained by a lower  
voltage. When the lamp is turned on  
there is a brief warm-up period.  
Maximum brightness is attained in  
approx. 15 seconds.  
 

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