2004-2010 BMW M5 4 Door Controls -> Lamps User Manual
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Controls -> Lamps for Your BMW M5 4 Door Fourth Generation (2004-2010)

Lamps  
When driving into a tunnel with bright overhead  
lighting, switching on of the lights may be  
delayed.  
Parking lamps/low beams  
A blue sky with the sun low on the horizon can  
cause the lights to be switched on.  
If desired, the light switch can be left in the  
position 3. The exterior lighting is automatically  
switched off after switching off the vehicle.  
The automatic headlamp control cannot  
serve as a substitute for your personal  
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  
lamps manually under these conditions.<  
0
1
2
3
Lights off and daytime running lamps*  
Parking lamps and daytime running lamps*  
Low beams  
Automatic headlamp control, daytime run-  
ning lamps*, Adaptive Head Light* and  
high-beam assistant*  
Pathway lighting  
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.  
Parking lamps  
In switch position 1, the front, rear and side  
vehicle lighting is switched on. You can use the  
parking lamps for parking. For lighting on one  
side for parking as an additional feature, refer to  
page 84.  
iDrive, for explanation of principle, refer to  
page 16.  
The parking lamps drain the battery. Do  
not leave them switched on for long peri-  
ods of time, as otherwise it may no longer be  
possible to start the engine.<  
1. Press the  
button.  
This opens the start menu.  
2. Press the controller to open the menu.  
3. Select "Vehicle settings" and press the  
controller.  
Low beams  
4. Select "Lighting" and press the controller.  
The low beams light up in switch position 2 only  
with the engine running. Otherwise the parking  
lamps are lit.  
Automatic headlamp control  
In the 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 is  
illuminated when the low beams are on.  
5. Select "Pathway lighting" and press the  
controller.  
83  
6. Turn the controller to select the desired  
duration.  
High beams/  
roadside parking lamps  
7. Press the controller to apply the setting.  
Daytime running lamps*  
If desired, the light switch can remain in posi-  
tion 0, 1 or 3.  
In position 0 and 3 the exterior lighting is auto-  
matically switched off after the vehicle is  
switched off. In position 1 the parking lamps  
light up after the ignition is switched off.  
Switch on the parking lamps if required as  
described under Parking lamps.  
1
2
3
High beams  
Headlamp flasher  
Roadside parking lamps  
Adaptive Head Light*  
Roadside parking lamps, left or right*  
The concept  
You also enjoy the option of lighting up just one  
side of your vehicle when parking. When using  
this function, comply with national regulations:  
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 in the  
desired direction 3, past the resistance point.  
Activating Adaptive Head Light  
The roadside parking lamps drain the bat-  
tery. Do not leave them switched on for  
long periods of time, as otherwise it may no  
longer be possible to start the engine.<  
In switch position 3, the Adaptive Head Light is  
active and the automatic headlamp control is  
switched on, refer to page 83.  
To avoid dazzling oncoming traffic, the Adap-  
tive Head Light is not active when driving in  
reverse and points toward the passenger side  
when the vehicle is stopped.  
Switching off  
Briefly press the lever in the opposite direc-  
tion 3 up to the resistance point.  
Malfunction  
The LED next to the symbol for automatic head-  
lamp control flashes. Adaptive Head Light is  
malfunctioning or has failed. Have the system  
checked as soon as possible.  
High-beam assistant*  
The concept  
This system automatically switches the high  
beams on and off again. A sensor on the front of  
the inside rearview mirror controls the process.  
The assistant ensures that the high beams are  
switched on whenever the traffic situation  
allows. This reduces the strain on you while at  
the same time providing you with the best pos-  
sible visibility. Of course, you can intervene at  
84  
any time and switch the high beams on and off  
in the accustomed manner.  
To reactivate the system, briefly press the  
turn signal lever in the high beam direction  
again.  
Activating high-beam assistant  
>
You use the headlamp flasher as usual with  
low beams.  
1. Turn the light switch to switch position 3,  
refer to page 83.  
System limits  
2. Press the turn signal lever in the high beam  
direction with the low beams switched on.  
The high-beam assistant cannot replace  
personal decisions on the benefits of  
using the high beams. In situations which  
require this, you should therefore switch to the  
low beams manually to avoid a safety risk.<  
In the following example situations, the system  
does not operate or only with limitations and a  
personal reaction may be required:  
>
Under extremely unfavorable weather con-  
ditions, such as fog or heavy precipitation  
>
For perceiving road users with poor lighting  
of their own, e.g. pedestrians, cyclists, peo-  
ple on horseback, horse-drawn vehicles,  
with train or ship traffic close to the road and  
wild animals crossing the road  
The indicator lamp in the instrument  
cluster lights up when the high-beam  
assistant is activated. The assistant  
automatically switches between high and low  
beams, whereby the system reacts to oncom-  
ing traffic and traffic ahead, as well as to suffi-  
cient lighting, e.g. towns/cities.  
>
>
In tight curves, on steep crowns or depres-  
sions, with cross traffic or partially con-  
cealed oncoming traffic on the freeway  
Manually switching between high and  
low beams  
In poorly lit places and with highly reflective  
signs  
You can intervene at any time if you wish or the  
situation requires.  
>
>
In the low speed range  
When the windshield is fogged up, dirty or  
covered with stickers, vignettes etc. in the  
area of the inside rearview mirror  
>
If the high-beam assistant has switched on  
the high beams, however you nevertheless  
want to use the low beams, simply switch to  
the low beams with the turn signal lever.  
The high-beam assistant is deactivated in  
the process.  
>
When the sensor is dirty. Clean the sensor  
on the front side of the inside rearview mir-  
ror with a cloth moistened with a small  
amount of glass cleaner  
To reactivate the system, briefly press the  
turn signal lever in the high beam direction  
again.  
>
If the high-beam assistant has switched on  
the low beams, however you nevertheless  
want to use the high beams, switch to the  
high beams in the accustomed manner. The  
system is deactivated in the process and  
you must switch to the low beams manually.  
85  
Reading lamps  
Instrument lighting  
Reading lamps are located in the front and rear  
adjacent to the interior lamps. Press the button  
briefly to switch the lamps on and off.  
The lighting intensity can be adjusted with the  
knurled wheel with the parking lamps/low  
beams switched on.  
Interior lamps  
The interior lamps, footwell lamps, door entry  
lighting and courtesy lamps* are controlled  
automatically.  
With the courtesy lamps, LED lights are located  
in the door handles to illuminate the exterior  
area before the doors.  
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 53.<  
Switching interior lamps on and off  
manually  
Press the button.  
If you want the interior lamps to remain off con-  
tinuously, maintain pressure on the button for  
approx. 3 seconds.  
86  

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