Auto Lights, something odd

AnubisZed · Post by **AnubisZed** » Sat Jul 15, 2023 8:01 am

OK so I've retrofitted automatic lights (plus auto wipers) and they are working fine, or are they?....

So I've driven to work all this week at 05:45, the sun is in the sky and it's been a lovely start to each day. As I start the car the lights come on, and stay on for the entire trip. Now this is odd as it's nice and bright out and the sun is out.
Now this morning I've come to work, and it being a Saturday I've left at 06:45, and the weather is dull and rainy, the most miserable gloomy day this week. The lights are not on! Although to be fair they did come on about 10 minutes later as it got quite duller as it pee'd it down.

So why the difference? Is it a time affected setting I'm not aware of (nothing in the manual and nothing in INPA when setting/calibrating it all up). Or is it really that bad at recognising when the sun is out?
So you guys that have it as a factory option, have any of you noticed this before?

matsmith749 · Post by **matsmith749** » Sat Jul 15, 2023 8:50 am

Mine are pretty good, seem just about right about coming on/off.

Respond in tunnels etc after only a couple of seconds too.

AnubisZed · Post by **AnubisZed** » Sat Jul 15, 2023 9:07 am

matsmith749 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 15, 2023 8:50 am Mine are pretty good, seem just about right about coming on/off.

Respond in tunnels etc after only a couple of seconds too.

Yeah mine seem to work all OK otherwise, they come on and off in the right places. There is a section on my way to/back from work where it is over shadowed with tall trees so they come on there and quickly off again afterwards, so they are working, it's just this early morning drive to work.
At the end of the day (well the beginning actually

) I'm not really bothered, just thought I'd see if anyone else has noticed it. Of course there is a point here, with the OE cluster there isn't a "lights-on" light, it's just the cluster back lighting that comes on so a driver would probably not notice in the conditions I'm noticing it in. I'm noticing it because I've got the digital cluster fitted and that does have the "lights-on" light to tell you.

obewan · Post by **obewan** » Sat Jul 15, 2023 9:21 am

matsmith749 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 15, 2023 8:50 am Mine are pretty good, seem just about right about coming on/off.

Respond in tunnels etc after only a couple of seconds too.

+1

If it's a retro fit, is the sensor location the same

AnubisZed · Post by **AnubisZed** » Sat Jul 15, 2023 9:34 am

obewan wrote: ↑Sat Jul 15, 2023 9:21 am
matsmith749 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 15, 2023 8:50 am Mine are pretty good, seem just about right about coming on/off.

Respond in tunnels etc after only a couple of seconds too.

+1

If it's a retro fit, is the sensor location the same

Yes all retrofitted correctly to the original spec/locations etc and calibrated using INPA (the correct way). So no other issues at all, everything works.

Silverstar · Post by **Silverstar** » Sat Jul 15, 2023 9:13 pm

With the original fitment there is a small indicator light built into the switch control panel to tell you when the lights are on. When you did the retrofit did you replace this for one with the indicator light? Possibly your lights weren’t switching off due to the angle of the sun and how or if it hits the sensor. On mine I have noticed in dull rainy weather it does not switch on the lights, probably because it doesn’t think it’s dark enough.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Sat Jul 15, 2023 9:26 pm

The Auto Lights on the 6 BMWs I've had with them fitted have always worked in car parks, tunnels, etc. as expected.

But sometimes they turn on when it isn't that gloomy at dusk, yet on a grey drizzly day with less visibility sometimes they don't.

I'm sure there is a technical explanation!

matsmith749 · Post by **matsmith749** » Sat Jul 15, 2023 10:54 pm

The switch still functions manually if you want to make the decision yourself, like the good old days.

flybobbie · Post by **flybobbie** » Sun Jul 16, 2023 7:43 am

I just leave them on all the time.
My colleagues car didn't have the selection on the lights knob, was permanently auto.

AnubisZed · Post by **AnubisZed** » Sun Jul 16, 2023 8:52 am

Silverstar wrote: ↑Sat Jul 15, 2023 9:13 pm With the original fitment there is a small indicator light built into the switch control panel to tell you when the lights are on. When you did the retrofit did you replace this for one with the indicator light? Possibly your lights weren’t switching off due to the angle of the sun and how or if it hits the sensor. On mine I have noticed in dull rainy weather it does not switch on the lights, probably because it doesn’t think it’s dark enough.

Yes I fitted the correct switch unit and the LED works as it should, although can't be seen while driving, same as the auto wiper LED.

AnubisZed · Post by **AnubisZed** » Sun Jul 16, 2023 8:53 am

Mr Tidy wrote: ↑Sat Jul 15, 2023 9:26 pm The Auto Lights on the 6 BMWs I've had with them fitted have always worked in car parks, tunnels, etc. as expected.

But sometimes they turn on when it isn't that gloomy at dusk, yet on a grey drizzly day with less visibility sometimes they don't.

I'm sure there is a technical explanation!

Yeah my wife's Ford Kuga is that way too, strange.

AnubisZed · Post by **AnubisZed** » Sun Jul 16, 2023 8:54 am

matsmith749 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 15, 2023 10:54 pm The switch still functions manually if you want to make the decision yourself, like the good old days.

Yes you've got to have that choice

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