[Phasers]

I didn't read the thread, I am just chiming to say that I really, really, REALLY miss the laser lights from my '23 45e, as compared to my '24 50e.

[eelnoraa]

I wish I can have one of you ride in my 45e or maybe I can ride in one of yours, with LASER, so I can determine what LASER activation should look like.

I don't think the ICON LASER is bad. It is compatible with other cars that I have, not head above shoulder better

[AGONXF30]

Originally Posted by eelnoraa

Same here. Either they never get activated, or they don't make enough difference.

They make a huge difference. You just need to be in a nice dark road to seem them. Also they only illuminate when the beams are looking down range and not cars are in front.

[eelnoraa]

Originally Posted by AGONXF30

They make a huge difference. You just need to be in a nice dark road to seem them. Also they only illuminate when the beams are looking down range and not cars are in front.

I did try. I was in Yosemite valley loop, pitch dark. I was doing auto high beam, changing speed between 25 to 40 and trying to look for the difference. This weekend, I will be in Tahoe US50 area where it will be pitch dark at night. Will see if I get satisfied for my investment.

[LipLip]

Not sure about the laser part of the equation. That said, these are some of the best lights I’ve experienced. Would love to learn how to get mine coded for full effect.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by LipLip

Not sure about the laser part of the equation. That said, these are some of the best lights I’ve experienced. Would love to learn how to get mine coded for full effect.

Contact Ben at r33_RGSport , he has taken care of many members.

[Bpositive]

My 2019 X5 has them and they are the worst lights I have ever experienced. I live in the boonies and there is no ambient light at night. My auto works sporadically. Which is crazy given our roads are pitch black. If I turn on high beam manually I get a light pattern that gives no corner illumination and the main light pattern has a big dark patch in the middle that moves as I turn. So distracting it’s rather scary. I don’t have experience with any new high end cars but even my 2010 Honda Ridgeline had better and more even lighting. Will take it in to the dealer next week but unsure of what they will be able to do. I fear they might be faulty and don’t even want to think how expensive they will be to replace.

[cellarrat]

Originally Posted by Bpositive

My 2019 X5 has them and they are the worst lights I have ever experienced. I live in the boonies and there is no ambient light at night. My auto works sporadically. Which is crazy given our roads are pitch black. If I turn on high beam manually I get a light pattern that gives no corner illumination and the main light pattern has a big dark patch in the middle that moves as I turn. So distracting it’s rather scary. I don’t have experience with any new high end cars but even my 2010 Honda Ridgeline had better and more even lighting. Will take it in to the dealer next week but unsure of what they will be able to do. I fear they might be faulty and don’t even want to think how expensive they will be to replace.

Sounds like this is a new problem for you. Did you just buy the car? Or did this just start happening?

[CGG]

Originally Posted by Bpositive

My 2019 X5 has them and they are the worst lights I have ever experienced. I live in the boonies and there is no ambient light at night. My auto works sporadically. Which is crazy given our roads are pitch black. If I turn on high beam manually I get a light pattern that gives no corner illumination and the main light pattern has a big dark patch in the middle that moves as I turn. So distracting it’s rather scary. I don’t have experience with any new high end cars but even my 2010 Honda Ridgeline had better and more even lighting. Will take it in to the dealer next week but unsure of what they will be able to do. I fear they might be faulty and don’t even want to think how expensive they will be to replace.

I understand your frustration. While the European spec lights are apparently excellent, but in my experience, the NA spec lights are not good. I have the laser lights on my 2021 X5 and without a doubt they are the worst headlights I have ever had the misfortune to use. Horrible.

The price of the laser lights have come down recently but they would still cost you over $10,000 installed. You can get them at GetBMWparts for about $5,000 each.

[Bpositive]

Originally Posted by cellarrat

Sounds like this is a new problem for you. Did you just buy the car? Or did this just start happening?

I bought it a few months ago. I live in Panama so not sure if this is a US car or Eurospec.

[Daedalus0101101]

So I recently got a 2021 X5 with the laserlights and wanted them ( NA) because of the increased illumination at night. Most of the time I am driving city streets after dark, but when I travel out of state / unfamiliar road I was hoping to have better illumination without blinding the heck out of people. I have yet to test them though. For the people that are NA that have them, do you notice a difference at highway speeds from previous cars that didn't have them? I seem to be reading a lot on here where the NA version isn't as bright, but I was at least hoping for more light and for them to auto-dim /shift/etc... when cars are approaching so I'm not one of those annoying drivers that just keeps the highbeams on at all times.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by Daedalus0101101

So I recently got a 2021 X5 with the laserlights and wanted them ( NA) because of the increased illumination at night. Most of the time I am driving city streets after dark, but when I travel out of state / unfamiliar road I was hoping to have better illumination without blinding the heck out of people. I have yet to test them though. For the people that are NA that have them, do you notice a difference at highway speeds from previous cars that didn't have them? I seem to be reading a lot on here where the NA version isn't as bright, but I was at least hoping for more light and for them to auto-dim /shift/etc... when cars are approaching so I'm not one of those annoying drivers that just keeps the highbeams on at all times.

As you can see, people's opinion of them differ based on expectations, previous experience, etc. For me they are the best lights I have had and do a greta job illuminating far into the distance. If you have them set to Auto they will automatically turn off when vehicles approach. I have never had another driver flash me.

[Daedalus0101101]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

As you can see, people's opinion of them differ based on expectations, previous experience, etc. For me they are the best lights I have had and do a greta job illuminating far into the distance. If you have them set to Auto they will automatically turn off when vehicles approach. I have never had another driver flash me.

Do they do the shift thing like I have seen in videos? Where sections of the light are essentially cut out and track where the vehicle are but the edges remain illuminated and then after they pass go back to full front? I don't know if the video I have seen is of an X5 or another model, but it specifically said BMW Icon Laserlights.

edit -- I come from having a Ford Explorer with LED headlights.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by Daedalus0101101

Do they do the shift thing like I have seen in videos? Where sections of the light are essentially cut out and track where the vehicle are but the edges remain illuminated and then after they pass go back to full front? I don't know if the video I have seen is of an X5 or another model, but it specifically said BMW Icon Laserlights.

edit -- I come from having a Ford Explorer with LED headlights.

No, they do not do that in the US. You need to have them coded to enable the anti-dazzle function.

[Daedalus0101101]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

No, they do not do that in the US. You need to have them coded to enable the anti-dazzle function.

I am the 2nd owner of this, but I bought it from the original dealer so I was able to get the original order sheet and found this.

5AP Decoding for no-dazzle high-beam assistance

So this means they essentially have turned off that feature? If so, any clue as to why? I think that would be a great feature to have on all their cars.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by Daedalus0101101

I am the 2nd owner of this, but I bought it from the original dealer so I was able to get the original order sheet and found this.

5AP Decoding for no-dazzle high-beam assistance

So this means they essentially have turned off that feature? If so, any clue as to why? I think that would be a great feature to have on all their cars.

That is correct, it is turned off in the US. Prior to 2022 they were illegal in the US. Now they are not but BMW does not have any headlights that meet the new requirements.

[Daedalus0101101]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

BMW does not have any headlights that meet the new requirements.

Can you elaborate a little more on this. They physically do not have them in the US or since the specs for EU and US are different they are essentially all EU lights and the the US market just has the anti-dazzle disabled. I saw another post from a year ago where you used bimmercode and got it to work in yours. Did something go wrong? I haven't read the full thread yet.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by Daedalus0101101

Can you elaborate a little more on this. They physically do not have them in the US or since the specs for EU and US are different they are essentially all EU lights and the the US market just has the anti-dazzle disabled. I saw another post from a year ago where you used bimmercode and got it to work in yours. Did something go wrong? I haven't read the full thread yet.

The NHTSA didn't accept either of the existing standards but rather created their own. At this time none of BMW's headlights meet the new standards.

I have a faux Bimmercode implementation on my M340i and they are working fine. I'm likely going to have someone VO code them on my X5.

[Daedalus0101101]

Again, a newbie here. What is VO code? Vehicle Option coding? I just finished reading that whole thread and was thinking of getting bimmercode so I could use that code sheet you had in there for my X5 to have Anti-Dazzle. That was the main reason why I was specifically looking for an X5 with the Laser light. I also just learned ( same post of yours ) that normal low beams are actually just LED and not the Lasers. High beams are the Laser lights

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by Daedalus0101101

Again, a newbie here. What is VO code? Vehicle Option coding? I just finished reading that whole thread and was thinking of getting bimmercode so I could use that code sheet you had in there for my X5 to have Anti-Dazzle. That was the main reason why I was specifically looking for an X5 with the Laser light. I also just learned ( same post of yours ) that normal low beams are actually just LED and not the Lasers. High beams are the Laser lights

Yes, it is a different method coding and it allows for the full implementation (sans EU power) of anti dazzle. Bimmercode doesn't have access to all of the ECU's that are needed to do all of the coding. The implementation I did in Bimmercode is good but not full.

The high beams are not Laser, they are LEDs. The lasers only engage when going over 37mph and the high beams are active.

[Daedalus0101101]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

Yes, it is a different method coding and it allows for the full implementation (sans EU power) of anti dazzle. Bimmercode doesn't have access to all of the ECU's that are needed to do all of the coding. The implementation I did in Bimmercode is good but not full.

Well if you find someone or a place to VO code it, let me know.

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

The high beams are not Laser, they are LEDs. The lasers only engage when going over 37mph and the high beams are active.

Well damn it I misunderstood how the whole system works not only once, but twice. I really haven't had a chance to test one of the main features that I thought I was going to be getting with the Laserlights and now have to have it VO coded afterwards. So if the high beams aren't laser, they just enhance the high beams >37?

edit-- also why Bimmercode the 340 and not the X5? Because the VO option is how BMW factory programmed it? Would OTA updates erase it?

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by Daedalus0101101

Well if you find someone or a place to VO code it, let me know.

So if the high beams aren't laser, they just enhance the high beams >37?

I always recommend Ben r33_RGSport for coding. Will have to follow my recommendation at some point.

Yes, they add a focused beam. Here are pics of with and without courtesy of AndroidRobot .