2016 BMW M4 headlights

LightsVehicle equipmentThis chapter describes all standard, national
and special equipment provided in the model
series. Equipment not available in the vehicle is
therefore also described, for example the se‐
lected special equipment or national version.
This also applies to safety-relevant functions
and systems. Comply with the relevant na‐
tional regulations when using the correspond‐
ing functions and systems.
Overview Switch in the vehicle
The light switch element is located next to the
steering wheel.
Light functions
SymbolFunctionRear fog lightsAutomatic driving lights control
Adaptive HeadlightsLights off
Daytime driving lightsSymbolFunctionSide lightsLow-beam headlightsInstrument lighting
Side lights, low-beam
headlights and parking light
General
Switch position:
, ,
If the driver's door is opened with the ignition
switched off, the exterior lights are automati‐
cally switched off with these switch settings.
Side lights
Switch position:

The vehicle is illuminated all round.
You should not leave the side lights on for lon‐
ger periods of time, since the vehicle battery
could discharge and you might not have
enough power to start the engine.
To park, switch on the one-sided parking light,
see page 99.
Low-beam headlights Switch position:

The low-beam headlights illuminate with the
ignition switched on.
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Parking lights
The vehicle can be illuminated on one side.
Switching on With the ignition switched off, push the lever
upwards or downwards beyond the resistance
point for approximately 2 seconds.
Switching off Press the lever briefly in the opposite direction
as far as the resistance point.
Welcome lights and
headlight courtesy delay
feature
Welcome lights Depending on the equipment version, switch
position
or when parking the vehicle.
Depending on the ambient brightness, the side
lights and interior light may come on briefly
when unlocking the vehicle.
Activating/deactivating
On the Control Display:
1."Settings"2."Lights"3."Welcome light"
The setting is saved for the currently used pro‐
file.
Headlight courtesy delay feature
If the headlight flasher is activated after switch‐
ing off the radio ready state, the low-beam
headlights illuminate and remain on for a cer‐
tain amount of time.
Setting the duration
On the Control Display:1."Settings"2."Lights"3."Home lights:"4.Set the duration.
The setting is saved for the currently used pro‐
file.
Automatic driving lightscontrol
Principle Depending on ambient brightness, the system
switches the low-beam headlights on or off au‐
tomatically, for example in a tunnel, at twilight
and in rain or snow.
General The headlights may also come on when the
sun is sitting low in a blue sky.
When emerging from tunnels in daylight, low-
beam headlights are not switched off immedi‐
ately, but only after approximately 2 minutes.
The low-beam headlights always remain on
when the fog lights are switched on.
Activating Switch position:

The indicator light in the instrument cluster is
illuminated with the low-beam headlights
switched on.
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System limits
The automatic driving lights control is no sub‐
stitute for your individual judgement of when it
is necessary to switch on the lights.
The sensors are unable, for instance, to recog‐
nise fog or hazy weather. In such situations,
switch on the lights manually to avoid any
safety risk.
Daytime driving lights Switch position:
,
The daytime driving lights illuminate with the
ignition switched on.
Activating/deactivating
In some countries daytime driving lights are
compulsory, which is why the daytime driving
lights cannot be deactivated.
On the Control Display:
1."Settings"2."Lights"3."Daytime driving lights"
The setting is saved for the currently used pro‐
file.
Adaptive HeadlightsPrinciple
Adaptive Headlights is a variable headlight
control system that makes it possible to illumi‐
nate the road surface responsively.
The beams from the headlights follow the road
ahead on the basis of the steering angle and
other parameters.
Depending on the speed, the variable light dis‐
tribution ensures even better illumination of
the roadway.
The light distribution is automatically adapted
to the speed. The city light is switched on if the
speed of 50 km/h, approx. 30 mph is not ex‐
ceeded while accelerating or if the speed of
40 km/h, approx. 25 mph is undercut while
braking. The motorway light is switched on at a speed higher than 110 km/h, 68 mph after ap‐
proximately 30 seconds or as of a speed of
140 km/h, 87 mph.
Activating Switch position
with the ignition switched
on.
So as not to dazzle oncoming vehicles, the
adaptive cornering light does not swivel to the
driver's side when stationary.
A cornering light is activated automatically de‐
pending on the steering angle or use of the
turn indicators.
The cornering light may be switched on when
driving in reverse, irrespective of the steering
angle.
Malfunction
A Check Control message is displayed.
Adaptive Headlights are faulty or have failed.
Have the system checked as soon as possible.
High-beam assistance
Principle When low-beam headlights are switched on,this system automatically switches the high-
beam headlights on and off or fades out the
areas which dazzle oncoming vehicles. This
process is controlled by a camera on the front
of the rear-view mirror. It ensures that the
high-beam headlights are switched on when‐
ever the traffic situation allows. You can also
control the lights yourself at any time and
switch them on and off as usual. The high-
beam headlights are not switched on by the
system in the low speed range.
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Activating1.Depending on equipment, turn the light
switch to position
or .
2.Press the button on the turn indicator
lever, arrow.
The indicator light in the instrument
cluster is illuminated.
When the low-beam headlights are on, the
beam is dipped and returned to full beam auto‐
matically.
The system responds to light from oncoming
traffic and traffic driving ahead of you, and to
adequate lighting, for example in built-up
areas.
The blue indicator light in the instru‐
ment cluster illuminates if the high
beam is switched on by the system.
Depending on the version of the system instal‐
led in the vehicle, the high-beam lights may
not be switched off for oncoming vehicles, but
only the areas which dazzle the oncoming ve‐
hicles are faded out. In this case, the blue indi‐
cator light continues to illuminate.
Raising and dipping manually▷High-beam headlights on, arrow 1.▷High-beam headlights off/headlight flasher,
arrow 2.
The high beam assistance can be deactivated
by manually raising and dipping.
To reactivate high-beam assistance, press the
button on the turn indicator lever, see
page 101.
System limits
The high-beam assistance cannot replace the
personal decision to use the high-beam head‐
lights. Thus, dip manually in situations requir‐
ing such.
In the following situations, the system will not
operate or its operation will be impaired and
your intervention may be required:
▷During extremely unfavourable weather
conditions such as fog or heavy precipita‐
tion.▷When detecting poorly-lit road users such
as pedestrians, cyclists or horseback riders
or carts, and when trains or ships are close
to the road, or when game are passing
across the road.▷On narrow bends, steep uphill or downhill
gradients, at traffic junctions or if your view
of oncoming vehicles on a motorway is ob‐
structed.▷In poorly-lit towns and where there are very
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▷When the windscreen in front of the rear-
view mirror is covered with condensation,
dirt, stickers, labels, etc.
Fog lights
Rear fog lights
The low-beam headlights must be switched
on.
Press the button. The yellow indicator
light is illuminated.
If automatic driving lights control, see page 99,
has been activated, the low-beam headlights
come on automatically when the rear fog lights
are switched on.
Left-hand/right-hand traffic GeneralWhen driving in countries where the opposite
rule of the road applies, you need to prevent
your headlights from dazzling oncoming vehi‐
cles.
Xenon headlight
Light distribution of the headlights avoids daz‐
zling of the low-beam headlights when driving
in a country in which the traffic drives on the
opposite side.
Adaptive Headlights
When driving in a country where you drive on
the opposite side of the road from the country
the vehicle is licensed, do not drive with the
setting, otherwise this could cause a daz‐
zling effect from the variable light distribution.
LED headlights The Service Partner or a qualified specialist
workshop has light benders available. Proceed
in accordance with the enclosed information
when affixing the light benders to the head‐
lights.
Adaptive Headlights
When driving in a country where you drive on
the opposite side of the road from the country
the vehicle is licensed, do not drive with the
setting, otherwise this could cause a daz‐
zling effect from the variable light distribution.
Instrument lightingAdjusting The brightness can only be ad‐justed when the side lights or
the low-beam headlights are
switched on.
The brightness can be set using
the knurled wheel.
Interior light GeneralThe interior light, the footwell lights, door entry
lighting and the courtesy lighting are controlled
automatically.
The brightness of some equipment is influ‐
enced by the knurled wheel for the instrument
lighting.
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ist workshop, if you are not familiar with it or it
is not described here.
A box containing spare bulbs is available from
a Service Partner or a qualified specialist work‐
shop.
WARNING
Lamps can become hot during operation.
Contact with the lamps can lead to burns. Dan‐
ger of injury. Only replace lamps in cooled-
down condition.◀
WARNING
Short circuits can occur when working on
switched on lighting systems. Danger of injury
or damage to property. Switch the respective
lights off when working on the lighting system.
Observe the possibly enclosed notes of the
lamp manufacturer.◀
DANGER
High voltages can be applied to the light‐
ing system. Danger of fatal injury. Have work
on the lighting system including replacing the
lamps performed by a Service Partner or a
qualified specialist workshop.◀
ATTENTION
Dirty lamps have a reduced lifetime. Dan‐
ger of damage to property. Do not touch the
glass of new lamps with your bare hands. Use
a clean tissue, cloth or similar, or hold the bulb
by its base.◀
Light-emitting diodes, LEDs
Some equipment versions have light-emitting
diodes behind a cover as a light source.
These resemble conventional lasers and are
classified by legislation as Class 1 light-emit‐
ting diodes.
WARNING
Excessively intense brightness can irri‐
tate or harm the retina of the eye. Danger of in‐
jury. Do not look directly at the headlights orother light sources for a sustained period. Do
not remove covers from LEDs.◀
Headlight glass
During cool or humid weather, the exterior
lights can mist over. When driving with the light
switched on, the condensation disappears af‐
ter a short time. There is no need to replace
the headlight glass.
If the headlights do not demist, even when
driving with the lights switched on and increas‐ ing moisture builds up, for example water
droplets in the lights, have these checked by a
Service Partner or a qualified specialist work‐
shop.
Headlight adjustment The adjustments of the headlight can be affec‐
ted by changing lights and bulbs. Have the
headlight adjustment checked and if necessary
corrected by a Service Partner or a qualified
specialist workshop after changing lights and
lamps.
Front lights, replacing the bulbs
Xenon headlight Notes DANGER
High voltages can be applied to the light‐
ing system. Danger of fatal injury. Have work
on the lighting system including replacing the
lamps performed by a Service Partner or a
qualified specialist workshop.◀
These bulbs have a very long service life and
are highly unlikely to fail. Frequent switching
on and off shortens the service life.Seite 194MobilityReplacing parts194
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Headlights1Side lights/daytime driving lights2Low-beam headlights/high-beam head‐
lights/headlight flasher3Turn indicator
The low-beam headlights and high-beam
headlights use xenon technology.
The side lights and daytime driving lights use
LED technology.
Contact a Service Partner or a qualified spe‐
cialist workshop in the case of a defect.
Turn indicator
Follow the general information, see page 193.
21 Watts bulb, PY21W.
1.Use screwdriver from on-board toolkit to
loosen the three screws in wheel arch, ar‐
rows 1.2.Lift wheel arch trim and hold, arrow 2.3.Turn the bulb holder anticlockwise and re‐
move.4.Press the bulb gently into the fitting, turn
anticlockwise and remove.5.Fit new bulb and bulb holder in the reverse
sequence.6.Secure wheel arch trim again.
LED headlights
Light-emitting diodes, LEDs
With LED headlights all front lights and side
turn indicators use LED technology.
Contact a Service Partner or a qualified spe‐
cialist workshop in the case of a defect.
Headlights
1Cornering lights2Low-beam headlights/light flasher3High-beam headlights/headlight flasher4Side lights/daytime driving lights5Turn indicator6Side marking lightsSeite 195Replacing partsMobility195
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Systems, for example approach control warn‐
ing with light braking function. Danger of acci‐
dents. Switch off all Intelligent Safety Systems
before tow-starting/towing.◀
Manual gearboxGearshift lever in idle position.
Being towed Observe the following information:▷Make sure that the ignition is switched on,
otherwise low-beam headlights, rear lights,
turn indicators and wipers would not be
available.▷Do not tow the vehicle with the rear axle
raised, otherwise the steering can turn.▷When the engine is not running, there is no
power assistance and the brake servo is
out of action. The steering and brakes will
require extra effort to operate.▷Greater steering wheel movements are
necessary.▷The towing vehicle must not be lighter
than the towed vehicle, otherwise it may be
unable to keep the towed vehicle reliably
under control.▷Do not exceed a towing speed of on
50 km/h, 30 mph.▷Do not exceed a towing distance of 50 km,
30 miles.Towing truck
With driven rear axle
Have the vehicle transported by a towing truck
with a hoisting frame, or hoisted onto a loading
platform.
ATTENTION
Raising the vehicle at the towing eye,
body or suspension components can cause
damage to vehicle parts. Danger of damage to
property. Raise vehicle with suitable fixtures.◀
M double clutch transmission:
transporting your vehicle
Note
Do not attempt to have your vehicle towed. For
this reason contact a Service Partner or a
qualified specialist workshop in the event of a
breakdown.
ATTENTION
If the vehicle is towed with an individually
lifted axle, the vehicle can be damaged. Danger
of damage to property. Only have the vehicle
transported on a load platform.◀
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