Adaptive Xenon - Dark Spots

[ImaginativeTruth]

Hello All,

Driving in the darker evenings I have now noticed my lights have two dark patches in them - see pic.

Is this normal - do you have this on your lights?

Car is 40d 12 plate with adaptive xenons

Cheers

[Steamyrotter]

Id be more worried about the yellow circles heading towards you...

I have seen that effect on a few other cars, may just be a misalignment of the tube ('bulb') within the reflector..

I would carefully remove them and reseat them first and see if that changes anything..
A bit of dirt . grit on the seat can cause havoc with alignment and it doesn't take much.....
Even a loose securing spring can do it...

[535dboy]

That's what happens just before they pack up altogether!

[Horizon]

Is this not caused by the projector effect.?

[X5Sport]

When you switch between main and dipped beam, does the pattern move?

[ImaginativeTruth]

Thanks all.  I'll check if pattern moves with High Beam and also if it stays when beams move with adaptive light.

It may be the bulb or the bulb housing. I'm thinking its a dealer question...?

[X5Sport]

The beams should move together into a narrower pattern on high beam at speeds over 25mph.

[donkeybrains]

like dboy said, could it be that the bulb is on its way out? it's probably a projection of a blackish spot on the bulb itself like how household bulbs go a bit black when they're knackered

xx

[ImaginativeTruth]

Thanks all for the replies.

So the dark spots move with the lights, however I do notice that the lights a 'lazy' and move after the car has already started the turn...

Dark spots also present in High Beams - but I think the HB are only a set of shutters that open to allow the 'top' of the dipped beam to shine through.

Car is due a 'check' (wtf?) in 1600 miles so I will have it looked at then and report back.

[X5Sport]

There are definitely no dark spots on my lights.  There is always a slight hesitation between the steering and the light movement but it's only momentary.

Yes the HB function is controlled by a shutter.

It is possible that the bulbs have been replaced with non-standard and the focal point is slightly off which could affect the pattern?

'Check' is probably the MOT warning.  It is on mine.  Can be set by the Dealer to match the MOT date so may be in an original date rather than the correct one to match current issued one.

[Horizon]

Reset my MOT, annual statituary check date in IDrive in service menu, it will be in yellow or orange saying it's due, easy to change, reset mine to April 2016 when MOT now due, it was registered in September when new, so flagged up today.

[ImaginativeTruth]

[quote="X5Sport"]
There are definitely no dark spots on my lights.  There is always a slight hesitation between the steering and the light movement but it's only momentary.

Yes the HB function is controlled by a shutter.

It is possible that the bulbs have been replaced with non-standard and the focal point is slightly off which could affect the pattern?

'Check' is probably the MOT warning.  It is on mine.  Can be set by the Dealer to match the MOT date so may be in an original date rather than the correct one to match current issued one.
[/quote]

Thank you. Thats very helpful.
My car has no MOT, its too new. Unsure what the 'check' is though. I didn't know it could be adjusted. Is it just yet another way for the dealer to get you back in the door?

[X5Sport]

Might be a fluid service due then?  If it's two years old then you need new brake fluid.

[X5Sport]

Really?  Exactly what is classified as a 'newer' version I wonder.  F15 perhaps?  Might be a dealer trying to duck work rather than do the job properly having been picked up on it, or a service pack and strict adherence to dates - as in they won't do it early coz they won't be paid for it by BMW.

[X5Sport]

I wasn't doubting you - honest.