2009 BMW 5 Series Owner's Manual - Page 113

and low beams, reacting to oncoming traffic, vehicles ahead of you, and sufficiently lit areas, e.g. in built-up zones. or shipping traffic close to the road, and at deer crossings > in tight curves, on steep crests or dips, with cross-traffic, or with partially hidden oncoming traffic on divided highways > in poorly illuminated areas and in the presence of highly reflective signs > in the low speed range > when the windshield is fogged up, dirty or covered with stickers, decals etc. in the area of the inside rearview mirror > when the sensor is dirty. Clean the sensor on the front side of the inside rearview mirror with a cloth slightly moistened with glass cleaner Moreover, no system can operate without limitations. High-beam assistant operation is subject to conditions that may reduce the system's ability to recognize the difference between actual vehicle head lamps or tail lamps and, for example, highly reflective signs, markers, and streetlights. To be on the safe side, the system may periodically interpret these situations as conditions that require low beams. Below are some of the situations in which premature switching to low beams can occur: > approaching large and/or highly reflective signs > approaching certain lights, such as driveway lighting and porch lights > approaching certain traffic signals > approaching large reflective markers In these situations, the system may interpret the above conditions as a vehicle ahead requiring a switch to low beams. When the conditions return to normal, the system will reactivate the high beams. The high-beam assistant cannot replace the driver's responsibility for complying with state laws on high-beam switching or for adapting to visibility and traffic conditions. Manually switching between high beams and low beams If you wish or the situation requires, you can intervene at any time. > If the high-beam assistant has switched on the high beams, but you wish to use the low beams, just switch on the low beams with the turn signal lever. This deactivates the high-beam assistant. In order to reactivate the system, briefly press the turn signal lever in the high-beam direction. > If the high-beam assistant has switched on the low beams, but you wish to use the high beams, simply switch on the high beams as usual. This deactivates the system and it is up to you to switch back to low beams. In order to reactivate the system, briefly press the turn signal lever in the high-beam direction. > When the low beams are on, use the headlamp flasher as usual. System limits The high-beam assistant is designed to maximize the amount of time that high beams can be safely used and to quickly switch back to low beams when traffic approaches. The system cannot completely replace driver intervention when unusual conditions are encountered. For this reason, switch to low beams when circumstances so dictate. Failure to do so can pose a safety risk.< Below are a few examples of situations in which the system may not react or may only function to a limited degree, requiring personal intervention: > in extremely unfavorable weather conditions such as fog or heavy precipitation > in sensing road users with poor inherent illumination such as pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians, horse-drawn vehicles, railroad Switching off via iDrive Reference iDrive, for operating principle refer to page 16. 111 Online Edition for Part no. 01 41 2 600 721 - © 08/08 BMW AG Mobility Communications Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance