Activating The System - BMW 318i Owner's Handbook Manual

High-Beam Assistant*
The principle
This system automatically switches the high-
beam headlights on and back off. A sensor on
the front of the inside mirror controls this fea-
ture. The assistant ensures that the high-beam
headlights are switched on whenever the traffic
situation permits this. This relieves you of one
distraction from driving while optimising your
view of the road. Naturally, you can also control
the lights yourself at any time and switch them
on and off as usual.

Activating the system

1. Turn the light switch to position 3, see
page 78.
2. While the low-beam headlights are
switched on, briefly press the turn indicator
lever in the direction for high-beam head-
lights.
The indicator light in the instrument
cluster comes on when the High-Beam
Assistant is activated. The headlights
are automatically switched between high
beams and low beams as the system reacts to
oncoming traffic and vehicles driving in front of
you, as well as to ambient light conditions in
towns, for example.
Manual high beams and low beams
If you wish or if the situation calls for it, you can
control the lights yourself at any time:
> If the High-Beam Assistant has switched on
the high-beam headlights but you wish to
use the low-beam headlights, simply use
the turn indicator lever to switch off the
high-beam headlights. This will deactivate
the High-Beam Assistant.
To reactivate the system, briefly press the
turn indicator lever back in the direction for
high-beam headlights.
> If the High-Beam Assistant has switched on
the low-beam headlights but you wish to
use the high-beam headlights, switch on
the high-beam headlights as usual. This will
deactivate the system; thus you will have to
Online Edition for Part no. 01 41 0 013 257 - © 02/07 BMW AG
switch to low-beam headlights manually.
To reactivate the system, briefly press the
turn indicator lever back in the direction for
high-beam headlights.
> The headlight flasher can be operated as
usual with low-beam headlights.
System limitations
The High-Beam Assistant cannot substi-
tute for your personal judgement of when
to use the high-beam headlights. To avoid any
safety risk, switch to the low-beam headlights
manually in situations that require
The following situations are examples of when
the system may not work at all or only to a lim-
ited extent, making it necessary for you to take
action yourself:
> During extremely unfavourable weather
conditions such as fog or heavy precipita-
tion
> When trying to detect poorly-illuminated
road users such as pedestrians, bicyclists,
equestrians or carts, when trains or ships
are close to the road, or when game are
passing across the road
> In sharp bends, on steep crests or hollows,
at intersections or when there is half-
obscured oncoming traffic on motorways
> In poorly illuminated towns or wherever
there are highly reflective signs
> In low-speed areas
> When the windscreen in front of the inside
mirror is covered with condensation, dirt,
stickers, labels, etc.
> When the sensor is dirty. Clean the sensor
on the front of the inside mirror using a cloth
moistened with a small amount of a glass
cleaning product
this.<
81