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      06-08-2013, 06:57 PM   #1
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Thumbs up High Beam Assistant - more videos and observations

I'm still absolutely loving High Beam Assistant, as can be seen from my previous thread here and Jason's thread here.

It's just the best feature ever fitted to a car .

EDIT: This advanced HBA is not available on the US F30's. The US gets the simple high beam ON/OFF function, with the Adaptive Xenon's following their preset instructions of to what extent they follow curves in the road and change beam length/width/pattern. Sorry! I think it's due to your road laws.

So, I've been out tonight capturing more videos of it in action, and with it I have some more observations and more conclusions.

I'm going to start with the conclusion; it's not named right. It should be called something like "Dynamic Lighting", with High Beam Assistant being a sub-feature of this.

Now, with Adaptive Xenon's, the beam is directed to the corners (especially left being UK) and the beam also changes depending on the speed and gear (i.e. D to R) - so it's already impressive. Enable HBA and bring the camera into play - wow. Ignoring the high beam feature, which I think we've covered a lot now, the beam is then infinitely adaptive and will dance all over the road to distribute light to the greatest extent whilst not dazzling other drivers. Also, the range of the beam is adaptive. Its objective seems to have light touching just below the bumper of the car in front.

If I come closer to the car in front, the beam range will reduce so the light isn't blinding the driver. If I drop back, it will increase so light is still touching the vehicle. Clever clever stuff!

Back to the high beam feature, the system will create tunnels as we know for the car ahead and oncoming traffic. This means as much light is distributed onto the road as possible without blinding other drivers. And it looks REALLY COOL. I've found that a lot of drivers slow down for a look at what's going on and I'm sure I've been mistaken for an unmarked police car on occasions!

So I've added a load of video to demonstrate the above features.

It is AMAZING. I couldn't recommend this feature more. It just needs a different name - "High Beam Assistant" is too focused.

p.s I kinda go off topic and partake in some more 'spirited' driving around 3:20

Enjoy!

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      06-08-2013, 08:23 PM   #2
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Nice! Thanks for the post. Now, curious if we non-HBA folks could get a retrofit. This is really cool tech!
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      06-08-2013, 08:33 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SomeRandomer123
I'm still absolutely loving High Beam Assistant, as can be seen from my previous thread here and Jason's thread here.

It's just the best feature ever fitted to a car .

So, I've been out tonight capturing more videos of it in action, and with it I have some more observations and more conclusions.

I'm going to start with the conclusion; it's not named right. It should be called something like "Dynamic Lighting", with High Beam Assistant being a sub-feature of this.

Now, with Adaptive Xenon's, the beam is directed to the corners (especially left being UK) and the beam also changes depending on the speed and gear (i.e. D to R) - so it's already impressive. Enable HBA and bring the camera into play - wow. Ignoring the high beam feature, which I think we've covered a lot now, the beam is then infinitely adaptive and will dance all over the road to distribute light to the greatest extent whilst not dazzling other drivers. Also, the range of the beam is adaptive. Its objective seems to have light touching just below the bumper of the car in front.

If I come closer to the car in front, the beam range will reduce so the light isn't blinding the driver. If I drop back, it will increase so light is still touching the vehicle. Clever clever stuff!

Back to the high beam feature, the system will create tunnels as we know for the car ahead and oncoming traffic. This means as much light is distributed onto the road as possible without blinding other drivers. And it looks REALLY COOL. I've found that a lot of drivers slow down for a look at what's going on and I'm sure I've been mistaken for an unmarked police car on occasions!

So I've added a load of video to demonstrate the above features.

It is AMAZING. I couldn't recommend this feature more. It just needs a different name - "High Beam Assistant" is too focused.

p.s I kinda go off topic and partake in some more 'spirited' driving around 3:20

Enjoy!

Try this, have someone drive behind you and record the hba in action, that way you can really see the lights dancing
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      06-08-2013, 08:51 PM   #4
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Thanks for sharing. Great technology and a feature that's making me even more excited about getting the car!
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      06-09-2013, 12:11 AM   #5
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I'm confused, I have a 2012 F30 with the Adaptive Xenons and the High-beam assistant. When I activate HBA by hitting the button on the end of the left stalk, it seems like it just turns off or turns on the high-beams based on if it detects a lighter area, or an approaching vehicle. Is what you are demoing here a more advanced HBA that is only available on 2013 or 2014 F30s? Or is this the same HBA I have in my 2012?
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      06-09-2013, 12:42 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LAnderson23 View Post
I'm confused, I have a 2012 F30 with the Adaptive Xenons and the High-beam assistant. When I activate HBA by hitting the button on the end of the left stalk, it seems like it just turns off or turns on the high-beams based on if it detects a lighter area, or an approaching vehicle. Is what you are demoing here a more advanced HBA that is only available on 2013 or 2014 F30s? Or is this the same HBA I have in my 2012?
I think HBA is just auto turn on high beams for better visability and turns off when oncoming traffic. His lights move when your car turns to provide better visability. Thats adaptive headlights or something.
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      06-09-2013, 12:53 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LAnderson23 View Post
I'm confused, I have a 2012 F30 with the Adaptive Xenons and the High-beam assistant. When I activate HBA by hitting the button on the end of the left stalk, it seems like it just turns off or turns on the high-beams based on if it detects a lighter area, or an approaching vehicle. Is what you are demoing here a more advanced HBA that is only available on 2013 or 2014 F30s? Or is this the same HBA I have in my 2012?
What he has is not available in the US
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      06-09-2013, 01:06 AM   #8
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It's not clear, to me at least, whether we get this in Oz either :-(. I guess I'll know in September!
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      06-09-2013, 01:27 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SimonB View Post
It's not clear, to me at least, whether we get this in Oz either :-(. I guess I'll know in September!
It comes as part of the adaptive headlight package here in AUS, so you will get it
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      06-09-2013, 01:55 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IndividualF30 View Post
It comes as part of the adaptive headlight package here in AUS, so you will get it
Excellent. I have Adaptive Headlights in my 135 and they're great on windy dark roads. If the next generation does as the BMW video I watched yesterday, I will be very happy.

BMW Australia really needs to up their game with their descriptions though, surely they'd sell more of these options if there was more info in the book!? All it says is "... With variable light distribution... " and ".. Avoids dazzling other drivers..."

Anyway, looking forward to it.
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      06-09-2013, 06:10 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan_335i
Quote:
Originally Posted by LAnderson23 View Post
I'm confused, I have a 2012 F30 with the Adaptive Xenons and the High-beam assistant. When I activate HBA by hitting the button on the end of the left stalk, it seems like it just turns off or turns on the high-beams based on if it detects a lighter area, or an approaching vehicle. Is what you are demoing here a more advanced HBA that is only available on 2013 or 2014 F30s? Or is this the same HBA I have in my 2012?
I think HBA is just auto turn on high beams for better visability and turns off when oncoming traffic. His lights move when your car turns to provide better visability. Thats adaptive headlights or something.
Wrong. Read the OP and the other threads. The Adaptive Xenon's just follow curves in the road and change the beam width according to speed. Enabling HBA then makes this infinitely variable (within it's operating range obviously) as the camera is looking for other cars - so even without high beam on, the beam is adapting due to HBA, not just the preset Adaptive Xenon's.

HBA can also choose individually which xenon bulb to take to high beam. This is all covered in the previous threads.

This astounding version of HBA is not available in the US on the F30 and instead works by simply turning them ON/OFF, with the Adaptive Xenon's following their presets of turning when you turn the wheel.
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      06-09-2013, 06:12 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SimonB
Quote:
Originally Posted by IndividualF30 View Post
It comes as part of the adaptive headlight package here in AUS, so you will get it
Excellent. I have Adaptive Headlights in my 135 and they're great on windy dark roads. If the next generation does as the BMW video I watched yesterday, I will be very happy.

BMW Australia really needs to up their game with their descriptions though, surely they'd sell more of these options if there was more info in the book!? All it says is "... With variable light distribution... " and ".. Avoids dazzling other drivers..."

Anyway, looking forward to it.
"Variable Light Distribution with Intelligent High Beam Assistant" - that could be a good and definitely more appropriate/descriptive name.
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      06-09-2013, 06:13 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason335iMsport
Quote:
Originally Posted by LAnderson23 View Post
I'm confused, I have a 2012 F30 with the Adaptive Xenons and the High-beam assistant. When I activate HBA by hitting the button on the end of the left stalk, it seems like it just turns off or turns on the high-beams based on if it detects a lighter area, or an approaching vehicle. Is what you are demoing here a more advanced HBA that is only available on 2013 or 2014 F30s? Or is this the same HBA I have in my 2012?
What he has is not available in the US
Correct - unfortunately due to your traffic laws I believe.
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      06-09-2013, 06:16 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LAnderson23
I'm confused, I have a 2012 F30 with the Adaptive Xenons and the High-beam assistant. When I activate HBA by hitting the button on the end of the left stalk, it seems like it just turns off or turns on the high-beams based on if it detects a lighter area, or an approaching vehicle. Is what you are demoing here a more advanced HBA that is only available on 2013 or 2014 F30s? Or is this the same HBA I have in my 2012?
This advanced/intelligent HBA is not available in the US. Your HBA will only turn ON/OFF the high beams and the Adaptive Xenon's will just follow their preset instructions of to what extent they turn and change beam length/width/pattern.
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      06-09-2013, 06:36 AM   #15
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You can get it in Australia. I agree, it's a great system.
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      06-09-2013, 06:50 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dabaitu
You can get it in Australia. I agree, it's a great system.
That's good to hear! Yeah, it really is astonishingly good.
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      08-16-2013, 03:30 AM   #17
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Very cool stuff!!!
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