BMW Adaptive Headlights are About to Get Better

If you own something like a 2022 BMW 530i, you might be used to your adaptive cornering headlights. But did you know that BMW adaptive headlamps in other parts of the world are more than just typical moving headlights? In places like Europe, vehicles can be equipped with adaptive driving beam, or ADB headlights, which are newer, more high-tech versions of their American counterparts. Here in the U.S., they’re illegal. (The grass is always greener—right?)

This year, however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finally approved automakers to install adaptive driving beam headlights on their vehicles. With decades’ worth of safety data, the NHTSA issued this new rule as it will “improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists by making them more visible at night, and will help prevent crashes by better illuminating animals and objects in and along the road.” Thank you, NHTSA!

Adaptive vs. ADB Headlights: What’s the Difference?

The terminology used by and within the industry isn’t great, so we can certainly understand your confusion. To make it easier on your noggin, think of “adaptive headlights” as your grocery store and “ADB headlights” as one of the store’s aisles.

Cars with adaptive headlights (grocery stores) have different types of technology (aisles) that actively recognize and react to road or driving conditions. This includes everything from automatic high beams to cornering headlamps to ADB.

Automatic high beams, which are standard on most new BMW models, automatically turn high-beam headlights off when oncoming vehicles are detected, then back on once that vehicle has passed.

Cornering headlights have fixed bulbs within the headlamp casing. These bulbs automatically activate when the steering wheel turns or your BMW turn signal is switched on; once the vehicle’s steering wheel is straightened, the lights turn off.

Curve-adaptive headlights, which are sometimes confused with directional headlights or cornering headlights, utilize bulbs mounted to motors and sensors in order to detect road curvatures when the steering wheel turns. They can also shine light to the side, which helps to avoid dangerous situations with pedestrians or cyclists at intersections and crosswalks. Watch the video below to see how BMW cornering headlights operate.

Adaptive driving beam headlights utilize numerous small, very bright LED bulbs, each of which is controlled by a computer and adjusted to adapt to curves in the road as well as other vehicles. As sensors detect oncoming vehicles, for example, the system “splits” the bulbs’ lights so they do not cause visibility issues for the other driver. They will also dynamically switch one headlight to low beams if a vehicle is passing, then automatically switch it back once the coast is clear, so to speak. View the video below to see these smart LED headlights in action.

Read more about the differences between halogen, HID, LED and Xenon headlights.

Are Adaptive Headlights Worth It?

Studies have shown that smart headlights—whether they’re ADB, auto high-beam, or curving headlights in a car—reduce the incidences of accidents and insurance claims. In addition to safety features like automatic emergency braking, adaptive LED headlights are definitely a worthwhile investment, even though thecost of BMW adaptive headlight repair is slightly higher than typical headlamp service.

Speaking of lights… If you happen to be shopping for a new BMW in South Florida right now, you might want to visit Miami’s “Pulse Topology” art exhibit at Superblue Miami. BMW has collaborated with artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer to create this mesmerizing, 3,000-bulb masterpiece, and it will be available for viewing from November 28 to December 4, 2022.

Some of us at Braman BMW Miami will visiting the exhibit throughout the week, but you can always meet us (and our new BMW vehicles) in person by visiting our luxury car dealership near Coral Gables. We’re located at 2060 Biscayne Blvd in Miami.