Coding Anti-Dazzle and Variable Light Distribution

[mojo]

Do any of these instances involve cars with rear lighting that extends right across the width of the car? I ask, because there is some evidence (in the UK) that the KAFAS system on the i3 doesn't cope too well with that type of vehicle.

 

[SSi3]

Do any of these instances involve cars with rear lighting that extends right across the width of the car? I ask, because there is some evidence (in the UK) that the KAFAS system on the i3 doesn't cope too well with that type of vehicle.

Not in my test drives... I was behind regular 2 taillight vehicles... was even behind a semi truck-trailer with all its tail/marker lights on, my car still didn't see it

 

[Jenss4/i3s]

Do any of these instances involve cars with rear lighting that extends right across the width of the car? I ask, because there is some evidence (in the UK) that the KAFAS system on the i3 doesn't cope too well with that type of vehicle.

Same experience as SSi3. When directly behind cars at close range my car will turn on all the segments blinding the car in front of me.

 

[tongsli]

I guess we've collectively given up on this? There are still folks out there who will do the coding remotely as I had suggested a long time ago early in this thread. Like the Traffic Jam assist coding. Maybe premium retrofit knows how to perform the changes?

 

[Jenss4/i3s]

I guess we've collectively given up on this? There are still folks out there who will do the coding remotely as I had suggested a long time ago early in this thread. Like the Traffic Jam assist coding. Maybe premium retrofit knows how to perform the changes?

Looking into the programming for other models I guess there's a shop in California, I don't remember the name of, that might be able to do it. They work with a shop in Germany that can get the proper codes from BMW based on the car's VIN. Unless someone else has made progress I've given up as I'm not equipped for the level of programming that's needed.

 

[alohart]

I'm not clear about the differences between the behavior of European i3 headlights and U.S. headlights after the values of 3 Body Domain Controller parameters were changed. Some U.S. i3 drivers who have made regular coding changes feel that their headlights are dazzling approaching drivers. I know that European headlights in general have a sharper top cutoff than U.S. headlights which no coding, FDL included, could likely change. That is likely due to hardware differences. Parts numbers for U.S. and European i3 headlights could be compared to determine whether hardware differences exist.

Early on, I read on another forum that the only noticeable effect of VDL coding was to change the values of 3 Body Domain Controller parameters. I have no way to determine whether this is true. In the meantime, I changed the values of these 3 Body Domain Controller parameters on the 2021 U.S. i3 that we recently acquired. I drive so little at night on dark roads that I haven't determined whether the headlights are working as I had hoped they would.

 

[Jenss4/i3s]

I'm not clear about the differences between the behavior of European i3 headlights and U.S. headlights after the values of 3 Body Domain Controller parameters were changed. Some U.S. i3 drivers who have made regular coding changes feel that their headlights are dazzling approaching drivers. I know that European headlights in general have a sharper top cutoff than U.S. headlights which no coding, FDL included, could likely change. That is likely due to hardware differences. Parts numbers for U.S. and European i3 headlights could be compared to determine whether hardware differences exist.

Early on, I read on another forum that the only noticeable effect of VDL coding was to change the values of 3 Body Domain Controller parameters. I have no way to determine whether this is true. In the meantime, I changed the values of these 3 Body Domain Controller parameters on the 2021 U.S. i3 that we recently acquired. I drive so little at night on dark roads that I haven't determined whether the headlights are working as I had hoped they would.

After many nights driving my car with the programming to the body domain controller and having friends drive at me or ahead of me while talking to me on the phone it would appear there is more programming needed for full functionality. As I have said previously all the car is doing is putting one light to low beam while the other stays high. If you watch the road signs on the oncoming lane you can see this happening. The signs and trees will get dimmer but not go dark. Oncoming traffic is still getting the high output of the passenger side light. Friends that have driven in front of me have described it as winking. If they are straight in front the car will turn on both high beams no matter how close you are. There is no beam splitting happening just on and off of high and low for each side.

It is possible USDM lights don't have the segments but I haven't found any proof of that.

 

[alohart]

After many nights driving my car with the programming to the body domain controller and having friends drive at me or ahead of me while talking to me on the phone it would appear there is more programming needed for full functionality. As I have said previously all the car is doing is putting one light to low beam while the other stays high. If you watch the road signs on the oncoming lane you can see this happening. The signs and trees will get dimmer but not go dark. Oncoming traffic is still getting the high output of the passenger side light. Friends that have driven in front of me have described it as winking. If they are straight in front the car will turn on both high beams no matter how close you are. There is no beam splitting happening just on and off of high and low for each side.

In my limited experience after changing the values of the 3 Body Domain Controller parameters, I "think" that I have seen the leftmost LED high-beam segments turn off to prevent oncoming drivers from being dazzled. I've never had an oncoming driver flash his high beams at me. However, you've certainly done much more comprehensive testing than I have.

Because of the results that you've reported, I will restore these 3 Body Domain Controller parameters to their original values before I sell our 2019 i3. I'll leave these changes in effect on our 2021 i3 until I notice that the headlight behavior is dazzling oncoming drivers.

It is possible USDM lights don't have the segments but I haven't found any proof of that.

It doesn't seem to make sense for U.S. i3's to have options 5AP Decoding Anti-Glare High-Beam Assistant and 8S4 Decoding, Variable Light Distribution if their headlights didn't have individual LED segments that could be turned on and off independently.

 

[tongsli]

I am inclined to believe the hardware is not the issue. Every bmw coding forum and everything I have contributed to this massive thread says the VO file must be changed in order to enable and add the specific coding items to add these features. it's the same for all other BMW coding features people want to add ex post facto.

Even the Traffic Jam Assist needs remote coding if you are following that thread. There wouldn't be at least two firms offering their services to enable the 5AP and 8S4 remote coding if you could just use Bimmercode to make the changes. It would have already made it out across the internet and it has not. Every 2019 or greater I3 owner with Bimmercode would be posting about it.

I'm like Art, I rarely drive at night and unlike him, I don't live in paradise but in the mean streets of Baltimore City. There is so much ambient light here, I'd have to drive 30 minutes to find darkness. So like TJA which I would never use, I am not motivated to make this modification to my vehicle although I think it's cool and would be neat to have. I do not use windows computers although I do have the obdII dongle and I do not have the software to perform.

I'd rather have HK stereo . Somebody will have this done sooner or later, there must be folks who paid for it but they're just not on this forum.

Lito

 

[tongsli]

I came across this PDF while looking for something else altogether. Hope it helps someone

 

[SSi3]

I came across this PDF while looking for something else altogether. Hope it helps someone

Nice thanks! Now I just need to find someone with ESYS :/

 

[alohart]

Nice thanks! Now I just need to find someone with ESYS :/

Thanks! Now I need to install appropriate versions of Esys and its data file to be able to use this info. Esys might be more challenging to install than ISTA. What Esys and data file versions would be required to code a 2021 i3?

 

[kd7iwp]

I haven't gotten around to this yet even though I now have the car in my hands. I've downloaded ~400GB of data files and am hoping I can get Esys running soon to play around with this over Christmas. Had to increase the storage on the ol' laptop I use for automotive tinkering.