How to Use the Headlights on a BMW 3 Series?
3 Answers
The light control button and instrument panel brightness adjustment knob are located on the left side of the steering column. Here is how to use the headlights on a BMW 3 Series: 1. Turn on the headlight switch by pushing the switch lever forward to activate the high beams. 2. To switch back to low beams, pull the lever back. 3. If you only want to flash the high beams, pull the lever toward the driver, and it will automatically return. The intensity of the light is adjusted based on the distance of the filament. High beams focus the light parallel, making it more concentrated and brighter, allowing illumination of distant and high objects. Low beams emit light in a diverging pattern, covering a wider area at close range.
Over the years of driving my BMW 3 Series, I've developed the habit of turning the left stalk on the steering wheel to the AUTO position as soon as I get in. These automatic headlights are incredibly convenient—they turn on by themselves when entering tunnels or when it gets dark, and switch off during the day. If I need to manually control the lights, turning the knob clockwise to the first position activates the daytime running lights and taillights, while turning it all the way turns on the low beams. To flash the high beams as a reminder to the car ahead, a gentle pull of the stalk toward me does the trick; for sustained high beams at night, push the stalk all the way forward. The turn signals are the most intuitive—push up for right turns and down for left turns, and a light tap will trigger three flashes for lane changes. On rainy days, remember to press the fog light button on the center console; the red rear fog light cuts through the rain effectively. If you want to keep one side's parking lights on after turning off the engine, just hold the turn signal stalk in the fully up or down position for a few seconds—a very user-friendly design.
The lighting controls for the BMW 3 Series are concentrated on the stalk located at the lower left side of the steering wheel. I frequently use the AUTO mode, where the system automatically turns the headlights on or off based on ambient light conditions, eliminating the need for manual operation. The first position of the rotary switch activates the parking lights and daytime running lights, ideal for dusk. The second position turns on the low beams. Pushing the stalk forward activates the high beams continuously, while pulling it back flashes the high beams to alert vehicles ahead. On the side of the stalk, there's a fog light switch—pressing it during rainy conditions activates the red rear fog light. The turn signals are operated by moving the stalk up or down, and a light tap triggers three flashes for lane changes. The vehicle's infotainment system also allows adjustments to lighting sensitivity, such as the delay time for turning off the lights. These designs enable drivers to focus on the road without distractions from lighting operations.
