Adaptive headlights

[san2crq]

Hi all,
upon searching I couldnt find any info on this.

is there anyway we can do adaptive headlights to our cars? you know, how the new series BMW's headlights turn when you turn the wheel??????

i really want this feature.

thanks
Kyle

[tommyb2b]

You know your 01 already has auto leveling headlights. Honestly I dont even know where you would start with that. I would say its pretty much impossible without spending thousands upon thousands of $ on new computer modules and custom headlights.

[Skinny Puppy]

^This.

You may be boned.

[san2crq]

You know your 01 already has auto leveling headlights. Honestly I dont even know where you would start with that. I would say its pretty much impossible without spending thousands upon thousands of $ on new computer modules and custom headlights.

Cash not a factor, is it possible, ok is it remotely possible? Anyone every try it?

And Skinny puppy - what do you mean boned?

[Don Molina]

When money is no object, then ANYTHING is possible.
And I do mean ANYTHING.

If you don't want to do a major modification to the existing housing I think that getting the bulb on something like this could work:

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/8020/123dwn.jpg
http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/9001/capturezf.jpg

All you need then is a servo motor to swivel the whole thing, however I doubt you could just mount it simply over or below the contraption. You would have to transmit the movement somehow from a place not alligned. And then comes the real pain.

Steering in our car is not by-wire, and I don't know if there is a steering angle sensor for the ASC or something. If there is you can tap into that, or else you will have to put an optical sensor to the steering rack (not recommended :) ). Less intrusive methods include an angular potentiometer on top of the kingpin to get the reading or even a mini-range finder on the front suspension measuring the distance between itself (fixed position) and a pointon the hub, or the wheel. Simple math/trigonometry would give the correlation between distance/steering angle and then you're good to go.

Then a small controller, preset to swivel the servo to the correct angles according to steering angle.



It definetely could be done given time and a descent budget, but it's one of those things that might just not worth the effort.

[Edwin NL]

There is no room in the headlight to have the lenses turn

[Don Molina]

Yes, that's also an issue, however maybe careful disassemlby could give you the chance to make some room bu grinding/sanding/turning/exploding/shooting/whatever :D

You only need a small amount of turning anyway - not more than 10-15 deg I think.

edit:
OK, here's another problem: the swiveling mechanism must accomodate the auto-leveling funciton as well - that complicates things even more.

[Edwin NL]

You have the I6 engine so plenty of room to make the back of the headlights bigger :D

[san2crq]

so its pretty much not an options unless major surgery was performed on the car?

i wasnt sure if it was somewhat of a deal where you could remove an the houseing and put a new one in. or even something similar.

I really love that new feature on the new cars.

[BlackonBlackVIP]

Save your money and buy a new one. If money is not an issue that is ;)

[san2crq]

Save your money and buy a new one. If money is not an issue that is ;)
thanks, but like many i dont like the look of the new cars. i think they get worse looking every year. its the features i like

[randomdude]

You could gut the headlight housings for all but the required hardware. Servo pickup could be on the steering linkage, motor in the housing. They aren't that big these days. You could also look into modifying the integrated adjustment knob.

You said price is no object, I hope time and patients is also included in that statement.

[Dylans3960ccs]

thanks, but like many i dont like the look of the new cars. i think they get worse looking every year. its the features i like

maybe an S600 has this feature?

[tommyb2b]

maybe an S600 has this feature?

No older W140 models barely had xenons. forget about auto leveling lights or adaptive! That said the lights were amazing. On w220s They recieved them in maybe 05 but thats a newer car lol. Even then I think it was just auto leveling lights.

[Edwin NL]

The lenses of the E60 fit in our car, maybe try to find headlights that have this feature and start pioneering!