Intelligent Headlight Technology

[TRIIICK]

It would be nice if this set the standard for all cars. I'm often reminded how out of control bright the RK lights are.

 

[ricochet]

Thats very cool! I like it.

 

[1olbull]

It would be nice if this set the standard for all cars. I'm often reminded how out of control bright the RK lights are.

Pretty trick stuff for sure! Looks to be some useful technology.
Being so sophisticated, I'd be a little concerned about glitches. Time will tell.
I would be elated if someone would come up with a BETTER (more accurate) system for adjusting the two headlights on a Rocket Roadster. What a PIA it is to properly adjust the stock headlights!

 

[GPMAZ]

BMW often exists on the bloody edge technology wise. Can't help but wonder what it costs to replace one of those if an errant rock takes one out.

 

[HansO]

+1 and what if the camera shakes loose,gets a bug in it eye or worse fails alltogether!!

 

[idk]

Does it work if the car in front, or the car coming towards you, is not a BMW as well?

 

[Greggry]

A good friend of mine bought a BMW with those headlights. He also bought a very expensive warranty on the vehicle at the time of purchase. Well he hit a pot hole, rim/tire toast, obviously the warranty didn't cover that. However after that got fixed he noticed his headlight on the pass side would not aim up as it should, as stayed shining the ground. Took it to the dealer and was suprized to find out the whole housing had to be replaced (it failed internally), and was not covered under warranty. Even after calling corporate they only offered him a slight deal, if I recall correctly it was "only" 1,500 out of pocket. Fast forward 3 months later, he hit another pot hole, this time wrecked the rim, tire, and part of the front suspension. 3,400$ for all of that to be replaced. The kicker? A week after that the pass headlight failed again, and needed to be replaced. Which he paid out of pocket for of course. That was 8 months ago, he just got rid of the car because the drivers headlight went out. My buddy is a very good driver, and said the run flat tires the car comes with have sidewalls so stiff any decent pothole will wreck the car. Not to mention he lives in chicago which is nothing but potholes. Personally I am all for simple crap that doesn't fail

 

[HansO]

I'll stick to my 1994 80 series Landcruiser DX (basic 4.2 litre diesel engine with NO electronic crap) untill recently had a 2000 model Ford Falcon XLS ute and while a reliable vehicle, it was like all modern cars to lightly built for my tastes and loaded with electronic crap

 

[TRIIICK]

Well i guess it's a start in the right direction.. They sent a monkey into space before we landed on the moon.

 

[cr0ft]

With added complexity - built in a competition-based world where you have to cut corners to keep cost down - comes the specter of increased failures. I'm sure this kind of system can be built that is bullet proof, but it would simply add way too much to the cars already exorbitant price. I love the concept, especially taking the idiot driver out of the equation so the oncoming traffic doesn't get their retinas fried - but all those moving parts and electronics probably won't age gracefully.

And of course, roads in America are far worse than... well... anywhere. I guess BMW built these for German roads, the type that doesn't have asteroid crater sized potholes. The price you all pay for the super cheap gas - nobody is taxing you to pay for road upkeep, the highway trust fund is scheduled to go dry in August, I think it was? Right in time for a really bad pothole season thanks to the severe winter.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/04/30/highway-trust-fund-city-state-roads/8456997/