A couple of you have asked how the X5's headlights perform, noting that most shoppers test drive a car during daylight hours and therefore have little or no opportunity to test a vehicle's lighting performance. Good point.
I'm as sensitive as the next guy to good nighttime lighting. Well, rest assured that the X5's lights are dazzlingly bright. Whether this annoys oncoming drivers I cannot say. I certainly have not had anyone flash their high-beams at me. That was a common occurrence when high-intensity discharge lamps were first arriving on the market.
As you'd probably suspect, the X5's lights are automatic, self-leveling HIDs. They're standard on all X5s, even the six-cylinder models. They're bright enough in the low setting that I rarely need to use the high-beams which scorch the surrounding shrubbery with lumens. The only optional part of the headlight system as fitted to our tester is the retractable headlight-cleaning system which comes as part of the $900 Cold Weather Package and also includes heated front seats, the much-loved heated steering wheel and ski bag.
So if you're worried about X5 headlight performance, don't.
--Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit at 26,342 miles
redliner says:
09:12 AM, 02/26/09
Thank God this weeks almost over. Can we have the Nissan 370Z as next weeks car?
jaguar36 says:
09:46 AM, 02/26/09
Do the headlight washers actually do anything worthwhile?
I disagree with redliner, I love hearing more about the X5.
kissel1 says:
10:07 AM, 02/26/09
Hi Daniel, great, great post!
Very "illuminating," ha ha ha!
Now, on to my question:
Does the X5 come with high intensity discharge headlights? And if so, how do they work?
Thanks in advance!
cat_bus says:
10:12 AM, 02/26/09
I love hearing about the X5. Thanks for posting on the headlights.
abyss says:
11:08 AM, 02/26/09
Dan brings a good point on headlights. Out of pure luck, I was test driving an 07 Camry SE during a rainy Cleveland evening and I noticed that the headlights were dimmer than my 96 Tbird. Needless to say I was disappointed by this.
But from then on, the rest of my test drives were all on rainy/snowy evenings so I could test the wet-weather performance AND the headlights.
billt9 says:
11:31 AM, 02/26/09
I want the X5 taken off road and let's get some off road blogging action going!
blueguydotcom says:
11:55 AM, 02/26/09
Swivel HIDs = heaven. Loved my Cooper's basic HIDs but the swivel action on the BMWs is fantastic on curvy roads at night.
dragonflight says:
12:07 PM, 02/26/09
I've found the BMW headlights to be absolutely wonderful- as long as you're not on the receiving end. They're so incredibly powerful that they can almost seem blinding if you are oncoming traffic and have the misfortune of looking straight into 'em.
That said, couldn't be happier with the headlights on my 528 :)
slickersdrip says:
12:11 PM, 02/26/09
I was soooo worried about the X5's headlights!
Finally my mind is at ease and I can sleep at night again!
subytrojan says:
12:58 PM, 02/26/09
Here's my request for snow dorifto:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLsXhjHAnMA (Warning: Contains some expletives)
autoboy16 says:
02:29 PM, 02/26/09
Thanks edmunds crew!! Great pictures btw! I love finally getting to hear about the x5! It was more or less unloved until the detroit roadtrip!
Next week, I cast my vote for the COTW to be the Mercedes C300! The second most unloved car on the fleet! Or the 05 TDI talking about more than just the mpg! Its a great car too so I'm looking forward to next week to see if either of my two choices made it!
-Cj
hondacura4 says:
03:24 PM, 02/26/09
Speaking of the Merc, where is she?
subytrojan says:
03:36 PM, 02/26/09
The C300 will be leaving soon. Below is a link to Phil Reed's blog entry on the new Edmunds Daily blog mentioning some of his efforts to sell the vehicle.
http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2009/02/new-mood-for-used-car-buyers-too.html
roadburner says:
07:01 PM, 02/26/09
My wife's X3 also has the adaptive Xenons and headlamp washers. The lights are great and the washers work well. The MS3 has Xenons but they only work on low beam, which is unacceptable for a 155 mph hot hatch(at least Mazda has corrected their error; the new Mazda 3 offers proper Bi-Xenons). I've always been a bit picky about headlamps; back in the 70s and 80s I installed Cibie "Off-Road Only" headlamps in every car I owned. I've even fitted a set of Hella E-Code lamps to my Wrangler. Come to think of it, the 2002 also needs a set. And sooner or later I'm going to replace the worthless US-spec headlamps in the Club Sport- probably with Hella Celis units.