E60, E61, E63, E64, E65, E66, E90 - Encoding/Programming Adaptive Headlights: Encoding

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 46 other vehicles, including the 2008 BMW M5, 2008 BMW 650i, 2007 BMW Z4, 2007 BMW M6, and 2007 BMW M5. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The control unit for adaptive headlights must be encoded with the vehicle-specific data. Vehicle-specific data includes, for example:

Wheelbase
Height of headlights
Maps for headlight-range adjustment

Data specific to the headlights is encoded in the stepper motor controller (SMC).

The following information is needed for encoding the adaptive headlights:

"Right-hand drive" encoding variant: Headlights turn to the right only when the vehicle is stationary (see below for detailed description)
"European models" encoding variant: Dipped headlights switched off if adaptive headlights fail (see below for detailed description)
Encoding US models
No transport mode for adaptive headlights

IMPORTANT: Distinction between left/right stepper motor controllers during encoding

The stepper motor controllers can be installed in both the left and right-hand headlights. To differentiate between the installation location, pin 12 of the stepper motor controller (SMC) for the left-hand headlight must be connected to earth. The SMC must be encoded accordingly.

If an attempt is made to encode an SMC as the right-hand SMC when pin 12 (= encoding pin) is earthed, the SMC does not respond to encoding.

IMPORTANT: Encode control units after working on the lighting system!

The following work must always be performed after performing repairs or retrofits:

Encode the light module (footwell module on E90)
Encode the control unit for adaptive headlights (E60 up to 03/2005)
Encode the stepper motor controllers (SMC, via the relevant control unit for adaptive headlights: AHL, LM or FRM)
Adjust the headlights

IMPORTANT: Used rain-light sensors must be encoded. The driving-light sensor is encoded during encoding with the model series encoding data. If a used rain-light sensor from another vehicle is fitted, this rain-light sensor must be encoded before it can be initialised. Only after encoding can the used rain-light sensor be initialised (= calibrated to the new windscreen).

IMPORTANT: Limited function of adaptive headlights without encoding. We have received reports from some workshops that the headlights still move, even if the control unit for adaptive headlights has not been encoded. In this connection, it must be stressed that the adaptive headlights are only able to work correctly if the control unit for adaptive headlights is correctly encoded. Without encoding, the adaptive headlights are only able to work with considerable performance restrictions.