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BMW "Adaptive headlight malfunction" warning
The swivelling or self-levelling part of the headlights has a fault. The lights usually still work, but aim may be off.
Last updated
At a glance
| Can I keep driving? | Yes, with care at night |
|---|---|
| Warning color | Yellow |
| Wording you may see | Adaptive headlights failed Adaptive headlight failure Cornering lights failure! (older wording) Headlight range control failure |
| Usual causes | Headlight module software Stepper motor or headlight driver module Low battery voltage during a test |
What it means
Cars with Adaptive Headlights (option 524) or Adaptive LED/laser lights swivel the beams into corners and adjust their range. This warning means that system has a fault. In several BMW bulletins the headlights themselves keep working; only the adaptive function is off. BMW's older E90 wording says it is "possible to continue journey with caution".
Can I keep driving?
Yes, with care at night. The lights normally still come on, but a stuck beam can point too low (less visibility) or too high (dazzling other drivers). Have it checked soon, and use low beams carefully if the aim looks wrong.
This is general guidance. Your owner's manual has the exact instruction for your car, and any red warning means stop as soon as it is safe.
Usual causes
| Cause | Cars most affected | What you notice | BMW bulletins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headlight module software | F30 built 10/2011–8/2012; F01, F02, F10, F15, F32, F80, F82 built 6/2013–3/2014 (cold weather); G05, G06, G07 with laser lights built 8/2018–8/2019 | BMW's fix in each case was programming, and two bulletins say not to replace parts or modules first. | SI B63 06 12 (PDF) SI B63 05 14 (PDF) SI B63 03 20 (PDF) |
| Stepper motor or headlight driver module | Xenon and LED adaptive headlights on many models | Fault codes for the left or right headlight driver module or stepper motor; replacing the module or the headlight unit if software doesn't fix it. | SI B63 10 14 (PDF) SI B63 06 15 (PDF) |
| Low battery voltage during a test | All | One BMW procedure has the technician record battery voltage before diagnosing, because low voltage affects the result. | SI B63 06 12 (PDF) |
Bulletins are BMW service information filed with NHTSA; open one for the exact models, build dates and repair. A bulletin isn't a recall and doesn't mean your car has the problem.
What to do
- Note whether the beams move when you turn the wheel with the lights on, and whether the warning appears only in cold weather.
- Ask the shop to check for a software update before replacing a headlight module or a whole headlight.
Other BMW bulletins that mention it
- SI B63 04 22 Low beam headlight/cornering light flickers when turn signal function activated G07 · Sep 2022
- SI B63 06 14 One or Both Headlights Are Aimed Downwards F15, F32, F33, F36 · Feb 2014
- SI B63 03 19 Activate cornering lights G05 · Apr 2019
- SI B63 02 13 Check Control Message "Automatic Headlight Adjustment Failed" E82, F01, F02 · Jan 2013
- SI B63 05 25 Low beam headlights adjusted incorrectly G45 · Aug 2025
- SI B63 03 25 Delivery stop: low beam headlight adjustment G45 · Jun 2025
- SI B63 08 14 Active Headlight Control Malfunction in Both Headlights E90, E92, E93, F30, F31 and others · May 2014
18 of the BMW bulletins we hold mention this warning in their text; these are the closest matches.
Related warnings
Battery discharge / battery drain Service due light All warning lights
Sources
- BMW E90 Driver Information Systems (BMW technical training manual): Check Control message list
- BMW USA: digital owner's manual for your VIN
- NHTSA: BMW technical service bulletins and recalls by VIN
Message wording in quotes is BMW's own, from the Check Control list in BMW's E90 training manual or from the bulletins linked above; newer cars word some messages differently. The explanations are ours.