I ordered the additional cornering feature on the LED lights on my new JCW, but near as I can tell they're not functioning. Both the BMW VIN decoder and my window sticker show these as being there on the build. My question is then is this feature something in software that they might have forgotten to turn on but I have the hardware (extra bulbs) or do I need to ask my dealer for the $$ back as I do not have the cornering feature in the lamp assemblies on my car?

 

I have/had them. When stopped and you turn the wheel they clearly light in that direction. Quite handy in the dark. I would have then installed if they were missed.

 

So that means the wrong hardware (lamp assy's) were installed in my car. I guess I need to find out if the circuitry that senses the wheels turning is in my car, which I think it is, because I get the turn "lines" in my back-up camera when in reverse. Kind of aggravating, but I'll contact my dealer. Thanks for the info.

 

Make sure the headlight switch is set to the AUTO position (all the way to the left) or the cornering feature will not work.

You will very clearly see them light up when turning the wheel or when you shift into reverse.

 

2nd that, also they do not activate with the high beams on. Took me a bit to get used to them, but now I love having the lights.

 

Whoa. That's something I haven't tried. I thought the "Auto" position would just leave the lights on for a few minutes when exiting the car. I'll have to try that one - thanks.

 

Auto does several magical things:
- Needs to be switched on for your welcome lights to work (the lights that come on when you unlock the car, including the ones in the door handles)
- Turns on the cornering lights
- controls the headlights based on ambient light: Daytime running lights (the "halo lights") are on all the time and if it gets dark enough, the headlights come on automatically and will turn off automatically as well

The lights staying on when you turn the car off is called "Pathway Lighting" and unlike older MINIs, it doesn't happen automatically. You have to flash your brights as you're exiting the car and the headlights will stay on for a set amount of time (which you can change in the settings menu of the radio - default is 40s)

 

Well that was the issue. My cornering lights are there and do work. Seems to me that one would want this feature available any time the headlights were on, no matter the switch position, but here we go again with design decisions that don't make sense to me! Now I just have to figure out how & why the key fobs keep screwing with the mirrors between me & the little woman!

 

So just how auto are these lights with the LED & Adaptive Headlight package? Are we talking auto high beams a la BMW or do I still have to turn those off, etc?

One thing I really wish that MINI did was be more descriptive about the packages on their website.

 

Auto high beams are part of the Active Driver Assist package, separate from the auto headlights.

The "auto" part of it is that they are light sensing; daytime running lights are on all the time and the headlights turn on/off based on ambient light. Tunnels, nighttime, cloudy days - the headlights come on automatically

 

Quick way to see if you have cornering lights. The plastic will be black. Gray means you do not have them. Also you can see them on the side of the headlights

 

The cornering lights will not work with high beams on. You have to have your low beams on, go under 20MPHish with your blinkers on or turning slowly.

 

On my R56 I had auto headlights and did not have daytime running lights. I could have programmed that feature on but chose not to. I wish I still had auto headlights.

 

Well, yes, you can set your DRLs to be off (in the US anyway), but the default is on.

On the F56 it's easy, go to SETTINGS --> LIGHTING and uncheck DRL