Retrofitting FLA (High Beam Assistant) DIY

Retrofitting FLA (High Beam Assistant) DIY

How to get it working on your Bimmer
Published by Jose_JN
10-09-2012

Retrofitting FLA (High Beam Assistant) DIY

Hi all,

I am showing you the most recently retrofit I have done on my e93

I have installed an FLA (High beam assistant).

How does it work?
The FLA sensor is always scanning light sources in front of you.

The high beam will be automatically turned on under certain conditions:
- You are driving with no cars in front of you.
- You have your lights switch in 'Auto' possition
- You are driving over 50km/h (30mph)
- It is dark enough outside.

The FLA will turn your high beam off if:
- There is a car in front of you
- You did not select 'Auto' with the lights switch
- Your speed is under 38km/h (24mph)

Prerequisites
- Your car must have rain/light sensor
- Your car must have auto dim mirror wirings

Here you have how I did it

Any question will be welcomed!
Part list is at the video description

Regards!

__________________
Why don't do it by your self?
Retrofitting is always possible!

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By srcstc on 10-10-2012, 06:06 PM

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So if I have an auto dimming/rain sensing mirror I don't need to buy a new mirror?

By Jose_JN on 10-11-2012, 06:03 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by srcstc

So if I have an auto dimming/rain sensing mirror I don't need to buy a new mirror?

Unfortunately you have to buy a new mirror always.

You must have rain/light sensor and auto dim wiring for installing this, but the FLA sensor is inside the mirror and you have to change the whole mirror.

Don't worry it is not so much expensive... You can find it on eBay around 150€

Install the auto dim wiring is so easy:
Check this if you don't have it

Regards

By mose121 on 01-28-2013, 02:53 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Jose_JN

Do you have the correct part # for the mirror that's needed to do this retrofit? Isn't there a activation button that needs installed as well or will it just be on if you put the HL switch on auto?

By Jose_JN on 01-29-2013, 05:25 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by mose121

Do you have the correct part # for the mirror that's needed to do this retrofit? Isn't there a activation button that needs installed as well or will it just be on if you put the HL switch on auto?

There are many differente inner mirrors so I need your VIN to ensure what is the suitable for you.

You could have:
- Alarm (DWA)
- Homelink
- Compass
- FLA
- Electrochrom
- Radio (for cabrio and 1 series)
...

There is no button for it, it is always activated (except when you engages the reverse gear)

Regards

By mose121 on 01-29-2013, 05:35 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Jose_JN

My VIN is WBSKG9C53DJ593894. Although I'll have to think about it as I'm not sure I want it to be active all the time. Even though you didn't have the button on the turn signal stalk (although I'm sure that could be installed/coded as well), wouldn't you have the option to disable in the lighting settings in the iDrive?

By Jose_JN on 01-30-2013, 02:03 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by mose121

But you are talking about the electrochrome feature or the FLA?
Electrochrome is always activated (I tought you was refearing this)

But FLA is NOT always activated. It is activated in this case:
You have the light knob in 'A' mode
You have it activate at the idrive
You push the light stalker (like if you want to switch your high beam on usually)
In this case, you will notice an 'A' at the dash screen and the system starts to work.

You can also deactivate it pushing again your BC stalker or you can totally disable it at iDrive or changing your light knob from 'A' to other position.

Regards.

By amilo123 on 02-13-2013, 10:20 AM

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Hello,

You said that the mirror can be found on ebay for 150EUR, but I can't seem to find anywhere but directly from BMW (which is double the price). My car's VIN is VG35101, I have interrior mirror with auto-dip and alarm. Though it seems the auto-dip it's not working, not sure why...

Can you give me a link with a mirror I could buy?

By pweber84 on 02-13-2013, 01:02 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by amilo123

I can sell you this kind of rear view mirror FLA/EC/LED if you want. PM me.

By smiley32 on 02-23-2013, 07:26 AM

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I have the car alarm installed, and i found a mirror with FLA without the alarm LED, if you are going to retrofit to FLA, alarm work without red LED from the mirror?

#10

By Jose_JN on 02-26-2013, 08:17 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by smiley32

I have the car alarm installed, and i found a mirror with FLA without the alarm LED, if you are going to retrofit to FLA, alarm work without red LED from the mirror?

Yes it will work.

Install the alarm led is so easy. You have the circuit board and the contact pads at it.

If you want to install the led, you only have to solder it and a resistor. Of course you will have to use your back cover with nose clown too.

Other way is to connect a 12v led at pin 8(+) and 9(-) at the mirror plug and put it wherever you want.

Regards.

#11

By N8N on 03-22-2013, 09:57 AM

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This looks not too difficult, but where are you finding the mirrors for 150 euro? Worldwide eBay search gave me nothing; it's a cool feature but not worth $800+ to buy new! thanks...

#12

By pweber84 on 03-22-2013, 10:11 AM

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I have thes mirrors, even cheaper.

PM me if you want.

Last edited by pweber84; 03-29-2013 at 06:38 AM.

#13

By Jose_JN on 03-26-2013, 09:49 AM

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http://www.ebay.de/itm/BMW-E60-E61-E...item51aa527ead

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Original-BMW-...item19cb31d427

http://www.ebay.de/itm/BMW-6er-E63-E...item5d390e77e9

http://www.ebay.de/itm/BMW-Innenspie...item5d360df7e5

You have to search more

#14

By N8N on 03-26-2013, 02:08 PM

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All of those sellers only post to DE or EU only unless someone wants to buy for me

I'm in USA. And Pawel didn't have the one I needed, never mind that none of those appeared correct for me either... my car is pretty well loaded, I have auto-dim in and out, Homelink, alarm prep (LED) and compass. I believe I have "Radio" as well (does that mean remote? not sure)

#15

By smiley32 on 03-27-2013, 05:46 PM

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can not mount the camera on your mirror with auto-dim in , Homelink, alarm (LED) and compass?

#16

By N8N on 03-27-2013, 07:45 PM

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I don't have know... if i could that would be awesome... then all i'd be missing would be pdc and adaptive cruise (and a bunch of crap i don't care about)

#17

By smiley32 on 03-28-2013, 11:43 AM

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Jose JN

So you need to connect wires to orange pin 1 (x19594) to pin 2 (x14286) orange

and green pin 2 (x19594) to pin 1 (x14286) ? if I want to cut the wires... or soldered them together

#18

By Jose_JN on 04-01-2013, 02:25 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by N8N

All of those sellers only post to DE or EU only unless someone wants to buy for me

Hello,

Radio is only for convertibles (because the remote control antenna is inside the mirror instead of near the third brake light)
So do not worry if you dont have a convertible.

Regards.

#19

By Jose_JN on 04-01-2013, 02:28 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by smiley32

can not mount the camera on your mirror with auto-dim in , Homelink, alarm (LED) and compass?

I dont think so... I tried to do that and it is very difficult because the camera needs also many circuits for work properly and those circuits are inside the mirror. Maybe you could do that but I do not recommend it.

Better you sell your current mirror and buy another one with all the features you want. (I know this is the most expensive way...)

#20

By Jose_JN on 04-01-2013, 02:30 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by smiley32

Jose JN

So you need to connect wires to orange pin 1 (x19594) to pin 2 (x14286) orange

and green pin 2 (x19594) to pin 1 (x14286) ? if I want to cut the wires... or soldered them together

You can do it this way if you prefer but I tried not to modify (cut or slice) the original wirings.

#21

By pweber84 on 04-01-2013, 07:30 AM

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Jose_JN you had really good idea with this bridged wires, no need to cut anything.

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