[COOLGREANY]

Had a chance to drive at night and noticed a symmetrical type of shadow projected downward from the top of the headlight beam.

It's almost like an upside down version of Mystery Science Theater.

Has anyone else noticed? I can try and get a camera shot of the actual shadow.

[spmcewen]

Hah!

But yes, I noticed this right away after getting my X1 in October. I didn't ask the dealer but internet research makes it sound like a lot of cars have this now. Maybe due to how headlight brightness is measured and to limit what shines onto oncoming drivers?

It's definitely more or less noticeable depending on the terrain. If you shine the lights against a flat surface and get closer, like a garage door, the blurry jagged bits become more clearly defined as one per light. I think they look like 3 notches due to how the light beams merge together and overlap in front of you.

I actually don't even notice it anymore. After comparing to the headlights on my RDX I noticed it doesn't have a perfectly straight line either, though not as noticeable as the BMW notches. And I've had that car for years.

[metapod]

Originally Posted by KosticKen

Probably due to the construction of the composite LED light emitters. It is not a single LED but a matrix of individual ones with gaps between them + optics to focus/concentrate and diffuse the beam(s).
The LED's are not circular like a filament bulb so a single/shaped concentrated beam is difficult to achieve with 1 LED bulb. It is actually made up of multiple adjacent beams if they overlapped the brightness would not be homogenous so best to have the edges as close as possible. LEDs are also more difficult to focus as they cannot be effectively put inside a simple parabolic mirror it would be no use as the light is only been emitted outwards from the top (front). Bit like a flat screen telly, you cannot put them side by side without a gap between the screen for the side connections.

Speaking of which have you seen the cost of a replacement headlight (excluding fitting) if it does go kaput?
No more replacement bulbs for a couple of Dollars.
LED's are cheaper to make than filament bulbs.

Found the osram Sylvania employee