Few automakers have treated headlights as seriously (or artistically) as BMW. For decades, the brand has viewed lighting not just as a functional necessity, but as a distinctive design element. From the iconic “crowns” that defined a generation of BMWs to futuristic laser beams that pushed the boundaries of street lighting, each development tells a story about the brand. Some designs changed the appearance of the modern automobile, others set new technological standards. Here’s a look back at the best BMW headlight designs of all time and why each one still shines so brightly in the brand’s legacy.
Laser headlights – BMW i8
That’s right – laser headlights were introduced in the BMW i8 back in 2014. A range of up to 800 meters (2,625 feet), combined with lower energy consumption and a longer lifespan than other lighting materials, made laser headlights an unbeatable lighting technology. Unfortunately, US regulations have never really taken into account the true capabilities of the technology – resulting in laser headlights disappearing from BMW models. A disappointing end to a potentially amazing technology. Regardless, the i8’s light signature is still one of the most unique on the market. The unique line that highlights each bulb is a great intersection between the position and direction in which BMW lighting was evolving.
Xenon Dual Headlights – E32 7 Series
Dual xenon headlights sound futuristic, but they’ve been around since 1991. The E32 7 Series debuted this technology, offering better visibility and longer life than HID or halogen bulbs. Xenon headlights were produced for almost 30 years and were only sold in 2018 BMW 6 Series models. Over time, xenon found its way into almost every model BMW sold – from the 1 Series to the 7 Series and everything in between. Xenon lamps also appeared in many different design languages, from old-school models like the E32 to the later-released Coronas.
Adaptive full LED headlights – LCI F80 M3 and F82/F83 M4
Although the F8X M cars technically didn’t introduce adaptive full-LED headlights – that honor goes to the 2012 BMW 6 Series – they did it best. The 6 Series lighting suite was essentially an evolution of the corona rings first introduced in the E39 5 Series, which we’ll cover later. The LED lighting standard on the F8X M3 and M4 looked good after a mid-life refresh and reflected the Corona look. But the newly available adaptive units significantly changed the aesthetics of the car. The design change connected the independent coronas to the grille with a horizontal LED bar, while also dividing the coronas into a semi-circle and semi-hexagon shape. In addition, the direction to the upper “eyebrow” was shifted. The seemingly small change made the F8X instantly recognizable on the road and distinguished it not only from other makes and models, but also from every other BMW.
Yellow lights – M5 CS
While it’s somewhat of an offshoot of the BMW i8’s laser headlights, we think the M5 CS’s yellow lights deserve their own mention. The apparent homage to GT racing sparked a probably multi-million dollar industry helping non-CS owners give their M car’s headlights the same yellow hue. The simple fact? Yellow lights are cool – and they’ve appeared on several models after the M5 CS, including the M4 CSL. You could really say that the M4 CSL actually shows off the yellow design a little better. The LCI F90’s light signature is stately, but perhaps not as exciting as the G82’s, which is edgier and at least somewhat reminiscent of the “light halos” that old-school BMW fans love.
Corona ring headlights – E39 5 series
Speaking of old-school halos, we still think they’re some of the best lighting designs to ever grace a BMW. During this time, the Corona rings transformed BMWs into something that everyone immediately saw coming. Today they are an impressive example of the brand’s evolution, bridging the gap between cars with single halogen headlights and the powerful LED units of the future. Most importantly, they don’t look real modern more, they still look Good. Not an easy task considering that the E39’s design was introduced back in 2001.
