[PYTran]

Is there an actual light behind the lens next to the low/high beam headlight? It doesn't seem to do anything in any mode I switch the lights to and I can't find anything about them in the owners manual. Any guesses?

[Transfer]

I'm pretty sure it's just for looks as it seems to have no function.

[morphomeman]

There is a void instead of a light

[Spydeputy]

Yep, nothing there. The real funny part is...
Look under your hood and BMW put a fake heatsink next to the one for your real headlight. (is that fake news?)
It would neat if someone would make a mod for that spot! ///\\\

[Cumberlandjames]

At first I thought there was something wrong with my lights. I wonder if the wiring for the dual lamp high beam is there? Maybe its possible to install a lamp and have it work either as a high beam or additional low beam?? This is where we need an expert to step into the conversation.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by Spydeputy

Yep, nothing there. The real funny part is...
Look under your hood and BMW put a fake heatsink next to the one for your real headlight. (is that fake news?)
It would neat if someone would make a mod for that spot! ///\\\

I really doubt that the heatsink is 'fake' per se, in the same way that the projector lens in that location isn't fake. They're functional -- they're just not 'activated' by any equipment, hardware, or software. Don't forget that models without the LP (Lighting Package) have a functioning high beam in that location.

Since lighting laws vary wildly across the globe, I think BMW simply designs the entire unit together and produces the hardware together as a just-in-case efficiency, as well as to preserve the physical design if/when consumer-ready new lighting technology comes along. What if BMW decided to put LEDs in the 2 Series before LCI? What if BMW decided not to redesign the shape of the Angel Eyes while instituting LED low beams? What if BMW decided to use projector lenses in concert with the LEDs (as some other makers do, such as Mazda on the Miata)?

Keep in mind that the design of the LP lighting nacelle dates to early 2013. Back then, a lot more was up in the air regarding headlight tech than is now -- including a cost-effective way to combine low-beam and high-beam functionality in a single ballast-powered Xenon unit. That was very new tech back then -- really only about a year old on the mass consumer market. If I were a betting man, I'd put my money on two factors: BMW designed the entire assembly before determining that the combo-beam Xenon was reliable and cost-effective enough for production, and to leave open options regarding future implementation. BMW hedged its bets with the hardware.

[Merc for hire]

Someone should modify it into a cold air intake port.

[mrfattbill]

Originally Posted by Merc for hire

Someone should modify it into a cold air intake port.

How about a CAI on one side and a go pro on the other side.....

Bill

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by Merc for hire

Someone should modify it into a cold air intake port.

Good luck fabricating a hole in the clear nacelle lens cover.

Not possible. The reason cars like the Dodge Hellcat can have those is because the light units aren't covered by glass.

[Gabrola]

Originally Posted by Spydeputy

Yep, nothing there. The real funny part is...
Look under your hood and BMW put a fake heatsink next to the one for your real headlight. (is that fake news?)
It would neat if someone would make a mod for that spot! ///\\\

That's the heatsink for the angel eye LEDs.

[Maynard]

Mildly off-topic rant (OK, way off), but on the drive home I had a cheapo POS Chevy behind me with angel eyes, gotta be factory because nobody would mod this thing. And it kinda bugged me that BMW wasn't able to trademark that somehow - used to be only BMW did anything like it, now it seems that many are trying something like it (i.e. Dodge), but this was a direct copy. Is it just me, or does it feel like a rip off.