Headlight bulb failure / Ballast Failure

[aquazi]

Good news , managed to fix it, opened up the ballast with the 4 screws and found water residue all over the circuit board sprayed switch cleaner over it all then a light scrubbing with old tooth brush, put silicone grease around all the seals then put it back together. It now works again! I have also sealed the rearbdoor with silicone sealer , fingers crossed his is the end of the troubles now. Also removed all the silica gel bags

Wow that impressive it still works after a cleanup

[yg54sg]

Yeah I was quite suprised after opening it up , the board has chips on there so plenty to go wrong , I think I caught it just in time as I noticed when the light initially went off and made sure not to use low beam again.... as its water and it being switched causing shorts that does the damage . if it survives that corrosion sets causing more issues. the design of the plug is bad and any water will collect directly onto the circuit board. Those rear light doors being sealed completely really are important!

[peddy]

you sealed the rear access panel? So what do you plan on doing when you want to change a bulb?

[yg54sg]

the silicone sealer is the rubberised type used in bathrooms, i pulled it off again yesterday (as I had sealed it 4-5 days before the ballast fix to stop the leak) surprisingly there is no mess at all it just peels off the bmw rubber seal then you just re apply so will be using this for the future. You just have to prise the door open with a screwdriver as it glues it only a little. Also since owning the z over 8 years, 2 months ago was the first time I have ever taken off the access panels the bulbs seem to do quite well and I do a lot of night time driving so the extra messing is worth it if it gets rid of the water/condensation. Prior to removing the rear doors though I had never ever seen any condensation form in the lights unlike my E36.. not even a slight misting so if anyone has any then a seal must be bad from someone opening the doors to change a bulb.

[aquazi]

My xenons steam up like a bathroom, they have since i got it... Took it to the dealer under the manufacter's warranty and they said it was normal

I may have to whip open my rear access pannel when i swap my winter wheels to check them.

[Pants]

Bit late in the day but I had xenons and replaced them with the aftermarket Ebay jobies

I think someone else on here did also

[yg54sg]

by aquazi » Mon Oct 22, 2012 10:07 am

My xenons steam up like a bathroom, they have since i got it... Took it to the dealer under the manufacter's warranty and they said it was normal

I may have to whip open my rear access pannel when i swap my winter wheels to check them.

No way is it normal, at least not for a never opened set of headlights from the factory. Open up the rear door, get a hairdryer blowing into the back until you can see no more condensation then keep blowing air in for another 30 minutes after that just to make sure. If there is water collected at the bottom of the headlight which you can see move by shaking the car then you need a piece of sponge on a coat hanger but this is a serious leak you likely just have a few drops getting in... Get some bathroom non setting silicone sealer which is used for sinks and baths and place a good amount of it on top of the rubber, carefully put the door back and the problem should go away.. as others have said the leak is 100% rear door issue.

[ranski]

by aquazi » Mon Oct 22, 2012 10:07 am

My xenons steam up like a bathroom, they have since i got it... Took it to the dealer under the manufacter's warranty and they said it was normal

I may have to whip open my rear access pannel when i swap my winter wheels to check them.

No way is it normal, at least not for a never opened set of headlights from the factory. Open up the rear door, get a hairdryer blowing into the back until you can see no more condensation then keep blowing air in for another 30 minutes after that just to make sure. If there is water collected at the bottom of the headlight which you can see move by shaking the car then you need a piece of sponge on a coat hanger but this is a serious leak you likely just have a few drops getting in... Get some bathroom non setting silicone sealer which is used for sinks and baths and place a good amount of it on top of the rubber, carefully put the door back and the problem should go away.. as others have said the leak is 100% rear door issue.

I've had the same issue in one of my headlights - tried swapping the rubber around, bought new backing plate, all of which didn't stop the damp getting in

last week I did the same as yg54sg and sealed them up with bathroom flexible sealant - no condensation since and future bulb changes just mean a bit more force to prise the backing plate off

[aquazi]

by aquazi » Mon Oct 22, 2012 10:07 am

My xenons steam up like a bathroom, they have since i got it... Took it to the dealer under the manufacter's warranty and they said it was normal

I may have to whip open my rear access pannel when i swap my winter wheels to check them.

No way is it normal, at least not for a never opened set of headlights from the factory. Open up the rear door, get a hairdryer blowing into the back until you can see no more condensation then keep blowing air in for another 30 minutes after that just to make sure. If there is water collected at the bottom of the headlight which you can see move by shaking the car then you need a piece of sponge on a coat hanger but this is a serious leak you likely just have a few drops getting in... Get some bathroom non setting silicone sealer which is used for sinks and baths and place a good amount of it on top of the rubber, carefully put the door back and the problem should go away.. as others have said the leak is 100% rear door issue.

Thats the thing, the condensation is only in cold weather and when the lights are on.

They disaapear on their own after a while.

Maybe i need to inspect them.

[jan_tekin]

Think I might have to try this as my passenger side light is playing up. I know it works so I can rule out the bulb, it just dosent always start up. I usually have to flick the light switch on and off to get it to start up. Would this be the ballast or could this be the ignitor which is below

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111012209109? ... 1423.l2649

[spearman]

Think I might have to try this as my passenger side light is playing up. I know it works so I can rule out the bulb, it just dosent always start up. I usually have to flick the light switch on and off to get it to start up. Would this be the ballast or could this be the ignitor which is below

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111012209109? ... 1423.l2649

That's the ignition.

This is the ballast:



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[jan_tekin]

Thanks

Took everything apart today, opened up the ballast which looked clean and dry so i swapped them over so i will see if the problem switch sides.

[CJW2OO4]

I was wondering how many of you have been able to recover the ballast?

[spearman]

I was wondering how many of you have been able to recover the ballast?

I didn't try. Just swapped it out for a new one. Too much effort taking the bumper off again

[jan_tekin]

I was wondering how many of you have been able to recover the ballast?

I removed and opened it up, warmed it it with a hair dryer and put it all back together. Same with the lights, flipped the seals and its been fine now, Fingers crossed.