Z4M headlights pointing to the floor

Babw · Post by **Babw** » Fri Sep 06, 2019 10:29 pm

Strange occurrence tonight where both headlights ended up pointing to the floor, I could only see 3-4 meters in front with the dipped beams.

Is it likely to be the headlight level sensor? I remember on my old E46M there was a broken plastic levelling arm attached to the control arm. I'm assuming the Z4M has the same.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Fri Sep 06, 2019 10:35 pm

I'm pretty sure the Z4 has the same set-up, but if both lights ended up pointing at the ground I'd suspect an electrical issue rather than a broken plastic arm - they're unlikely to both break at the same time!

Good luck getting it fixed.

Babw · Post by **Babw** » Fri Sep 06, 2019 10:39 pm

Oh I thought there was only one suspension level sensor. It doesn't make sense to have two as the two lights shouldn't work independently with regards to suspension level...

TomK · Post by **TomK** » Fri Sep 06, 2019 10:47 pm

Correct, well kind of. There's one on the front (front end of the suspension arm on the drivers side) which has most likely gone. There's also one on the rear somewhere afaik.
If one snaps it will affect both lights.

Babw · Post by **Babw** » Fri Sep 06, 2019 11:07 pm

Cheers Tom. I'll have a look tomorrow to see what's happened.

Babw · Post by **Babw** » Sat Sep 07, 2019 4:53 pm

Hmmm strange as the front headlight level sensor arm looks intact as does the metal rod that's positioned vertically to contact the control arm. The sensor is 12+ years old so I guess it may have become faulty.

Anyone know where the rear levelling sensor is?

RedUn · Post by **RedUn** » Sat Sep 07, 2019 6:53 pm

On one of the rear arms? Never actually looked but would assume opposite corner to the front?

Post by **srhutch** » Sat Sep 07, 2019 7:17 pm

RedUn wrote: ↑Sat Sep 07, 2019 6:53 pm On one of the rear arms? Never actually looked but would assume opposite corner to the front?

Yes opposite corner to front.

Babw · Post by **Babw** » Sun Sep 08, 2019 8:35 pm

srhutch wrote: ↑Sat Sep 07, 2019 7:17 pm
RedUn wrote: ↑Sat Sep 07, 2019 6:53 pm On one of the rear arms? Never actually looked but would assume opposite corner to the front?
Yes opposite corner to front.

It's on the OSR (same side as the front sensor). Both plastics arms and rods appear fine.

I've ordered a new front sensor so see how that goes for now.

Edit - I can hear the stepper motors firing up when I turn the lights on however there's no movement that I can notice therefore I've made a semi educated chance at the sensor.

RedUn · Post by **RedUn** » Mon Sep 09, 2019 10:34 am

Babw wrote: ↑Sun Sep 08, 2019 8:35 pm
srhutch wrote: ↑Sat Sep 07, 2019 7:17 pm
RedUn wrote: ↑Sat Sep 07, 2019 6:53 pm On one of the rear arms? Never actually looked but would assume opposite corner to the front?
Yes opposite corner to front.
It's on the OSR (same side as the front sensor). Both plastics arms and rods appear fine.

I've ordered a new front sensor so see how that goes for now.

Edit - I can hear the stepper motors firing up when I turn the lights on however there's no movement that I can notice therefore I've made a semi educated chance at the sensor.

Fingers crossed, keep us posted! Hopefully they are identical front to back to you can always switch them around if it doesn't fix it at the front?

Babw · Post by **Babw** » Sat Sep 14, 2019 11:26 pm

Fitted the front sensor today and doesn't seem to have made a difference. I did find a sizeable crack in the front sensor so it wasn't all wasted.

Should the headlights do the auto levelling sequence at startup even if one of the sensors is faulty? I can hear the noise of the motors when I start up but the headlights themselves aren't moving however.

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