Over course of several months driver side bulb showed symptoms of dying out (changing hue/color to a reddish/orange and then eventually turning back white/blue, getting dimmer, intermittent failures starting up), and last week finally died out. Purchase Philips D2S replacements on ebay (2 for $49.99 USD + Shipping).
Now, it was easy enough getting to the bulb to replace it, but everything was disastrous after sticking the bulb in. I broke 2 of the 4 plastic clip hooks on the face of the ignitor trying to lock it back onto the headlight assembly. So now it doesn't fit properly into the socket. Had to duck tape it temporarily while I get a replacement on ebay for about $40 bucks. That sucked major and spent me over an hour. Also figured out there is a connector that fits into the top of the ignitor (as I sat there stupidly wondering why the lights would not at least turn on). And then it was a pain in the ass getting the black cover that wraps around the back of the headlamp back on. Is that cover crucial to the auto-leveling to work?
Hope the above helps someone.
Now, for me: *****QUESTIONS*******
1) When you replace a lowbeam xenon bulb, theoretically, should the light maintain the same beam pattern without any adjustment?
2) Do different bulbs create different beam patterns, or does it depend really on the headlamp assembly itself?
3) Anyone else make the stupid mistake of breaking the clips on the ignitors?
4) What are the OEM Xenon bulbs that come with facelift Z4's? The one I replaced was a GE bulb.. i have a feeling it was not the factory one.
5) There are 3 loose spring clips.. 2 underneath the ignitor and then one longer one that is loosely dangling from the side of the ignitor. Where is that supposed to be fastened? I can't seem to find any logical or natural place where it fits.
6) Can anyone post a picture of their factory North American beam pattern?
REgards,
Shone
Now, it was easy enough getting to the bulb to replace it, but everything was disastrous after sticking the bulb in. I broke 2 of the 4 plastic clip hooks on the face of the ignitor trying to lock it back onto the headlight assembly. So now it doesn't fit properly into the socket. Had to duck tape it temporarily while I get a replacement on ebay for about $40 bucks. That sucked major and spent me over an hour. Also figured out there is a connector that fits into the top of the ignitor (as I sat there stupidly wondering why the lights would not at least turn on). And then it was a pain in the ass getting the black cover that wraps around the back of the headlamp back on. Is that cover crucial to the auto-leveling to work?
Hope the above helps someone.
Now, for me: *****QUESTIONS*******
1) When you replace a lowbeam xenon bulb, theoretically, should the light maintain the same beam pattern without any adjustment?
2) Do different bulbs create different beam patterns, or does it depend really on the headlamp assembly itself?
3) Anyone else make the stupid mistake of breaking the clips on the ignitors?
4) What are the OEM Xenon bulbs that come with facelift Z4's? The one I replaced was a GE bulb.. i have a feeling it was not the factory one.
5) There are 3 loose spring clips.. 2 underneath the ignitor and then one longer one that is loosely dangling from the side of the ignitor. Where is that supposed to be fastened? I can't seem to find any logical or natural place where it fits.
6) Can anyone post a picture of their factory North American beam pattern?
REgards,
Shone
