How do I tell what kind of headlights I got?

M

mrw187

Member
Hi,

I have a 2004 z4 3.0i and my left side low beam has gone out.

the right side still works fine and the parking lights(?) are fine.
I'm guessing they're parking lights but I'm not that mech savvy - all I know is that they seem to be on all the time both sides (when headlights are on).

The high beam works fine on both sides as well.

I'm unsure if I get xenon headlights or what I've got and before I go and buy any and follow a youtube guide to replace them I want to make sure I get the right ones.

Thanks for any help...
 
If you have a headlight height adjustment wheel on the switch you don't have xenon
Xenon lights are self leveling,
 
markplant said:
If you have a headlight height adjustment wheel on the switch you don't have xenon
Xenon lights are self leveling,
3.0 Manual. Sterling Grey. Cream leather Electric an Heated. Pr
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I think I must have xenon then because I don't seem to have an adjustment wheel and I notice sometimes when I turn the lights on they seem to move up - that must be the self leveling(?).

OK so I can't get the cheap light I have to get a xenon light, is there a certain code for it?
 
Cut off moving up at start happens on both types. The adjuster wheel is the give-away. You can also put your VIN in decoders online and it should show as an option.
Look under the bonnet for high voltage stickers and pull the bulb out to be sure. If you do need new burners then just buy the same ones (D2S?) from Osram/Phillips etc. online and replace in pairs, you don't need BMW.
 
Odd. Xenon bulbs die very slowly. They are in fact designed to last for a very very very long time.

You haven't knocked anything?

But be sure to get a pair. Otherwise they'll be odd colours fo sho.
 
Monkeydonkeyratmagic said:
Odd. Xenon bulbs die very slowly. They are in fact designed to last for a very very very long time.

You haven't knocked anything?

But be sure to get a pair. Otherwise they'll be odd colours fo sho.
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The warning light on the dash used to intermittent flick on then off then it gradually got to a point it came on all the time when turning headlights on thats when i noticed the left head was gone
 
Xenons. Maybe original burners? Buy a pair and replace but do check that the rear cover is secure first and the connectors are free from corrosion/damage.
 
The igniters and ballasts can and do fail as well, but yes start with the bulbs and go from there. You can swap things from left to right to confirm but it's a bit more work.

Beware of cheap chinese bulbs on Ebay (there are tons of fake ones on there). In fact I'd probably avoid Ebay for bulbs tbh. The fakes are getting very hard to spot, they are even doing the logos and screen printing so convincingly these days.
 
It's the bright white light that is gone on the left side the yellow one right next to it still goes...are they the high beams? Do they keep them in a low power state in readyness for high beam?
 
Normal headlight beam, swap the bulbs on each side over it confirm, check the seal and connections. If the fault follows, buy two new bulbs.
 
Well I sussed it out folks yes the bulb was gone cause i tested the other sides one :D
But what a mission for a novice with no tools except a bread n butter knife lol :rofl:
 
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