Intermittent Bulb Out?

[simonlpearce]

Keep getting a bulb out warning for one of the xenons.

Basically it is fine 95% of the time and has never failed to works straight away. However if for example i drive home from work around 20 miles, then stop off at the shop before going home. When i get back in the car the bulb out light is on and the drivers xenon isn't working. If i wait a few minutes and flick the lights of/back on it resumes operation.

My guess would be either ballast or ignitor fault rather than bulb, but happy to hear what others think? Is it s light out jobbie to replace ballast/ignitor, can i swap the drivers and passenger one at a time to try figure out which is at fault?

 

[MHZ4C]

Hi,

I had the same symptoms the year before last. Under warranty the dealer initially changed the igniter, which appeared to solve the issue. I didn't use the lights much until the next autumn, then the issue was back, and the dealer then changed the bulb. It has been fine since.

Symptoms were the same as yours initially. Lights on from cold was no issue. Turning the lights back on when they were already hot (say if you stopped in a shop and started the car back up) and the driver's side would have a 20 sec delay to ignite, eventually it just wouldn't ignite. The bulb colour looked fairly similar when they were both on. I read that some xenon bulbs change colour when they are failing but mine didn't appear to.

I believe the bulbs and igniter can be swapped sequentially between sides to check if the problem moves. I read this when searching the forum when I had the issue. But bear in mind the igniter change appeared to help mine, and then the bulb ultimately failed.

The dealer said the lights have no diagnostics to determine whether bulb, igniter or control module are at fault, so it's trial and error. I reckon the new igniter on mine helped the failing bulb, but once the bulb electrodes wore too much, then even the new igniter couldn't get it going. Maybe swap bulbs. If the problem moves sides, then bingo, new bulb. Match the colour (kelvin rating) if not an OEM bulb and you're set for winter.

I remember reading that there's a knack to removing the igniter and bulb. Look it up so you don't risk forcing anything. Obviously disconnecting the power before tinkering is required, 20000 volts!

The light covers can be hard to refit flush. Take care to get it flush so that the headlight doesn't get misty or let water into the electronics.

Hope you get it sorted!

 

[MHZ4C]

Oh and I believe the igniter and bulb are possible to change through the wheel arch inspection hatch. Light control module is a light off the car job. I've not done this myself though, so stand to be corrected... Good luck mate.

 

[mmm-five]

I tried to get a similar problem rectified under warranty, but it never seemed to happen when it was in the dealership.

Only happens about 3 times a year in my case though, and I haven't figured a pattern out on mine as it can be a xenon, or a angle eye out at any particular time.

Usually turning the ignition off and back on fixes it.

 

[simonlpearce]

Thanks for all the help/advice.

As suggested I will try swapping the bulbs and see if the problem moves to the otherside, then will replace as a pair for the sake of it.

 

[jan_tekin]

I had the same issue which turned out to be the bulb

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Like mmm-five's, mine does this rarely. My Indy told me the commonest cause of an intermittent fault such as this is the LCM and that the igniter / ballast / bulb are usually fairly reliable.

 

[NeilP]

I had the same issue last year, and as above, turned out to be the bulb.