Start of a headlight headache...

L

LukeMace

Senior member
 Northampton
So on a trip last night down the A43 to Bicester for a well deserved game of squash, I noticed that one of my lights suddenly turned off. I turned the lights off and on and the light came back on again but then dissapeared and would not come back on. :(

Dropped to halfords to see if they stocked HID bulbs... No luck!
Played with it this morning to see what it could be (thinking it was definitely the bulb) and switched the, what I thought was knackered, bulb into the side that worked and the bulb worked also. The original working bulb would not work on the side that had gone out last night.

Conclusion... The bulb is fine! That's about as far as I have got!! Now I wonder if it's the twisting unit that holds the bulb in place which has gone? Or the wiring somewhere else? Or is there a separate fuse for each light? STUCK!!! :roll:

Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated!!
If its a simple fix (little time and money)... great! If not, it may be time to source a new set!
 
Plus my Parrot stopped working last night!!! :headbang:
Turn ignition... Nothing. Take screen off and put it on again... NOTHING!!
Thinking of sending the lot back and getting a different system in now that works properly. Had issues with Parrot since the install.
Phew, parrot rant over!
 
Most likely the ballast fastened on underside of headlight unit or igniter (cube) on rear of bulb.
Your swap and test is a sound method to eliminate problems but sadly bumper cover off to get to the ballast.
 
cj10jeeper said:
sadly bumper cover off to get to the ballast.
Click to expand...

Joy!! :headbang:

Will probably have a good rummage again Friday afternoon and get to the ballast.
What is the bumper cover? Or is it the bumper? Is it not accessible through the wheel arch atall?
 
New BMW ballast from eBay is around £80-120 which isn't the end of the world. Expensive for such a small thing!
 
No, its screwed to the underside of the headlight unit. I picked an oem spec ballast up online for around £130 when mine died. Mine was actually due to condensation, the ballast was full of water!

Sent from my HTC One X
 
T2FFN said:
No, its screwed to the underside of the headlight unit. I picked an oem spec ballast up online for around £130 when mine died. Mine was actually due to condensation, the ballast was full of water!

Sent from my HTC One X
Click to expand...

That sounds like that could be what's happened with mine. Checked my headlamp and somehow water has got in again and there is now a puddle on the bottom of the light housing. Would that be able to leak to where the ballast is?
 
Most likely. Its at the lowest point with a tiny hole in the connector, so its basically a drain! It would've been better placed at the side or back really, but then i dont think BMW planned on headlights filling with water. Its worth buying new back covers when swapping the ballast for peace of mine.

Sent from my HTC One X
 
Yep - new back covers is a great suggestion as the rubber seals dry out and harden, allowing water in. Especially after you have 'broken' the seal created after changing a bulb. New pair from the dealers is only about £25 - I had some condensation, dried it out, got two new backs, been fine ever since. Just don't do it in the rain... Water can get down from the bonnet into the light with the back off as I discovered :headbang:
 
So looks like your questions all answered. Just remember xenon have 20k+ voltage, so no fingers near with lights on...

I'd take one light out and plug it into the other side. Eliminates all sorts in 5 minutes.
 
Cheers fellas. Appreciate the help :thumbsup:

I have some time later on in the week so will do some shimmying from left to right with components and see what's what!
Will update when found what it is!
In two minds weather to order a ballast now instead of waiting till I get the bumper off just incase it's that that's the issue!
 
Damn! I have two spare ballasts that I'm looking to shift. Would have done one for mates rates to fellow forumite.
 
Mowflow said:
Damn! I have two spare ballasts that I'm looking to shift. Would have done one for mates rates to fellow forumite.
Click to expand...

You have a PM.
Issue with getting mine...!! :headbang:
 
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