What would cause temporary halo bulb outage?

[RenaissanceMan]

Late last week I started getting the 'check side lights' message in the dash, and then verified that my driver's side halo bulb was not working. This happened a couple of years ago on the passenger side and after replacing the bulb all was well. I planned on picking up a new bulb for the driver's side this weekend but today I noticed that I wasn't getting the 'check side lights' message anymore and a quick check up front revealed that the halo bulb was working again. What would cause an intermittent bulb outage like that? I have an '05 X5 with xenons. Thanks for any insight-

[ants_oz]

Dodgy connection. Could be corrosion in the bulb to socket connection for example.

I had the common "Check brake lights" message, even though the bulb was fine. All mine took was a slight manipulation of the bulb carrier to clear the fault.

Might be worth removing the bulb, spraying the fitting with some electrical contact cleaner, then reinstalling.

[RenaissanceMan]

Originally Posted by ants_oz

Dodgy connection. Could be corrosion in the bulb to socket connection for example.

I had the common "Check brake lights" message, even though the bulb was fine. All mine took was a slight manipulation of the bulb carrier to clear the fault.

Might be worth removing the bulb, spraying the fitting with some electrical contact cleaner, then reinstalling.

Thanks, Anthony!

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by RenaissanceMan

Late last week I started getting the 'check side lights' message in the dash, and then verified that my driver's side halo bulb was not working. This happened a couple of years ago on the passenger side and after replacing the bulb all was well. I planned on picking up a new bulb for the driver's side this weekend but today I noticed that I wasn't getting the 'check side lights' message anymore and a quick check up front revealed that the halo bulb was working again. What would cause an intermittent bulb outage like that? I have an '05 X5 with xenons. Thanks for any insight-

I'm not sure what cause it...but I bet its just like the lamp in my reading chair. Many years ago, it was a 3-n-1 bulb (3 filaments)...and over time...2 of the filaments burnt out...and I've been nursing this last filament for a good 4-5 years.

But it doesn't immediately light up...most times I have to keep turning the switch...then it will catch...and sometimes the light will go out...but if I bump the lamp...the bulb comes back on.

Your Angel Eye is probably going through the same thing. You know you'll eventually have to replace it...it's just giving you signs that it's going out...but with a lingering death.

In my case...its a good ol' incandescent bulb...and I just don't feel like installing one of those twisty new fangled thingies that looks like it was manufactured at the local Tasty Freeze's soft serve machine .

[crystalworks]

^LOL Qsilver @ compact florescent bulbs being new fangled. Skip those and go right to LED... they are down right futuristic. Wife and I have the whole house done in them... even the 4ft tubes in the garage are now LED.

For the OP... I am dealing with this same issue. Probably just a connection issue or a bulb dying. But the insides of these headlights tend to have wire corrosion on the sheathing which can sometimes have a problem. Same thing happens to e46, e39, etc cars of about the same age. If a simple bulb swap doesn't correct it, you might look at the wiring in the light.

[RenaissanceMan]

Great info, thanks. I'm going to remove the bulb and clean and see how it goes. So far, so good since it 'came back to life.'