Headlight woes

Tomdownunder · #1 07-04-2015, 12:45 AM

I have a facelift 2004 E53 diesel. A couple of nights ago, my headlights were pointing lower than usual and when I turned them off and on they didn't do their usual twitch down then up. The motors made a noise, but the headlights are staying down.

I searched numerous posts and most talk about levelling sensor on right front control arm. I have searched high and dry, taken all 4 wheels off and there is no sensor anywhere to be found fitting description. My X doesn't have self levelling suspension, but does have the headlight height adjustment wheel near the headlight switch. This was working, but now does nothing.

I took the rear covers off the headlights and the adjustment arm/ball and socket looks intact both sides. I also had the bonnet (hood) open and took off the drivers side cover off the back of the headlight and turned the lights on. I could see the bulb socket twitching, but nothing more.

Where should I start looking for fault? This is driving me nuts as I am currently working a late shift and driving home in the dark on unlit roads, so a decent high beam would be beneficial.

Any help would be appreciated.

BladeX5 · #2 07-04-2015, 01:31 AM

You should see it, otherwise it is missing in your X5. Look around for a hanging cable, behind the right front wheel.

See this video for further reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcvZkichmuw

ants_oz · #3 07-04-2015, 04:02 AM

Hey Tom,

With no self-levelling (air) suspension, I don't believe you should not have the sensor mentioned. Mine is like yours - our headlights are not self-levelling and have no external sensors, they simply take their position from the level set on the switch inside the vehicle.

Don't know why they would not be working however. That is a mystery to me. There was a problem with one, you would assume the other would still work (adjust vertically).

Tomdownunder · #4 07-04-2015, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ants_oz

Hey Tom,

With no self-levelling (air) suspension, I don't believe you should not have the sensor mentioned. Mine is like yours - our headlights are not self-levelling and have no external sensors, they simply take their position from the level set on the switch inside the vehicle.

Don't know why they would not be working however. That is a mystery to me. There was a problem with one, you would assume the other would still work (adjust vertically).

Thanks Anthony. Maybe I have to look at the internal switch (dial) as the possible cause.

Anyone have any wiring diagrams?

ants_oz · #5 07-04-2015, 07:51 AM

Is just weird. Mine does the same as yours - does the little "dance" when you start the car. Is there a fuse for headlight level adjustment?

BimmerM3inGA · #6 07-06-2015, 10:50 PM

You didn't mention if you have xenon lights, but I assume that you do. There are two modules in each headlight, one behind glovebox and one more behind the plastic trim panel in the righthand side footwell. If the lights are coming on, than your problem is most likely NOT either of the modules inside the cabin.

One of the modules in each light controls the up/down motors. If the motors are moving, the modules are probably okay because if it were a bad module, only one light would be affected. It's unlikely the same module in both lights failed at the same time.

Yours may be different, but on U.S. models there is a sensor attached to the lower control arm on the right side front wheel (possibly on both sides). This is for the headlights and is not related to the self leveling suspension. It's a small black box about the size of "D" cell battery. It has a lever arm attached to the control arm by a short linkage. If that linkage is missing/broken or the sensor is damaged, that would explain what you're experiencing.

It's also possible that the sensor is just unplugged. I've had that happen. Remove the connector and make sure it clicks when you plug it back in.

ants_oz · #7 07-07-2015, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimmerM3inGA

You didn't mention if you have xenon lights, but I assume that you do. There are two modules in each headlight, one behind glovebox and one more behind the plastic trim panel in the righthand side footwell. If the lights are coming on, than your problem is most likely NOT either of the modules inside the cabin.

One of the modules in each light controls the up/down motors. If the motors are moving, the modules are probably okay because if it were a bad module, only one light would be affected. It's unlikely the same module in both lights failed at the same time.

Yours may be different, but on U.S. models there is a sensor attached to the lower control arm on the right side front wheel (possibly on both sides). This is for the headlights and is not related to the self leveling suspension. It's a small black box about the size of "D" cell battery. It has a lever arm attached to the control arm by a short linkage. If that linkage is missing/broken or the sensor is damaged, that would explain what you're experiencing.

It's also possible that the sensor is just unplugged. I've had that happen. Remove the connector and make sure it clicks when you plug it back in.

Nah, he'll have halogen lights - it is an Australian Design Rule that HID lights must be equipped with washers and a self-levelling function. If they had a self-levelling function, they would not have the level-adjustment switch in the cabin.

Good info though.

Tomdownunder · #8 07-07-2015, 01:53 AM

As Anthony mentioned, I have halogen lights and nothing re self leveling on any wheels.

I think I have fixed the problem. Firstly I unplugged both headlights and plugged them back in and this fixed the drop problem as both lights then did their little twitch down and came up, but my little adjuster wheel didn't work. Then I did a scan with PA Soft 1.4 and for some reason there is an option to select automatic for leveling which was ticked. I unticked the box and now the wheel allows me to move headlights up and down.

I don't know what caused the glitch, but hopefully the reprogramming will have solved the problem permanently.

ants_oz · #9 07-07-2015, 05:48 AM

WOO HOO!

Gotta get me some of that scanning software. But I'll also need to come up with an old WinXP PC as I'm a Mac user...

Tomdownunder · #10 07-08-2015, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ants_oz

WOO HOO!

Gotta get me some of that scanning software. But I'll also need to come up with an old WinXP PC as I'm a Mac user...

Anthony, I am running PA Soft 1.4 on a windows 8.1 laptop with usb ports. Took me a while to get it working on this machine though. (lots of searching for drivers)