Low beam warning?

[audiophool]

Hey gang, been away awhile as the X5 has been uncharacteristically free of problems. And you know that's never a good thing on these.

A couple days ago though, I started getting a low beam error (two red indicators at the front). All lamps are good though - HID, DRL etc all OK. Is my LKM going wonky?

[andrewwynn]

Age of lamps? The circuitry for HID is "constant power" so over time as they wear, the current (or voltage I forget) starts climbing exponentially to maintain a steady output level, it could be just a warning to replace before they self destruct?

➀ age?
➁ turning blue?

If old enough or blue tint at all time to replace. I bought a great set via amazon for $40-50

[audiophool]

AFAIK they're original lights, but they're not particularly blue - it's a 2004. My lenses are so oxidized I can barely see that anyway. Need to find a way to fix that one day as I get a lot of flashing due to the glare.

[Qsilver7]

Thank you for finally giving a model year. . There are different headlight set-ups depending on where you fall within the production range...so model/model year information is VERY important. It helps us to help you better.

If you have a 2004 model year...then that means you should have the facelift headlights that have AE (angel eye) rings. You don't mention if either or both of those rings are illuminating...unless you were including the AEs as the "etc" when your wrote "All lamps are good though - HID, DRL, etc all OK"..

[audiophool]

Don't know if I've ever noticed halo rings on this car, but never paid it that much attention - could well have them. 05/04 production.

It has HID low/high (shutter), high-beam flash is the inner halogen, DRL is dimmed inner halogen. If it does have halo, when are they supposed to be 'on'?

[Qsilver7]

If you have the facelift model and headlights...the AEs (angel eye aka halo rings) are kind of hard to miss.

They turn on without the headlights when you turn the headlight switch to the first position (clockwise) from OFF...or should be on when the headlights are on (see pic below):

{the red arrows are pointing to the AEs}

[audiophool]

Yes, I do know what halo rings are - my E60 has them.



Appears the X5 does have halo rings, and the passenger one is out. My headlight covers are so wrecked they're kinda hard to see. These lamp assemblies have a crazy number of lamps in them. On that topic, any good kits to fix them that include a UV film to apply when you're done?