2005 E53 headlight issue

[Qsilver7]

Ah, then you have the (LCI) facelift adaptive bi-xenon headlights. Since you're in the USA...the bi-xenon setup works like this:
You have 1 HID bulb in each headlight that works as your low & high beam. When high beam is selected...a mechanical flap opens which increases the light pattern.

The inner bulbs nearest the kidney grills are your F-to-P (flash to pass) bulbs when you pull the stalk backwards. And they can also be your DRLs if you code that option on.

If neither low or high beam is working on the one side...both would come from t he same bulb. As Crystalworks mentioned...the culprit could be bulb, ballast, or ALC. Some diagnostic DIY needs to be done to determine if 1 or more is the problem...or if they can be dismissed to move on to other areas.

[crystalworks]

Qsilver, if the ballast or bulb were bad, wouldn't he get a low beam fault on the cluster? He did not, and why I was leaning towards ALC so heavily.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Qsilver, if the ballast or bulb were bad, wouldn't he get a low beam fault on the cluster? He did not, and why I was leaning towards ALC so heavily.

I most definitely agree. My only concern is how much of a DIYer the PO is...and if they could accomplish the simple things like swapping bulbs (just in case it is something simple) vs paying to have the diagnostic work done.

The ALC is more likely involved...since as been mentioned...the LCM is not sending a Check Low Beam or High Beam warning.

To the OP...there are some good videos and info on YouTube and the internet about the BMW X5 ALC module. Here's one from this forum from last year. Take a read through the entire thread (and others you find by doing a google search) and see if you have similar issues: http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...t-working.html

[e53sg]

Ok, I did remove the bumper cover, and the headlamps. I installed new bulbs on both sides. The problem still exists. Next I'm going to swap the ballast from side to side to see if the ballast moves with the change.

Does anyone have a picture and location of the leveling sensor?

My X5 was bumped on the drivers side a few months ago, but I don't drive it much at night, and don't remember if the light problem was present before the bump. Today after turning the headlight switch on, and off, the drivers side did illuminate until I turned the key off, and back on. This makes me thing the sensor is the issue.

[e53sg]

Update. I have swapped the ballast and replaced all the bulbs with the bumper cover off. I even removed the headlamps and plugged in the passenger headlight to the drivers side socket and no light. I did the same and moved the drivers side and plugged it in on the passenger side and it worked. so it is not the bulbs or the ballast or anything in the headlight assembly. I found a good deal on some really nice headlamps on ebay and connected them with all new bulbs and still same problem. I think it is the control system. There are no warnings for the headlamps on the cluster.

[Qsilver7]

I think #5 in the diagram below is the ALC (headlight control module) that was referenced a few posts back. Is that module attached to the headlight? If not, when you moved the right headlight over to the left side and all lights illuminated...a failed ALC (#5 in diagram) could be the issue...especially since you've checked everything else (bulbs, ballast, etc).

[e53sg]

So the question is where is the Failed ALC (item 5) mounted/plugged in?

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by e53sg

So the question is where is the Failed ALC (item 5) mounted/plugged in?

It's mounted underneath the headlight in front of the ballast. It's secured with three torx screws. T10 or T15... Don't remember. Bumper and headlight has to come off though. Switch the working one to the other side. If leveling still does not work... The leveling solenoid in the headlight could be bad. That is what is wrong with my leveling on one side.

[e53sg]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

It's mounted underneath the headlight in front of the ballast. It's secured with three torx screws. T10 or T15... Don't remember. Bumper and headlight has to come off though. Switch the working one to the other side. If leveling still does not work... The leveling solenoid in the headlight could be bad. That is what is wrong with my leveling on one side.

FUCK~! this will be the 3rd time the bumper cover will have to come out for a FUCKING HEADLIGHT ISSUE~!

Body shops won't touch this directly. My 1st quote just to replace bulbs was $1800... because no mechanical shop will do the whole job, and body shops have a minimum charge.... because no errors on the dash the shops I talked to rarely do anything they can't diagnose I was quoted $1500 plus to start the job and hourly for what ever it costs after that, even though that is illegal here in Texas for shops to do, as I used to be a shop owner years ago.

So I have had this fucking bumper cover off 2 times already. I love my E53 (on my 3rd one) but this bitch has me ready to dig a big hole and fucking bury it.

[crystalworks]

^LOL. I hear you. Rather than taking the bumper off you could just try the workaround and see if it works. Your headlight leveling still won't work on one side (like mine) but you will have both low beams functional.