2005 E53 headlight issue

[e53sg]

I have a 2005 4.4 X5 with the Xenon lamps. The drivers side low beam is out. I do not get any bulb warnings on the dash. When I turn on the highbeams, the fog lamps go out like they should but the high beams do not go on. The passenger side low beam light appears to get a little brighter.

Recently I had a coolant leak from the bleeder screw on top of the coolant reservoir which is right behind the drivers headlamp.

I unplugged the drivers side headlamp and looked at the connections in the connector and the connectors on the back of the headlamp assembly. The connections looked clean and shiny.

Could a bad low beam bulb do this?

[e53sg]

More info. When I pull the highbeam lever back the high beams do come on. When I push the lever forward the high beams do not come on. I found that the drivers side headlamp is missing the cover behind the highbeam bulb. If I unplug the drivers side headlight assembly I do get a bulb warning on the side marker and the high beam. Is there no low beam warning?

[crystalworks]

There is a low beam warning under normal circumstances. I'm betting your ALC module (headlight leveling control module under the headlight) failed. Probably due to water or coolant intrusion. The LCM disables the low beam on a headlight where the self leveling is not functional. I just recently dealt with this as well. I made a thread with a workaround, but have not fixed it yet as it requires opening the headlight in my case.

[e53sg]

If I took it to a shop for a diagnosis, would that module show up as bad or having issues? I hate throwing parts at an electric problem without knowing for sure. Is there a way to bypass the module?

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by e53sg

Is there a way to bypass the module?

Yes, look for my thread. Uses about $10 worth of parts... wire and a relay is all it takes.

Does your other headlight (with working low beam) have functioning leveling? When the switch is in auto mode does your headlight cycle up and down when you start the X? If it does, the leveling system (either the module or the solenoid) on the faulty low beam side is to blame for the low beam being disabled. It still works (which is why there is no low beam failure on the cluster), but is disabled by the LCM.

[e53sg]

So, I just went out and turned the headlight switch to auto and started it. The passenger low beam did not cycle up and down. It just came on. however when I push the lever forward to kick on the high beams the passenger low beam does tilt up. So does that mean a level sensor is bad? How do I test or does it mean the drivers side is bad just because the low beam is out on that side?

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by e53sg

So, I just went out and turned the headlight switch to auto and started it. The passenger low beam did not cycle up and down. It just came on. however when I push the lever forward to kick on the high beams the passenger low beam does tilt up. So does that mean a level sensor is bad? How do I test or does it mean the drivers side is bad just because the low beam is out on that side?

It could be. However I am not sure if a sensor was bad it would disable the low beam on the driver's side. I do know however that an ALC (or possibly solenoid, I am still diagnosing mine) module under the headlight being bad will disable the low beam. Read other threads where the same thing happens as well.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by e53sg

I have a 2003 4.4 X5 with the Xenon lamps. The drivers side low beam is out. I do not get any bulb warnings on the dash. When I turn on the highbeams, the fog lamps go out like they should but the high beams do not go on. The passenger side low beam light appears to get a little brighter.

Recently I had a coolant leak from the bleeder screw on top of the coolant reservoir which is right behind the drivers headlamp.

I unplugged the drivers side headlamp and looked at the connections in the connector and the connectors on the back of the headlamp assembly. The connections looked clean and shiny.

Could a bad low beam bulb do this?

I was hoping as I read thru your thread that you would have cleared up a glaring mistype.

Your subject heading says you have a 2005 X5 4.4 (which would be a facelift with adaptive bi-xenons). But in the first sentence you say it's a 2003 X5 4.4 (which is a pre facelift).

These are two different headlight setups...and the info you've gotten doesn't all apply to one of the two setups you've given us.

Help us help you better...clear up your model year. A 2003 xenon headlight is somewhat different than an adaptive bi xenon headlight on a 2005.

[crystalworks]

Correct Qsilver. Thanks for catching that. My info only applies to LCI X5's.

[e53sg]

I have corrected my 1st post. It is a 2005 4.4 X5.