Random alternating headlights turn off while driving

[raido luna]

Hello all,


New X5 owner here, of a low mileage 2003 3.0. It has a few niggles, and I was aware of possible/probable common issues that may or will pop up. The one thing I never considered is the headlights occasionally not working. I mean, I have had headlights die on me many times, but not this.



So, the left lowbeam would work for about 5 minutes, then shut off. Turn the lights off and on again, and it comes back on. For a few minutes. I did notice that the left light was way more yellow than the right headlight, it was very white and bright. So to narrow the problem down to bulb or ballast, I swapped them and went for a dive.


After the usual 5 minutes, the left headlight went out again. Ok, so maybe not the bulb then. And the the right headlight shut off, and the left came back on again. Then they both went out. The the left came on, then off, and then the right. This continued the rest of the drive, every few seconds or a bit longer, until I got back home 10 minutes later.


So...what the hell? Any suggestions?


Many thanks!