Anyone else, Xenons sometimes not work???

[Lambeau]

Does anyone else have the problem when starting up or driving your X and one or both of your Xenons go out??? My 06 did this, I took it to the dealer, told them about it and they said it was a loose connection. I knew it was bullshit and sure enough, a week later it was doing it again. Tonight I started it and none of my headlights worked until I turned it off, started it again and then they worked. The dash even states "check lowbeam headlights". Wouldn't this warning prompt the service dept to the real cause of this??? This has happened 5 or 6 times since they "fixed" this so-called loose connection.

[rastaFarai]

sounds like an electrical issue. I've been having sporadic issues. luckily nothing to do with headlights.. but one day i got in my car at lunch and all my hazards were blinking.. last night i tried to use my remote to open my doors.. and nothing. used key, then tried again.. and it worked. Nothing too bad for me to bring to the dealer - but good luck with yours.

[Bimmer360]

first of all, turning it off an on would hurt your xenon bulbs and the ballasts, they won't last longer by doing so and i understand that this is the only remedy for now. What you can do is measure the current of the wires using multi-meter and check to see the flow of the current. It could also be your ballast. Smae thing happened to me before and when i changed the ballast, it fixed the problem.

[E5M1R]

I have had similar issue on my e46 1999, it was a bad xenon lamp sometimes it would go on and sometimes not.

Bimmer360.
I doubt that your balasts and or lamps wil brake do to turning on and off.
In Sweden Xenons are used as DRL, whitch means a lot of on and off.
Lamp it self might have shorter life but that is it

[acitydweller]

could be a sign for a failing ballast...

[Bimmer360]

Yes, you have to wait at least a minute before turning OFF and ON the xenon bulbs/ballasts. It is documented somewhere, i will find that. You can do so on halogen ones.

This topic has been discussed so many times in e46fanatics website, which i am a member myself. Hmmm, DRL xenon? wow....

Originally Posted by E5M1R

I have had similar issue on my e46 1999, it was a bad xenon lamp sometimes it would go on and sometimes not.

Bimmer360.
I doubt that your balasts and or lamps wil brake do to turning on and off.
In Sweden Xenons are used as DRL, whitch means a lot of on and off.
Lamp it self might have shorter life but that is it

[Aimster]

My left one does this all the time.

It sometimes comes on and sometimes doesn't
Have to keep turning on/off to get it to work.

Most of the time it doesn't work. Have to switch ballasts tomorrow to see if it is the problem.

[Quicksilver]

Loose connection is not far fetched. Weather it's a ballast or whatever
if the light goes on or off something is cutting off the flow of electricity
hence a loose connection.

If they fixed it once and the problem continues don't get upset just take it back until they get it right.

Originally Posted by Lambeau

Does anyone else have the problem when starting up or driving your X and one or both of your Xenons go out??? My 06 did this, I took it to the dealer, told them about it and they said it was a loose connection. I knew it was bullshit and sure enough, a week later it was doing it again. Tonight I started it and none of my headlights worked until I turned it off, started it again and then they worked. The dash even states "check lowbeam headlights". Wouldn't this warning prompt the service dept to the real cause of this??? This has happened 5 or 6 times since they "fixed" this so-called loose connection.

[ViperMX]

Sadly (or luckily depending on how you look at it) I spend a good deal of time at my local BMW store picking up parts, talking to techs, etc. that I can walk into the service bay and see/help w/ my vehicles when they're being worked on and it's slow.

Yesterday, I was helping change out my left headlight assembly (under warranty) and the tech that works on my BMWs told my about an experience similar to yours.

It was a 5-series w/ Xenons that had one headlight going on and off. The tech swapped the ballasts and igniters from one side to the other, and then both lights start going on and off. Long story short (to include going through a PUMA case)--it was the Xenon bulbs themselves. Once replaced, everything worked fine. Hope this helps--Good Luck.