Xenon - check lowbeam message

[Aleko]

Originally Posted by petertn

I was actually able to remove the xenon bulbs w/o removing the bumper. It's just 4 screws which I removed and pulled whole the lamp assembly out which gave me access to the xenons.

But after I replaced the bulb it still wouldnt light so I have yet to determine if it's the control unit ($500) Ignitor ($110) or something else.

Whatever it is, it's likly that i will have to go back to the stealer for repairs.

Which 4 screws did you have to remove? I removed the two on top, but there is still something holding the assembly at the bottom, and I can't see any screws down there.

EDIT: Never mind, I found the other two screws.

[JCAPX5]

Originally Posted by petertn

The seller on eBay sent me another ballast and it worked fine. All is well again. Damn it feels good not to pay the dealer for what took me 30 minutes to do.

Nice, congrats!

If it hepls at all I had a xenon go in our first X5 2001 3.0 and the dealer replaced the bulbs AND ballast under new-car warranty. Didn't have a problem for about 2 years after and then she was turned in for the next one...

Good luck!

[petertn]

bottom ones are deciveing since they are torx instead of the 8mm like up top

[Aleko]

Originally Posted by petertn

bottom ones are deciveing since they are torx instead of the 8mm like up top

At first I thought they were part of the headlight assembly itself, but then I figured I'd try removing them and it did the trick. Had to get the air filter box out though just to get to them. I managed to get the headlight assembly out yesterday, but then realized there was another cylinder-shaped cover on the back of it that had to be removed to get to the bulb, and since I didn't have much time, I decided to stop there and put it all back in. It looked like it was held by 3 torx screws (2 on top, one on the bottom). Is that all that's left to get to the bulb, or is there more to it?

[petertn]

Those last 3 torx screws are all thats left! It's easy street from there. Once the headlamp assembly is pulled out, you will see the ballast sit right beneath of it secured by a bracket (in case the ballast is bad not the bulb like mine was)

Also, I found you dont have to remove the airfilter all together, I just unscrewed the 10mm bolts that secured it and was able to shift the filter to the side enough to get my hand down to the torx. But then again, my hands are small.

Good luck!

[Aleko]

Originally Posted by petertn

Those last 3 torx screws are all thats left! It's easy street from there. Once the headlamp assembly is pulled out, you will see the ballast sit right beneath of it secured by a bracket (in case the ballast is bad not the bulb like mine was)

Also, I found you dont have to remove the airfilter all together, I just unscrewed the 10mm bolts that secured it and was able to shift the filter to the side enough to get my hand down to the torx. But then again, my hands are small.

Good luck!

Thanks. I actually had to remove the ballast, too, because the wires from the ballast to the headlight assembly were very short and wouldn't let me pull the assembly out enough to get to the back of it. There's just one torx screw holding the ballast down (the one that has the ground from the assembly going to it).