Fog light keeps blowing

[absentmathis]

I've replaced the driver side bulb twice now recently and it's blown in only a few days or less. Weird thing is I haven't even used the lights, I just get the dash warning and sure enough it's blown. Anyone have any thoughts? '01 4.4.

[TerminatorX5]

you have projector lights, check for the seal that seals off the light housing.

also, the LCM is using pulses to check the light even if it is not on - those pulses can kill a poor quality, chinese made light... check to see where the light bulb is made, and if you can find a nice EU made bulb, go for it... not all bulbs are created equal - about 10 years ago i had a tail light bulb burn on me on E34... replaced with one from Kmart... blown in couple days... used the other one from the package - blown again... bought another one, from walmart, blown in a week... fourth one blew in about 3-4 days... tired of paying for those bulbs - went to dealer, paid crazy money for a bulb made in Hungary or whatever, that bulb stayed on the car for the next 7-8 years until i sold it...

[absentmathis]

The fogs are projectors? Honestly I hadn't looked at the lens that closely to tell. Not quite sure I follow you on the seal, but will pull the assembly tomorrow and hopefully it will be more clear. Are you thinking it might be leaking moisture? From front glass seal or rear casing seal? I don't recall there being any conductive seals, and there is no apparent condensation or corrosion.

I definitely appreciate the input. Bulbs were fairly cheap so will try a better one. Never had problems with similar units in my other Bimmers though, but you never know.

[TerminatorX5]

your X5 is pre-facelift, so the fogs should be Valeo units, in a long plastic body, with an H3 (i think it is H3 bulb, with a base and a single wire) bulb going inside that housing, the single wire connected and a small lid screwed back onto the black elongated body. then the connector from the car is connected to the black fog light housing, not to the light bulb itself, which is already sealed inside...

is that the setup you got?

[absentmathis]

Yep, sounds like what I've got, H3.

[TerminatorX5]

also, that particular light bulb is very sensitive to oils on your skin - you must handle it in gloves, or using napkin, paper towel, something, to make sure you are not touching the glass, as the glass will crack where the oil has touched it

[absentmathis]

Oh yeah, aware of that and have only touched the base and mostly with foreceps/tweezers. But that kind of failure would typically come from the heat associated with use, and I haven't turned them on once. At this point I'm really hoping for the cheap bulb cure.

[Ricky Bobby]

if you have no moisture whatsoever or leaking water into your housing I'd definitely try a different bulb, Pep Boys usually sells Philips/Sylvania bulbs which might be better than walmart/kmart bulbs.