Left Low Beam Malfunction

[Unit107]

I have Xenon headlights. I had gotten an intermittent Left Low Beam Malfunction message, which has now become permanent. I swapped the bulbs left-to-right / right-to-left to see if it was a bulb, and right still works, left still out. This most likely means it is the Control Unit for the Xenon lights.

My question is does any one know what needs to be disassembled to reach this component? (fender?, front bumper?) and if you know, are there instructions on how to do so?

I believe the part # is 63117182520, which is a $400+ part. I assume labor to replace would be a couple hours also. I'm not afraid to disassemble myself, but have seen the removed parts pile stack up quickly to access a buried component like this, and would like some good instructions or advice prior tackling this myself.

Thanks,

Mark
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[jfoj]

Might help?

BMW Workshop Manuals

Look for a used igniter/ballast as well.

[blue dragon]

Wheel well liner is probably the easiest way

[Unit107]

jfoj, I have been searching that site for instructions. Very painful to use, but might be helpful if I can chain together the instructions to get it done.

Blue_dragon, I was thinking access might be gained through the wheel well. Problem is, I don't definitively know where the controller is located, and what needs to be removed to get to it. OEM part diagram does not show location in vehicle. Instructions I have found are incomplete to perform task from start to finish.

From what I can gather, removing the wheel well liner is not as straight-forward as just removing a couple clips, then the panel.

[jfoj]

Also look at www.realoem.com it might give more clues, but it is a parts database so be careful as it can be misleading. But sometimes you need a lot of clues.

[blue dragon]

The controller is on the back of the headlight. Here is my LCI headlights before I put them in, if you look directly behind the inner (false) projector, that is the ballast for the xenon bulb. Not the thing with the spikes, thats the LED driver for the corona rings

[Unit107]

Thanks all for the replies. I have ordered a replacement balast from EBay and hope to get it in in the next week or so.

My plans are to go at it through the wheel well. if anyone has decent instructions on how to dis-assemble that area, all suggestions will be welcomed. From what I can find, there are a couple delicate trim pieces that have to be removed, and a certain overlayment of panels to watch out for. That usually means just enough information for me to break something, not knowing the unpublished trick to a part's removal.

Thanks,


Mark

[physguy]

I suspect you'll have to remove the entire headlight to replace that ballast, ... unless of course you have very small and flexible hands. Yes, access via the wheel well is your only choice (unless of course you have even smaller, flexible hands).

[blue dragon]

I just removed my passenger side headlight over the weekend. I was trying to install some Osram night breaker bulbs and disloged the plastic ball that mounts to the solenoid for the adaptive headlights. That of course resulted in an adaptive headlight error since the projector would no longer swivel. No choice but to remove it.

I had it removed, repaired and replaced in about 3 hours, and that includes getting my wife with her small hands to reseat the ball inside the headlight.

I'll be removing the wheel well liner again this weekend to install some LED foglight housings that I bought. Make sure you have plastic rivets and the tool, you will need them to remote the plastic trim around each wheel well.

[Unit107]

Blue dragon: Do you have instructions on how to remove the headlights? I was contemplating how much clearance for access I would have if I went at it through the wheel well. Looks like, based on the position of the ballast on the light assembly, that it might very tight, or access to one of the three screws might be obstructed.

Also, I assumed that I would probably have to destroy the plastic rivets on the wheel well trim removing them. They look to be about $.50 each, but what tool would I need to replace them?

I also have the adaptive headlights. If I was to go the headlight removal route, is there something I could dislodge during the dismantle / re-assembly?

As it appears you have had some serious hands-on experience messing with the headlights, I appreciate any tips you can offer to make this job any easier.