Problem with front turn signal...what's going on?
 

04 X5 E53 3.0i, with Xenon light.

The front passenger side turn signal is bad, it does not turn on at all, and whenever I press the turn signal it blinks very fast(at least 3 times the normal speed)

I had an auto shop to test the bulb for me and they say the bulb and sockets are good, but the turn signal just isn't working, and they couldn't figure out what was wrong at that time.

Any idea what might be cause here? Headlight control unit? Light control module?

Are you sure there isn't a warning message on your dash that states a bulb is out somewhere?

No, I have already checked all the bulbs and they light up fine, just the front passenger turn signal. And the shop checked the turn signal too, saying it isn't the bulb causing the problem.

Maybe the flasher relay?

It something doesn't sound right if the shop "tested" the bulb socket and bulb for the front turn signal is good and it still doesn't light up. Are you sure it's getting power?

If you have a test light, see If you have power up to the back of the housing. If you do then there's somethin wrong inside the headlamp housing (broken wire, burnt bulb, or bulb holder isn't in/contacting correctly).

Do our front turn indicator bulbs serve double duty as turn indicators and park lights (I'm only 2 months into ownership of the X5 and haven't delved that deeply into the small minutia of all the bulbs in the headlights)? And if they do, are the dual filament bulbs (one low watt filament for the park light & one high watt filament for the turn indicator)?

I ask this because that is the way it is on the e38 7 series, and if one of the filaments burns out in the bulb, you can get the "fast blink" (casued by change in resistance)..and depending on if you have the LCM III which has a "replacement light" feature...it can only do one function (act as park light or act as turn indicator).

Physically looking at the bulb to see if one of the filaments is burnt out is necessary to determine if the bulb needs to be replaced.

It is a dual filament bulb.

Incorrect, the front turn signal bulb is a single filament bulb on facelifted vehicles.

Everything you say leads me to believe you are not being completely truthful. You must partially remove the front bumper, and remove the headlamp partially to check the bulb and socket.

With your right turn signal on, it blinks fast, does the right front light come on, or does the right rear light come on?

If the right front light does NOT come on, and you state that the "auto shop" said the bulb and sockets are good, without taking the headlamp or bumper off, then I would consider finding someone who is honest, and knows what they are doing.

I have yet to see a Lamp Module or wiring issue cause the front turn signal to become inoperative. Most times the bulb contacts become burnt and cause a poor connection, most of the times, you can leave the turn signal on, and go to the affected lamp, and tap it with you palm, and the lamp will come back on.

I pulled out 2 of these :dunno:....

http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...45CCD13522.jpg



I got my X a year old so its possible they were changed before me....but they were never touched under warranty and the only time I pulled the bulbs was when I switched over to LED's.