Passenger side Xenon not turning on. FRM problem?
 

My E70 is having issue after issue lately. I put $1500 worth of parts in the engine bay to cure a CEL and oddly the latch fell off the lower rear hatch a week back, thoug easily cured by reattaching it with the two bolts.



Not to mention swapping a load of parts in the suspension a year ago. Now, after it ran fine for a three weeks, the PS xenon refuses to turn on. I have D1S bulbs and swapping them does not cure the problem.



Unfortunately I ran out of time last Saturday to do anything more than a rudimentary check using Rheingold.



My gut says it is likely the FRM light check module but I wonder if anyone else had this problem and found a wiring issue?

If it is, unless you have a ton of miles on your X5, or it was produced really early for a 2009, it should be covered. I just got a letter a couple of days ago from BMW extending the warranty on the FRM to 10 years or 156,000 miles. So you may want to get it checked STAT.

BTW, the way to get updates and information from BMW NA is to go to their website and register your BMW's VIN to your name and address. If you've never gone to a BMW dealership to get work performed (your VIN would get registered this way) or gone to the website to personally register your vehicle...then BMW NA (aka BMW USA) has no way of knowing that you own a BMW and if your VIN falls within an extended warranty or you need to be notified of anything...then you'll always be in the dark. :)


Click here to register: https://securelogin.bmwusa.com/register

Thx guys, my wife has been chasing them for the airbag updates (completed last October), so they know where to find me.



I will take a look in the wheel well next but if still enigmatic I take it in and have them take a look.

After spending a bit of quality time with my service advisor today I found out:


1. my build is not eligible for the extended warranty,


2. there is an igniter module for the xenon bulbs that fails at times and the BMW techs swap them L to R to check what is wrong. Part number is 63117182520


I did not realize there was a control module on the head light for the D1S but studying pictures of used headlights on Ebay and then going back to RealOEM I can see it is strapped to the bottom of the headlight unit. This weekend I will remove the passenger side wheel well liner and see if I can get this item out. With a bit of luck this should be a fairly easy fix (knock on wood.....). Worst case the bottom bumper cover has to come off and loosen the front of the fender.

Problem solved
 

It was the electronic module under the headlight. A five minite job.....once the fender is off! Unfortunately this cost me a morning as removing the headlight requires pretty much taking the fender almost completely off the car.....

FWIW. I had a PS headlight go out on the M5. Wasnt bulb. Next was the electronic ballast. $40 on ebay used.


(This is a ballast, no separate 'ignitor'...)


Was yours the 63 11 7 182 520 you posted above?

https://c1552172.ssl.cf0.rackcdn.com/57443_x800.webp
Correct, this is the one that failed.

With the PS fender off, it would have been a good time to replace your washer reservoir pumps as these tend to leak around the 100K mark. At least you know how to remove and replace your fender now for when your pumps start to leak.

Yeah, that would be good advice but unfortunately already been there and done that (twice) and way before the headlight issue surfaced....