High Beam Issue
 

Hello all;

I'm having problems with non-operational high beams. The problem seems to come and go, but very often, my high beams don't work at all. Even when they are not working, the high beam indicator does go on when the high beams are selected. Low beam and halos work normally. Also, when the fog lights are on, they go out, (as they are supposed to,) when the high beams are selected, even if the high beams are not going on.

Any help is appreciated.

Car is 2008 e70 X5 4.8i with adaptive headlights.

Do you have any codes? The High beam on our cars are part of the bi-xenon system, meaning it's the same bulb as the low beam, and there's a moving piece that blocks the rest of the beam in low beam mode. Sounds like for some reason, your blocking piece inst moving up. I'd look for FRM codes on the car first.

First of all, thanks for the response.

What's an FRM code?

Using my little Schwaben scan tool, I get only three codes on the car. One for the Comfort Access rear antenna, (the connector is loose); an E729 for the automatic air recirculation sensor, and A6CF/not present : JBE AUC sensor. I'm not really sure what the last one is for, but pretty sure none of this is related to my headlight issue. I would have been expecting one in the Footwell Module possibly?

Using my friend's Autel, I was able to activate the headlights manually, and make each one move up/down and left/right; (including to the high beam position,) but that was at a moment in time when the brights were working.

Well, I'd suggest seeing if you can use that friend's tool again.

The FRM is the footwell module.

I want to be clear, how do you think the high beams should work? You mentioned they were working before so you must know but a few times people have come here expecting the inboard lights to come on when the X5 is equipped with bi-Xenon headlights. Their operation is described above.

technically foot REST module, as I recall. But yeah.

None of those codes are related to your high beams. If you look at WDS, you will see there is a specific pin on the FRM that energizes the solenoids for the shield on the projector. when the shield moves, the high beams are activated.


Is it one or both lights that fail to activate?

Thanks for the response.

Both lights fail to activate.

What's WDS?

What would you recommend as the next step in terms of diagnosis/repair?

The last time I had access to a decent scan tool (newest Autel), the high beams were choosing to work that day. So they worked fine with the stalk, and the could be activated (up down/ left right,) from the scan tool. But again, this is a periodic problem.

I know how these projectors work with the moving shield, etc. When they work, they work fine. But as of recently, about half the time, they don't work at all. And whether they are working or not, I get the blue indicator on the dash, and the fog lights turn off when the brights are selected.

This probably isn't going to be much help, but it sounds an awful lot like a loos connection, given the erratic nature of the issue..

Maybe if you can find the right pin out on the FRM using the WDS (Wiring Diagram System), and 'play with it' while trying to diagnose, the problem may become obvious? Probably a lot easier said than done I realize..