Possible Xenon Issue

strokeZ · 04-21-2009, 01:59 PM

Have the Xenon headlights (for sure they are not Halogen). I just picked up the car "new to me". Never having a BMW of this sort I wonder if I have a problem. There is no difference between the high and low beam setting for the headlights. The flash to pass works fine, but this is a different set of Halogen bulbs (presumably H7's). Is this normal (I am thinking not)? Seems like the lights are stuck on the high beam all the time. Strange b/c the fog lamps work at the low beam setting and turn off when I move the stalk to the high beam setting. Again, no difference in the main lights when I do this.

Any suggestions?

xg3 · 04-22-2009, 10:09 AM

so you have HIDS or not? Xenon and HIDs are the same thing...

strokeZ · 04-22-2009, 01:46 PM

corrected initial thread......my mistake thanks for pointing out. have Xenon for hi/lo beam, standard halogen for "flash to pass" and fog lamps

acvr4 · 04-22-2009, 02:03 PM

You should notice a big difference from the Xenon when you flick to high. Or at least I do. If these work like my others HIDs the BiXenon housing pulls back to allow more bulb exposure. Do you notice if the auto leveling is working on yours?
The inter most lights are the H7 halogen - flash to pass only - I'm assuming since that's all I can get them to do.

xg3 · 04-22-2009, 02:03 PM

when u use highbeam you are suppose to flick the stalk forward...that should give you the proper high beam... pulling it back, will create the flash to pass..

does it do that?? it should be dramatic difference in the output of light.

strokeZ · 04-22-2009, 03:08 PM

No - there is no difference in light output from the headlights when activate the hi beams (stalk forward). The high beam indicator comes on the dash panel, but no difference at all other than the fog lamps turn off - which is normal I believe. I am thinking either its a bad switch (not likely) or a faulty relay somewhere. From what I know the only difference mechanically is that the "lens" in the headlamp moves to differentiate between hi and lo beam. Seems like mine are stuck on hi. I am hoping its not a faulty controller.

strokeZ · 05-11-2009, 02:15 PM

Update - both light issue and dead battery connected. Have faulty light controller relay and its shorting out - tho not consistently. After three weeks, diagnostics, waiting for part, reprogram, etc...and $1200, I am back in business. What a PITA!

xg3 · 05-11-2009, 03:50 PM

wow.. $1200 to fix a headlight.. thats pretty expensive! but glad its good now!

04-21-2009, 01:59 PM	#1
strokeZ Private First Class 9 Rep 165 Posts Drives: '11 e92 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	Possible Xenon Issue Have the Xenon headlights (for sure they are not Halogen). I just picked up the car "new to me". Never having a BMW of this sort I wonder if I have a problem. There is no difference between the high and low beam setting for the headlights. The flash to pass works fine, but this is a different set of Halogen bulbs (presumably H7's). Is this normal (I am thinking not)? Seems like the lights are stuck on the high beam all the time. Strange b/c the fog lamps work at the low beam setting and turn off when I move the stalk to the high beam setting. Again, no difference in the main lights when I do this. Any suggestions? Last edited by strokeZ; 04-22-2009 at 02:00 PM..
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04-22-2009, 10:09 AM	#2
xg3 Private First Class 5 Rep 145 Posts Drives: Was 03 Z4, now 10 GTI Join Date: May 2008 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	so you have HIDS or not? Xenon and HIDs are the same thing...
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04-22-2009, 01:46 PM	#3
strokeZ Private First Class 9 Rep 165 Posts Drives: '11 e92 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	corrected initial thread......my mistake thanks for pointing out. have Xenon for hi/lo beam, standard halogen for "flash to pass" and fog lamps
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04-22-2009, 02:03 PM	#4
acvr4 Private First Class 3 Rep 198 Posts Drives: 3.0Z4,VR4,Vehicross.Touareg Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: CT iTrader: (1)	You should notice a big difference from the Xenon when you flick to high. Or at least I do. If these work like my others HIDs the BiXenon housing pulls back to allow more bulb exposure. Do you notice if the auto leveling is working on yours? The inter most lights are the H7 halogen - flash to pass only - I'm assuming since that's all I can get them to do.
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04-22-2009, 02:03 PM	#5
xg3 Private First Class 5 Rep 145 Posts Drives: Was 03 Z4, now 10 GTI Join Date: May 2008 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	when u use highbeam you are suppose to flick the stalk forward...that should give you the proper high beam... pulling it back, will create the flash to pass.. does it do that?? it should be dramatic difference in the output of light.
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04-22-2009, 03:08 PM	#6
strokeZ Private First Class 9 Rep 165 Posts Drives: '11 e92 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	No - there is no difference in light output from the headlights when activate the hi beams (stalk forward). The high beam indicator comes on the dash panel, but no difference at all other than the fog lamps turn off - which is normal I believe. I am thinking either its a bad switch (not likely) or a faulty relay somewhere. From what I know the only difference mechanically is that the "lens" in the headlamp moves to differentiate between hi and lo beam. Seems like mine are stuck on hi. I am hoping its not a faulty controller.
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05-11-2009, 02:15 PM	#7
strokeZ Private First Class 9 Rep 165 Posts Drives: '11 e92 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	Update - both light issue and dead battery connected. Have faulty light controller relay and its shorting out - tho not consistently. After three weeks, diagnostics, waiting for part, reprogram, etc...and $1200, I am back in business. What a PITA!
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05-11-2009, 03:50 PM	#8
xg3 Private First Class 5 Rep 145 Posts Drives: Was 03 Z4, now 10 GTI Join Date: May 2008 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	wow.. $1200 to fix a headlight.. thats pretty expensive! but glad its good now!
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