[zhengbob]

I have a 2013 BMW X3 F25, the headlights OEM has AFS, bi-xenon for main beams.

both headlight assembly were cracked in front collision. I bought a new set of housing, and transferred all components insides the old to the new. And connected on the car for testing:

1. The outer pairs of lights are on when the car is powered on, also the two angel eye rings ON. I guess this is the Day Time running lights.
2. both inner lights are not ON. anytime! the car is parked while testing.
3. I push the knob at the steering wheel for the high beam, I heard shutters moving. But I don't see the high beam lights on at all, also I don't see anything light up in low beam.
4. I turn on the fog lights, they are working

Don't know if there is any relay or fuse to control the power to both left/right main beams, which is the Xenon lights. As it's kind of odd that both sides stopped working at the same time.

Any hints?

I bought a new pair of ballast and D1S HID light bulbs, on its way, will test it out once arrival.

[pungo]

The inner lights are dummies; therefore don't illuminate. The outer light is both the low and high beam

[zhengbob]

Originally Posted by pungo

The inner lights are dummies; therefore don't illuminate. The outer light is both the low and high beam

I saw some other posts says the inner lights pair only turn on when cornering. Can't try that while the car is parking.

I see the housing has two LED bulb units on each assembly, they are identical (with two connectors), but seems only the one on the outer light has two wires coming out from the inside to connect to the LED unit, the one on the inner light has only one connector.

I assume that the outer lights I see ON is getting lights from that LED bulb, but not the Xeonon HID bulb, can anyone confirm?

Also if the shutter is moving while switching between High/low beam, I assume the there is power sent to the ballast unit (they are sharing the same power supply with the shutter motor?)

[pungo]

Originally Posted by zhengbob

I saw some other posts says the inner lights pair only turn on when cornering. Can't try that while the car is parking.

This is incorrect, like I said they are dummies

Originally Posted by zhengbob

Also if the shutter is moving while switching between High/low beam, I assume the there is power sent to the ballast unit (they are sharing the same power supply with the shutter motor?)

The shutter is not powered through the ballast and the shutter is not motor operated.
Check if pin 3 on the headlight harness connector has power with the low beams turned on.

[zhengbob]

Originally Posted by pungo

This is incorrect, like I said they are dummies


The shutter is not powered through the ballast and the shutter is not motor operated.
Check if pin 3 on the headlight harness connector has power with the low beams turned on.

Will check Pin 3 in coming days.

One dummy question - currently I see the day time running lights on (2 angel eyes rings, and the outer lights are ON). I really want to know what is the light source of the outer lights in current status, is it from the LED bulb mounted for the outer angel eye rings? Or is it from the HID bulb , as I am assuming the HID bulb is not lighted ON due to bad ballast or the HID bulb. I am really confused with BMW's headlights after digging deeper into it.

thanks.

[pungo]

Originally Posted by zhengbob

One dummy question - currently I see the day time running lights on (2 angel eyes rings, and the outer lights are ON). I really want to know what is the light source of the outer lights in current status, is it from the LED bulb mounted for the outer angel eye rings? Or is it from the HID bulb , as I am assuming the HID bulb is not lighted ON due to bad ballast or the HID bulb.

It may help if you use the proper terminology. When you say "outer lights" are you talking about the "side marker"?

[zhengbob]

Originally Posted by pungo

It may help if you use the proper terminology. When you say "outer lights" are you talking about the "side marker"?

Attachment 3104130

Outer light = No. 2 in the diagram.

I see it has lights ON , but not even close to a low beam light brightness, so I wonder the light source of it is from one of the two the LED module mounted at the bottom of the housing. Not the HID bulb.

correct me if I am wrong.

Also , is the Daytime Running Light means just the two angel eye rings?

Thank you for the perfect diagram of the headlight.

[zhengbob]

got the new set of HID bulbs and ballasts, installed to the headlights , same result, the inner two lens don't light up.

I think yeah they are dummies just as Pungo said.

I now understand how BMW bi-xenon high/low beam works - they are all illuminated by the same HID bulb (at the outer of the lens), and only switching by a shutter.

I still don't see any changes when I pull the stalk for 'flasher' mode, someone said the 'flasher' is not a thing for xenon bulb.

Anyway, I think I wasted $85 for the new pair of HID ballasts and bulbs. The old ones are fine.

[zhengbob]

I was able to code the car to really flashing high beams when pull the lever. It might not be good to the Xenon HID bulbs, but now I see it working.

Finally, it took me about 5 hours to take everything out of the crashed headlight housing, and transferred to the housing replacement I bought online. and sealed / baked, installed on my car, now the car ECU has no problem to recognize the headlights and control it.

My car is live now. rebuild a front collision F25 X3 is completed, it's the N55 engine model, this little SUV is hot!

Looking to next project car, maybe another G01 X3 M40I ?

[pungo]

Originally Posted by zhengbob

I was able to code the car to really flashing high beams when pull the lever. It might not be good to the Xenon HID bulbs, but now I see it working.

Maybe it's just the pic, but those light look blue
And yes, flashing the high beams when the low beams are off is not healthy for the bulbs.

[zhengbob]

Originally Posted by pungo

Maybe it's just the pic, but those light look blue
And yes, flashing the high beams when the low beams are off is not healthy for the bulbs.

Yes , it's a bit blue. the HID bulbs I bought are 8000K (looks a bit blue and cold), brighter than the original 6000K (looks normal white).

I might disable the flash to pass with the high beam coding later, to protect the life of the bulbs.

Thank you for the details about the BMW headlights. It really helped me.

[pungo]

Originally Posted by zhengbob

Yes , it's a bit blue. the HID bulbs I bought are 8000K (looks a bit blue and cold), brighter than the original 6000K (looks normal white).

Just so you know, the stock color is 4300k, generally the brightest. Usually, higher K is not as bright, with the exception of a few expensive brand name bulbs from Osam or Sylvania. Higher Kelvin does not = brighter. Those Chinese 8000k are a downgrade in brightness as well as will burn the reflector in the projector due to the excessive UV therefore ruining the headlight, seen many burned reflectors from Chinese bulbs

Originally Posted by zhengbob

I might disable the flash to pass with the high beam coding later, to protect the life of the bulbs.

Why not just don't pull the lever with the low beams off, who knows, you might want them to work in an emergency situation


Left is from a high Kelvin Chinese bulb, right is from a stock bulb:

[zhengbob]

Holly smoke!

I'd better swap out the 8000K bulbs to avoid that burn.

[pungo]

Originally Posted by zhengbob

Holly smoke!

I'd better swap out the 8000K bulbs to avoid that burn.

It's not as much the color of the 8000k bulb that causes the burned reflectors as it is the cheap Chinese bulbs in any color since they lack the UV protection of a quality name brand bulb, not to mention 8000k bulbs are dim

[FiscalFury]

Originally Posted by zhengbob

I was able to code the car to really flashing high beams when pull the lever. It might not be good to the Xenon HID bulbs, but now I see it working.

Finally, it took me about 5 hours to take everything out of the crashed headlight housing, and transferred to the housing replacement I bought online. and sealed / baked, installed on my car, now the car ECU has no problem to recognize the headlights and control it.

My car is live now. rebuild a front collision F25 X3 is completed, it's the N55 engine model, this little SUV is hot!

Looking to next project car, maybe another G01 X3 M40I ?

Hi there, do you have steps on how to code the headlights? I replaced the ballast and bulbs and still have this issue.

[zhengbob]

I used the OBD2 scanner (Foxwell NT510)to set the option for this.

Don't remember which menu this is in, but it's for sure in the menu of lighting.