[drewlucas4]

Hi,

2012 X3 F25 with adaptive bendy lights and angel eyes

Dash says adaptive headlight failure, right dipped beam failure.

Drivers side headlight started failing intermittently and would reset after a few minutes and be fine for a while, like a day or so, then happened more often and now has stopped working completely. Angel eyes are on but no headlight either high or low beam.

So far have replaced the bulb. Replaced the ballast (think that’s what its called? The one underneath the headlight unit) and the TMS module that slots inside. All to no avail.

Looks like I need a new headlight unit unless anyone knows anything else I can do before that?

BMW were reluctant to give me a part number and I’ve searched high and low and there are so many variations. I thought I’d pinned it down to oem part number 63117277002 but 63117276998 also looks like it might be the right one? HELP!!

How do I work out which is the right one and should it be fairly simple to replace. I know I have to take the whole front bumper off etc etc.

Many thanks in advance for any advice
Drew

[richardodn]

Assuming I understand you correctly and want the whole headlight assembly:

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=63_1257

2012 X3 with xenon (S522A) and adaptive (S524A)

02 AHL-xenon headlight, left 1 04/2014 63117277003
only in conjunction with
-- Protective cap, left 1 04/2014 63117332085

02 AHL-xenon headlight, right 1 04/2014 63117277004
only in conjunction with
-- Protective cap, right 1 04/2014 63117332086

So your right side headlamp is 63117277004

Never mind, that's for the US market. I believe Ambleside in your signature is in England. I'll have a new answer shortly.

[richardodn]

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=63_1257
ECE RHD 2012 X3 with xenon (S522A) and adaptive (S524A)

02 AHL-xenon headlight, left 1 04/2014 63117277001 superseded to 63117401139
02 AHL-xenon headlight, right 1 04/2014 63117277002 superseded to 63117401140

So your original part number is 63117277002 which has been superseded to 63117401140. Both numbers are correct. Your original part was the '002. If you order a brand new part from BMW you'll get the '140.

The '998 part is for LHD cars.

[pungo]

Personally, I'd diagnose the failure using the schematics and ista+ before purchasing a headlight assembly. Are the left and right headlight plugs the same? If so, temporarily swap headlights to see if the problem follows the headlight.

[drewlucas4]

Thanks for the help people.

I've had it plugged in for diagnosis at one garage and told it was the ballast so replaced that, the took it to an auto electrical garage and was told it was the TMS unit which I also swapped out. Unfortunatly I don't think I have the time to take all the front off to try swapping the headlights.

I've found a replacement one for £400 from a breakers here in the UK which seems the cheapest option at the moment.

I've just looked at the Insta+ website which I didnt know about before so thanks for the heads up. Is it fairly straight forward to use and not cock things up! As a side thread, would I also be able to update the car's software as it's probably not been done for years?

Cheers,
Drew

[drewlucas4]

Quick update.

Didnt get round to looking at the diagnostics spent Saturday swapping out the old headlight with the new'ish one from the breakers.

Couple of tips here:

First: I followed a youtube video of a chap with a white x3 removing the bumber to get at the headlight. You don't infact have to take the whole bumper off. Remove the bolts top and bottom and the ones from the side that you need to get too and there's enough room to wriggle the headlight out without disconecting all the washers and parking sensors.

Second: Plug the replacememt headlight in to test it before spending 2 hours taking half your bumper off!

Turns out that the breaker sent me the wrong one and we only found this out after swapping them round. Turns out you can see the motor in the adaptive one when you take the bulb out. The one they sent didnt have this even though they claimed it was the same part number that I got from here.

Anyway's, whilst things were all over the drive and I had 2 headlights and all the modules, I started swaping bits and hey presto! Now have a fully working set of headlights. Turns out it was the ballast underneath which has now been swapped and everything put back together.

Next job is to fix / replace the wing mirrors that has stopped folding in. They have power and click when I press the button on the door but don't fold. Can't for the life of me find any replacements apart from the off one on Ebay.

Cheers,
Drew