Fell victim to the adaptive headlight problem

[Morning Wood]

Recently upgraded to the led lux angel eyes due to a burnt bulb. Everything installed smoothly with the resister was placed correctly and gasket sealed. Lasted about a week until I got the AHL error on the driver's side and the high beam not working. It's at the shop now. What should have been a 200 upgrade is looking like a 1000 repair worst case.

[128GP]

not sure why folks keep doing this.

[Morning Wood]

Originally Posted by 128GP

not sure why folks keep doing this.

Honestly I researched this topic thoroughly before deciding. General consensus says there's a 50/50 chance of things going wrong or the usual "it's the installer's fault". Well there's no doubt that it was my fault but with how tight things are in the headlight assembly it just seems like a crapshoot unless you can get creative and place the resistor outside the cover or it's directly in the sweetspot. I am mechanically inclined but hindsight is 20/20. Not worth it IMO. There's other alternatives out there without that PITA resistor box.

[Matticus91]

50/50 isn't great odds for a big repair

[Yeineken]

I've switched my Lux out a few times and haven't had a problem yet. *knock on wood. You really just have to be aware of where you are placing the box. Can't just shove it in and try close the cover.

[jkoral]

Originally Posted by 128GP

not sure why folks keep doing this.

+1

Agreed. Too many of these threads scared me. Stock lights, never opened up.

[tock172]

So if I understand correctly, the problem is from people upgrading to LED bulbs for the angel eyes and the inline resister getting too hot and melting things within the headlight housing?

[850tgul]

Originally Posted by tock172

So if I understand correctly, the problem is from people upgrading to LED bulbs for the angel eyes and the inline resister getting too hot and melting things within the headlight housing?

I think it’s more improper placement and securing of the resistor/ballast box inside the headlight which, if dislodged, can physically interfere with the movement of the adaptive light causing the error

[inFamousKicks]

Originally Posted by tock172

So if I understand correctly, the problem is from people upgrading to LED bulbs for the angel eyes and the inline resister getting too hot and melting things within the headlight housing?

I haven't heard about that, but most times, if the backing headlight cover isn't seated properly, it can cause moisture to enter the headlight. You can clearly see that they're not in right if you're getting condensation on the inside.

[Morning Wood]

Originally Posted by inFamousKicks

I haven't heard about that, but most times, if the backing headlight cover isn't seated properly, it can cause moisture to enter the headlight. You can clearly see that they're not in right if you're getting condensation on the inside.

So an update, not that anyone really cares but for future installers. The shop found a lot of water in the housing itself. The bulbs were installed on a dry day and then a week after(now) it's monsoon season once again in Charleston. No doubt that what seemed like a good seal was in fact not and water found its way in. Now I'm no clueless idiot but this is obviously my fault. The shop is drying out the assemblies and removing corrosion. Hopefully this will save on the 2k+ of installing new assemblies and bring me down to just 1k for labor. Install at your own risk or have a shop who will back up their work do it.

Edit: Just thought about this. It would probably be safer to go above and beyond and even take off your bumper so you can pull the headlight assemblies out and install the headlights without having to finagle and force the cover into an already tight position and screw up the seal and save about 2k. Would have been nice if that advice was out there.

[tock172]

Originally Posted by 850tgul

I think it’s more improper placement and securing of the resistor/ballast box inside the headlight which, if dislodged, can physically interfere with the movement of the adaptive light causing the error

Originally Posted by inFamousKicks

I haven't heard about that, but most times, if the backing headlight cover isn't seated properly, it can cause moisture to enter the headlight. You can clearly see that they're not in right if you're getting condensation on the inside.

Interesting. I was very careful when I installed mine, but this thread has me paranoid. It took just a minute or two to install the bulbs, but close to an hour for me to situate the wiring and ballasts and then fiddling with the housing covers. Now I feel like checking it all again, although my car doesn't usually leave the garage when it rains.

[dsocold]

i had water in my headlights burn out my low beam


Remove bumper 15 min, remove headlight 5 min, replace ballast maybe the cable that goes from ballast to the bulb and you should be good to go, i purchased the ballast for 32 dollars used and i was good

also theres really only 2 major components the ballast and this black box that the ballast plugs into it controls the autoheadlghtevel system..

[mackeroni]

Originally Posted by tock172

Interesting. I was very careful when I installed mine, but this thread has me paranoid. It took just a minute or two to install the bulbs, but close to an hour for me to situate the wiring and ballasts and then fiddling with the housing covers. Now I feel like checking it all again, although my car doesn't usually leave the garage when it rains.

Funny...I feel the same way about mine. I installed the WeissLichts from Bavarian Auto about a year ago. I have experienced one occasion of interference with the Adaptive system with a dashboard warning. I immediately turned off the Adaptive system and drove directly home. I re-situated the wiring inside the headlight assemblies and double checked to ensure that I had a good seal when things were buttoned up. And yet...I still feel compelled to check and recheck. Is this what OCD feels like?

[Morning Wood]

Got word from the shop. 2k including labor to dry out and remove corrosion from the assemblies and a new driver's side assembly all because I thought the seal was on "okay" and water made it in on a rainy day. Do yourselves and your wallet a favor and make positively sure that seal is on perfectly, especially the underside where you can't see. Go above and beyond and pull that freaking bumper off and move the headlights so you can guarantee it's sealed, or take it to a shop. I would even get new seals. Any doubt could cost you. Fair warning.

[tock172]

Originally Posted by mackeroni

Funny...I feel the same way about mine. I installed the WeissLichts from Bavarian Auto about a year ago. I have experienced one occasion of interference with the Adaptive system with a dashboard warning. I immediately turned off the Adaptive system and drove directly home. I re-situated the wiring inside the headlight assemblies and double checked to ensure that I had a good seal when things were buttoned up. And yet...I still feel compelled to check and recheck. Is this what OCD feels like?

Sounds like a pretty textbook definition to me, but I'm no psychologist.

I've only had mine installed for few months and less than 1,000 miles, but I've had no errors and the adaptive lights seem to function perfectly. Regardless, I still feel like checking them, but then I risk possibly screwing them up again? Maybe I'll go back to original setup

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by tock172

Sounds like a pretty textbook definition to me, but I'm no psychologist.

Welcome to my world...

[hungrybreadbutterhustle]

Originally Posted by tock172

I've only had mine installed for few months and less than 1,000 miles, but I've had no errors and the adaptive lights seem to function perfectly. Regardless, I still feel like checking them, but then I risk possibly screwing them up again? Maybe I'll go back to original setup

If you've had them installed and survived a few rainfalls, you are likely ok. The issue I found is that you can get the rear cover in place, snap the retaining clips over, even if the cover is not properly positioned with the bottom tabs properly in the tab slots. I.E. Just because the clips snap over doesn't mean the covers are correctly in place, reach down in behind the headlight and feel for the tabs sticking down through the tab slots.

I just went through this entire process on a purchased 1. Once I had everything fixed, I ordered new headlight covers from ECS (that include a new gasket) and used those, just to make certain there wouldn't be further issues.

[Morning Wood]

Originally Posted by hungrybreadbutterhustle

If you've had them installed and survived a few rainfalls, you are likely ok. The issue I found is that you can get the rear cover in place, snap the retaining clips over, even if the cover is not properly positioned with the bottom tabs properly in the tab slots. I.E. Just because the clips snap over doesn't mean the covers are correctly in place, reach down in behind the headlight and feel for the tabs sticking down through the tab slots.

I just went through this entire process on a purchased 1. Once I had everything fixed, I ordered new headlight covers from ECS (that include a new gasket) and used those, just to make certain there wouldn't be further issues.

Did you have any issues with the lights flickering? No more AHL or moisture issues for me but my headlights flicker when turning sharp or driving over bumps. This isn't the case for every single bump though but it is frustrating having lights flickering in the dark and the cars around me wondering wtf is going on. Eventually I'll just pony up the money and replace both headlight assemblies but first I have to fix my water pump issue that happened to pop up the day after getting my DSC fixed, which happened the day after getting my headlights "fixed". I'm slowly dying inside here.

[Joebie]

I also have had trouble with water in my headlights in my recently purchased used 1er.

My advice is that if you ever remove the rear covers just pay the $28 to put brand new ones on there, every time. It's super cheap insurance compared to a $2k repair bill.

After drying out each of my lights with a hair dryer for about 15 minutes, putting some RTV on the top seals and replacing the back covers entirely, my headlights survived a 70mph drive through some of the heaviest rain I've ever seen in my life just the other day. Absolutely no sign of any moisture entering. If I had to do it again I would have ordered new top seals too.

[tock172]

Originally Posted by Morning Wood

Did you have any issues with the lights flickering? No more AHL or moisture issues for me but my headlights flicker when turning sharp or driving over bumps. This isn't the case for every single bump though but it is frustrating having lights flickering in the dark and the cars around me wondering wtf is going on. Eventually I'll just pony up the money and replace both headlight assemblies but first I have to fix my water pump issue that happened to pop up the day after getting my DSC fixed, which happened the day after getting my headlights "fixed". I'm slowly dying inside here.

The flickering is normal: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=585952

[Morning Wood]

Originally Posted by tock172

The flickering is normal: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=585952

No I understand the fluttering effect because of the AHL. My lights will literally flicker on and off briefly for several seconds after hitting a bump.

[tock172]

Originally Posted by Morning Wood

No I understand the fluttering effect because of the AHL. My lights will literally flicker on and off briefly for several seconds after hitting a bump.

I would investigate that sooner rather than later. Rapidly turning xenon bulbs on and off is not good for their longevity.