Left Cornering Light Malfunction

[ThePredator1987]

Ive been having an issue with this error. It popped up a year or so ago and was fixed by tightening up the bulbs inside the headlight but recently it seemed to of come back with a vengeance.

I took it to an independent maintainer (because my car is out of warranty) and first the reprogrammed the module. Fixed for a couple days then it came back. Then they replaced the H3 bulbs and cleaned/tightened all the bulbs inside and it came back within the week. The next step they say is to replace the entire lighting assembly which can be very costly.

The CCID code it give me is 380: FRM 380 Turn Signal Lights Defective - Left

I want to know if anyone has encountered a similar problem and if so what they did to fix it. I've searched everywhere but I haven't found a suitable solution aside from throwing money at it with a maintainer.

Thanks in advance.

[delta-9-ginseng]

Unfortunately, I had a very similar problem to what you are describing. Instead, it was my right turn-signal. I took it to a shop where they found that the plastic housing/casing of the bulb was actually burning through the plastic and causing a short. I went into the dealer and showed them the problem and they replaced the entire headlight unit since technically it was a manufacturers defect on my end.

[Miko226]

I had this issue happen when my angel eye wires dry rotted and copper touched copper and created a short which also affected my turn light creating an annoying dash light. i stripped and recoated/covered the wires put it back together and had a local indy shop reset the headlight module with auto logic

[ThePredator1987]

Thanks for the information guys, I changed out the light bulb for my left then signal and now I don't get any errors or faults. I think maybe the worn out bulb was causing the rest of the system to act up. I'll just have to wait and see.

[josemh23]

Same problem, took it to dealer , changed bulbs twice.. Error continues

[Brake_L8]

My '09 has started doing this, too. All of the bulbs (left and right side) work fine, but I haven't bothered to poke around and make sure they are fully seated in sockets and all that jazz.

After owning several E36's, I'm used to the dash telling me something is falsely wrong. I'm just glad it's not "Low Beam Failure" or "Coolant Low Owner's Manual" - I've seen those for years

[josemh23]

third time in the dealer, same error, on off now they blame my aftermarket precious white headlights! WTF!!

[135Pats]

My ’08 just started this a week or two ago. Left turn signal bulb malfunction. Of course, there is no malfunction what so ever. Electronic gremlins FTL, I’ll see if I can code it out or something.

[CM]

I had both my headlights replaced because of a left cornering light malfunction and right front turn signal malfunction. As someone mentioned it was due to burning of the socket.

[Brake_L8]

With warmer weather, my error went away. If I had to guess, the cold was making things shrink just enough to not make proper contact and threw the error message.

[merlinbk]

I had this issue. I checked the bulbs a few times and they were working fine. (However it finally went bad.) I replaced the bulbs and the error went away. Perhaps it detected a fluctuation in voltage... telling me the bulb was going bad. I'm glad the warning is gone.

[spray]

Is this the thing that makes your light blink really fast? Because that's what mine was doing, so I replaced the bulb and it was fine for 2 weeks. Now it's blinking fast again.

[Rated-M3]

I have been experiencing intermittent bulb out warnings. The code is CC ID 381, right turn signal defective. However, I noticed the adaptive lights don't work when this happens. I have read it could be due to corroded bulb sockets, shorting, or faulty wiring. I will post back when I get a chance to look at it. Apparently the warning light becomes permanent if it displays it more than 50 time. If this happens, you have to get the module reset after you repair it to get rid of the warning.

[Rated-M3]

Originally Posted by Rated-M3

I have been experiencing intermittent bulb out warnings. The code is CC ID 381, right turn signal defective. However, I noticed the adaptive lights don't work when this happens. I have read it could be due to corroded bulb sockets, shorting, or faulty wiring. I will post back when I get a chance to look at it. Apparently the warning light becomes permanent if it displays it more than 50 time. If this happens, you have to get the module reset after you repair it to get rid of the warning.

Replaced the turn signal bulb and it's been about a week with no error. The bulb still worked and the filament was solid. I guess it was on its way out???

[mikeseli]

I need more info on what was done, can you guys chime in.

[ThePredator1987]

I found the fix and it isn't cheat. Pretty much the metallic contact for the turn signal is surrounded by cheap materials so over time it melts and loses it's contact. The only fix is to replace the entire headlamp assembly which runs from 700-1300 depending on where you purchase it. Installing it isn't fun either as you need to remove the entire front bumper.

[mikeseli]

Originally Posted by ThePredator1987

I found the fix and it isn't cheat. Pretty much the metallic contact for the turn signal is surrounded by cheap materials so over time it melts and loses it's contact. The only fix is to replace the entire headlamp assembly which runs from 700-1300 depending on where you purchase it. Installing it isn't fun either as you need to remove the entire front bumper.

Which turn signal bulb are we talking about? Front headlight or rear lights?
The front headlights are led.

[ThePredator1987]

Front bulb, I haven't had any experience with the rear lights acting up.

[shah269]

Does CPO cover this? =(

[lmlevine]

Just went through a similar problem. The following seems to be true:
1) The error code is not always correct. Mine was CC ID 380, left cornering light. Those bulbs were good.
2) That became codes 134 and 136 - left and right brake lights, again, both bulbs seemed good, were working. In about two days, with both codes still appearing, the right outer brake light bulb failed (bulb 1057 or P21W). Replaced it, code went away, that morning. That evening, the left outer brake light bulb burned out, this time with just the one correct code! Replaced it, code went away. So it seems that a code or codes can appear when a bulb is getting ready to go?
3) I was told by a mechanic, in replacing bulbs in a BMW (and all other cars?), to be sure that the contacts are silver, not copper, it can make a difference in whether the car throws a code even though the bulb is good?

Maybe the left cornering lights will now actually fail? Whatever!

[NORAGRETS]

Reviving this....

I get CC-ID 381...and the car says "right cornering light malfunction" but it always goes away when im driving...the cornering lights seem to work fine...help?

[LeMansBeauty]

I just had this issue fixed at my dealer. Left corner light malfunction. At first, they thought it was the bulb, then the bulb socket. Ended up having to replace the entire headlight assembly because the socket housing had melted causing a short or something.