Xenon Headlight Nightmare

ccmkE82 · 06-16-2020, 02:48 PM

Hey all I'm a 2008 135i owner with xenons/adaptive headlights. Recently had my passenger side xenon bulb turn off. Immediately I ordered a replacement bulb and had no luck with the light turning back on. After doing more research I assumed that the ballast was shot so I replaced that too and still had no luck with the xenon turning back on. FYI my halos still work fine. I ended up just connecting my passenger side headlight to the drivers side connector and what do you know, the whole headlight functioned perfectly fine and my xenon bulb came on.

I am a bit lost with where to go now and I am seeking some advice on the next move. Could the actually connector to the passenger side headlight be water damaged or corroded? Or could this be an FRM problem? I hooked up my car to a foxwell and I am getting the code A8AB - Dipped beam, right, faulty. Any advice would be great!

MPESTO · 06-16-2020, 07:08 PM

Have you tested your battery recently? What happened to me was that my passenger hid would just randomly stop working for a couple days, but the rest of the bulbs would work. I tried replacing the bulb and ballast and nothing worked. It ended up being my battery.

fe1rx · 06-16-2020, 09:33 PM

Have you checked the fuses? There are two of them and I am assuming that one is LH and the other RH.

ccmkE82 · 06-18-2020, 01:17 PM

Yes I have checked the fuses and both are good. Could definitely be the battery though because the battery I have was on its last legs this past winter.

Gwoods240 · 06-19-2020, 08:44 PM

The ballasts get fried easily. Looks like a super nintendo game Under the headlight. Ive gone thru a few. Horrible design Aftermarket on amazon

ccmkE82 · 06-22-2020, 12:37 AM

In case anyone runs into the same issue me, I ended up getting my bulbs to turn on by hooking up my laptop to the car and running Tool32 to reset the short circuit counter. There are detailed threads on the process and it was relatively simple!

06-16-2020, 02:48 PM	#1
ccmkE82 New Member 13 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 2008 135i 6MT / M-Sport Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Xenon Headlight Nightmare Hey all I'm a 2008 135i owner with xenons/adaptive headlights. Recently had my passenger side xenon bulb turn off. Immediately I ordered a replacement bulb and had no luck with the light turning back on. After doing more research I assumed that the ballast was shot so I replaced that too and still had no luck with the xenon turning back on. FYI my halos still work fine. I ended up just connecting my passenger side headlight to the drivers side connector and what do you know, the whole headlight functioned perfectly fine and my xenon bulb came on. I am a bit lost with where to go now and I am seeking some advice on the next move. Could the actually connector to the passenger side headlight be water damaged or corroded? Or could this be an FRM problem? I hooked up my car to a foxwell and I am getting the code A8AB - Dipped beam, right, faulty. Any advice would be great!
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

06-16-2020, 07:08 PM	#2
MPESTO Enlisted Member 8 Rep 31 Posts Drives: e88 135i Join Date: May 2018 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	Have you tested your battery recently? What happened to me was that my passenger hid would just randomly stop working for a couple days, but the rest of the bulbs would work. I tried replacing the bulb and ballast and nothing worked. It ended up being my battery.
	Appreciate 1 ccmkE8212.50 Quote

06-16-2020, 09:33 PM	#3
fe1rx Captain 1397 Rep 777 Posts Drives: 135i, 328i, Cayman S Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada iTrader: (3)	Have you checked the fuses? There are two of them and I am assuming that one is LH and the other RH.
	Appreciate 1 ccmkE8212.50 Quote

06-18-2020, 01:17 PM	#4
ccmkE82 New Member 13 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 2008 135i 6MT / M-Sport Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Yes I have checked the fuses and both are good. Could definitely be the battery though because the battery I have was on its last legs this past winter.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-19-2020, 08:44 PM	#5
Gwoods240 Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 135i Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Hudson valley New York iTrader: (0)	The ballasts get fried easily. Looks like a super nintendo game Under the headlight. Ive gone thru a few. Horrible design Aftermarket on amazon
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-22-2020, 12:37 AM	#6
ccmkE82 New Member 13 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 2008 135i 6MT / M-Sport Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	In case anyone runs into the same issue me, I ended up getting my bulbs to turn on by hooking up my laptop to the car and running Tool32 to reset the short circuit counter. There are detailed threads on the process and it was relatively simple!
	Appreciate 2 tracer bullet2410.00 lab_rat394.50 Quote