Low Beams

JCardoso · 09-26-2018, 08:14 AM

Hi All,
I wasn't 100% sure on where to drop this general question/issue...
My e81 car last Sunday decided to thrown an error on the dashboard regarding the low beams, after a brief check, the right low beam light was gone (lightbulb filament had burnt). Anyway, replacing a lightbulb is one of the easiest jobs in the World (at least with the e81), so I ventured myself yesterday and replaced it with a brand new lightbulb. What was my surprise that no light was coming through at all, nonetheless the left side was completely OK. Thought it was a problem with the bulb and removed the left bulb and fitted on the right side, and guess what? nothing happened.
At this stage the problem I guess can only be related to fuses... Opened the fuse box, hard to get into it though, checked the fuses for the beams and it all looks ok. the Fuse diagram lists 2 fuses, I guess one for high beams and another for low beams.
So, from your experience where should I look now? Is this a possible issue with the light controller module? My car is equipped with halogen H7 bulbs.

Thanks in advance.

Matt@EuroJerks · 09-26-2018, 09:22 AM

Did you check if the actual bulb harness connection was corroded?

VF08822 · 09-26-2018, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt@EuroJerks

Did you check if the actual bulb harness connection was corroded?

That was my first thought as well. May also be a loose connection somewhere in the harness.

JCardoso · 09-26-2018, 11:44 AM

hey guys,
Thanks for your suggestions.
Have just been to the car and taken the multimeter with me, so it all looks good with the harness, and I even measured the tension on the connectors and there is nothing coming through. It says 3 V, but whatever...
I'm basically lost, don't know where to look next!

fun2drive · 09-29-2018, 09:18 PM

Generally speaking most have a relay between the fuse and the light. If the relay is not doing it job you will not get full voltage. Worth looking into but typically they are more robust than the fuse.

NorthernDancer · 09-29-2018, 09:47 PM

Try another ground wire. Make a "cheater cord", a simple wire 2/3 feet long with alligator clips on both ends. Go from the ground terminal on the harness (brown wire I think) to the ground terminal in engine compartment that's used for boosting.

09-26-2018, 08:14 AM	#1
JCardoso New Member 0 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 330d Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Low Beams Hi All, I wasn't 100% sure on where to drop this general question/issue... My e81 car last Sunday decided to thrown an error on the dashboard regarding the low beams, after a brief check, the right low beam light was gone (lightbulb filament had burnt). Anyway, replacing a lightbulb is one of the easiest jobs in the World (at least with the e81), so I ventured myself yesterday and replaced it with a brand new lightbulb. What was my surprise that no light was coming through at all, nonetheless the left side was completely OK. Thought it was a problem with the bulb and removed the left bulb and fitted on the right side, and guess what? nothing happened. At this stage the problem I guess can only be related to fuses... Opened the fuse box, hard to get into it though, checked the fuses for the beams and it all looks ok. the Fuse diagram lists 2 fuses, I guess one for high beams and another for low beams. So, from your experience where should I look now? Is this a possible issue with the light controller module? My car is equipped with halogen H7 bulbs. Thanks in advance.
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09-26-2018, 09:22 AM	#2
Matt@EuroJerks Lieutenant 496 Rep 476 Posts Drives: 2021 Jeep Cherokee Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: CT iTrader: (1)	Did you check if the actual bulb harness connection was corroded?
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09-26-2018, 11:44 AM	#4
JCardoso New Member 0 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 330d Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	hey guys, Thanks for your suggestions. Have just been to the car and taken the multimeter with me, so it all looks good with the harness, and I even measured the tension on the connectors and there is nothing coming through. It says 3 V, but whatever... I'm basically lost, don't know where to look next!
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09-29-2018, 09:18 PM	#5
fun2drive BMWCCA 149159 38 Rep 847 Posts Drives: 13 128i Vert/ 14 JGC Diesel Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Florida Panhandle iTrader: (1)	Generally speaking most have a relay between the fuse and the light. If the relay is not doing it job you will not get full voltage. Worth looking into but typically they are more robust than the fuse.
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09-29-2018, 09:47 PM	#6
NorthernDancer Colonel 848 Rep 2,276 Posts Drives: 08 Sedona 128 & 06 330xiT 6MT Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Ottawa On Canada iTrader: (3)	Try another ground wire. Make a "cheater cord", a simple wire 2/3 feet long with alligator clips on both ends. Go from the ground terminal on the harness (brown wire I think) to the ground terminal in engine compartment that's used for boosting.
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