Xenon lights E90

[diekoning]

One of my right Xenon lights started to flicker and then died, about two weeks after that, the same happened too my left Xenon light. It is a 2006 330D.

I know the one was replaced about 8 months ago, before I bought the car, for about R 800. Is this just coincidence or why would both die and before they do, start to flicker within a time frame of 1.5 - 2 weeks?

The car has about 200K on the clock, is there maybe a controller that is controling both, would it be the bulbs...both in two weeks, I also heard that even possible tail light shorts can cause that, but then those lights should work as well, correct?

All help appreciated, thanks.

 

[Hot_Bobby's]

One of my right Xenon lights started to flicker and then died, about two weeks after that, the same happened too my left Xenon light. It is a 2006 330D.

I know the one was replaced about 8 months ago, before I bought the car, for about R 800. Is this just coincidence or why would both die and before they do, start to flicker within a time frame of 1.5 - 2 weeks?

The car has about 200K on the clock, is there maybe a controller that is controling both, would it be the bulbs...both in two weeks, I also heard that even possible tail light shorts can cause that, but then those lights should work as well, correct?

All help appreciated, thanks.

Hey man, your Xenon light relies on a ballast to convert the cars DC power into high voltage(1200v +) AC, if the power supply to the ballast is not 100% this would cause the light to flicker and eventually break down. So perhaps it's the battery failing or the alternator not running optimally.

 

[Hugo_za]

Could also be the ballasts that are failing...

 

[Gunner-Win]

Could also be the ballasts that are failing...

+1. I would check the ballasts first. In my experience they are normally first to go.

 

[diekoning]

Hey man, your Xenon light relies on a ballast to convert the cars DC power into high voltage(1200v +) AC, if the power supply to the ballast is not 100% this would cause the light to flicker and eventually break down. So perhaps it's the battery failing or the alternator not running optimally.
[/quote]

Thanks.

The alternator was recently re-done and I also got a new battery., this was about 3 months ago, is it possible the ballast is faulty, will that cause the xenon lights to just stop working or will it actually break them? What is the cost for a ballast roughly and is it difficult to replace?

 

[Hugo_za]

Hey man, your Xenon light relies on a ballast to convert the cars DC power into high voltage(1200v +) AC, if the power supply to the ballast is not 100% this would cause the light to flicker and eventually break down. So perhaps it's the battery failing or the alternator not running optimally.

Thanks.

The alternator was recently re-done and I also got a new battery., this was about 3 months ago, is it possible the ballast is faulty, will that cause the xenon lights to just stop working or will it actually break them? What is the cost for a ballast roughly and is it difficult to replace?
[/quote]

As far as I recall the ballast on the E90 Xenon headlight is on the side of the headlight assembly, facing into the engine bay. Based on the US price you are looking at around R5k per ballast. For your car the part number should be 63126948180 but you can confirm this with BMW.

 

[diekoning]

As far as I recall the ballast on the E90 Xenon headlight is on the side of the headlight assembly, facing into the engine bay. Based on the US price you are looking at around R5k per ballast. For your car the part number should be 63126948180 but you can confirm this with BMW.

If it is the Ballast, won't both lights go at basically the same time and also will it break the lights/blow them or only not let them work?

 

[Hugo_za]

As far as I recall the ballast on the E90 Xenon headlight is on the side of the headlight assembly, facing into the engine bay. Based on the US price you are looking at around R5k per ballast. For your car the part number should be 63126948180 but you can confirm this with BMW.

If it is the Ballast, won't both lights go at basically the same time and also will it break the lights/blow them or only not let them work?

Each light has it's own ballast. Why the bulbs actually explode could be caused by a number of things, but it generally a rare occurrence. The flicker is a sign of possible ballast failure. If only one of them was doing it I would suggest swapping the ballast and seeing if the flicker moves with the ballast. Personally I have not heard of both ballasts going bad at the same time...

 

[diekoning]

As far as I recall the ballast on the E90 Xenon headlight is on the side of the headlight assembly, facing into the engine bay. Based on the US price you are looking at around R5k per ballast. For your car the part number should be 63126948180 but you can confirm this with BMW.

If it is the Ballast, won't both lights go at basically the same time and also will it break the lights/blow them or only not let them work?

Each light has it's own ballast. Why the bulbs actually explode could be caused by a number of things, but it generally a rare occurrence. The flicker is a sign of possible ballast failure. If only one of them was doing it I would suggest swapping the ballast and seeing if the flicker moves with the ballast. Personally I have not heard of both ballasts going bad at the same time...

When I started the car this morning, I hit the headlight cover a bit, the light actually started to flicker again, I hit it agaiin...it then worked perfectly for a few seconds and flickered, then died again...so maybe a contact problem. Will open it this weekend and check and provide feedback. Thanks.