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      06-16-2019, 07:04 PM   #1
330ciprem
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Headlights Dead

So a bit of background:

It has been raining like crazy for the last 3 days. Flood watch all the time.

Now my M3 always stays in the garage but it was out the whole time because I was working onmy 330ci (smart of me to chose such a perfect time to do it).

When I went today to get grocery the following warnings came on - Low beam malfunction for both headlights.

The issue is that the headlights have condensed quite badly. Based on my research it could be the ballast (doubtful since both went and not one) or the control module (probably this as both went at the same time).

I am gonna let it sit for sometime and let it dry. Hopefully it helps to some extent. Any other suggestions?

Edit - Apparently there are 2 control modules as well. :/ What could have resulted in both going

Edit 2 - Forgot to add - When I switch on light (knob full right) the DRLs intensity drops. Don't know if it adds value.

Last edited by 330ciprem; 10-03-2019 at 10:43 AM..
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      06-16-2019, 07:20 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 330ciprem View Post
So a bit of background:

It has been raining like crazy for the last 3 days. Flood watch all the time.

Now my M3 always stays in the garage but it was out the whole time because I was working onmy 330ci (smart of me to chose such a perfect time to do it).

When I went today to get grocery the following warnings came on - Low beam malfunction for both headlights.

The issue is that the headlights have condensed quite badly. Based on my research it could be the ballast (doubtful since both went and not one) or the control module (probably this as both went at the same time).

I am gonna let it sit for sometime and let it dry. Hopefully it helps to some extent. Any other suggestions?
Its most likely your xenon control module, but f you'd like to rule out the bulbs first I would find a D1D bulb and swap one in and see if the low beams power on. If they don't then replace your xenon control module which is the silver box at the bottom side of the headlight
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      06-16-2019, 07:29 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by socalcoding View Post
Its most likely your xenon control module, but f you'd like to rule out the bulbs first I would find a D1D bulb and swap one in and see if the low beams power on. If they don't then replace your xenon control module which is the silver box at the bottom side of the headlight
Won't it be too big of a coincidence - both control units dying at the same time? :/
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      06-16-2019, 07:34 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 330ciprem View Post
Won't it be too big of a coincidence - both control units dying at the same time? :/
Possible the FRM is soaked in water. It also looks like you have condensation in the headlights which could be the ballasts are shorted out due to water
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      06-16-2019, 07:44 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ItsGary View Post
Possible the FRM is soaked in water. It also looks like you have condensation in the headlights which could be the ballasts are shorted out due to water
I thought the FRM had other symptoms too...
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      06-16-2019, 07:49 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 330ciprem View Post
I thought the FRM had other symptoms too...
Im not sure, but if you do have condensation in the headlights, then its the ballasts for the lights most likely.

P/N: 63117182520

If I'm right, you're better off finding some ballasts from junkyard instead.

They cost

$522.73 on FCP for Genuine BMW
$485.71 on ECS for Genuine BMW
$246.34 on ECS for Automotive Lighting (OEM; They make our headlight units for BMW)
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      06-16-2019, 08:03 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ItsGary View Post
Im not sure, but if you do have condensation in the headlights, then its the ballasts for the lights most likely.

P/N: 63117182520

If I'm right, you're better off finding some ballasts from junkyard instead.

They cost

$522.73 on FCP for Genuine BMW
$485.71 on ECS for Genuine BMW
$246.34 on ECS for Automotive Lighting (OEM; They make our headlight units for BMW)
I am thinking the same. Will order parts but still wait for them to dry.
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      06-16-2019, 08:05 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 330ciprem View Post
I am thinking the same. Will order parts but still wait for them to dry.
See if you can find someone locally that's willing to let you test out their ballast. Its quite a bit of work to remove it but worth trying out before spending a lot of money.

Does your car have any stored codes related to the lights?
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      06-16-2019, 08:09 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ItsGary View Post
See if you can find someone locally that's willing to let you test out their ballast. Its quite a bit of work to remove it but worth trying out before spending a lot of money.

Does your car have any stored codes related to the lights?
I know a guy close by who has an M3 - can check with him.

Thoughts on this? :

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-BMW-E92...8053fb533c93e6

Its a used ballast.
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      06-16-2019, 08:15 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 330ciprem View Post
I know a guy close by who has an M3 - can check with him.

Thoughts on this? :

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-BMW-E92...8053fb533c93e6

Its a used ballast.

Personally I can't recommend anything. Hopefully someone else can also chime in before you do purchase anything.
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      06-16-2019, 09:35 PM   #11
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Water collects at the bottom of the headlight and the wires to the ballast corrode.
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      06-16-2019, 09:53 PM   #12
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Order the xenon control modules from eBay, new units are stupid expensive
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      06-17-2019, 01:56 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by socalcoding View Post
Order the xenon control modules from eBay, new units are stupid expensive
If the harness inside the light is damaged that won’t help anything. If you keep driving with the light units shifting out you will need an frm
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      06-17-2019, 06:03 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by amrazM View Post
If the harness inside the light is damaged that won’t help anything. If you keep driving with the light units shifting out you will need an frm
No sir - not switching on the lights at all.

Just driving it during the day and trying to finish the E46 asap to pull the E92 in.

Anyway - ordering 2 ballasts from eBay and 2 bubs from Fcpeuro.

Whatever isn't required will be returned. In the meantime, I will keep looking for the harness.

Thank you, guys. Appreciate the help.
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      06-18-2019, 12:18 AM   #15
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I had the same problem, drove on angel eyes for 14 months and a expired inspection sticker for another 6 months, I brought it to bmw and they said 175$ diagnostic fee, couldn’t find the problem, and tried to charge me another 800 for 4 hrs of labor, at the end they couldn’t find the problem... I brought it to a well known auto body shop, and they found out that all computers were drained in water, at the end it cost me 2k for new headlights and 4 modules.
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      06-18-2019, 01:16 AM   #16
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Have the FRM module diagnosed by a proper coder and check if there are any short circuit protection errors on the module.

Angel eye intensity drops after with the low beam settings come on. Unless you have coded the module before the angel eyes dim themselves when the low beam xenons come on.
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      06-18-2019, 01:53 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GORDON.M3 View Post
Have the FRM module diagnosed by a proper coder and check if there are any short circuit protection errors on the module.

Angel eye intensity drops after with the low beam settings come on. Unless you have coded the module before the angel eyes dim themselves when the low beam xenons come on.
Short circuit shouldn't pop up that quickly. It takes I believe 50-100 ignition cycles for a short circuit to pop up. OP should really fix the leaking issues first or else he'll continue burning out his control modules
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      06-18-2019, 06:19 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AkhmetTair View Post
I had the same problem, drove on angel eyes for 14 months and a expired inspection sticker for another 6 months, I brought it to bmw and they said 175$ diagnostic fee, couldn’t find the problem, and tried to charge me another 800 for 4 hrs of labor, at the end they couldn’t find the problem... I brought it to a well known auto body shop, and they found out that all computers were drained in water, at the end it cost me 2k for new headlights and 4 modules.
Ouch, that's sad to hear.

Ballasts arriving on Thursday - hoping they do the trick.

Else I would be really disappointed if just parking the car outside for 2 days lead to this...
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      06-18-2019, 10:18 AM   #19
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Can't tell from your profile picture but does your M3 have a sunroof? Check to see if your sunroof drains are clogged resulting in water making it's way in to the cabin and shorting something out near the modules.

Have you also checked out the fuses to see if anything related to the lo-beams is blown?
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      06-18-2019, 10:24 AM   #20
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I had the same issue. Water pooled up at the bottom of the headlight and fried the ballast. $30 replacement on amazon for me.
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      06-18-2019, 10:36 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JDM_CL9 View Post
Can't tell from your profile picture but does your M3 have a sunroof? Check to see if your sunroof drains are clogged resulting in water making it's way in to the cabin and shorting something out near the modules.

Have you also checked out the fuses to see if anything related to the lo-beams is blown?
Yes, sir. My M3 does have a sunroof - thanks for the pointer. I will have a look into it.

Yes, checked the three fuses related to the lights. Replaced them even - to no avail.
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      06-18-2019, 10:37 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kerrit View Post
I had the same issue. Water pooled up at the bottom of the headlight and fried the ballast. $30 replacement on amazon for me.
Will know by Thursday if this is true for me as well.

Did you do anything to reseal the headlight? Or is it still resulting in condensation?
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