BMW E46 HID Auto Level Sensor and Supporting Parts

[danewilson77]

Is this?

I noticed while installing my front coilovers this evening. It appears to be broken and just spins freely.....

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Maintenance%20and%20Misc/IMG_20101105_205140.jpg
To give you a frame of reference....in the next pic.....you are looking past the front passenger side shock.....

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Maintenance%20and%20Misc/IMG_20101105_205151.jpg

[Alphatek45]

Xenon level sensor?

[Alphatek45]

I don't have Xenons. Looking in my Bentley service manual, that's gotta be it.

[danewilson77]

It doesn't seem to affect anything...though that side HID is a lil dimmer...?

[Alphatek45]

Can you move it, when your lights are on and see what happens?

[mimalmo]

It is the xenon level sensor. I should know, I've had to replace one. Costed about $100.

[Alphatek45]

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8cRun6OQYJg/TNS4d9L8DrI/AAAAAAAABHo/xdOxpLIHMp4/s720/001.jpg

Shitty scan, but take a look. Bottom diagram

[danewilson77]

Nice....Thanks for the info fella's

Do you think that is why that side light looks a lil dim?

[gr330zhp]

Wow really interesting!

Im curious to see what the end result is :)

[mimalmo]

That device controls the leveling of your xenons for both sides so definitely replace it. Since it attaches to the control arm, as you drive over bumps, dips, etc, it works to keep the headlights pointed in the right direction.

[danewilson77]

Yeah....but my HIDs have been leveling?

The fact is, that it is busted...so it needs to be fixed. When I replace, I may be surprised....

[mimalmo]

I'm guessing then that the arm in the picture stays in one position. The xenons have been leveling to that position.

[danewilson77]

ok....got it......thanks for all the help. Is that in the lighting section at Realoem?

[mimalmo]

Yeah, pretty sure that's where I found it. I may even have the receipt with part number on it at home from when I bought mine but I'm still out of town and won't be back until early tomorrow.

[danewilson77]

ok....no rush......thanks again for all the help....

[MrMaico]

Here you go Dane.....

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=EV53&mospid=47725&btnr=31_0409&hg=31&fg=05

I wonder if the lights don't go to some default setting if one of the sensors is broke.

[mimalmo]

That's the one you need Dane. Part #1. Part #5 should still be there, attached to the control arm and just need to be connected to the new sensor.

[danewilson77]

Thanks bro....

yup...85 bux. Not too bad.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/37146784696/ES249205/

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Maintenance%20and%20Misc/15960_x800.jpg

[jjcools]

Not bad at all, nice find and pinpoint on the fix.

[Alphatek45]

Gotta love the web. And the Mafia!

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Long live the Mafia.

[danewilson77]

Long live the Godfather!!!!!!!

[Alphatek45]

Cappo di tutti cappi

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I've been building user titles today. I came across that one, Alpha. Experts do not believe that there is a cappo di tutti cappi. Only the media uses that now.

[Alphatek45]

That's been a media conjured title since day 1.
Think it goes back pre- Gotti. Maybe Big Paul. Not sure.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I wasn't sure if it ever did exist. Just knew that the media continued to keep it going today.

[iZHP]

did you ever see a difference after replacing the sensor? My passenger side headlight is very dim as well, wondering if this is the problem or I need a new headlight assembly.

[danewilson77]

Not an easy drawing to find.....Just closing the loop here. Looks like I need Pc 1 through 5...as I have nada on the control arm.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=EV53&mospid=47725&btnr=31_0409&hg=31&fg=05

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Maintenance%20and%20Misc/Headlightsensorparts.png

[Gramps05ZHP]

Prolly has nothing to do with the intensity of the light.

[danewilson77]

Right...but it does have to do with them being pointed at the ground.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

[spencers]

Right...but it does have to do with them being pointed at the ground.
Replacing it should get you some much-needed brightness back. Have you decided about doing anything to remedy the ZKW bowls?

[danewilson77]

Awaiting report from the fellow that was using aircraft relective tape in the bowls.

[danewilson77]

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8cRun6OQYJg/TNS4d9L8DrI/AAAAAAAABHo/xdOxpLIHMp4/s720/001.jpg

Shitty scan, but take a look. Bottom diagram

Alpha....can you get me a better pic of the install?

[danewilson77]

I'm guessing then that the arm in the picture stays in one position. The xenons have been leveling to that position.

I think you're right. I never said that...hehe.

[danewilson77]

Say....so.....I obviously have shown my ass here about lighting....and was wondering......my dims are perfect now.....but my passenger side bright is out?

[mimalmo]

That doesn't make sense.

[danewilson77]

I know. I think it was out the whole time. Sorry for the confusion. I been hell bent on fixing the auto level issue and prolly overlooked it. Completely unrelated.

Droid! Srs Legitness!

[danewilson77]

Another question. Lets talk headlights.

I have day time running lights, that have been disabled, but work for flash to pass. Good to go.

I fixed the auto level issue, and headlights seem much safer now....check.

My question is....is the bright function, a function, of the same bulb in the HID, or is it a different bulb. I never really thought about it....but I thought there was only one bulb associated with the HID. What would cause the passenger side bright to not work?

Thanks

[mimalmo]

It's the same bulb. There's an "eyelid" of sorts that cuts off the light when the low beams are used. When the brights are engaged, the "eyelid" opens to allow all the light through

http://www.aa1car.com/library/hid_headlamps.htm

[MrMaico]

Just one bulb. Bi-xenon refers to the use of a shutter over the bulb to change from brights to dims. Do you get a bulb out warning for the brights? Would a Peake tool tell you anything?

I was reading about the Adaptive headlights the other day in the TIS and under certain malfunction conditions the LCM can actually turn off one or the other headlight to avoid blinding other drivers. For example if it were stuck in the pointing to the left position the LCM will first aim the light all the way down but if that isn't possible it will actually turn the bulb off and turn the fogs on.

Even though you don't have the Adaptive lights I wonder if it's possible for this to happen if there is some kind of problem with your auto-level function? But you say they are leveling fine now so that shouldn't be an issue.

See if you can find anything in TIS maybe? I'll take a look too.

Barry

EDIT: I found some info about a problem with a wiring harness routing issue and it mentions looking for signs of heat damage. Have you tried unplugging and reconnecting the harness? Maybe use some contact cleaner and di-electric grease on the connector.

Also, have you tried swapping the bulbs around?

[danewilson77]

OK fellas...thanks for the advice. The shutter makes a lot of sense. So...my shutter isn't opening. IMA have to figure that out.

Will try to unplug/plug and use some dielectric grease.

[MrMaico]

OK fellas...thanks for the advice. The shutter makes a lot of sense. So...my shutter isn't opening. IMA have to figure that out.

Will try to unplug/plug and use some dielectric grease.

So you're saying it in fact isn't opening..........or you're assuming it's not opening? I wonder if the bulb should/would stay lit even if the shutter isn't opening.

I was having trouble recently with one of the low beams on my Blazer not working so I tried the old 'beat on the light' trick and it started working again....for a while. A couple days later it was out again so I replaced the bulb and it's been fine since. Pretty common problem for headlight connections to get corroded and lose their ground contact......at least on American iron with halogen lights.

[danewilson77]

So you're saying it in fact isn't opening..........or you're assuming it's not opening? I wonder if the bulb should/would stay lit even if the shutter isn't opening.

I was having trouble recently with one of the low beams on my Blazer not working so I tried the old 'beat on the light' trick and it started working again....for a while. A couple days later it was out again so I replaced the bulb and it's been fine since. Pretty common problem for headlight connections to get corroded and lose their ground contact......at least on American iron with halogen lights.

I am certain the shutter isn't opening but will have a gander at it again at home.

Droid! Srs Legitness!

[JKO_ZHP]

Bump....Dane, did you ever get it replaced? And if you did, what differences did you see afterwards?

Because I'm very close to buying one myself. My low beams used to dip down then back up like it was auto-checking itself upon startup but it hasn't for a long time. My parts dealer/gearhead guy told me that function stops when that tab breaks, which is very common and fragile since it is made of plastic (?)

That or baking the headlights killed something on the inside.

[mimalmo]

Sounds like your auto-level sensor needs to be checked out. That's the same one Dane & I both broke.

[danewilson77]

Bump....Dane, did you ever get it replaced? And if you did, what differences did you see afterwards?

Because I'm very close to buying one myself. My low beams used to dip down then back up like it was auto-checking itself upon startup but it hasn't for a long time. My parts dealer/gearhead guy told me that function stops when that tab breaks, which is very common and fragile since it is made of plastic (?)

That or baking the headlights killed something on the inside.


Sounds like your auto-level sensor needs to be checked out. That's the same one Dane & I both broke.

Mmm.... Look at your auto level sensor above front right control arm just to ensure its intact.

If it is intact, then you may have indeed affected something in "the bake".

It's not a toy, it's a Droid > Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH