E46 BMW ZHP 330i 330Ci Bi-xenon Highbeam not working

[danewilson77]

I initially started a thread, below,

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?7607-Failed-VA-State-Inspection-UGH-The-Lighting-tales-of-an-Imola-Prodigy

But wanted to ensure the fix was searchable.

My issue was both low beam's working, with only the high beam on drivers side working.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Maintenance%20and%20Misc/IMAG1638.jpg

Preparation

~Remove intake - Allows ease of access to drivers side headlight.

~Pump down and remove windshield washer reservoir. I used my Motive power Extractor for this.

I. Bulb swap - The first step I took in trouble shooting, was, I took the known good light bulb from the drivers side, then installed it into the passenger side headlight, and vice versa. I had the same sypmtoms I did after the swap, so this told me it wasn't a bulb issue.

II. Headlight Removal - When this (step 1, above) didn't correct my issue, I pulled the headlight, as I thought I was going to have to replace headlight.

When I had the headlight on the table, I cycled the shutter solenoid (below video) and unplugged and reseated it's connection.

Here is a good shot of the shutter solenoid and mechanism (video below).
http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Maintenance%20and%20Misc/IMAG1639.jpg

This fixed my issue.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=GHvqDQFZabo&list=UUNt0wYLKnnwXPelgwDVrwYw&index=2&feature=plcp


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5aWUV8i1hY&list=UUNt0wYLKnnwXPelgwDVrwYw&index=1&feature=plcp

This worked for me, and saved me $750-$1200 and will allow my car to pass inspection.

As a not, I also noted the red/green wire that goes to the shutter mechanism, had a couple of breaks in the insulation. I checked continuity with a multi-meter and the wire were sound.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Maintenance%20and%20Misc/IMAG1641.jpg

Alternate Fix: - If this had not fixed my problem, there is a way to code your car for single xenon lowbeams, with your inner bowls acting as the high beams. In a pinch, this would hopefully pass you on inspection.

[cakM3]

Nice DW! Glad to see you got your issue resolved :thumbsup

[brettbimmer]

Nice DW! Glad to see you got your issue resolved :thumbsup

X2!

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[alexandre]

I'm having the same issue (passenger high beam not opening up). Dane, has the problem resurfaced or do both high beams still work ?

[danewilson77]

I'm having the same issue (passenger high beam not opening up). Dane, has the problem resurfaced or do both high beams still work ?

Nope. Still works perfect. See if that solonoid is stuck. You don't even need to remove headlight.

[alexandre]

Oh really ? So there's like a cover on top of the assembly that you can just remove without taking everything out of the car ?

[danewilson77]

Oh really ? So there's like a cover on top of the assembly that you can just remove without taking everything out of the car ?

Cover is on the back of the headlight. You'll see it.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[danewilson77]

Cover is on the back of the headlight. You'll see it.

Watch the video too. It'll make more sense.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA



Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[alexandre]

Yup that was it. Pass hi beam is back up and working. Thanks a lot Dane!

[cakM3]

DW, I'm glad I happened to review this thread again. BP is coming up to have me help him troubleshoot his lights....seems one of them don't switch to highs....will try your solution to see if that fixes it :)

[danewilson77]

DW, I'm glad I happened to review this thread again. BP is coming up to have me help him troubleshoot his lights....seems one of them don't switch to highs....will try your solution to see if that fixes it :)

Coo.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[alexandre]

http://imageshack.us/a/img854/7398/photo2012101681316pm.jpg

I just noticed both xenons w/o hi beams weren't at the same height when I left this parking lot tonight. Is this normal ? (could be, to avoid blinding oncoming drivers) Car was on level ground.

[Hornung418]

That's way out of whack. There is a dial on the back of the lamp in between the two bowls that will adjust the vertical lighting. If you have auto-leveling lights, you should check to see that your motor is functioning and that your leveling arm (Connected to the Passenger side Control arm) is not broken.

[alexandre]

Ah got it, thanks. Fixed. I probably played with that dial when I fixed my high beam.

http://imageshack.us/a/img707/7130/photo2012101695258pm.jpg

[zj96sc]

there are leveling arms front and rear - but if the headlights are out of sync with each other i'd suspect the lights themselves (either adjustment or auto-level motor) before the level sensors.

edit: aaand nevermind. check this one out: http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?6231-REQUEST-How-to-properly-level-your-headlights&p=149211#post149211 to make sure you got them the right height....rovert's post a few later has a better step by step.

[alexandre]

Yup I saw it and made sure I wasn't "Hey I'm a Dickhead" when I'm on low beams :) no issues with nothing I just didn't readjust my passenger headlight when I took it apart to cycle the shutter!

[rdhamill]

My headlight issue is the opposite of most of you guys. My left headlight does not go down to "low" beam when it's switched to do so.
results in left light being on high, right light on low. This will continue until a bump in the road shakes the car enough for the shutter to drop, then left is on low until the cycle repeats.
Oncoming drivers are not happy about this. I'll be inspecting the shutter to see why it's sticking.
does anyone know what voltage the shutter solenoid operates at????

[danewilson77]

I would try manually cycling the shutter. It worked for me.

Post 53

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?7607-Failed-VA-State-Inspection-UGH-The-Lighting-tales-of-an-Imola-Prodigy/page6


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHvqDQFZabo&list=UUNt0wYLKnnwXPelgwDVrwYw&index=1&feature=plcp

[quikryptonite]

Is there anyway that this could happen by installing an AL light in a car that came with ZKW's stock? I'm having a similar problem, but it seems that it is stuck on hi-beams. I'll see if I can manually cycle the shutter tonight.

I've had a few cars flash their high beams at me, but I've been on (at least I thought) low beams. Maybe I've just got the passenger headlight pointing too high still.

[danewilson77]

Stand out side your car, and cycle the high's. You should be able to hear the shutter, and if you have a partner, they can actually look to see it cycle as well.

[quikryptonite]

Just checked, the shutter isn't functioning properly on the passenger side. That really ticks me off because that assembly is brand new. I'm off to try and cycle the shutter to see what happens.

UPDATE: Loose connection was the culprit. Everything working fine now. But, I dropped one of the screws onto the engine belly tray and can't find it. I don't like the thought of driving around with a loose screw, literally, rolling around. Now, I've got to take that off. This would have been a 15 min project if I wasn't a butterfingers.

[danewilson77]

Great news.

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[slater]

dane, thank you for this thread. i just got a call from the garage doing the inspection on my new-to-me imola ZHP and they said the driver's bi-xenon high beam isn't working - AND i have one license plate light out (heavily corroded - sounds just like your inspection failure story, huh?). otherwise car is tip-top.

so, i will go pick it up after work and will try out your solenoid un-sticking method tonight - i hope that fixes it!

thanks!

peter

[danewilson77]

Good. Glad it helped.