[Woody335i]

Hey guys, I have a 07 335i coupe. Moisture go into my headlight and I fixed the problem and now I have replaced the Xenon bulb and checked the fuses (52,53,59,61) and they are all good. What else could be wrong with it. It is a CPO but when I called BMW they said $112 to tell me what was even wrong and about 4 or 5 things that could be wrong with it only 1 is covered over CPO that's why I'm trying to fix myself.

Thanks!

Woody

[FastBimmerN54]

Could be ballast or bulb.

I believe this car takes philips D1S bulbs which can be found here : http://www.highperformancebulbs.com/d1shidbulbs.html

[Woody335i]

Im sorry as i re read what I wrote I was not very clear. I have replaced the bad Xenon bulb. Went to test it out and the head light will still not work. Checked the fuses and they where good. Im at that point now. Still without a working headlight. Thanks

[fdriller9]

So the bulb does not light up?

You need a new ballast.

If your adaptive headlights are not working, then it could be faulty stepper motors or a faulty SMC.

SMC controls the stepper motors and can be replaced, programed, and coded.

Stepper motors cannot....unless you can source parts from a damaged headlight.

I was quoted $290 today to program and code my SMC module. That is excluding the SMC ($160) and installation. I'll be installing them myself.

[B-737]

whats an SMC?

[Woody335i]

what is the Ballast? give me a part number please on realoem.com thanks and no it does not work at all. Beginning to be a pain in the ass LOL

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by B-737

whats an SMC?

Stepper Motor Controller Module or also known as AHL, Adaptive Headlight Module

Originally Posted by Woody335i

what is the Ballast? give me a part number please on realoem.com thanks and no it does not work at all. Beginning to be a pain in the ass LOL

This is for an 06/'07 build E92 335i.

Part #1 is the ballast. (B-737, if you're wondering, the SMC in the diagram below would be #3)

01 CONTROL UNIT XENON LIGHT 63117182520 $449.90

In layman's terms, the ballast is a transformer. It converts 12V DC into higher voltages to create the "spark" necessary for the high intensity discharge (HID) light.

[Woody335i]

********* thanks for the info kinda seems like i might be better buying the whole head light unit for 700 n call it a day. Do you know where on the unit is the ballast?

[ctgo]

Originally Posted by Woody335i

********* thanks for the info kinda seems like i might be better buying the whole head light unit for 700 n call it a day. Do you know where on the unit is the ballast?

The balast is located below the headlight. It is easier to take the change it with the headlight taken off the car. I can almost guarantee you that if there was moisture or water inside your headlight, it has damaged your ballast as it is one of lowest points in a headlight, which allow for water to collect. Your bulb is most likely perfectly fine.

[Woody335i]

thanks! In order to take the head light unit out, you have to take the side fender off in order to take it out correct?

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

You also need to remove part of the bumper. Atleast on my car you did.

[Woody335i]

Man, what a pain in the ass for a car im trying to sell. Lots of work and $$

[JohnyB]

I'm having the same issue: my Adaptive's don't work (bulbs light up tho', i have illuminations but no actuations), and i saw condensations just a few weeks before.
please clarify something for me: are the 'balasts' and stepper/addaptive module the one and same? or are they two different units?

one more question:
what is the fix for water leaking into headlights? what can i expect when i remove my headlight assembly?

[Woody335i]

I put silicone on the seam between the "glass" and the black part of the unit where the two parts meet. If you take the whole unit out then, i would continue down the whole thing but i did this by opening the hood, did not take out the light yet. Still debating on what I want to do and im thinking leave the damn thing alone and sell it as is.

[marcus321]

Sorry to revive this but can anyone show me a picture of what the stepper motor ball joint looks like. I never mess with headlights but I suspect this may be a problem with the ones I have.