[jwalker87]

Hey guys. So I have a strange issue with my headlights. I have adaptive xenons on a pre-LCI e90. The self-leveling feature has stopped working, as identified by both headlights being WAY too high. I adjusted them down to not blind traffic using the manual adjusters and all is well now, but when I put the headlight switch in AUTO, they do not self-level when the car hits a bump/braking/etc.

However, the check upon starting up the car DOES still work (adjust down, then up), on both headlights. No codes.

Any ideas? Sounds like some sensor or computer failure, since both headlights were too high at the same level, and both do the self-check upon startup just fine.

Thanks!

[shawntech]

Check orientation of rear leveling arm on rear drivers suspension, had suspension apart lately?

[drewnel22]

I don't think hitting a bump or braking will cause them to adjust. How about when you go up/down a hill?

[jwalker87]

Suspension has not been apart and no harder-than-normal potholes that I can think of. I'll take a look when I get a chance though.

And I've monitored it doing everything I can think of including accelerating and braking (pretty sure it used to adjust as the car dipped/squatted) and going over bumps with no motion that I can discern.

After some research, this is now my prime suspect: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...23&postcount=8

[John 070]

What about when steering.....if they work on manual then turn knob to right instead of auto....

[jwalker87]

Side-to-side feature of adaptive headlights works just fine, obviously only in AUTO.

[jwalker87]

Fixed! Problem turned out to be with the rear level sensor.

Not sure how this happened without damaging anything else, but the bracket that bolts to the lower control arm was bent almost 90*, which caused the metal ball to come out of the plastic socket of the arm connecting it to the sensor. Removed the bracket, bent it back to shape, and pressed the ball into the socket. Viola, headlights work perfectly!

Lesson learned to any searchers: if something is wrong with the auto-leveling of BOTH headlights, check the front and rear leveling sensors! Driver-side lower control arms. Easy.

[fazman]

Originally Posted by jwalker87

Fixed! Problem turned out to be with the rear level sensor.

Not sure how this happened without damaging anything else, but the bracket that bolts to the lower control arm was bent almost 90*, which caused the metal ball to come out of the plastic socket of the arm connecting it to the sensor. Removed the bracket, bent it back to shape, and pressed the ball into the socket. Viola, headlights work perfectly!

Lesson learned to any searchers: if something is wrong with the auto-leveling of BOTH headlights, check the front and rear leveling sensors! Driver-side lower control arms. Easy.

Do you have pics of the front and rear sensor so i know which wheel and what to look for on my car. Thanks in advance.

[jwalker87]

I didn't take any pics, but here are some I found online that may be helpful. If you look at the driver's side lower control arms, you really can't miss them.

Front sensor, view from the rear. It attaches to the rear lower control arm via a clip.


Rear sensor, view from the front. It attaches to the rear control arm via a bolted-on bracket.

[fazman]

Originally Posted by jwalker87

I didn't take any pics, but here are some I found online that may be helpful. If you look at the driver's side lower control arms, you really can't miss them.

Front sensor, view from the rear. It attaches to the rear lower control arm via a clip.


Rear sensor, view from the front. It attaches to the rear control arm via a bolted-on bracket.

Awesome! I'll have to take a look at that once the temps get a little better.

[shawntech]

excellent, so to clarify when all is well and wheels are on the ground, the sensor arm should be almost fully up?

[jwalker87]

Originally Posted by ls3c6

excellent, so to clarify when all is well and wheels are on the ground, the sensor arm should be almost fully up?

The plastic rod should be vertical, but the sensor arm (connects the plastic rod to the actual electrical box) should be relatively horizontal. That way it can sense either droop or compression of the suspension, and the headlight will compensate accordingly to keep the headlights level with the road instead of the car.

[woggledog]

Originally Posted by 10splaya22

I don't think hitting a bump or braking will cause them to adjust. How about when you go up/down a hill?

This made me smile :-)

You probably already know this, but the auto levelling works by sensing how the centre of gravity (hence the sensors as shown) moves around the car. Got some weight in the back? The front of the car lifts thus the headlights need to level down. Got a deer tied to the hood of your car? The front of the car dips, thus the headlights level upwards

Of course, if you were being intentionally humorous, then this passed my right by….

[paleus]

I checked this on mine and my rear sensor bracket was just laying on top of the lower control arm.

first post btw.

[E92 M2530Z]

Originally Posted by jwalker87

Fixed! Problem turned out to be with the rear level sensor.

Not sure how this happened without damaging anything else, but the bracket that bolts to the lower control arm was bent almost 90*, which caused the metal ball to come out of the plastic socket of the arm connecting it to the sensor. Removed the bracket, bent it back to shape, and pressed the ball into the socket. Viola, headlights work perfectly!

Lesson learned to any searchers: if something is wrong with the auto-leveling of BOTH headlights, check the front and rear leveling sensors! Driver-side lower control arms. Easy.

I'm sort of getting this issue with my driver side headlight only (except mine's pointing way too low). Without having gotten under the car yet, could your fix possibly work for me, or does this only work if both headlights are acting strangely?

[jwalker87]

Originally Posted by E92 M2530Z

I'm sort of getting this issue with my driver side headlight only (except mine's pointing way too low). Without having gotten under the car yet, could your fix possibly work for me, or does this only work if both headlights are acting strangely?

Unfortunately, it sounds like the actual servo motor in the headlight may be kaput in your case. My problem was with the sensors and therefore the car thought it should be aiming the headlights down, so the headlights themselves were functioning properly. I can't see how this would result in only one headlight misbehaving.

[S P A C E M A N]

Originally Posted by E92 M2530Z

I'm sort of getting this issue with my driver side headlight only (except mine's pointing way too low). Without having gotten under the car yet, could your fix possibly work for me, or does this only work if both headlights are acting strangely?

I'm having similar issue with new-to-me 2011 E90. Passenger side headlight is quite a bit lower than driver side. No damage to the sensor arms. Adjusted manually via screw as far as it would go, but still lower.

Originally Posted by jwalker87

Unfortunately, it sounds like the actual servo motor in the headlight may be kaput in your case. My problem was with the sensors and therefore the car thought it should be aiming the headlights down, so the headlights themselves were functioning properly. I can't see how this would result in only one headlight misbehaving.

Any idea how big a job this is to DIY?

[vilord]

spaceman: if you take the cover off the back of your headlight, grab the back of the xenon bulb igniter, and pull/push the whole mechanism a bit, does it feel loose and move?
Be gentle, but driving over a few deep potholes caused the end of the servo arm inside the headlight to pop off the bulb housing.