[VTECaddict]

What exactly failed with your headlights?

[07chupacabra]

This would be quite a nice feature to have... What normally goes wrong with them? Are they that unreliable?

How much to retro fit on a us spec 07 e92.

[Bob Shiftright]

Originally Posted by ny325

Pothole took out both xenon. Replacement cost was $3,500. $1,300 per plus install. Thank god my insurance covered the cost.

I know the list prices of BMW parts can be outrageous -- but $900 to install a couple of headlights?

[_Sinister_]

Damn, thought I was the only one thinking of doing this lol. Took the car to an underbody wash got some moisture in the headlight now adaptive and dtrl are out on left side to me the adaptive are pretty sweet but unnecessary. Now Im looking into some new HID headlights don't really see spending 1k for replacements.

[cotmfk]

Originally Posted by arlovarri

what about just turning your headlight control to the right which just uses the regular non-swiveling low beams with high beams available using the stalk? on my car the left-right swivel adaptive fanciness only happens when I turn the control to the left.

This.

Rather than replacing the whole thing for a huge cost, plus the reduced resale value, why not just turn the knob to the right? I've been doing this essentially the entire time I've owned the car (6 years...)

[ptpending]

the only reason adaptive module fails is water condensation and SMC module location
this is usually due no-complete headlight cover replacement after some lamp change or aggressive washing of the front wheel arch, water passes thru arch cover to headlight body

[boostedbusa]

There has been no condensation in mine either time. Both times the control module has failed. Keep in mind this is not a daily driver, it never sees rain. And I wash it by hand. The dealer told me they've seen a lot lately that "just up and failed" without warning. So I guess I'll just remove the control modules and go HID. Then code it.

[blacknbean]

ive taken out 2 adaptive xenons due to potholes. each time the projector came out the socket in the back. first time the dealer replaced the whole headlamp. second time i just took out the headlight and popped the projector back in. these headlights are def fragile and pricey.

[_Sinister_]

Is there any way of adjusting the leveler from left to right? Unfortunately mine burnt out while adjusting to the left.

[bmw325i]

Originally Posted by alfazrus

What exactly goes wrong with these headlights? I've driving my car with the headlights on auto position since I bought it and never touched it for 2.5 years. I've been hitting potholes hard left and right here in DC, nothing. How could you lose both xenons with a pothole? When you say pothole took both xenons, what exactly happened that you needed new headlights? You can get them from several vendors brand new for about $ 1300 for both. Here and from overseas. Maybe I should consider myself lucky not having problems with them yet (knock on wood).

+1 even with my stiff suspension I haven't had any problems. I just hope it stays that way

[GOS7]

Originally Posted by buzzard

Some of the people on here think you're talking about the headlights automatically coming on when it gets dark outside. If you're talking about just disabling the function that causes the xenons to move left/right, up/down, you can simply remove the control unit (not to be confused with the larger ballast) and then the headlights will stay where you set them. There are adjustment screws easily accessed to adjust the aim. Removing the control unit will not cause an error in my experience and you can access the control unit by loosening the fender liner and pulling it back. The control unit looks like this.

That's good info! What year and model was the car you did this on?

[ny325]

Model year 2008 328i. I also couldn't believe how much they cost. The highway I was driving on is one of the worst in the tristate area. The Cross Bronx is awful.

[redline2001]

Originally Posted by cotmfk

This.

Rather than replacing the whole thing for a huge cost, plus the reduced resale value, why not just turn the knob to the right? I've been doing this essentially the entire time I've owned the car (6 years...)

Exactly I dont understand what the issue is. Turn headlight to the right and they are not in use. Why make a mole hill into a mountain.

[redline2001]

Originally Posted by ny325

Model year 2008 328i. I also couldn't believe how much they cost. The highway I was driving on is one of the worst in the tristate area. The Cross Bronx is awful.

Cross Bronx isn't so bad now with the repaving but yeah at one time it was god aweful

[Dozhdbog]

I've had many, many issues withe the adaptive headlights. No matter how many times I request the shop to adjust the lights higher, they never can. The lowbeams are way too low for safe night time driving, yet the high beams are really, really high.
I've also had my right headlight unit replaced twice; once because I hit a rock and it knocked the inside of the light apart, and since it's a closed unit, they can't get in it to reseat the cowls. Another time because of a wiring short in the unit.

They've been knocked out of whack and lost the ability to track several times due to the shitty roads here in Los Angeles, too.

[smithf80]

Half of this thread makes no sense.

Why are people talking about switching to HID? You pretty much already do have HID's, you have Xenons....

Just take out the control module and set them to someplace that is level. This is possible, no?

[ny325]

Has the Cross Bronx been recently paved. A pothole damaged my car on Christmas Day. I was on the Bronx side, middle lane, 2 exits before getting on the bridge.

[E92 M2530Z]

Originally Posted by ny325

Pothole took out both xenon. Replacement cost was $3,500. $1,300 per plus install. Thank god my insurance covered the cost.

Wow a pothole knocked out both sides? How'd you get insurance to replace them for you?

[ny325]

Pothole damaged my front rim, front tire, strut, and both xenon headlights. I was surprised my insurance covered the repairs with me paying the deductible. It fell under collision. Maybe being with State Farm for 20 years without ever filing a claim helped. I'm sure grateful though.

[ny325]

I heard xenon headlights were expensive, however, I didn't think they were that much.

[Dozhdbog]

Collision will typically cover any damage from potholes and other fixed objects. Comprehensive will cover most non-vehicular moving objects so long as all road laws were obeyed at the time.

I had a comprehensive claim when a large rock tumbled from a cliff and skittered across the road in front of my car. There was nothing I could do about that.

[ny325]

Good information. I didn't know that.