Hi beams on adaptive headlights shooting up to sky

flamesone · 11-24-2011, 08:01 PM

My adaptive headlights on my 07 328i coupe don't auto level or anything. The lights work, but when I turn on my high beams they shoot up into the sky, so im essentially lighting up the trees in front of me.

Took it in to be serviced and they told me that the leveling part on the inside is broken and thats why its stuck in the up position, so they said i needed to replace both light assemblies, which i think is crazy.

They said that my cpo warranty wont cover the lights because that kind of damage was from a front end collision, and not from an internal light failure, because the car is used and it was in a front end collision which my salesman told me everything was working and put back to bmw oem standards, which obviously was not because the lights don't level.

What are some possible options aside from buying brand new light assemblies from bmw for a billion dollars? I was thinking maybe they could be fixed, or doing an upgrade to LCI, or buying some used ones from another car.

What do you guys think? I'm looking for most cost effective.

fdriller9 · 11-24-2011, 09:07 PM

It's not common for the stepper motor ball joints to pop out on both sides, simultaneously, but i guess it's possible.

Look inside your head light by removing the back door and seeing if you can see the white ball joints for the stepper motors. The stepper motors are cylindrical, metal.

Either that or the shutters are broken.

If your car was CPO'd before you bought it then they cannot use the accident as an excuse for not warrantying your headlights. Also if the headlights were replaced by the dealership, there is a 1 year warranty on workmanship.

If the car was in an accident and not repaired to spec, it should NOT have been CPO'd. I would contact BMW NA and ask them to look into this and get your some money back for the warranty. Lighting isn't covered under the CPO warranty but it sounds like this happened before it was CPO'd.

flamesone · 11-24-2011, 09:47 PM

The car is not a CPO car, but it had the remainder of the existing CPO warranty, and when i purchased the veh my salesman showed me the carfax, and the car did have minor previous front end damage, which he assured me everything was fixed back to bmw oem standards, so i was cool, but then when i came back and told him about the issue he told me that he didn't know abt the light problem and that the car was sold as is.

Bought the car in may with 48k miles and after just taking it to the shop with 60k miles i was informed it needs:

New front brakes and pads quoted at $873.00
microfilter service quoted at $225.00
Scope quoted at $67.00
Veh inspection on lift quoted at $134.00

Freaking ridiculous!!! Im furious!!! Not to mention this headlight issue, which she said to replace both assemblies would be a few thousand. Talk about a harsh dose of reality for my first ever car purchase.

fdriller9 · 11-24-2011, 09:55 PM

First of all. Do not have the microfilter replaced at your dealer. DIY. It's $20 and change and you remove less than 10, 8mm bolts. Swap the filter in and replace the screws. 30 mins MAX to replace. If you can screw in a lightbulb, you can change your microfilter.

Ok so I get what your saying about the CPO.

Few more questions. What exactly is malfunctioning? The lights shoot up at the sky only when you use your high beam? Does the level of your lights look ok when only your low beams are active?

They don't do the self check at start up.....I would check to see if you can adjust the level with the adjustment screws on the housings.

Also have your car scanned. See if any codes come up in your FRM module.

flamesone · 11-24-2011, 10:16 PM

ok cool thats what i was figuring abt the microfilter, isn't there two microfilters on the e92 07 328i coupe? And where can i get the kit to replace the filters?

The lights don't auto level on startup, they just come on pointing up. The low beams are a little high, and the high beams high too. I tried leveling them manually with the screws but it doesn't work.

And thats the crazy thing there are no error codes or lights coming on the dash at all.

cptcrunch · 11-24-2011, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamesone

Bought the car in may with 48k miles and after just taking it to the shop with 60k miles i was informed it needs:

New front brakes and pads quoted at $873.00
microfilter service quoted at $225.00
Scope quoted at $67.00
Veh inspection on lift quoted at $134.00

Freaking ridiculous!!! Im furious!!! Not to mention this headlight issue, which she said to replace both assemblies would be a few thousand. Talk about a harsh dose of reality for my first ever car purchase.

You dont need the scope or inspection. Like previously mentioned, the microfilter is a $20 job and 10 minutes. The brakes can be had for half that at a local Indy shop, or 1/4 that if you buy the pads yourself. You dont need pads unless the computer say you do. If the computer doesn't give you a brake warning, the dealership is trying to get some extra service monies from you.

fdriller9 · 11-25-2011, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamesone

ok cool thats what i was figuring abt the microfilter, isn't there two microfilters on the e92 07 328i coupe? And where can i get the kit to replace the filters?

The lights don't auto level on startup, they just come on pointing up. The low beams are a little high, and the high beams high too. I tried leveling them manually with the screws but it doesn't work.

And thats the crazy thing there are no error codes or lights coming on the dash at all.

OK so it sounds like the ball joints popped out. There is a DIY guide in the DIY sub section but it's pretty difficult, from what I can see, to pop them back in.

I've never had this issue but I do know what the inside of the e90 housings look like, where the stepper motors are, and where they popped out.

flamesone · 11-27-2011, 08:46 AM

For the 07' 328i, is the light housing the exact same in the e92 coupe as the e90 sedan? because i have the coupe.

Also where can i get the microfilter kit?

flamesone · 11-29-2011, 08:46 PM

Well my car does have the CPO warranty, so it has warranty. Also my salesman told me it was just a minor front end collision and he assured me that it was just a minor thing like just a light or something, and everything was put back to BMW oem standards, so thats why I wasn't tripping on it, my first major mistake in my first time buying experience.

So from the looks of it i need:
-new front brakes and pads
-new/used xenon adaptive headlights
-new microfilter

I just got the car in may so i'll probably keep it for a year-year 1/2 and then sell it.

flamesone · 11-29-2011, 08:51 PM

So based on what everyone has told me, I can apparently buy the microfilter myself for $30-40 and put it in and reset the light myself, as opposed to the dealership for (227.00).

Buy the front brakes and pads off of Bavauto or something and have someone put those on for a lot cheaper than what the dealership wanted to charge me (873.00).

Buy a used set of headlights off of ebay.

Any other suggestions for my situation? I mean this was my very first car buying experience and I feel like i've learned my lesson as far as thats concerned.

Thanks again for all you guys help!!

Oh and I keep my setting on auto, and have also tried switching to the other settings and no change so I know thats not it.

11-24-2011, 08:01 PM	#1
flamesone Bimmer Fanatic 1 Rep 13 Posts Drives: 88' 325iC, 07' 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pearland, TX iTrader: (0)	Hi beams on adaptive headlights shooting up to sky My adaptive headlights on my 07 328i coupe don't auto level or anything. The lights work, but when I turn on my high beams they shoot up into the sky, so im essentially lighting up the trees in front of me. Took it in to be serviced and they told me that the leveling part on the inside is broken and thats why its stuck in the up position, so they said i needed to replace both light assemblies, which i think is crazy. They said that my cpo warranty wont cover the lights because that kind of damage was from a front end collision, and not from an internal light failure, because the car is used and it was in a front end collision which my salesman told me everything was working and put back to bmw oem standards, which obviously was not because the lights don't level. What are some possible options aside from buying brand new light assemblies from bmw for a billion dollars? I was thinking maybe they could be fixed, or doing an upgrade to LCI, or buying some used ones from another car. What do you guys think? I'm looking for most cost effective.
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11-24-2011, 09:07 PM	#2
fdriller9 Banned 263 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	It's not common for the stepper motor ball joints to pop out on both sides, simultaneously, but i guess it's possible. Look inside your head light by removing the back door and seeing if you can see the white ball joints for the stepper motors. The stepper motors are cylindrical, metal. Either that or the shutters are broken. If your car was CPO'd before you bought it then they cannot use the accident as an excuse for not warrantying your headlights. Also if the headlights were replaced by the dealership, there is a 1 year warranty on workmanship. If the car was in an accident and not repaired to spec, it should NOT have been CPO'd. I would contact BMW NA and ask them to look into this and get your some money back for the warranty. Lighting isn't covered under the CPO warranty but it sounds like this happened before it was CPO'd.
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11-24-2011, 09:47 PM	#3
flamesone Bimmer Fanatic 1 Rep 13 Posts Drives: 88' 325iC, 07' 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pearland, TX iTrader: (0)	The car is not a CPO car, but it had the remainder of the existing CPO warranty, and when i purchased the veh my salesman showed me the carfax, and the car did have minor previous front end damage, which he assured me everything was fixed back to bmw oem standards, so i was cool, but then when i came back and told him about the issue he told me that he didn't know abt the light problem and that the car was sold as is. Bought the car in may with 48k miles and after just taking it to the shop with 60k miles i was informed it needs: New front brakes and pads quoted at $873.00 microfilter service quoted at $225.00 Scope quoted at $67.00 Veh inspection on lift quoted at $134.00 Freaking ridiculous!!! Im furious!!! Not to mention this headlight issue, which she said to replace both assemblies would be a few thousand. Talk about a harsh dose of reality for my first ever car purchase.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-24-2011, 09:55 PM	#4
fdriller9 Banned 263 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	First of all. Do not have the microfilter replaced at your dealer. DIY. It's $20 and change and you remove less than 10, 8mm bolts. Swap the filter in and replace the screws. 30 mins MAX to replace. If you can screw in a lightbulb, you can change your microfilter. Ok so I get what your saying about the CPO. Few more questions. What exactly is malfunctioning? The lights shoot up at the sky only when you use your high beam? Does the level of your lights look ok when only your low beams are active? They don't do the self check at start up.....I would check to see if you can adjust the level with the adjustment screws on the housings. Also have your car scanned. See if any codes come up in your FRM module.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-24-2011, 10:16 PM	#5
flamesone Bimmer Fanatic 1 Rep 13 Posts Drives: 88' 325iC, 07' 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pearland, TX iTrader: (0)	ok cool thats what i was figuring abt the microfilter, isn't there two microfilters on the e92 07 328i coupe? And where can i get the kit to replace the filters? The lights don't auto level on startup, they just come on pointing up. The low beams are a little high, and the high beams high too. I tried leveling them manually with the screws but it doesn't work. And thats the crazy thing there are no error codes or lights coming on the dash at all.
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11-27-2011, 08:46 AM	#8
flamesone Bimmer Fanatic 1 Rep 13 Posts Drives: 88' 325iC, 07' 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pearland, TX iTrader: (0)	For the 07' 328i, is the light housing the exact same in the e92 coupe as the e90 sedan? because i have the coupe. Also where can i get the microfilter kit?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-29-2011, 08:46 PM	#9
flamesone Bimmer Fanatic 1 Rep 13 Posts Drives: 88' 325iC, 07' 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pearland, TX iTrader: (0)	Well my car does have the CPO warranty, so it has warranty. Also my salesman told me it was just a minor front end collision and he assured me that it was just a minor thing like just a light or something, and everything was put back to BMW oem standards, so thats why I wasn't tripping on it, my first major mistake in my first time buying experience. So from the looks of it i need: -new front brakes and pads -new/used xenon adaptive headlights -new microfilter I just got the car in may so i'll probably keep it for a year-year 1/2 and then sell it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-29-2011, 08:51 PM	#10
flamesone Bimmer Fanatic 1 Rep 13 Posts Drives: 88' 325iC, 07' 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pearland, TX iTrader: (0)	So based on what everyone has told me, I can apparently buy the microfilter myself for $30-40 and put it in and reset the light myself, as opposed to the dealership for (227.00). Buy the front brakes and pads off of Bavauto or something and have someone put those on for a lot cheaper than what the dealership wanted to charge me (873.00). Buy a used set of headlights off of ebay. Any other suggestions for my situation? I mean this was my very first car buying experience and I feel like i've learned my lesson as far as thats concerned. Thanks again for all you guys help!! Oh and I keep my setting on auto, and have also tried switching to the other settings and no change so I know thats not it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote