Hit a pothole, now headlights are wonky

Persian Whisperjet · 02-05-2016, 08:57 AM

Ha this ever happened to you? The headlights (Xenons) still go through the normal boot up sequence when I turn on the car -- they go up, they settle down, but the driver's side one is pointed way too low. There is some sort of adjustment linkage, correct? But is there one for each headlight?

Any tips on what to look for when I get under the car this afternoon?

WreckerX5d · 02-05-2016, 10:44 AM

This happened to me 2 weeks ago. Hit a fence post piece and damaged the headlight, control arm and 2 rims.

It seems as if the piece that attaches the bulb to the headlight broke off and is loose. I was planning on breaking mine open to fix it some day but I have yet to have a chance to do so.

They do have an adjustment socket behind the headlight that you can rotate to get it closer to normal.

08Alpine335xi · 02-05-2016, 11:02 AM

This happened to me as well but the plastic sensor that's under by the driver side wheel that's the auto adjust sensor I believe was broken on mine. Had to order a new one. Here's the link: http://www.bavauto.com/fland.asp?par...FQkehgod4TIL8A

eric-satx · 02-05-2016, 01:21 PM

I spent months trying to fix mine for the same issue.
Here is a link that hopefully will help you fix your's.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=494479

In my case, I got that socket reattached and fixed another pivot connector that had come apart. But, it still didn't work right... It only illuminated a car length ahead of me. I tried replacing the level sensors (driver's side front and rear), but still no joy. Finally I had to buy a replacement housing off eBay and swap over all the bits. That did the trick. Still waaaaay cheaper than the $1600 the dealership wanted for the housing.

charlie fairmont · 02-05-2016, 02:49 PM

Re: talk of linkages, are you saying that using the "normal" adjustment screws on the top of the headlights are not affecting the beam's direction so that you have now moved on to investigating other possible culprits?

mjn77 · 02-05-2016, 03:44 PM

Probs just the auto levelling sensor on the control arm.

Persian Whisperjet · 02-05-2016, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlie fairmont

Re: talk of linkages, are you saying that using the "normal" adjustment screws on the top of the headlights are not affecting the beam's direction so that you have now moved on to investigating other possible culprits?

Charlie, yes, I adjusted the headlight height and it moved up a bit and that was it. Any idea what that portends?

NC335d · 02-05-2016, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjn77

Probs just the auto levelling sensor on the control arm.

I second this.

335dFan · 02-05-2016, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjn77

Probs just the auto levelling sensor on the control arm.

I agree that it sounds like the leveling sensor, but why is only one headlight affected? I thought there was one sensor for both headlights.

WreckerX5d · 02-05-2016, 09:05 PM

It's most likely the headlight itself, not the sensor. Both headlights would be pointing down if that's the case.

See if the bulb is detached from the housing.

Persian Whisperjet · 02-06-2016, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrecker335d

It's most likely the headlight itself, not the sensor. Both headlights would be pointing down if that's the case.

See if the bulb is detached from the housing.

Wrecker thx. When were you in the sandbox?

WreckerX5d · 02-06-2016, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Persian Whisperjet

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrecker335d

It's most likely the headlight itself, not the sensor. Both headlights would be pointing down if that's the case.

See if the bulb is detached from the housing.

Wrecker thx. When were you in the sandbox?

No problem, and back in 2010.

02-05-2016, 08:57 AM	#1
Persian Whisperjet Kind of a Big Deal 171 Rep 857 Posts Drives: 2011 335d Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Washington, D.C. iTrader: (0)	Hit a pothole, now headlights are wonky Ha this ever happened to you? The headlights (Xenons) still go through the normal boot up sequence when I turn on the car -- they go up, they settle down, but the driver's side one is pointed way too low. There is some sort of adjustment linkage, correct? But is there one for each headlight? Any tips on what to look for when I get under the car this afternoon? __________________
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02-05-2016, 10:44 AM	#2
WreckerX5d Warrant Officer 381 Rep 1,340 Posts Drives: Deezul Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (4)	This happened to me 2 weeks ago. Hit a fence post piece and damaged the headlight, control arm and 2 rims. It seems as if the piece that attaches the bulb to the headlight broke off and is loose. I was planning on breaking mine open to fix it some day but I have yet to have a chance to do so. They do have an adjustment socket behind the headlight that you can rotate to get it closer to normal. __________________ Deleted, ATM I/C and tuned by B.R.R.
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02-05-2016, 11:02 AM	#3
08Alpine335xi Private First Class 16 Rep 108 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 335xi E92 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Attleboro, MA iTrader: (0)	This happened to me as well but the plastic sensor that's under by the driver side wheel that's the auto adjust sensor I believe was broken on mine. Had to order a new one. Here's the link: http://www.bavauto.com/fland.asp?par...FQkehgod4TIL8A __________________ '08 Alpine White 335xi
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02-05-2016, 01:21 PM	#4
eric-satx New Member 3 Rep 19 Posts Drives: 2011 335d Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: satx iTrader: (0)	I spent months trying to fix mine for the same issue. Here is a link that hopefully will help you fix your's. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=494479 In my case, I got that socket reattached and fixed another pivot connector that had come apart. But, it still didn't work right... It only illuminated a car length ahead of me. I tried replacing the level sensors (driver's side front and rear), but still no joy. Finally I had to buy a replacement housing off eBay and swap over all the bits. That did the trick. Still waaaaay cheaper than the $1600 the dealership wanted for the housing.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-05-2016, 02:49 PM	#5
charlie fairmont Captain 506 Rep 603 Posts Drives: His & hers, GC & X5 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Jax, FL iTrader: (0)	Re: talk of linkages, are you saying that using the "normal" adjustment screws on the top of the headlights are not affecting the beam's direction so that you have now moved on to investigating other possible culprits?
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02-05-2016, 03:44 PM	#6
mjn77 Colonel 1486 Rep 2,064 Posts Drives: E90 M3 LCI Jerez Black Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Herts, UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [10.00]	Probs just the auto levelling sensor on the control arm.
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02-05-2016, 09:05 PM	#10
WreckerX5d Warrant Officer 381 Rep 1,340 Posts Drives: Deezul Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (4)	It's most likely the headlight itself, not the sensor. Both headlights would be pointing down if that's the case. See if the bulb is detached from the housing. __________________ Deleted, ATM I/C and tuned by B.R.R.
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