Xenon bulb issue-help needed

Chong330i · 07-27-2012, 12:02 AM

Hi,

I have an '06 330i with the dynamic xenon headlights. The other day the passenger side's headlight changed color to purple. It was a bit weird so I took it to the dealer. They said it was the bulb so I had it changed for $300 plus labor. I didn't notice until tonight when I was going home, but the color looks a bit yellow and its not centered like the drivers side or like the passenger side used to be. I assume the centering is just having to adjust the housing's baseline, but the light's center is way off and instead of there being 1 point, the passenger side is projecting 2 points, which are yellow instead of the regular BMW xenon color of white.

Does anyone know what this means? Is there some internal alignment issue? Or did they use the wrong bulb? I really would hate to go back to the dealer, which is 40 min away and I would have to use another vacation day.

Thanks in advance for your help.

csupernova · 07-28-2012, 01:10 AM

$300 for a bulb change is too much. I bought my OEM osram xenon bulb for less than $60 a pair and DIY. The reason why you are seeing yellow is because the bulb takes time to settle to its true color. Usually most people change the bulb in pair because it is almost impossible to match the color between the old and the new bulb.

07-27-2012, 12:02 AM	#1
Chong330i BMW '06 330i Sport/Prem/Navi 0 Rep 32 Posts Drives: BMW 2006 330i E90 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Xenon bulb issue-help needed Hi, I have an '06 330i with the dynamic xenon headlights. The other day the passenger side's headlight changed color to purple. It was a bit weird so I took it to the dealer. They said it was the bulb so I had it changed for $300 plus labor. I didn't notice until tonight when I was going home, but the color looks a bit yellow and its not centered like the drivers side or like the passenger side used to be. I assume the centering is just having to adjust the housing's baseline, but the light's center is way off and instead of there being 1 point, the passenger side is projecting 2 points, which are yellow instead of the regular BMW xenon color of white. Does anyone know what this means? Is there some internal alignment issue? Or did they use the wrong bulb? I really would hate to go back to the dealer, which is 40 min away and I would have to use another vacation day. Thanks in advance for your help.
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07-28-2012, 01:10 AM	#2
csupernova Captain 33 Rep 606 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (7)	$300 for a bulb change is too much. I bought my OEM osram xenon bulb for less than $60 a pair and DIY. The reason why you are seeing yellow is because the bulb takes time to settle to its true color. Usually most people change the bulb in pair because it is almost impossible to match the color between the old and the new bulb.
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