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      04-18-2010, 07:24 PM   #1
Thisisdudewhoru
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Possible bad ballast or bulb? Help please.

Ok. Just got my m coupe. The right headlight has something funny going on. Usually the first time I turn it on it will come on but say I pull over for a second and turn the headlights off then I try to turn them back on, the right one will absolutely refuse to come back on... Is this signs of a bad ballast or bulb? I do get the bulb out error as well.

Seems like if I leave the headlights off for 5 or so minutes, it'll come back on again.

Also, are the inner lights on the M supposed to do anything? I thought they were the highs but mine never light up...

Thanks for the help.
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      04-18-2010, 10:50 PM   #2
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bumpies.
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      04-19-2010, 12:41 PM   #3
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It sounds like the ballast is about to go out. If the bulb was bad it wouldn't turn back on at all.

Also, the inner light is just a dummy. 03-05 it was the high beam but the facelifted models it doesn't do anything except have the angel eye.
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      04-19-2010, 03:06 PM   #4
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That's what I was thinking but this is my first dealings with HID's and wasn't sure if it was a sign of the bulb since it's gas or whatever instead of a filament in halogen bulbs.

Thanks for the info about the inner headlight. I was confused lol.
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      06-18-2010, 09:14 AM   #5
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I have this issue intermittently as well. I've had the bulbs and ballasts replaced and it still presents itself from time to time. I happen to think it is the LCM (Light Control Module).
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      06-18-2010, 09:07 PM   #6
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Well the dealer said they cleaned all my connections and I haven't had a single issue since. I even put in some Philips Ultinon 6k bulbs.
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      08-12-2011, 11:55 PM   #7
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i am having a simuler issue. i was figuring it was a ballast as well. from time to time the bulb will not ignite under startup, and either stay off untill i restart the car or it will have a 5 second delay
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      08-13-2011, 07:39 PM   #8
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This is a common fault on our cars. On mine, the same symptoms ended up being a faulty relay (LCM)
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      08-13-2011, 08:14 PM   #9
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Had this on mine it was the ballast. BMW gave me a new one under warranty.
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      08-14-2011, 07:41 AM   #10
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which side headlight is doing the error guys? its my drivers side
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      08-24-2011, 10:33 PM   #11
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I was about to start a thread and found this. My right side light has been doing this for a while. If they come on for the first time they work fine, but if I activate the pathway lighting by pulling the stalk after turning the car off the right one won't fire.

Sometimes when i shut the drivers door it seems to jar it into action. It didn't do it for the longest time but seems to be worse in the last few months. Wish I knew if a new ignitor would solve the issue.
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      09-07-2011, 04:27 PM   #12
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im thinkning its the ignitor as well. once it fires up it works fine. its only under ignition or xenon igniting that its either delayed or wont turn on. if it was the ballast it wouldnt work at all or it would flicker, and it cant be the bulb since the color temperature is fine and it works once ignited. im waiting on my warranty transfer to bring it to the dealership though. i will let them take it apart and replace parts
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      09-07-2011, 04:43 PM   #13
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mine does this too. Passenger side. I'll try cleaning all connections first, and fix the fogging up issue
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      09-07-2011, 05:12 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thisisdudewhoru View Post
Ok. Just got my m coupe. The right headlight has something funny going on. Usually the first time I turn it on it will come on but say I pull over for a second and turn the headlights off then I try to turn them back on, the right one will absolutely refuse to come back on... Is this signs of a bad ballast or bulb? I do get the bulb out error as well.

Seems like if I leave the headlights off for 5 or so minutes, it'll come back on again.

Also, are the inner lights on the M supposed to do anything? I thought they were the highs but mine never light up...

Thanks for the help.
The easiest way to tell if it is the bulb or the ballast is to switch your bulbs from left to right, if it still continues on the same side, then it is ballast (or electrical/connection to that side); if it follows to the other side, then it is the bulb.
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      09-08-2011, 06:38 PM   #15
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I'v got this problem too. What connectors should I clean?
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      09-08-2011, 09:48 PM   #16
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If you want to tackle it yourself, I would start with swapping the ignitors from left to right side, keeping the bulbs in their original headlights
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      09-09-2011, 05:05 AM   #17
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Same problem here, usually happens when I ignite the car without waiting in 2nd position for the dashboard lights to go off. Rarely turns off by it's own (happened like twice). Car is still under warranty so I'll be visiting a dealer soon.
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