[andybui82]

i tried looking it up, couldnt find the solution to it. But basically yesterday as i was driving with my headlights on my pre lci e90, the passenger headlight starts flickering and it goes off and back on. any solutions to this issue? Do you guys know whats going on? oh and i installed mtec angel eyes awhile back so that might be the case

[Wires]

Originally Posted by andybui82

i tried looking it up, couldnt find the solution to it. But basically yesterday as i was driving with my headlights on my pre lci e90, the passenger headlight starts flickering and it goes off and back on. any solutions to this issue? Do you guys know whats going on? oh and i installed mtec angel eyes awhile back so that might be the case

I'd suspect your ballast is about to die.

Is it repeatable? Best bet would be to swap the driver/passenger ballast to confirm. It won't be the bulb, since it still lights (HID bulbs don't have a filament inside.). BMW does use some sort of bulb failure detection thing on other lamps (not sure if the HID's use that), so that could be the issue as well. Swapping the ballast would confirm.

My Acura had one just die. I ended up JB welding a generic one off ebay. Acura wanted $800 for it, Ebay generic one was $60.

[MikeS '06 330i]

Ballast is probably going bad, you'll have to get a new bulb. Get them off ebay or they will be $80 plus each. I got an oem set for that, replaced the bulb, no more flickers.

[andybui82]

Originally Posted by MikeS '06 330i

Ballast is probably going bad, you'll have to get a new bulb. Get them off ebay or they will be $80 plus each. I got an oem set for that, replaced the bulb, no more flickers.

so how would i replace it??

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by andybui82

i tried looking it up, couldnt find the solution to it. But basically yesterday as i was driving with my headlights on my pre lci e90, the passenger headlight starts flickering and it goes off and back on. any solutions to this issue? Do you guys know whats going on? oh and i installed mtec angel eyes awhile back so that might be the case

I have a similar issue, might be the same. Does your headlight out indicator come on in dash too? Does this tend to happen when you start your car?

Any more info from the guys who have done this is appreciated. Links to DIY for bulb and ballast replacement - it seems like Ft Knox for these headlights?

PS my car is pre-face e90 too (not my signature)

[andybui82]

Originally Posted by antzcrashing

I have a similar issue, might be the same. Does your headlight out indicator come on in dash too? Does this tend to happen when you start your car?

Any more info from the guys who have done this is appreciated. Links to DIY for bulb and ballast replacement - it seems like Ft Knox for these headlights?

PS my car is pre-face e90 too (not my signature)

nah no indicators come on

[galahad05]

Here's some extremely useful info about HIDs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_halide_lamp

And the relevant piece of that article:

End of life behaviour

At the end of life, metal-halide lamps exhibit a phenomenon known as cycling. These lamps can be started at a relatively low voltage but as they heat up during operation, the internal gas pressure within the arc tube rises and more and more voltage is required to maintain the arc discharge. As a lamp gets older, the maintaining voltage for the arc eventually rises to exceed the voltage provided by the electrical ballast. As the lamp heats to this point, the arc fails and the lamp goes out. Eventually, with the arc extinguished, the lamp cools down again, the gas pressure in the arc tube is reduced, and the ballast can once again cause the arc to strike. This causes the lamp to glow for a while and then goes out, repeatedly. In rare occurrences the lamp explodes at the end of its useful life.[3]

Modern electronic ballast designs detect cycling and give up attempting to start the lamp after a few cycles. If power is removed and reapplied, the ballast will make a new series of startup attempts.

[Wires]

Originally Posted by galahad05

Here's some extremely useful info about HIDs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_halide_lamp

And the relevant piece of that article:

Thanks. Makes perfect sense, but never thought of it. Explains that stupid on/off street lamp across from my place.

I'd still recommend swapping L/R side components to confirm though. I wasted $100 on a new lamp for my Acura, and that wasn't the problem.

[andybui82]

Originally Posted by Wires

Thanks. Makes perfect sense, but never thought of it. Explains that stupid on/off street lamp across from my place.

I'd still recommend swapping L/R side components to confirm though. I wasted $100 on a new lamp for my Acura, and that wasn't the problem.

for sure im gonna give that a try. so does anyone know how to remove the ballast or the light? any have a DIY?

[Wires]

I don't know how to get the BMW ones out.

Little FYI though:

Don't touch the bulb with your bare hands. The oils from your fingerprints can cause it to shatter.

Ballast puts out a boat load of voltage, so just be careful around the HV lead that connects to the bulb.

[andybui82]

Originally Posted by Wires

I don't know how to get the BMW ones out.

Little FYI though:

Don't touch the bulb with your bare hands. The oils from your fingerprints can cause it to shatter.

Ballast puts out a boat load of voltage, so just be careful around the HV lead that connects to the bulb.

so much joy.....

[MikeS '06 330i]

Originally Posted by andybui82

so how would i replace it??

You have to access them thru a small removable panel in the wheel well. Depending on which side, steer the car so the tire goes inside the well, or you can remove the wheel. There is also a waterproof cover over the back of the headlight assembly, comes off after releasing a few tabs. Its not real easy the first time, but doable. The drivers side is a #@##$% as you have to remove the airbox assy first. The bulb and ballest have a wire tab that holds it in place.

[andybui82]

Originally Posted by MikeS '06 330i

You have to access them thru a small removable panel in the wheel well. Depending on which side, steer the car so the tire goes inside the well, or you can remove the wheel. There is also a waterproof cover over the back of the headlight assembly, comes off after releasing a few tabs. Its not real easy the first time, but doable. The drivers side is a #@##$% as you have to remove the airbox assy first. The bulb and ballest have a wire tab that holds it in place.

you mind making mea DIY for me?

[galahad05]

Originally Posted by andybui82

you mind making mea DIY for me?

As in, with pictures and everything?

[andybui82]

Originally Posted by galahad05

As in, with pictures and everything?

whatever helps!

[PBGF32]

Any resolution to this? I'm having the same flickering cycling issue on my coupe.

[flynnthomas]

I have got E90 2008. A few months ago, my left headlight started flickering, I googled and read different threads on various forums. Many pros were suggesting bulb swapping so I did that, but it didn’t work for me. I decided to replace the ballast and purchased a new one from an online store. I changed the ballast and now the problem has gone. I would suggest you guys not to spend money on replacing the bulbs just change your ballast to get rid of flickering. Here is the product I am using
https://www.xenonplanet.com/mitsubis...n-ballast.html

[dpaul]

Originally Posted by flynnthomas

I have got E90 2008. A few months ago, my left headlight started flickering, I googled and read different threads on various forums. Many pros were suggesting bulb swapping so I did that, but it didn’t work for me. I decided to replace the ballast and purchased a new one from an online store. I changed the ballast and now the problem has gone. I would suggest you guys not to spend money on replacing the bulbs just change your ballast to get rid of flickering. Here is the product I am using
https://www.xenonplanet.com/mitsubis...n-ballast.html

It's the bulb more often than the ballast. Bulbs have a service life, ballasts do not. On/off flickering is a common bulb failure mode, as galahad05 pointed out. That's the reason that "many pros were suggesting bulb swapping".

OP, you'll just have to roll the dice on this one.

[relative4]

Nice necro, guys.

[andybui82]

Originally Posted by dpaul

It's the bulb more often than the ballast. Bulbs have a service life, ballasts do not. On/off flickering is a common bulb failure mode, as galahad05 pointed out. That's the reason that "many pros were suggesting bulb swapping".

OP, you'll just have to roll the dice on this one.

Thanks....i haven't had the car in over 8 years.

[dpaul]

Originally Posted by andybui82

Thanks....i haven't had the car in over 8 years.

LOL! So much for my attention to detail!

HID bulbs have been on my mind lately due to problems with a retro fit in a Ford Explorer.

[B33ming]

I had this issue whenever I had any lights flickering I would code to turn off voltage monitor for the low high beam or whatever lights are flickering.