Flickering Xenons

russelldav · 01-10-2014, 10:46 AM

The clouds burst on my journey home tonight (incredibly heavy downpour). As I came off the motorway I stopped behind a people carrier on the roundabout and it appeared as if my right hand light was flickering rapidly, like a strobe light. I turned the lights from auto to off and back - no difference. I couldn't see the problem a few minutes later when I parked in front of my garage door but there was a shimmer as a bit of water ran over the lights. It's still raining too heavy to inspect them. I've. It had xenons on a car before so not sure if this is a feature of them, or if it is pointing to a problem with the bulbs / control system?

Alkidrew · 01-10-2014, 11:23 AM

Doesn't sound right, especially if only one is doing it. You might have water getting in the headlight or a dodgy connection. Rain running down the lout side of the light wouldn't make it strobe.

Have a look when it stops raining and if it is faulty, go to the dealer as should be simple swap out.

NISFAN · 01-10-2014, 11:33 AM

Not sure it can be described as strobe, but I have noticed water running down the lens causes the light beam to 'jump' when stationary. Noticed as it shines on the car in front as you describe.

Also, if you turn the steering wheel (again stationary behind another car), you can see the shutters moving in a stuttery motion. This is only very slight.

russelldav · 01-10-2014, 11:37 AM

Just been back out on a short trip and not noticed It. It was literally pouring off the bonnet so I'm hoping it was the amount of water and not a problem but I'll keep my eye on it. It was very obvious.

mproudfoot · 01-10-2014, 11:55 AM

Noticed something similar recently and I'm fairly sure it's just water running down in front of the lights.

zofinger · 01-10-2014, 12:11 PM

I had exactly the same very recently in the rain. Pulling into my drive and stopping I noticed it against the wall the xenon was illuminating. Initially thinking the light was loose and wobbling as a result of the engine vibration, I concluded the wobble (mine was the left hand xenon) was caused by water running off the bonnet over the outside of the light.

ikonic · 01-10-2014, 12:56 PM

I've noticed the same on my xenons, but again only seems to happen in rain.

Only notice it to be honest when stuck in traffic and see it reflecting off the car in front.

edz_f06 · 01-10-2014, 01:14 PM

I've noticed the same too, again only in the pouring rain

DazC · 01-10-2014, 01:29 PM

Refraction due to water bending the light beam?

gatsojon · 01-10-2014, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edz_f31

I've noticed the same too, again only in the pouring rain

And another here.

zofinger · 01-10-2014, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DazC

Refraction due to water bending the light beam?

That's what I believe. And hope.

russelldav · 01-10-2014, 02:37 PM

Reassuring to know... Thanks all

SomeRandomer123 · 01-10-2014, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatsojon

And another here.

Count me in too - left xenon. Only when it is/has been wet/raining from a cold start and only for first ~30 seconds of driving. I'm hoping it's just rain water running off the bonnet and over the light.

Captain Cow Pat · 01-11-2014, 03:33 AM

I've noticed it to on my nearside lamp when stationary. Saw the effect on the back of the vehicle in front. But once on the move can't see the effect at all. I suppose once the car is moving forwards the water is being pushed passed/over the lamp so quickly it can't effect the quality of the beam. I hope !

Crasherr · 08-26-2014, 11:26 AM

Anyone find out what is causing this. It's really annoying. Its mostly my right headlight that does this but in a downpoar both do it. Notice the right side of the car in front of me.

[u2b]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvb4bJnpjKI[/u2b]

dazzapb · 08-26-2014, 11:32 AM

yes I have it too, IMO nothing to worry about as the water refractes the light.

Apl440i or 335d? · 08-26-2014, 11:49 AM

Tis the rain!

Nothing to worry about.

....,,,,..,,.. · 08-26-2014, 11:58 AM

Must admit never noticed this on my other car in 7 years of xenons.

May just be a BMW featurette

Xenons do a lot of alignment checks in first few seconds and have seen them adjust coming off drive etc.

It's just going to be water sheeting in front of it.

Ads4 · 08-26-2014, 12:48 PM

I had this last week, kept turning the lights on and off thinking it was shorting somewhere but everytime I pulled up behind something I could see the left headlight flickering, torrential rain. I eventually pulled over and it was water running off the bonnet and over the front of the light casing causing the light to appear to flicker as the water ran over it!!

bmnut · 09-03-2014, 06:22 AM

Pretty sure it is the rain creating the effect. The slightest movement of the steering wheel causes the beams to move about too if they are adaptive headlights.
The beam alignment check when first starting the car also sets the height as well from two levelling sensors close to the floor plan as xenon a or LEDs have dynamic headlight height adjustment with no manual adjustment possible.

01-10-2014, 10:46 AM	#1
russelldav 456bhp for breakfast 425 Rep 913 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 50i Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Vancouver, Canada iTrader: (0)	Flickering Xenons The clouds burst on my journey home tonight (incredibly heavy downpour). As I came off the motorway I stopped behind a people carrier on the roundabout and it appeared as if my right hand light was flickering rapidly, like a strobe light. I turned the lights from auto to off and back - no difference. I couldn't see the problem a few minutes later when I parked in front of my garage door but there was a shimmer as a bit of water ran over the lights. It's still raining too heavy to inspect them. I've. It had xenons on a car before so not sure if this is a feature of them, or if it is pointing to a problem with the bulbs / control system?
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01-10-2014, 11:23 AM	#2
Alkidrew Captain 61 Rep 949 Posts Drives: F31 325d M Sport GS Join Date: May 2013 Location: Surrey iTrader: (0)	Doesn't sound right, especially if only one is doing it. You might have water getting in the headlight or a dodgy connection. Rain running down the lout side of the light wouldn't make it strobe. Have a look when it stops raining and if it is faulty, go to the dealer as should be simple swap out.
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01-10-2014, 11:33 AM	#3
NISFAN Major General 3489 Rep 9,709 Posts Drives: BMW M2 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Bedford UK iTrader: (0)	Not sure it can be described as strobe, but I have noticed water running down the lens causes the light beam to 'jump' when stationary. Noticed as it shines on the car in front as you describe. Also, if you turn the steering wheel (again stationary behind another car), you can see the shutters moving in a stuttery motion. This is only very slight.
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01-10-2014, 11:37 AM	#4
russelldav 456bhp for breakfast 425 Rep 913 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 50i Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Vancouver, Canada iTrader: (0)	Just been back out on a short trip and not noticed It. It was literally pouring off the bonnet so I'm hoping it was the amount of water and not a problem but I'll keep my eye on it. It was very obvious.
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01-10-2014, 11:55 AM	#5
mproudfoot Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 227 Posts Drives: 320d F31 M Sport Join Date: May 2013 Location: Helensburgh, Scotland iTrader: (0)	Noticed something similar recently and I'm fairly sure it's just water running down in front of the lights.
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01-10-2014, 12:11 PM	#6
zofinger Major 319 Rep 1,091 Posts Drives: F30 335d MSport Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: England iTrader: (0)	I had exactly the same very recently in the rain. Pulling into my drive and stopping I noticed it against the wall the xenon was illuminating. Initially thinking the light was loose and wobbling as a result of the engine vibration, I concluded the wobble (mine was the left hand xenon) was caused by water running off the bonnet over the outside of the light.
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01-10-2014, 12:56 PM	#7
ikonic Private First Class 18 Rep 128 Posts Drives: BSM F30 328I M-Sport Join Date: May 2012 Location: United Kingdom iTrader: (0)	I've noticed the same on my xenons, but again only seems to happen in rain. Only notice it to be honest when stuck in traffic and see it reflecting off the car in front.
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01-10-2014, 01:14 PM	#8
edz_f06 Lieutenant 43 Rep 412 Posts Drives: F06 640d MSport Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Cumbria, England iTrader: (0)	I've noticed the same too, again only in the pouring rain __________________ F06 640D Gran Coupe M Sport+ Alpine White with Black Nappa Previous: F31 320D M Sport Touring Mineral Grey / Coral Red
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01-10-2014, 01:29 PM	#9
DazC Colonel 905 Rep 2,651 Posts Drives: M4 Comp Pack Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 M4 Comp Pack [0.00]	Refraction due to water bending the light beam?
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01-10-2014, 02:37 PM	#12
russelldav 456bhp for breakfast 425 Rep 913 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 50i Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Vancouver, Canada iTrader: (0)	Reassuring to know... Thanks all
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01-11-2014, 03:33 AM	#14
Captain Cow Pat Lieutenant 50 Rep 542 Posts Drives: VO F31 330d xDrive M Sport Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Hampshire, UK iTrader: (0)	I've noticed it to on my nearside lamp when stationary. Saw the effect on the back of the vehicle in front. But once on the move can't see the effect at all. I suppose once the car is moving forwards the water is being pushed passed/over the lamp so quickly it can't effect the quality of the beam. I hope ! __________________
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08-26-2014, 11:26 AM	#15
Crasherr New Member 0 Rep 29 Posts Drives: 2018 F15, 2024 G80 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	Any update on this Anyone find out what is causing this. It's really annoying. Its mostly my right headlight that does this but in a downpoar both do it. Notice the right side of the car in front of me. [u2b]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvb4bJnpjKI[/u2b]
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08-26-2014, 11:32 AM	#16
dazzapb Brigadier General 1050 Rep 3,154 Posts Drives: 2019 X3M Comp Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: SW London iTrader: (0)	yes I have it too, IMO nothing to worry about as the water refractes the light.
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08-26-2014, 11:49 AM	#17
Apl440i or 335d? Colonel 480 Rep 2,324 Posts Drives: F30 335D Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Walton on Thames iTrader: (1)	Tis the rain! Nothing to worry about. __________________ E46 Coupe 320d M Sport Gone. E92 320d M Sport Gone. F30 335d M Sport Gone.
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08-26-2014, 11:58 AM	#18
....,,,,..,,.. General 6733 Rep 20,651 Posts Drives: xxxx Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: xxxx iTrader: (0)	Must admit never noticed this on my other car in 7 years of xenons. May just be a BMW featurette Xenons do a lot of alignment checks in first few seconds and have seen them adjust coming off drive etc. It's just going to be water sheeting in front of it.
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08-26-2014, 12:48 PM	#19
Ads4 Lieutenant 165 Rep 415 Posts Drives: MPPSK 340i with MP Bodykit Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Fleet iTrader: (0)	I had this last week, kept turning the lights on and off thinking it was shorting somewhere but everytime I pulled up behind something I could see the left headlight flickering, torrential rain. I eventually pulled over and it was water running off the bonnet and over the front of the light casing causing the light to appear to flicker as the water ran over it!!
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09-03-2014, 06:22 AM	#20
bmnut Colonel 814 Rep 2,176 Posts Drives: M440i xDrive Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: North East England iTrader: (0)	Pretty sure it is the rain creating the effect. The slightest movement of the steering wheel causes the beams to move about too if they are adaptive headlights. The beam alignment check when first starting the car also sets the height as well from two levelling sensors close to the floor plan as xenon a or LEDs have dynamic headlight height adjustment with no manual adjustment possible.
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