Who knows headlights?

kcult

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My neighbor told me my passenger side headlight was out on my 2004 330i. I pull the bulb and replace it with a new one. Still, no light. Not only that, but I also don't have high beam on that side. High beam is a separate bulb, as well as a different style

I checked the fuses and they looked good. The halos work, as well as the corner and fog lamps on that side.

Where do I look next?

The bulb I thought may have been bad..

20191006_180349.jpg
 
I believe a scan tool is required to "turn on" the lamp after a failed bulb is repaced
 
Did it catch on fire like my wifes? Hers has a headlight out too... :D

No scan tool reset required on an 04 e46.

Check the bulb holder/plug for corrosion and then try to find the ground cluster for that corner and clean it up. the grounds would be suspect if the high and low are toast. I guess first you need to confirm that the bulb you are putting in actually works, stranger things have happened, new or not.
 
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Did it catch on fire like my wifes? Hers has a headlight out too... :D

No scan tool reset required on an 04 e46.

Check the bulb holder/plug for corrosion and then try to find the ground cluster for that corner and clean it up. the grounds would be suspect if the high and low are toast. I guess first you need to confirm that the bulb you are putting in actually works, stranger things have happened, new or not.

What is this ground cluster? Never heard of such an animal.
 
What is this ground cluster? Never heard of such an animal.

The connecting point where the ground wire from the head light goes to as the head light assembly is plastic and does not self ground to the car frame.

Or maybe.it is a strange Yankee animal that was carried in a carpet bag.
 
I would double check those fuses, pull them and look close in good light.
I've found ones that did not mark up the top when they went out.
 
What is this ground cluster? Never heard of such an animal.

Look for a pile of brown wires neatly terminated under a bolt threaded into the metal of the chassis somewhere fairly close the headlights.
 
I would double check those fuses, pull them and look close in good light.
I've found ones that did not mark up the top when they went out.
Or swap with an equal amperage fuse from a known working circuit.
 
I would swap the working bulb to check if its bulb or wiring...then maybe disconnect the battery to reset the codes..... didn't watch the video....HTH
 
A BMW w headlight issues..

You don’t say...[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

I despise adaptive headlights...


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This is the first problem I've had with the headlights on this car. In fact, I've had no major trouble out of this since buying it used maybe eight years ago... with the exception of the first month owning it.

The previous owner installed one of those "cold air" intakes on it. The test drive showed no problems. Neither did the drive home from Raleigh. But, several days later, the car would go into limp mode and would throw multiple codes. I began chasing the problem, but I was only able to get it running normally by installing a stock air box and filter.

It's been a peach since.

I'll be looking at them grounds this afternoon.
 
Also...Buy More Wrenches.

With all the BMWs I've owned and tinkered with, I feel like I can finally own a Ducati.
If it was already mentioned, I missed it.
Take a good look at the plug connectors that attach to the bulb. I’ve had several of them with a burnt connection in European cars.
 
If it was already mentioned, I missed it.
Take a good look at the plug connectors that attach to the bulb. I’ve had several of them with a burnt connection in European cars.

I'll do that, but with neither bulb working (low beam or high beam being separate bulbs), I was thinking the problem went a little deeper.

I'll check the connections on both.

A side note. I do have two more headlight assemblies. The ones in the car right now are aftermarket. The extras are the original equipment. I imagine I could temporarily replace the faulty one with one of the spares to see what happens.
 
I'll do that, but with neither bulb working (low beam or high beam being separate bulbs), I was thinking the problem went a little deeper.

I'll check the connections on both.

A side note. I do have two more headlight assemblies. The ones in the car right now are aftermarket. The extras are the original equipment. I imagine I could temporarily replace the faulty one with one of the spares to see what happens.
Before I go thru all that trouble, I would use a simple test light to check for power and grounds
 
That's a HID. Check the ballast. Also, aftermarket headlights are hit and miss. I personally wouldn't use them. Check your power and all, but the likely culprit is your headlight assembly/ballast.
 
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