e39 headlight vibration

e39 headlight vibration

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Discussion

Patrick Bateman

Original Poster:

12,143 posts

173 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
Just got pulled by the rozzers for the first time in 6 years driving as my lights were vibrating on the dual carriageway.

Now I assume this is something to do with the adjusters, there is excessive movement when I grab the back of the lights but the lights do still adjust their beam height when I turn them on.

What's the best course of action here that doesn't involve buying new headlights (££££££)? Has anyone use this guy?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=...

DVandrews

1,315 posts

282 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
I replaced the adjusters on my E39 M5 with unbreakable aluminium ones from a supplier on Ebay, it is a pain to do as you have to oedema the headlights, warming them up with a heat gun around the seal does the trick, resealing with the correct sealant is essential. (Indasa windscreen sealant). It takes a couple of hours to do.

You may find it easier for someone else to do it.

Dave

Patrick Bateman

Original Poster:

12,143 posts

173 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
Yeah I don't have the time or inclination to do it myself.

Are the housings for halogen and xenon units the same?

I've seen this and ideally would like to just swap in the xenon gubbins from my current lights-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Hella-E39-M-Tech-M5-...

DVandrews

1,315 posts

282 months

Friday 24th October 2014
quotequote all
The internals are different so you would need to take them apart..same old same old..

Dave

roofer

5,136 posts

210 months

Friday 24th October 2014
quotequote all
Or You could put a re based xenon bulb in and drive them off of your ballasts.

DVandrews

1,315 posts

282 months

Friday 24th October 2014
quotequote all
You'll have some wiring to do as the stock ballasts only connect to a DS2.

Dave

roofer

5,136 posts

210 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
DVandrews said:
You'll have some wiring to do as the stock ballasts only connect to a DS2.

Dave
It's fairly simple.

Patrick Bateman

Original Poster:

12,143 posts

173 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
quotequote all
For anyone doing this on an M5, taking the air boxes out the way makes things much easier.

Hereward

4,134 posts

229 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
quotequote all
Did you replace the whole headlight units, or specific parts therein?

Funnily enough I noticed my (2001 M5) headlights "flickering" last night when driving over rough surfaces then found this thread.

Patrick Bateman

Original Poster:

12,143 posts

173 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
quotequote all
That'll be exactly the same as me. I'm sending them to the guy on ebay in the original post.

Hereward

4,134 posts

229 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for this thread, very useful. I'll make contact with the eBay chap.

Patrick Bateman

Original Poster:

12,143 posts

173 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
quotequote all
Well I've got my lights back from the guy, will I need to set up the headlight aim etc. now or should they be pointing in the same place as before providing the adjuster controls haven't been moved?

DVandrews

1,315 posts

282 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
quotequote all
The adjusters have been removed and replaced so they are unlikely to be in the same position. You will need to adjust them.

Dave

Patrick Bateman

Original Poster:

12,143 posts

173 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
Well the good news is I now have headlights that don't vibrate, the bad news is the nearside vertical adjustment does nothing. Mechanic said it's just about right on the limit where it's pointing just now and should be ok, save an extremely harsh MOT tester. But still, that's extremely annoying considering the scutter it is to remove them and send them away.

What's the best course of action with regards to the the guy on ebay in this sort of scenario?

Patrick Bateman

Original Poster:

12,143 posts

173 months

Sunday 9th November 2014
quotequote all
Anyone?

andyiley

9,105 posts

151 months

Sunday 9th November 2014
quotequote all
Instead of asking us, why not speak to him?

It sounds like the ball joint for that adjuster isn't connected.

Patrick Bateman

Original Poster:

12,143 posts

173 months

Sunday 9th November 2014
quotequote all
I have, he only just got back to me.

He says if the adjuster screw on the top doesn't work to use the one at the back with a 10mm allen key. Does that sound legit.? I'll need to speak to my mechanic and ask him if he tried that as well.

DVandrews

1,315 posts

282 months

Sunday 9th November 2014
quotequote all
I'd say he may be right, the top adjuster connects the the adjusting screw shaft via a tooth and pin arrangement, sometimes this can wear or dislocate , this prevents the top adjuster from moving the adjustment shaft. Like he suggested, try turning it directly.

Dave

andyiley

9,105 posts

151 months

Sunday 9th November 2014
quotequote all
I don't think it is 10mm, but yes he is right.

Patrick Bateman

Original Poster:

12,143 posts

173 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
Well it seems the garage already tried that, oh goody.