E46 Xenons pointing at the floor, where do I start?

[StuntmanMike]

I have a coupe with factory fitted Xenons, last night the didn't do the little self level thing but seemed to just point at the floor.
Going to wash it in a it then start on the headlights, what goes wrong with these, where do I start looking.
Thanks.

[NickXX]

I had the same issue with mine- was a broken front suspension levelling sensor arm. You can check it by turning the wheel full lock- it's attached to the arb drop links.

This was mine broken:



And repaired:



Definitely check that first. If the clip isn't broken, it might be the rear sensor which is harder to get to. If it's not the clip that's broken on either end, it could be the sensor boxes themselves.

Iirc I paid about £50 for a new sensor arm and clip.

[StuntmanMike]

Thanks Nick, I'll be looking in a bit, I'll let you know.

[philmots]

Mine went but I fixed it with cable ties!

If you do that and it's not quite set the same as it was then you should get your lights realigned as they could be too high/low as default

[StuntmanMike]

I'll realign them temporarily anyway, the car will do two journeys this week, so no great shakes.
You can realign them simple enough.

[StuntmanMike]

Right, the link is fine, the drivers side light works as it should, the passenger side doesn't move at all, there is no link on the passenger side.

[NickXX]

StuntmanMike said:

Right, the link is fine, the drivers side light works as it should, the passenger side doesn't move at all, there is no link on the passenger side.

There should only be one on the front and one on the back. Don't think there is meant to be one on the front passenger side.

The other one is buried quite deep in the rear suspension.

[StuntmanMike]

NickXX said:

StuntmanMike said:

Right, the link is fine, the drivers side light works as it should, the passenger side doesn't move at all, there is no link on the passenger side.

There should only be one on the front and one on the back. Don't think there is meant to be one on the front passenger side.

The other one is buried quite deep in the rear suspension.

st, Ive got the headlight stripped down now.

[StuntmanMike]

Right, this is where we are.
I have removed both headlamps and cleaned them both up.
Both levelers work if plugged into the drivers side loom.
So, does the rear sensor control the nearside only?
If not, the fault is in the loom on the nearside somewhere.

[StuntmanMike]

Update, stripped both headlamps, cleaned them up, polished the glass, both work perfectly now.
I don't like it when I haven't found the fault.
So the cars back together now, I reconnected the washers as well, they have never worked in 5 years of ownership, I couldn't see anything wrong, it promptly emptied 2.5 litres of washer fluid all over the road, ho hum, job for next weekend then.

[roofer]

StuntmanMike said:

Update, stripped both headlamps, cleaned them up, polished the glass, both work perfectly now.
I don't like it when I haven't found the fault.
So the cars back together now, I reconnected the washers as well, they have never worked in 5 years of ownership, I couldn't see anything wrong, it promptly emptied 2.5 litres of washer fluid all over the road, ho hum, job for next weekend then.

Been there, done it, feel your pain

[StuntmanMike]

Roofer, the bloody headlights failed again last night.
That's a job for next weekend now, I'm a bit hungover.

[ftypical]

Try reseating the connector for the aim adjuster. While you're there, check the seal is in good shape, and none of the pins are corroded.

Then, waggle the loom coming out of the connector.