2015 F11 adaptive headlight fault and crying wallet?
Discussion
Evening all!
So my F11 has decided it would like to collect water in its driver s side headlight and then have some condensation fun! It s developed several faults. The lights seem to work as you can see in the images below. I have had the battery drain because of it so needed a new battery too! Nightmare!
My car is currently in my local garage with the headlight off. It has been sent off once to be refurbished by keep your car safe .
But apparently they can t fix it as they ve not got the parts.
I ve contacted another place - Headlite. Hoping they can refurb it!
Now, failing refurb, what are my options? I ve browsed eBay for units and there s so many but all come from Asia. Now I m being picky to and want to ensure that my replacement matches the passenger side with BMW Adaptive LED on the bottom of the light.
Me and my wallet are currently crying in the corner.
So my F11 has decided it would like to collect water in its driver s side headlight and then have some condensation fun! It s developed several faults. The lights seem to work as you can see in the images below. I have had the battery drain because of it so needed a new battery too! Nightmare!
My car is currently in my local garage with the headlight off. It has been sent off once to be refurbished by keep your car safe .
But apparently they can t fix it as they ve not got the parts.
I ve contacted another place - Headlite. Hoping they can refurb it!
Now, failing refurb, what are my options? I ve browsed eBay for units and there s so many but all come from Asia. Now I m being picky to and want to ensure that my replacement matches the passenger side with BMW Adaptive LED on the bottom of the light.
Me and my wallet are currently crying in the corner.
Edited by Lucas_Wxm on Thursday 2nd October 20:23
Lucas_Wxm said:
Evening all!
So my F11 has decided it would like to collect water in its driver s side headlight and then have some condensation fun! It s developed several faults. The lights seem to work as you can see in the images below. I have had the battery drain because of it so needed a new battery too! Nightmare!
My car is currently in my local garage with the headlight off. It has been sent off once to be refurbished by keep your car safe .
But apparently they can t fix it as they ve not got the parts.
I ve contacted another place - Headlite. Hoping they can refurb it!
Now, failing refurb, what are my options? I ve browsed eBay for units and there s so many but all come from Asia. Now I m being picky to and want to ensure that my replacement matches the passenger side with BMW Adaptive LED on the bottom of the light.
Me and my wallet are currently crying in the corner.
Time to remove; take all the bulbs out and the module/ballast etc - dry in either a very low oven or use a heat gun on low and then go around the seal with a thin bead of clear silicone; fit a new (or working used module) and it should be fineSo my F11 has decided it would like to collect water in its driver s side headlight and then have some condensation fun! It s developed several faults. The lights seem to work as you can see in the images below. I have had the battery drain because of it so needed a new battery too! Nightmare!
My car is currently in my local garage with the headlight off. It has been sent off once to be refurbished by keep your car safe .
But apparently they can t fix it as they ve not got the parts.
I ve contacted another place - Headlite. Hoping they can refurb it!
Now, failing refurb, what are my options? I ve browsed eBay for units and there s so many but all come from Asia. Now I m being picky to and want to ensure that my replacement matches the passenger side with BMW Adaptive LED on the bottom of the light.
Me and my wallet are currently crying in the corner.
Edited by Lucas_Wxm on Thursday 2nd October 20:23
Exactly what I did with my FiL's 530D (both sides) and zero issues in 2 years after that (well; apart from the fecking yellow grommet)
I took my headlights out, baked them, tested modules and re-fitted.
Problem solved………for 48 hrs then back to the same symptoms (as yours).
New ones were circa £2400 and almost impossible to get used units.
Ended up selling the car with the issue highlighted.
Shane as a great car (F11 535d).
Problem solved………for 48 hrs then back to the same symptoms (as yours).
New ones were circa £2400 and almost impossible to get used units.
Ended up selling the car with the issue highlighted.
Shane as a great car (F11 535d).
Lucas_Wxm said:
Now I m being picky to and want to ensure that my replacement matches the passenger side with BMW Adaptive LED on the bottom of the light.
Even a brand new one from BMW won't match the passenger side 100%. It would be close enough that 99% of people wouldn't notice though. Hella usually make these headlights for BMW, and if it's available from AutoDoc, it won't have BMW Adaptive LED written on it due to licensing.
The only way to satisfy your OCD is to relace BOTH units with new genuine.
This is the problem with original owners speccing complicated stuff that costs a fortune to replace, which they don't care about when they've moved the car on after 3 years. Next persons problem.
Please don’t take my fate as the norm or get depressed!
You may be able to get them sorted by Headlite.
It was a great car but mine also needed a few additional bits doing so I thought I would move on.
Have an E350 cdi estate now, replacing the F11, and had for 3 or 4 years.
Engine not as smooth or powerful, and gearbox not as good, but potentially a better package and it is big.
You may be able to get them sorted by Headlite.
It was a great car but mine also needed a few additional bits doing so I thought I would move on.
Have an E350 cdi estate now, replacing the F11, and had for 3 or 4 years.
Engine not as smooth or powerful, and gearbox not as good, but potentially a better package and it is big.
I’ve had the same problem and have bought a replacement item from Germany (c£700 for an adaptive unit) but in the meantime I removed the cap on the top of the headlight to improve ventilation. I’ve had the replacement unit for 6 months but haven’t gotten around to fitting it because, since removing the cap, I’ve had no condensation or problems of any type. Even in the rain.
The replacement unit excludes the electronics which I’ll need to port over from the old headlight however coding shouldn’t be an issue!
The replacement unit excludes the electronics which I’ll need to port over from the old headlight however coding shouldn’t be an issue!
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