E46 Xenon bulb gone- £130 to replace!

[sparks_E46]

So I had one of my (oem) Xenon headlight bulbs fail today. Went to Halfords hoping to pick up a pair and fit myself. Expected to pay about £30/£40. They want £41 per bulb and would not let my purchase them myself. They insisted they fitted them and wanted £130 all in. I haven’t had it done. There must be a cheaper way?

I assume it’s not the ballast, the bulb went a purple colour for an hour or so then finally died and triggered the warning on the dash.

Edited by sparks_E46 on Saturday 20th October 17:19

[d_a_n1979]

They're talking ste Just want to rip you off

I and a lot of folk use the Lunex ones; they're very good:

D1S: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lunex-Headlight-Xenon-Rep...
D2S: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lunex-Headlight-Xenon-Rep...

Not sure which ones you need; but I've used both in my current E65 and previous E39s and they're superb bulbs, not cheap eBay specials and give out a very good light indeed

If you want to pay more; the best option IMO are the Osram ones:

D2S Osram: https://www.amazon.co.uk/XENARC-BREAKER-UNLIMITED-...
D1S Osram: https://www.amazon.co.uk/XENARC-INTENSE-discharge-...

[silentbrown]

Daft question: Seems they're always sold in pairs - is that because you shouldn't change one at a time?

[sparks_E46]

Cheers! BMW suggest they are not DIY. I’m not too handy with the spanners, is it doable?

[d_a_n1979]

silentbrown said:

Daft question: Seems they're always sold in pairs - is that because you shouldn't change one at a time?

Owners choice; personally I'd do both at the same time, more so with the price of the Lunex ones

a) makes sense IMO
b) keeps both headlights emitting the same light brightness

[Eddieslofart]

sparks_E46 said:

Cheers! BMW suggest they are not DIY. I’m not too handy with the spanners, is it doable?

Piece of cake.

https://youtu.be/5vvssYNz1Cg

[Chestrockwell]

I had an E46 with Xenons and when one burnt out, I bought one on eBay for a tenner and replaced it myself.

At the time I thought xenons were main dealer only and BMW quoted me 200 pounds!!!

[sparks_E46]

d_a_n1979 said:

They're talking ste Just want to rip you off

I and a lot of folk use the Lunex ones; they're very good:

D1S: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lunex-Headlight-Xenon-Rep...
D2S: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lunex-Headlight-Xenon-Rep...

Not sure which ones you need; but I've used both in my current E65 and previous E39s and they're superb bulbs, not cheap eBay specials and give out a very good light indeed

If you want to pay more; the best option IMO are the Osram ones:

D2S Osram: https://www.amazon.co.uk/XENARC-BREAKER-UNLIMITED-...
D1S Osram: https://www.amazon.co.uk/XENARC-INTENSE-discharge-...

I’ve ordered the DS2’s. I think they are the right ones, no one seems to know! Cheers

[SPORTSTER]

The OEM bulbs are made by Philips for the e46

[d_a_n1979]

sparks_E46 said:

I’ve ordered the DS2’s. I think they are the right ones, no one seems to know! Cheers

Just replied to your other thread; D2S

[Collectingbrass]

Are you sure it's just the bulb that's gone? Have you swopped them over to confirm the control unit modules and ballasts are still working. See http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=AM52-... for locations & part numbers and here for a DIY https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/BMW-...

[sparks_E46]

Collectingbrass said:

Are you sure it's just the bulb that's gone? Have you swopped them over to confirm the control unit modules and ballasts are still working. See http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=AM52-... for locations & part numbers and here for a DIY https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/BMW-...

Well the bulb went a purple pink colour for a short time before eventually dying so hopefully it’s just the bulb.

[d_a_n1979]

sparks_E46 said:

Well the bulb went a purple pink colour for a short time before eventually dying so hopefully it’s just the bulb.

That's a classic sign of a xenon blowing.

If it was the ballast; it just won't have come on at all

Still; it is worth checking everything in there, just for peace of mind

[dhutch]

I'm also suffering a poorly Xenon on the E46.

Very different failure mode but I hope the OP doesn't mind me keeping the information together.

Light fires up absolutely fine when you turn the lights ok, but will then go off after a few minutes, come back on for a minute, go off again about five times and then it gives up and puts the red headlight on the dash, key cycle will start the process again. The colour has been fractionally warmer for ages but when on is exactly the same as normal.

How easy is a bulb/ballast/ignitor change? I understand it's a bumper off job to remove the whole headlight unit due to the washer jets?

Got Monday and Tuesday off so if it's a pig of a job I need to get it booked into the garage asap.

Thanks

Daniel

[dhutch]

Images

[d_a_n1979]

dhutch said:

I'm also suffering a poorly Xenon on the E46.

Very different failure mode but I hope the OP doesn't mind me keeping the information together.

Light fires up absolutely fine when you turn the lights ok, but will then go off after a few minutes, come back on for a minute, go off again about five times and then it gives up and puts the red headlight on the dash, key cycle will start the process again. The colour has been fractionally warmer for ages but when on is exactly the same as normal.

How easy is a bulb/ballast/ignitor change? I understand it's a bumper off job to remove the whole headlight unit due to the washer jets?

Got Monday and Tuesday off so if it's a pig of a job I need to get it booked into the garage asap.

Thanks

Daniel

Easy to change

https://youtu.be/vLXCRCf8IZ4

Sounds like it’s a ballast issue and not bulb, but worth checking all including the wiring.

Worth swapping ballasts across too and see if the issues follows

[dhutch]

Ok, ballast rather than ignitior. That car doesn't have washer jets, which all UK cars do and which I understand complicates things.
I'll have a better look but I think you can get them off without removing the bumper as previously suggested. Prefacelift x-reg coupe sport for what it's worth.

Daniel

[bodhi]

If it makes you feel any better I had a bulb go in the Xenons on my 1 Series. The previous owner fitted aftermarket headlights with a HID Kit, they let water in so had to replace the entire kit.

My bill was double yours.

And a bit more :/

[Eddieslofart]

No need to remove bumper.

[Chiswickboy]

Eddieslofart said:

No need to remove bumper.

Correct. I had to remove the right hand headlight to replace the washer jet and the bumper does not need to be touched. Only problem was the screws which were rusted to the nuts (these are the "U" type of nut used on sheet metal) so I cut them off with a dremel and replaced them.