No headlights

Walkurie · 07-13-2013, 04:39 PM

My passenger side (right side) Xenon headlamp was beginning to show the signs of burning out. First pink, then something very dim. Did what the threads on this suggest, ordered an OEM pair from BMW.

The parts received were Philips D2S 35W 85122. The OEM was a GE part. Not sure if this makes a difference.

Followed the procedure on YouTube. Connected the battery again and no low beams at all, now. Not even the drivers side, that was okay before the switch. Put the original bulb back in and still no lights on either side.

Has anyone successfully done the DIY yet? Are there any special tricks or pifalls? Okay, I know that ballast may be suspect, also, but how does one tell a faulty ballast from a bad bulb? The out coming bulb looked cloudy, so I figured it was a safe bet it should be replaced. Are there any relays or fuses that need to be looked at?

Walkurie · 07-13-2013, 06:40 PM

Might have been a false alarm. When the car was restarted, the ignition sequence must have triggered a computer process that acquainted the new parts with the rest of the electronics.

Tried to look this up in the TIS to understand it better, but could not seem to find anything. Would appreciate if anyone could confirm or correct this belief.

StickMon · 07-14-2013, 12:47 AM

So they're working now?
I'll keep that in mind and not panic when I eventually change them.

I hope you didn't overpay.
I almost did, but ECS Tuning ran out of them just before I ordered.
Turns out they're readily available on Amazon and eBay.
Just have to make sure you get actual Philips (with one L) and not a knock-off.

Walkurie · 07-14-2013, 08:36 AM

Yes, they are working now. But it really had me stumped for a little while, no mention in any reference source of the need to start the car.

Did not overpay, shopped first. Just make sure they visually match up, and yes, Philips has only one L.

Finnegan · 07-14-2013, 12:51 PM

Yet another quirk and secret-society handshake part of owning this car I guess! Good to know!

Huz-Z · 07-16-2013, 02:01 PM

My buddy replaced a zenon on his Z4 last year and I don't recall him mentioning that it did anything odd before it started working. I'll ask him and report back.

Z4inAZ · 07-16-2013, 04:49 PM

It shouldnt need anything special and there is nothing special about the bulbs or the BMW xenon system. All HID systems, give or take, are created equal. There should be no "initializing" or anything. Any D2S bulb should work. Manufacturer does not make a difference, bulbs are bulbs.

My headlights dont come on without the car running :dunno

Sounds to me like you did one of two things:
1) Left headlights on, disconnected battery, then when reconnected the battery the lights didnt come back on and you were surprised. If you had the car running with lights on, then turned the car off, the lights would stay on (and at this point I think you disconnected the battery, car off/lights on), but then as soon as you took key out (or unplugged battery) they would no longer work
2) Reconnected battery, didnt start car, turned headlights on. To my knowledge they shouldnt have come on in this circumstance either

I think you just forgot to turn the car on, expecting the lights to work with it off... then you turned it on and they worked and you assumed there was some sort of initialization process?

Walkurie · 07-17-2013, 08:14 AM

It was the second of the possibilities. No, I did not disconnect the battery with the headlights 'on.' The reason to suspect an initialization process was that every other car I ever owned allowed the headlights to be switched 'on' without starting the engine. I do admit that on this car, I have always used the 'auto' headlight mode, so I never noticed the behavior of the lights in the 'on' position.

As for the bulbs, see my post in the DIY section. There are lower-priced knockoffs on the market that may result in lower performance or bulb life. The guide shows how to spot a fake.

MinneapolisJeff · 07-21-2013, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StickMon

So they're working now?
I'll keep that in mind and not panic when I eventually change them.

I hope you didn't overpay.
I almost did, but ECS Tuning ran out of them just before I ordered.
Turns out they're readily available on Amazon and eBay.
Just have to make sure you get actual Philips (with one L) and not a knock-off.

So this bulb is a suitable replacement for the OEM xenon? I'm in a similar lighting predicament where one of the bulbs is showing a little pink and been thinking about replacement

Walkurie · 07-21-2013, 03:44 PM

Check out my posting in the DIY section. Talks about real substitutes and how to spot fakes.

StickMon · 07-21-2013, 10:55 PM

Beware of words like "Replaces: 85122 CM" or "suitable for replacement of all bulbs that possess the numbers "85122""

Sure sign they're fake.

MinneapolisJeff · 07-22-2013, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbalutis

Check out my posting in the DIY section. Talks about real substitutes and how to spot fakes.

Well I was wondering about the bulb he had in the link to Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Philips-Xenon-...keywords=85122

If Amazon selling a Philips bulb could be a fake, I might as well just let the dealership do it because i'll have no idea of what's real or not real

07-13-2013, 04:39 PM	#1
Walkurie Lieutenant 9 Rep 452 Posts Drives: 06 M Roadster / 99 Jaguar XK8 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Surf City, CA iTrader: (2)	No headlights My passenger side (right side) Xenon headlamp was beginning to show the signs of burning out. First pink, then something very dim. Did what the threads on this suggest, ordered an OEM pair from BMW. The parts received were Philips D2S 35W 85122. The OEM was a GE part. Not sure if this makes a difference. Followed the procedure on YouTube. Connected the battery again and no low beams at all, now. Not even the drivers side, that was okay before the switch. Put the original bulb back in and still no lights on either side. Has anyone successfully done the DIY yet? Are there any special tricks or pifalls? Okay, I know that ballast may be suspect, also, but how does one tell a faulty ballast from a bad bulb? The out coming bulb looked cloudy, so I figured it was a safe bet it should be replaced. Are there any relays or fuses that need to be looked at? __________________ Vibra Technics engine mounts / Rogue trans mounts / Stoptech brakes / original owner Last edited by Walkurie; 07-13-2013 at 05:40 PM..
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07-13-2013, 06:40 PM	#2
Walkurie Lieutenant 9 Rep 452 Posts Drives: 06 M Roadster / 99 Jaguar XK8 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Surf City, CA iTrader: (2)	Might have been a false alarm. When the car was restarted, the ignition sequence must have triggered a computer process that acquainted the new parts with the rest of the electronics. Tried to look this up in the TIS to understand it better, but could not seem to find anything. Would appreciate if anyone could confirm or correct this belief. __________________ Vibra Technics engine mounts / Rogue trans mounts / Stoptech brakes / original owner
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-14-2013, 12:47 AM	#3
StickMon My other car is on Mars 636 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	So they're working now? I'll keep that in mind and not panic when I eventually change them. I hope you didn't overpay. I almost did, but ECS Tuning ran out of them just before I ordered. Turns out they're readily available on Amazon and eBay. Just have to make sure you get actual Philips (with one L) and not a knock-off.
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07-14-2013, 08:36 AM	#4
Walkurie Lieutenant 9 Rep 452 Posts Drives: 06 M Roadster / 99 Jaguar XK8 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Surf City, CA iTrader: (2)	Yes, they are working now. But it really had me stumped for a little while, no mention in any reference source of the need to start the car. Did not overpay, shopped first. Just make sure they visually match up, and yes, Philips has only one L. __________________ Vibra Technics engine mounts / Rogue trans mounts / Stoptech brakes / original owner
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07-14-2013, 12:51 PM	#5
Finnegan Dog Listener 704 Rep 7,850 Posts Drives: Z4M/. Z3M, E36/46 M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Teaching the dog to slalom iTrader: (22)	Yet another quirk and secret-society handshake part of owning this car I guess! Good to know!
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07-16-2013, 02:01 PM	#6
Huz-Z Brigadier General 851 Rep 4,057 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0si, 328 XDrive, X5 35i Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	My buddy replaced a zenon on his Z4 last year and I don't recall him mentioning that it did anything odd before it started working. I'll ask him and report back. __________________ Huz-Z BMW Z4 3.0si Roadster. Montego Blue Metallic. Premium and Sport Package.
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07-16-2013, 04:49 PM	#7
Z4inAZ Second Lieutenant 4 Rep 224 Posts Drives: Z4 2.5 03 Join Date: May 2013 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	It shouldnt need anything special and there is nothing special about the bulbs or the BMW xenon system. All HID systems, give or take, are created equal. There should be no "initializing" or anything. Any D2S bulb should work. Manufacturer does not make a difference, bulbs are bulbs. My headlights dont come on without the car running :dunno Sounds to me like you did one of two things: 1) Left headlights on, disconnected battery, then when reconnected the battery the lights didnt come back on and you were surprised. If you had the car running with lights on, then turned the car off, the lights would stay on (and at this point I think you disconnected the battery, car off/lights on), but then as soon as you took key out (or unplugged battery) they would no longer work 2) Reconnected battery, didnt start car, turned headlights on. To my knowledge they shouldnt have come on in this circumstance either I think you just forgot to turn the car on, expecting the lights to work with it off... then you turned it on and they worked and you assumed there was some sort of initialization process?
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07-17-2013, 08:14 AM	#8
Walkurie Lieutenant 9 Rep 452 Posts Drives: 06 M Roadster / 99 Jaguar XK8 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Surf City, CA iTrader: (2)	It was the second of the possibilities. No, I did not disconnect the battery with the headlights 'on.' The reason to suspect an initialization process was that every other car I ever owned allowed the headlights to be switched 'on' without starting the engine. I do admit that on this car, I have always used the 'auto' headlight mode, so I never noticed the behavior of the lights in the 'on' position. As for the bulbs, see my post in the DIY section. There are lower-priced knockoffs on the market that may result in lower performance or bulb life. The guide shows how to spot a fake. __________________ Vibra Technics engine mounts / Rogue trans mounts / Stoptech brakes / original owner
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-21-2013, 03:44 PM	#10
Walkurie Lieutenant 9 Rep 452 Posts Drives: 06 M Roadster / 99 Jaguar XK8 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Surf City, CA iTrader: (2)	Check out my posting in the DIY section. Talks about real substitutes and how to spot fakes. __________________ Vibra Technics engine mounts / Rogue trans mounts / Stoptech brakes / original owner
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-21-2013, 10:55 PM	#11
StickMon My other car is on Mars 636 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	Beware of words like "Replaces: 85122 CM" or "suitable for replacement of all bulbs that possess the numbers "85122"" Sure sign they're fake. __________________ Warning: May contain traces of nuts.
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