Is my headlight defective?

[Zaks]

I noticed that my passenger headlight doesn't put out as much light as the driver. Haven't really looked into it too much, but snapped this photo and figured I'd ask here. http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/05/41245f5b56b4b528bc3263c8d9f54609.jpg


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[az3579]

Burnt ZKW bowl most likely.

[WOLFN8TR]

That or a bad bulb. I had one that was really dim compared to the other.

[BMWCurves]

Do our bulbs just go dim when they're going bad? I figured their hue would change as well as output.

[anandoc]

I would suspect a bad bulb. A burnt out ZKW bowl on just one side is unlikely.

[az3579]

I would suspect a bad bulb. A burnt out ZKW bowl on just one side is unlikely.

Not if the previous owner could only afford to replace one headlight. :ninja

I've never seen a bad bulb do that, but then again... I never let it get that bad so I don't know. :dunno

[Zaks]

What bulbs do we have? Also, is the bowl replaceable or am I looking at replacing the whole headlight?

[WOLFN8TR]

What bulbs do we have? Also, is the bowl replaceable or am I looking at replacing the whole headlight?

D2S

http://ddmtuning.com/Products/UltraBulb-D2S

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C7DDQU4?colid=SYJMV6DEMIXV&coliid=I279BFK8RGKH2L&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl

[az3579]

What bulbs do we have? Also, is the bowl replaceable or am I looking at replacing the whole headlight?
You can verify the bowl is burnt by removing the cap that covers the bulb and looking for brown/black burns on the projector.

Five options are:
1) Replace with a new ZKW headlight assembly. This is the most expensive and least effective method. One headlight is over a grand and the issue will happen again.
2) Replace with an AL headlight assembly, which has metal bowls and will not burn out. Both headlights should be done if you do this. This is the easiest method.
3) Do a projector retrofit with one of the aftermarket solutions such as a kit from The Retrofit Source. This requires modifying your headlights to make these projectors work.
4) Buy aftermarket headlight assemblies, which may or may not have quality issues. This is usually the cheapest option.
5) Install rebuilt ZKW bowls. the issue will happen again with this option.

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[Zaks]

Thanks guys. I'll swap the bulbs tomorrow and see if it's the bulb or the headlight. What temperature is stock? 4500 K?


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[Dr Dynamite]

Foggy head light lens maybe?

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[az3579]

Thanks guys. I'll swap the bulbs tomorrow and see if it's the bulb or the headlight. What temperature is stock? 4500 K?


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4300k.
When you swap it, it's the perfect time to just take a peek at the projector to see if the burnt bowl is your issue.

[Johnmadd]

E90 retrofit is also an option.

[anandoc]

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Stop showing off your new phone http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/images/smilies/ninja.gif

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[az3579]

Stop showing off your new phone :ninja

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It's my Tapatalk signature... lol
I don't type that. :p

[Zaks]

Not the bulbs, so I'm assuming it's the bowls. I didn't notice anything with inly the bulbs out. It was brown but I'm not sure if it's supposed to be like that on the back side.

Time to start the research on retrofit. I did a bit of reading last night on various forums... I'm surprised that no one has yet made the bowls as an aftermarket replacement.


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[az3579]

Not the bulbs, so I'm assuming it's the bowls. I didn't notice anything with inly the bulbs out. It was brown but I'm not sure if it's supposed to be like that on the back side.

Brown = burnt.

[Zaks]

Anyone tried the DDM Tuning d2s projector kit?


Ivan

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[cakM3]

Brown = burnt.

fact.... If you're seeing brown then you want to look at doing the AL retrofit or just swapping out the entire headlight assembly for the AL set. I ended up swapping out my entire headlight assembly for the AL set and then swapped out the Bosch lens for the ZKW lens.... much happier with my current setup...

[Zaks]

fact.... If you're seeing brown then you want to look at doing the AL retrofit or just swapping out the entire headlight assembly for the AL set. I ended up swapping out my entire headlight assembly for the AL set and then swapped out the Bosch lens for the ZKW lens.... much happier with my current setup...

Where can I get the AL set? Also, what do you mean by Bosch lens? Isn't the assembly whole with the lens?


Ivan

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[cakM3]

Where can I get the AL set?

Ivan, I got my AL headlight assemblies from Tony when he was selling them. Saw his for sale thread in the classified section of this forum. I would suggest you check out the classified section of this forum as well as e46Fanatics... AL headlight assemblies come up from time to time. I got a good deal on these so I got them :)


Also, what do you mean by Bosch lens?

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1472/23591761374_fe1e2fabcf_o.jpg
The lens you see in the pic above is a Bosch lens that comes with all AL headlights. You can notice the line in the middle of the lens... this is a tell tale sign that you have a Bosch lens installed. They are lightly frosted lens and aren't clear polished like the ZKWs are. AL headlight assemblies provide nice soft lighting and the ZKWs provide a more intense focused lighting which is what I wanted.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1661/24111920562_41933fb8f2_o.jpg
In this picture you can see the Bosch lens taken out of the assembly that holds the lens in place...

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1544/24111920472_92190e52a8_o.jpg
In the last picture you can see just how clear the ZKW lens is, which is why I did the retrofit on a perfectly good headlight assembly. I wanted to go the distance and have the absolute best lighting from a strictly OEM setup. This is it :thumbsup


Isn't the assembly whole with the lens?
That is correct. You have to take apart the headlight assembly to get to the part that holds the lens (middle picture). There are threads (Joop's DIY is a good thread that shows how to take apart the headlight assembly).

The difference in light output is like night and day. I have done this retrofit a few times so it is relatively easy for me ;) I feel like I now have aircraft lighting with this setup. Makes me smile every time :)

[Zaks]

Definitely see the difference! What are your thoughts on the retro-quik kit... https://www.theretrofitsource.com/complete-retrofit-kits/application-specific/morimoto-retro-quik-system-bmw-e46-zkw-lights-only.html#.Vo3L11JQ19c

Seems like many E46 guys are going that option. I'll keep an eye out for some AL headlights in decent condition, but mine are pretty bad so I may just end up going for this kit or something similar.

From my research, DDM tuning and similar kits aren't nearly as good as OEM?

[Johnmadd]

Oh grasshopper....

[Zaks]

Oh grasshopper....

I know I know, search :). I've been reading the 100s of threads and with the coming $1500 cooling, fogs, etc. work I just want a "quick answer" for my headlights haha. Sorry for wasting internet space.

[danewilson77]

I know I know, search :).

No. That's not what he meant at all....

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[Johnmadd]

I know I know, search :). I've been reading the 100s of threads and with the coming $1500 cooling, fogs, etc. work I just want a "quick answer" for my headlights haha. Sorry for wasting internet space.

Nono, your questions are more than welcome. It's just obvious you don't know. We will help and not tell you to search.

[Zaks]

Nono, your questions are more than welcome. It's just obvious you don't know. We will help and not tell you to search.

I appreciate that. I've been around BMW long enough to know I'm "one of those posts" now. From early 2000s especially on bimmerforums and I have many times told people to search :). I just don't have the time to do all the research and to make it worse need this asap as they're very dim (my wife's equinox halogens blow it away for Fks sake). I'll keep searching too and again, appreciate the info thus far.

[Johnmadd]

My headlights sucked also, I got lucky and bought some retrofitted one from joop. Try researching lightwerks. I hear that is the best way to go.

[Johnmadd]

I'm hhere bro, I will let someone else who knows better chime in.

[Johnmadd]

Me too on the longevity, I've had an e30 for many years, it's similar in some ways but not the same beast when the electronics come into play.

[Johnmadd]

Hi, my name is John :)

[Zaks]

Me too on the longevity, I've had an e30 for many years, it's similar in some ways but not the same beast when the electronics come into play.

Yeah I've had a couple of E30s, 325e and 325is, 5-6 E36, E34 and now this.

[Johnmadd]

I have an e34 touring that I just Re did the head on, it sounds better than the E46 now lol. I'm super happy to have someone like you here.

[Zaks]

Are the AL assemblies a simple plug & play then? The ZKW lens I assume is just for better performance, but isn't necessary. What I'm trying to ask... If I get a set of AL headlights, am I looking to simply take mine out and put the new lights in (no disassembly, etc.)?

[az3579]

From my research, DDM tuning and similar kits aren't nearly as good as OEM?

Correct, at least from a quality perspective.


Are the AL assemblies a simple plug & play then? The ZKW lens I assume is just for better performance, but isn't necessary. What I'm trying to ask... If I get a set of AL headlights, am I looking to simply take mine out and put the new lights in (no disassembly, etc.)?

They should be Plug & Play. The ZKW lens is only for a sharper cutoff, and is a personal preference thing.

[Zaks]

Well I feel stupid... After actually looking at the lens (not clear like ZKW) and the covers today, I realized I have AL lights. Probably replaced when the car was in an accident years ago 2-3 owners ago. I suspect the bad pass light was due to an improperly/loosely installed bulb. Looks like my $250 problem just went away :).


Ivan

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[az3579]

Nice!

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[cakM3]

:thumbsup


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[WOLFN8TR]

The ZKW lens is only for a sharper cutoff, and is a personal preference thing.

Gary prefers ZKW lenses and a sharper Cutoff line!! [emoji106][emoji106] [emoji6]

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[az3579]

I'm sure Gary loves cutoff lines and color flicker. I do wonder why we're talking about Gary in the third person though. :biggrin

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[cakM3]

Charrie also prefers the ZKW lens and color flicker :thumbsup ;)

[WOLFN8TR]

23571

[danewilson77]

Are the AL assemblies a simple plug & play then? The ZKW lens I assume is just for better performance, but isn't necessary. What I'm trying to ask... If I get a set of AL headlights, am I looking to simply take mine out and put the new lights in (no disassembly, etc.)?
I have AL assemblies, with ZKW lenses. Plug and play. But I have ZKW mounting brackets that have to be modified to recieve the AL headlight assemblies.

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