Thanks to the DIYs here (and one from E46 fanatics), I took apart my driver's side headlight last night. Of course I didn't remember all the details and didn't print it out, so I almost broke the adaptive leveling connector and the black ridged trim piece that snaps in between the low and high beam bowls. And I spent 30 minutes trying to get the projector bowl out the back--fail! Finally I did take it apart properly and now all the talk about lens, bi-Xenon shutter, igniter, ballast/transformer, and headlight adjutstment make sense to me!
For example I thought there was only one aiming dial for up-down adjustment, didn't know you could adjust left-right. And didn't realize there are TWO servos in there, one for bi-Xenon shutter and other for auto-leveling. Previously assumed the auto-leveling was done by the bi-Xenon shutter--silly me! Also I understand how angel eyes are fitted--mine are Umnitza but didn't know that until last night (installed by PO).
The bowl was burnt worse than I thought from previously just peaking at the back; it has a small crack in center of the most burnt part. Will post pix later. I lined the top 1/3rd of the bowl with aluminum foil and tonight will see if that helps. Then I can put in the new D2S bulbs I got from Khoalty. Thanks to this forum, and some hours of work in the garage, I feel confident enough to retrofit new projector bowls if only some trimming and drilling is required. But hoping the aluminum foil and new bulbs will hold me over until they have a recall on these.
Interesting, I didn't take off my passenger side light, but the harness plug sockets and transformer/ballast setup look different on that side. ????
Edit: Adding pics of burnt projector bowl
Attachment 2922Attachment 2924Attachment 2923
