Dipped light failure on halogen cluster

calmac · 03-17-2025, 03:29 PM

Hi all new boy here to the forum...had my f34 for about 4 years and have managed to fix any issue I have had, until now....

So approx 3 years ago I fitted two aftermarket LED Nighteye lights to the dipped headlights. These bulbs had cooling fans and worked great. Two weeks ago one failed so without thinking about it I bought more LED bulbs (via ebay, sorry. But not as sorry as I am now) fitted them and they worked....but the car showed an error, I now realise you are supposed to change the settings for LED bulbs. Then they stopped working a day or so later, so I put the one working previous bulb back in, which worked. Then proceeded to get a similar replacement. Fitted them and again they worked but with an error coming up for the right light only. Then only the one on the right stopped working again and now even with a halogen bulb it will not light up.

Having spoken to a mechanic (not an auto electrician, none in the area) he can't help and thinks it is a module. But as far as I know the halogen light clusters don't have their own module. Only the FEM in the footwell, is that right?? Does that need replaced/fixed??

From https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2150121 I can see that Bimmercode is mentioned and may be able to help me here. Does anyone know if it can? I have a V-Link OBD2 that connects and shows me faults. But I cannot clear or change them without purchasing Bimmercode. Will buying it help??

Apologies for the long post (especially for my first one) but I am quite stuck as to what to do next to get this light working again. I should mention that all other lights in the cluster are working. High beam, DRL, sidelight, indicator...all of them! Just the dipped that has stopped. I have checked all fuses and all are ok.

Thanks in advance for any help that anyone can give!

Oksamit78 · 03-18-2025, 08:11 AM

Just to confirm: "dipped" light is the low beam that is normally used at night without blinding oncoming traffic, right?

Bimmercode should have been used on the first place 4 years ago when you installed the LED bulbs the first time. It allows to activate LED lights conversion options (example of the Bimmercode menu for FEM in Demo mode):

There could be an issue with FEM at this moment. Do some searching on this board to see if there is a solution to test or reset the FEM.

Also, read through this thread:
https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1619375

Good luck.

calmac · 03-18-2025, 01:40 PM

Yes, dipped headlight is low beam term here in Scotland.

I had no idea Bimmercode existed until last week as never had a need for it before.

From what I have read I think that the light has shut down to protect itself from the cycle of shorts that have been mentioned. I've just got in touch with a ECU tuner that I have used before to see if thinks he can help with the clearing of any fault codes as I don't have a Foxwell NT510 and if he can't help I will try Bimmercode myself. Failing all that it looks like a trip to the local dealership or BMW Specialist to see if they can do it for me.

Thanks for the steer on that other thread. Good info in there to go on.

Oksamit78 · 03-18-2025, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calmac

Yes, dipped headlight is low beam term here in Scotland.

I had no idea Bimmercode existed until last week as never had a need for it before.

From what I have read I think that the light has shut down to protect itself from the cycle of shorts that have been mentioned. I've just got in touch with a ECU tuner that I have used before to see if thinks he can help with the clearing of any fault codes as I don't have a Foxwell NT510 and if he can't help I will try Bimmercode myself. Failing all that it looks like a trip to the local dealership or BMW Specialist to see if they can do it for me.

Thanks for the steer on that other thread. Good info in there to go on.

Download Bimmerlink for free from App store. It will allow you to scan the car with Blue Tooth OBD connection and see the codes if there are any. It won't allow you to clear them, but, at least, you will see if there are any.

calmac · 03-19-2025, 02:10 AM

So I now have Bimmerlink and Bimmercode on my phone. My understanding is that I can see the codes on Bimmerlink and then potentially clear those with Bimmercode...

Will have a look this afternoon at work to see what I can figure out in between dreaded meetings!

Thanks again.

Oksamit78 · 03-19-2025, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calmac

So I now have Bimmerlink and Bimmercode on my phone. My understanding is that I can see the codes on Bimmerlink and then potentially clear those with Bimmercode...

Not exactly...
BimmerLink: see/clear codes, battery state/registration, operating parameters and etc. Purchased version allows code clearance, registration of the battery and several other things.
BimmerCode: coding only of the features. Without purchasing - you can see the current coding. Purchased version allows to re-code the features the way you want.

calmac · 03-19-2025, 03:46 PM

Excellent, thanks for clarifying.

At this point all I want to do is clear this code out so I can just get the headlight working again. Then I will just put a halogen bulb back in!

I just connected Bimmerlink up to the car and it says I have two faults in the FEM. As I have not purchased I cannot see what they are, but on checking the permanent error section it comes up as zero. So I am hopeful that purchasing and clearing will end this little saga for me.

calmac · 03-20-2025, 02:29 PM

Well that didn't work unfortunately.

Purchased Bimmerlink and it shows that there is a fault in the right low beam/dipped light. This is a short, as expected, and I hoped that it was simply a case of deleting the fault out and then the light would work again. Not so. On deleting the fault it is showing up again immediately. So there is something else going on. Could it be as simple as I've moved one of the wires when removing the old bulbs??

Anyway, I'm now at the point where I think only a competent garage can help. There is a local BMW specialist here who I am already booked in with. So will see what they say. Honestly can't believe how much of a pain in the ass this is....

Anyone have any last ditch ideas?? Buy a new car??

Cheers

Oksamit78 · 03-20-2025, 03:24 PM

This is unfortunate... RealOEM shows that there are no modules in pre-LCI cars with halogen-bulb-equipped headlights. If you are having a "short" error without the headlight module, than the next thing upstream is the FEM itself. Unless you carefully inspect the wiring for the insulation degradation first.

Also, open the cover (item 13) and carefully review internal wiring that connects to the dipped/low beam bulb. Previous gens of the cars had notorious issue with insulation of internal wiring ageing, crumbling off and then shortening the wiring inside the headlights.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=63_1350

calmac · 03-21-2025, 01:44 PM

Thanks for the diagram. I think this is my last option before the car goes into the garage.

To be very wet here the next couple of days and I don't have a dry space to place the car in...will need to wait for the next dry day and some good daylight to investigate this possibility.

Appreciate you continuing to try and help!

03-17-2025, 03:29 PM	#1
calmac New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: F34 320d Join Date: Mar 2025 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	Dipped light failure on halogen cluster Hi all new boy here to the forum...had my f34 for about 4 years and have managed to fix any issue I have had, until now.... So approx 3 years ago I fitted two aftermarket LED Nighteye lights to the dipped headlights. These bulbs had cooling fans and worked great. Two weeks ago one failed so without thinking about it I bought more LED bulbs (via ebay, sorry. But not as sorry as I am now) fitted them and they worked....but the car showed an error, I now realise you are supposed to change the settings for LED bulbs. Then they stopped working a day or so later, so I put the one working previous bulb back in, which worked. Then proceeded to get a similar replacement. Fitted them and again they worked but with an error coming up for the right light only. Then only the one on the right stopped working again and now even with a halogen bulb it will not light up. Having spoken to a mechanic (not an auto electrician, none in the area) he can't help and thinks it is a module. But as far as I know the halogen light clusters don't have their own module. Only the FEM in the footwell, is that right?? Does that need replaced/fixed?? From https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2150121 I can see that Bimmercode is mentioned and may be able to help me here. Does anyone know if it can? I have a V-Link OBD2 that connects and shows me faults. But I cannot clear or change them without purchasing Bimmercode. Will buying it help?? Apologies for the long post (especially for my first one) but I am quite stuck as to what to do next to get this light working again. I should mention that all other lights in the cluster are working. High beam, DRL, sidelight, indicator...all of them! Just the dipped that has stopped. I have checked all fuses and all are ok. Thanks in advance for any help that anyone can give!
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03-18-2025, 08:11 AM	#2
Oksamit78 Captain 460 Rep 764 Posts Drives: E39, E90, F30 & F34 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Mississauga, ON iTrader: (11)	Just to confirm: "dipped" light is the low beam that is normally used at night without blinding oncoming traffic, right? Bimmercode should have been used on the first place 4 years ago when you installed the LED bulbs the first time. It allows to activate LED lights conversion options (example of the Bimmercode menu for FEM in Demo mode): There could be an issue with FEM at this moment. Do some searching on this board to see if there is a solution to test or reset the FEM. Also, read through this thread: https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1619375 Good luck. __________________ 2003 E39 530i 5-Speed w/ M Spec, Sapphire/Black, M54B30, Active Autowerke Perf Tune 2010 E90 328i XDrive, Space Gray/Saddle Brown, N52B30A 2010 Lancer GTS 5-Speed, Black Pearl/Black, 4B12 2015 F30 335i XDrive w/ M Sport Pack, Alpine White/Black, N55B30M0 2017 F34 340i XDrive w/ M Sport Pack, Azure II /Black, B58B30M0, Dinan Stage 1 Last edited by Oksamit78; 03-18-2025 at 08:17 AM..
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03-18-2025, 01:40 PM	#3
calmac New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: F34 320d Join Date: Mar 2025 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	Yes, dipped headlight is low beam term here in Scotland. I had no idea Bimmercode existed until last week as never had a need for it before. From what I have read I think that the light has shut down to protect itself from the cycle of shorts that have been mentioned. I've just got in touch with a ECU tuner that I have used before to see if thinks he can help with the clearing of any fault codes as I don't have a Foxwell NT510 and if he can't help I will try Bimmercode myself. Failing all that it looks like a trip to the local dealership or BMW Specialist to see if they can do it for me. Thanks for the steer on that other thread. Good info in there to go on.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-19-2025, 02:10 AM	#5
calmac New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: F34 320d Join Date: Mar 2025 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	So I now have Bimmerlink and Bimmercode on my phone. My understanding is that I can see the codes on Bimmerlink and then potentially clear those with Bimmercode... Will have a look this afternoon at work to see what I can figure out in between dreaded meetings! Thanks again.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-19-2025, 03:46 PM	#7
calmac New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: F34 320d Join Date: Mar 2025 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	Excellent, thanks for clarifying. At this point all I want to do is clear this code out so I can just get the headlight working again. Then I will just put a halogen bulb back in! I just connected Bimmerlink up to the car and it says I have two faults in the FEM. As I have not purchased I cannot see what they are, but on checking the permanent error section it comes up as zero. So I am hopeful that purchasing and clearing will end this little saga for me.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-20-2025, 02:29 PM	#8
calmac New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: F34 320d Join Date: Mar 2025 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	Well that didn't work unfortunately. Purchased Bimmerlink and it shows that there is a fault in the right low beam/dipped light. This is a short, as expected, and I hoped that it was simply a case of deleting the fault out and then the light would work again. Not so. On deleting the fault it is showing up again immediately. So there is something else going on. Could it be as simple as I've moved one of the wires when removing the old bulbs?? Anyway, I'm now at the point where I think only a competent garage can help. There is a local BMW specialist here who I am already booked in with. So will see what they say. Honestly can't believe how much of a pain in the ass this is.... Anyone have any last ditch ideas?? Buy a new car?? Cheers
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03-20-2025, 03:24 PM	#9
Oksamit78 Captain 460 Rep 764 Posts Drives: E39, E90, F30 & F34 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Mississauga, ON iTrader: (11)	This is unfortunate... RealOEM shows that there are no modules in pre-LCI cars with halogen-bulb-equipped headlights. If you are having a "short" error without the headlight module, than the next thing upstream is the FEM itself. Unless you carefully inspect the wiring for the insulation degradation first. Also, open the cover (item 13) and carefully review internal wiring that connects to the dipped/low beam bulb. Previous gens of the cars had notorious issue with insulation of internal wiring ageing, crumbling off and then shortening the wiring inside the headlights. https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=63_1350 __________________ 2003 E39 530i 5-Speed w/ M Spec, Sapphire/Black, M54B30, Active Autowerke Perf Tune 2010 E90 328i XDrive, Space Gray/Saddle Brown, N52B30A 2010 Lancer GTS 5-Speed, Black Pearl/Black, 4B12 2015 F30 335i XDrive w/ M Sport Pack, Alpine White/Black, N55B30M0 2017 F34 340i XDrive w/ M Sport Pack, Azure II /Black, B58B30M0, Dinan Stage 1
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03-21-2025, 01:44 PM	#10
calmac New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: F34 320d Join Date: Mar 2025 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the diagram. I think this is my last option before the car goes into the garage. To be very wet here the next couple of days and I don't have a dry space to place the car in...will need to wait for the next dry day and some good daylight to investigate this possibility. Appreciate you continuing to try and help!
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