Xenon Headlight Flickering

[Will ZCPM3]

This has been going on for probably 8 plus years now. Where should I start? Bulbs? Ballast? etc?

[Slideways]

Bulbs, swap L & R and then move to ignitor.

[antknee]

yeah ive had issues in the past and once it was the ballast, the other was the bulb, and the more recent one was the ignitor which i had to disassemble the headlight to replace.

Its really a matter of elimination to determine what the issue is in your case. I would start with what Slideways said...swapping the bulbs is least invasive....then the ballasts. Unfortunately if that doesn't solve it, the headlight disassembly is needed for the ignitor swap.

I bought a ballast and ignitor used...not sure if the ignitor is sold as a separate unit.

[Lukem3]

If you've had the issue for so long I would personally just start with 2 new bulbs. You can swap them over but chances are they don't have much life left anyways, and they're not as expensive as they used to be

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[Will ZCPM3]

Thanks all, good recommendations so far. Bulbs are original to car, I'll look into replacements first.

[Lukem3]

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-Standard-Authentic-Xenon-Headlight/dp/B01317Y612/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=philips+d2s&qid=1619211887&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyWTdXM0c2N0dIQ1E0JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDM5NjI1MkwyMVE4VDFORkc4MSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzcyNDU0MTNTNDQxQjg2Q05VRyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

Because of how Amazon works you may get an authentic or a fake. Order them then check the number on the Phillips page. If they're fake Amazon will refund or swap depending what you want to do. These have a better color imo than aftermarket and beats paying the $100+ for bmw stamped. Oe is Phillips

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[Shonky]

^^ Factory bulbs were Osram on mine

[terra]

OE bulbs are Osram 66040s. Those are no longer made. 66240 replaced them. Philips 85122+ is the Philips equivalent. Nowadays both Philips and Osram have bulbs that get brighter and whiter.

[T.J.]

For me flickering was ballasts. The 04s are known to have a bad batch of ballasts... might have carried into 05

[Mystic3]

My (04)were replaced under warranty in 08

[Will ZCPM3]

For me flickering was ballasts. The 04s are known to have a bad batch of ballasts... might have carried into 05

Interesting, mine is a 12/2004 build date but is 2005 model.