Accepted Answer

Hi, the bulb failure detection system normally would be able to check the bulbs without turning them on, by putting small amount of current through them without actually lighting the bulbs, this allows the system to know if the bulb filaments are intact.

Now that you have xenon ballasts hooked up instead of regular bulbs, the light module is still coded to check the bulbs, if it were coded for xenons it wouldn't check the bulbs until the lights are turned on.

Now you aren't able to code the module differently, but you can try to fool the system into thinking the bulbs are there.
This would be done by installing small bulbs in parallel with the headlight power wires.
Or tap into the parking light wires, and run them parallel to the headlight low beam wires.
Since the parking lights come on when the headlights are on, this shouldn't cause an issue.

Expert:	bimmaster
Pos. Feedback:	99.7 %
Accepts:	927
Answered:	9/1/2009

BMW Technician

3 years dealer experience, master bmw tech