[nyklus]

Hello guys, so as the tittle reads my left adaptive headlight on my 08 335i is stuck looking all the way to the left, I have the adaptive headlight malfunction warning in the dash so I'm guessing either the stepper motor has gone bad or the adaptive headlight module. this happend when I didn't seal the headlight properly after changing the bulbs and water got in it after I washed the car. I really don't care about the adaptive headlight feature, so is there anyway to get the light manually looking straight w/o replacing, coding parts?

[Nickco43]

Originally Posted by nyklus

Hello guys, so as the tittle reads my left adaptive headlight on my 08 335i is stuck looking all the way to the left, I have the adaptive headlight malfunction warning in the dash so I'm guessing either the stepper motor has gone bad or the adaptive headlight module. this happend when I didn't seal the headlight properly after changing the bulbs and water got in it after I washed the car. I really don't care about the adaptive headlight feature, so is there anyway to get the light manually looking straight w/o replacing, coding parts?

There are two manual adjuster screws on each headlight. One is under a cap in the fender. If you have a cable I can remote in and code out adaptive headlights all together free of charge.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by nyklus

Hello guys, so as the tittle reads my left adaptive headlight on my 08 335i is stuck looking all the way to the left, I have the adaptive headlight malfunction warning in the dash so I'm guessing either the stepper motor has gone bad or the adaptive headlight module. this happend when I didn't seal the headlight properly after changing the bulbs and water got in it after I washed the car. I really don't care about the adaptive headlight feature, so is there anyway to get the light manually looking straight w/o replacing, coding parts?

You probably got codes. What are they?

If you can't fix it through Ista, I'd say you'll either have to code AHL out and manually adjust it, or buy a new and or used one on-line and get it coded to your car.

New new AHL headlight is about $700-850.00 depending on where you get it. Used probably a fraction of that price.

[Nickco43]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

You probably got codes. What are they?

If you can't fix it through Ista, I'd say you'll either have to code AHL out and manually adjust it, or buy a new and or used one on-line and get it coded to your car.

New new AHL headlight is about $700-850.00 depending on where you get it. Used probably a fraction of that price.

IMO it if most likely the AHL module which can be replaced without removing the headlight.

[nyklus]

Originally Posted by Nickco43

IMO it if most likely the AHL module which can be replaced without removing the headlight.

Most likely the ahl module yeah, I will buy the laptop cable to connect with the car on Amazon, I will pm you once I have to code out the feature lol I will appreciate it 👍🏻

[nyklus]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

You probably got codes. What are they?

If you can't fix it through Ista, I'd say you'll either have to code AHL out and manually adjust it, or buy a new and or used one on-line and get it coded to your car.

New new AHL headlight is about $700-850.00 depending on where you get it. Used probably a fraction of that price.

I don't know the codes. I wonder if Carly can read codes for adaptive headlight malfunction since that's the only scan tool I have at the moment in which case I will give it a try soon as I'm off work.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by nyklus

I don't know the codes. I wonder if Carly can read codes for adaptive headlight malfunction since that's the only scan tool I have at the moment in which case I will give it a try soon as I'm off work.

Carly is a decent scan tool. It probably will give you the codes for an AHL module.

If it is, you will need the bmw tools software and a very good k & d cable from beemer geeks to fix it once you get a new/ used AHL module, if that's the issue. Of course you will need at the very least a 30amp battery charger or you risk bricking your car.

[nyklus]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

Carly is a decent scan tool. It probably will give you the codes for an AHL module.

If it is, you will need the bmw tools software and a very good k & d cable from beemer geeks to fix it once you get a new/ used AHL module, if that's the issue. Of course you will need at the very least a 30amp battery charger or you risk bricking your car.

Well I just scanned the car and the code is 009CBF defective smc left / disturbed communication with stepper motorbox left, so I guess it's the stepper motor?

[nsjames]

the stepper motor is replaceable by itself.

IIRC they are the same left/right, so you could swap them and verify that the fault follows the motor.
check realoem with your vin for the part numbers.

[AandSC]

Originally Posted by nsjames

the stepper motor is replaceable by itself.

IIRC they are the same left/right, so you could swap them and verify that the fault follows the motor.
check realoem with your vin for the part numbers.

Realoem doesn’t show the horizontal stepper motor for the pre-LCI E92s. At least I couldn’t find it. The couple threads I read said only the vertical stepper is replaceable. I have an intermittent fault on my passenger horizontal stepper motor and would love to be able to replace it.

[nsjames]

that's my fail.
I didn't read closely enough. no, I don't believe the horizontal ones are replaceable.
I also don't think there's enough adjustment in the manual adjust to get it aimed correctly again. I currently have my passenger side adjust broken, so I'll be opening it up soon enough and finding out.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by nsjames

the stepper motor is replaceable by itself.

IIRC they are the same left/right, so you could swap them and verify that the fault follows the motor.
check realoem with your vin for the part numbers.

Give the guys at FCP Euro a call. They will give you a lifetime warranty on the parts you buy.

[Nickco43]

I would just code adaptive headlights out.

[ctuna]

One of the common problems reported here for those
is the control arm pops out of the ball joint.
Sometimes you can pop it back in according to
past posts.