2012 BMW Headlight Module Not Working Diag & Fix

In this video I show The struggles of dealing with water damaged done too the xenon headlight assemblies and how they burn up the headlight control module inside of them. I also show how to diagnose the system and how it operates and the affects of aftermarket parts.

[@halemotors4084]

Really Enjoyed that! Fab video, if only customers knew how tough our job is sometimes.

[@DTEAuto]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@neverstoplearning382]

This is pure gold. Thank you Sadel

[@DTEAuto]

👍

[@1kontrabida]

Man i feel the struggle been in that situation , ur video is spot on…thanks for psoting this video Water damage is on the top list of things u want to avoid, oxidation spreads like no other and if u dont replace whole harness, you will playing catchup on fault codes and it will end to be wire that got water damage and the corrosion traveled inside the wire which u wont know till u splice the wire. Id say clean the wires as much as u can and check the wires everytime u do an oil change or if possible every other month because some of the damage will comeback and if ur able catch it this time it will be very helpful on the life of the part or the car.

[@seanwallace2615]

awesome video! Thanks a lot.

[@JoelAutomotiveInaction]

Another great diagnostic 😊

[@DTEAuto]

Thanks again!

[@gutnick]

On my 2012 BMW 535i, I had condensation impact my left turn, headlight aiming and angel lights. The module from amazon was an easy replacement. You can access it from the door in the wheel well. It's easier if you remove the tire. No coding needed.

[@jordysandino6577]

Hola primo . Bonito video . Una pregunta ¿ como vio actividades del Lin si no conectó el osiloscopio a ningún cable ? Solo toco la manija de la puerta y un módulo conectado? Espero comprenda mi pregunta

[@jordysandino6577]

Otra pregunta primo ¿ será que con el Autel que usted usa puedo programar un eis?

[@vickenkaragozian2041]

Great diagnosis, Wondering why you didn't scope the LIN bus with the aftermarket headlight modules and with the factory modules to see the difference. Thank you.

[@DTEAuto]

I personally was just looking to see that the FRM was not damaged and was able to send out a LIN bus command, I am not sure if I would have seen a difference in the LIN but without testing it I won't know.

[@1MiketheMechanic]

I don't do much BMW work but I have learned anything over a 3 series always gets factory parts straight from BMW. Even spark plugs and filters.

[@conormcphilemy5487]

Hey, did you ever get the halo lights to work on the drivers side? And if so how did you manage to do it? Thanks in advance.

[@formulajoe2]

My 2011 E92 just lost both of its headlights at the same time and I’m getting ready to start this same journey, or so it appears. The headlights have a lot of moisture/condensation in them so I suspect the modules. Strange that they BOTH quit at the same time though. Could one module somehow take out/damage the other module or possibly affect the RFM in a way where both would quit at the same time? I dread this stuff!

[@DTEAuto]

I don't believe one could take out the other. I would check if you have any codes in the frm or if you can communicate with it.

[@DuaneDonaldson]

The same with Aftermarket LIN Alternators, you need to scope the LIN HEADER to see if the 2 modules, OEM & AM are speaking the same Header bits, it not, they are not compatible. If you simply look at the Header, the first several bits, you will see if they are the same or not. NEXT question, is there a compatible AM part, maybe, but you got the wrong part number more than likely or there is no part number for your application? Thank you for the long case study.

[@DTEAuto]

on this one there were two options only for the module, one was for halogen and the other was for xenon, I obviously ordered the xenon ones. And I'm not sure if any aftermarket ones would work to be honest after this experience

[@junejune5808]

Hi, I have the same plug harness is there any way you can tell me if you know the pin numbers and color wire meanings which is which ???

[@junejune5808]

Please Help

[@harryhaus4489]

It is frustration to learn after all your hard work it was the cheap part, great job. I bought the same part VEMO part from FCPEuro, saving a $180, and now I am asking them for a refund and buy the OEM part. The extra time we bought spent was not worth the savings.😊😊 Did you get a refund for you parts?

[@DTEAuto]

This definitely was frustrating to go through, and yes I got refunded

[@ryder2shae]

Awesome video. I have a similar issue. Installed an aftermarket headlight driver module. It works fine but if the car sits for a day, it looses LIN communication. Then you either has to unplug the headlight and plug it back in or do a battery reset. Then it works fine until the car sits for a day. Got me all confused. Do you think it's the aftermarket module?

[@DTEAuto]

I would be very keen to say that it is definitely a very good possibility it is causing your issues.

[@ryder2shae]

@@DTEAuto you get what you paid for. Thanks for the reply. 🙏

[@ryder2shae]

@@DTEAuto I want to give you an update. I replaced the module with another brand from Amazon and no issues so far.

[@Dark21077]

Wich tool you use? Nice video 😊

[@DTEAuto]

Autel IM608

[@oscararmenta1593]

Man! This is exactly the problem I have. Where you get those multimeter tips? What is the name? In my case is angel eye (passenger side), not working.

[@DTEAuto]

the tips are from the brand power probe

[@djosbun]

It’s a shame when you have to cross your fingers in hopes non-OEM parts work.

[@joeyb19601]

OMG YOU ARE ONE BAD ASS MF. UNF. ING BELEAVEABLE I can't even put it in to words my brother this one of the best videos I have ever seen thank you very much your definitely 1 of the BMW GOD'S TY FOR YOUR VERY HARD WORK JGBJR.

[@DTEAuto]

Thank you for watching!👍

[@user-hh8tw1gf4n]

Boss what's meant d flash and p flash

[@DTEAuto]

it's just different "storage" sections of where information is held. Information like vehicle equipment and configuration and options and operational instructions and so on, sometimes it too can contain immobilizer and vin information. If one is not sure where important information is stored, it is good practice to copy both the D and P flash

[@butbut948]

why don't you do online coding after mcu data repair?

[@DTEAuto]

I did end up doing coding of it with the Autel and the server files, that's how I got it to match the vehicle options as opposed to when it was first plugged in it was looking for options from the last vehicle it came out of

[@hansfreekit]

Oh no. I just bought a 535i 2009 with one headlight and blinker not working. I thought it was just a bulb to replace. Looks like I’m in for a huge garage bill. What a pain.

[@DTEAuto]

sounds like a module issue as like the one in the video.

[@hansfreekit]

thank you , yes, I ordered a new one. Where would I go to get it coded? Any good garage? @@DTEAuto

[@DTEAuto]

What part of the country are you located in? and did you get an oem unit?

[@hansfreekit]

Yes, and I'm in France so.. a bit far.@@DTEAuto

[@probedwarsplayer2116]

Where is your location?? 🙏🙏🙏

[@DTEAuto]

dteauto.com

[@buniyaminadewusi8593]

I was here first

[@mahmoudhantouli5434]

Good morning my friend I see you a lot of BMW's I'm sorry to ask you this question why u don't buy hexprog?

[@NewLevelAuto]

Exactly right!

[@DTEAuto]

For the time being, I haven't found a time where I believe I would have needed it to get out of a "jam" with a BMW specifically. But that all goes me saying that because at the same time I do not know all of the Hexprogs capabilities specifically towards bmw's. Where I would believe I would need different tooling is when I get to a point where I have to send something out, or call someone in, which so far, with the situations I've been dealt, I still haven't been "stuck." Like this vehicle and situation for instance, the tooling was fine and not a hinderance, more than capable of doing what it presented it could do, as long as the components are correct (like having the oem modules it finally performed initialize), it even was capable of performing the "MCU Repair" with the "quick one button" deal (that FRM in this situation did not need but still got it performed). Basically, what I am saying to answer your question is that I haven't "felt" the "need" to search for other tooling up to this point because I haven't been disappointed and left hanging multiple times to get to a frustrated point of needing a second or third outlet. I'm not oppose to the hexprog (or other tools), I just don't know what different it could offer in some of these situations, maybe if you have some pointers on what it could benefit me with it would lead me to pull the trigger on one. Thanks for watching