It had to happen sooner or later. My adaptive headlights do not work anymore. I have a yellow adaptive headlight warning light on my dashboard now.

I love adaptive, but I bet those little motors in the headlights move my bulbs/reflectors, etc, thousand of times in a typical drive. I am sure one of the servo motors burned out. How will this system last 4 years, the length of my warranty?

It is a cool feature, but I just don't see it as being durable. Then again, valvetronic is controlled by an electric motor too. Will this go next?

Take it to the dealer and get it checked out. I would like to find out what is wrong with it too because I have adaptive headlights installed in my car

We have had adaptive headlights in our Lexus RX330 for almost three years and they are trouble free. I would assume that BMW engineering is just as good as Lexus and, hopefully, yours is just an anomoly.

My wife calls them the "bambi lights" after the commercial showing the Lexus driving around a curve and lighting up a baby deer in the middle of the road. At first I thought it was a gimmick but, now, I love them.

As suggested, my first call would be to the dealer and see what the service department has to say.

Gary

Some guys forget that BMW and its engineers don't make these parts. They are OEM them from other manufacturers (such as Bosch and others) to BMW specs. The faulty parts are hardly BMW's fault and are rarely parts specific to BMW alone (e.g. motors). Failure rates are never 0, so yes with more technology, the probability for problems is higher. As with the fuel pump, BMW engineers may have been burned going with a supplier that didn't meet their quality requirements, and they should (and I believe did in the case of the fuel pump) change suppliers. That is really the only thing you can fault them for, if they don't change parts in future production cycles, but we hardly know if they do anyway. Unless they specifically source low quality parts which I doubt, such part failures are just the nature of the beast.
This is not that BMW is perfect, or BMW engineers never make mistakes, but I am just highlighting that BMW is not special with facing these issue. Yes they have more problems than a Toyota or a Honda, but they also use more advanced technology (so does MB and others). And if no one was to push the envelop, we'd still be driving the tanker cars of the 60s.

just go get it fixed at the dealer.....probably wont happen again

there are a million things on your car with motors, and most last quite a while

Some guys forget that BMW and its engineers don't make these parts. They are OEM them from other manufacturers (such as Bosch and others) to BMW specs. The faulty parts are hardly BMW's fault and are rarely parts specific to BMW alone (e.g. motors). Failure rates are never 0, so yes with more technology, the probability for problems is higher. As with the fuel pump, BMW engineers may have been burned going with a supplier that didn't meet their quality requirements, and they should (and I believe did in the case of the fuel pump) change suppliers. That is really the only thing you can fault them for, if they don't change parts in future production cycles, but we hardly know if they do anyway. Unless they specifically source low quality parts which I doubt, such part failures are just the nature of the beast.
This is not that BMW is perfect, or BMW engineers never make mistakes, but I am just highlighting that BMW is not special with facing these issue. Yes they have more problems than a Toyota or a Honda, but they also use more advanced technology (so does MB and others). And if no one was to push the envelop, we'd still be driving the tanker cars of the 60s.

+1 Always the voice of reason Mryakan!!!

Okay. I took the car in. They hooked up to the computer and the problem was diagnosed that I need a new passenger side headlight unit. The control unit or motor attached to the headlight assembly is gone. Cost is $1,700. Luckily I am covered by warranty!!!!

Okay. I took the car in. They hooked up to the computer and the problem was diagnosed that I need a new passenger side headlight unit. The control unit or motor is gone. Cost is $1,700. Luckily I am covered by warranty!!!!
Yup gotta love that long warranty period. In fact that is one thing that scares me about the HID lights with or w/o the adaptive addon. They are supposed to outlast the car, but if they don't, then they are extremely costly to repair. It is not just a matter of replacing a bulb. That is the main reason I went against my temptation to retrofit 328 HIDs onto my 323 (which cannot be ordered with them from factory). The risk of something going wrong and then not being covered through warrant because it is not original equipment it too much. Ah, the price of new technology. No complaints here though.

The control unit or motor is gone. Cost is $1,700. Luckily I am covered by warranty!!!!

That is why I don't plan to own my car after the warranty period expires. I like hi-tech as much as anyone, but I shudder to think what the maintenance bill will be like on today's cars ten years from now.

The relative simplicity of cars in general from a couple decades ago keeps a large percentage of them (the worthwhile ones anyway) on the road today.

How many 2007 BMWs or Benzes or Lexi or whatever will still be on the road in 2027? I'm thinking only really enthusiastic people will be able to maintain them, but I hope I'm wrong.

The control unit or motor is gone. Cost is $1,700. Luckily I am covered by warranty!!!!

That is why I don't plan to own my car after the warranty period expires. I like hi-tech as much as anyone, but I shudder to think what the maintenance bill will be like on today's cars ten years from now.

The relative simplicity of cars in general from a couple decades ago keeps a large percentage of them (the worthwhile ones anyway) on the road today.

How many 2007 BMWs or Benzes or Lexi or whatever will still be on the road in 2027? I'm thinking only really enthusiastic people will be able to maintain them, but I hope I'm wrong.

My thoughts exactly!!!

The control unit or motor is gone. Cost is $1,700. Luckily I am covered by warranty!!!!

That is why I don't plan to own my car after the warranty period expires. I like hi-tech as much as anyone, but I shudder to think what the maintenance bill will be like on today's cars ten years from now.

The relative simplicity of cars in general from a couple decades ago keeps a large percentage of them (the worthwhile ones anyway) on the road today.

How many 2007 BMWs or Benzes or Lexi or whatever will still be on the road in 2027? I'm thinking only really enthusiastic people will be able to maintain them, but I hope I'm wrong.
With economies of scale and secondary vendors making replica parts, if history is any indication, then maintenance prices should drop. Now I'll have to say the complexity of today's cars though still limits the options in terms where you can get them fixed since not every mechanic will keep up with the technology and since the problems that do occur will likely be complex and hard to diagnose. But I am pretty sure the cost of replacing this same unit will be nowhere near $1700 5 or more years from now. But there is a chance your warranty will expire long before those prices drop, so your concern is certainly justified and shared among others including myself to some extent. I am still on the edge in terms of whether to keep buy my car at the end of the lease or just got for a newer model, and the maintenance issue is one of many reasons. We'll see.

Okay. I took the car in. They hooked up to the computer and the problem was diagnosed that I need a new passenger side headlight unit. The control unit or motor is gone. Cost is $1,700. Luckily I am covered by warranty!!!!

It is probably the control unit that sits under the headlight assembly because the adaptive lights do work intermittently. Usually, for about the first 20 minutes and then it is like the board overheats or shorts out and they stop working. Probably a shorted out board or burned out IC. The technician said it could be moisture in the control unit or a temperature sensitive situation. The part comes in tomorrow.

With economies of scale and secondary vendors making replica parts, if history is any indication, then maintenance prices should drop. Now I'll have to say the complexity of today's cars though still limits the options in terms where you can get them fixed since not every mechanic will keep up with the technology and since the problems that do occur will likely be complex and hard to diagnose. But I am pretty sure the cost of replacing this same unit will be nowhere near $1700 5 or more years from now. But there is a chance your warranty will expire long before those prices drop, so your concern is certainly justified and shared among others including myself to some extent. I am still on the edge in terms of whether to keep buy my car at the end of the lease or just got for a newer model, and the maintenance issue is one of many reasons. We'll see.

My E46 had HID lights and went 7 years with minimal maintenance costs. Whe the adaptive lights stop working, they lock in place and point straight ahead. So fixing them if they were broken and out of warranty would be optional.

With economies of scale and secondary vendors making replica parts, if history is any indication, then maintenance prices should drop.

Hopefully it stays more like cars than computers, as that line moves.

Now I'll have to say the complexity of today's cars though still limits the options in terms where you can get them fixed since not every mechanic will keep up with the technology and since the problems that do occur will likely be complex and hard to diagnose.

When I was in my teens and twenties I rebuilt some typical North American pushrod, carbureted V-8s, as did a lot of my friends, and as do many people still today.

How many people in the future will be able to do the same with a VANOS, Valvetronic, injected engine like today? Well kids are certainly a lot smarter on average today than they were back then, the modern tuner set certainly shows a lot of savvy, so hopefully lots of people will.......

Wow.. $1700 for a headlight?

I just find it strange for it to die so premature. How long have you had your car?

My passenger side headlight assembly was replaced under warranty a few weeks back. The adaptive motor was shot. Code reader said the motor was moving "too tight".... Kinda glad they say to replace the full assembly rather than some little part in it...

Wow.. $1700 for a headlight?

I just find it strange for it to die so premature. How long have you had your car?

My car is 7 months old and has 4,000 miles on it. For the first 3,000 miles, I did not use the adaptive lights because I did not want to burn out the little electric motors that turn the lights. Then I thought I should use the adaptive feature as often as possible as the car is on warranty. I got about 2 months out of using the adaptive feature before the motor or electronics burned out.

The cost is $1,700 for the whole assembly which includes the HID bi Xenon, the adaptive light, housing, igniters, electric servo motors and the computer control module. As my dealer says " if you can make one cheaper, we will buy it from you".

My passenger side headlight assembly was replaced under warranty a few weeks back. The adaptive motor was shot. Code reader said the motor was moving "too tight".... Kinda glad they say to replace the full assembly rather than some little part in it...

How many miles on your car?

Take it to the dealer and get it checked out. I would like to find out what is wrong with it too because I have adaptive headlights installed in my car

What kind of car do you have?

My passenger side headlight assembly was replaced under warranty a few weeks back. The adaptive motor was shot. Code reader said the motor was moving "too tight".... Kinda glad they say to replace the full assembly rather than some little part in it...
It is probably cheaper to replace the whole thing then send it back to the OEM for some refund and the OEM will then fix the faulty part then cycle back into some newer Bimmer. I wouldn't be surprised.

My car is 7 months old and has 4,000 miles on it. For the first 3,000 miles, I did not use the adaptive lights because I did not want to burn out the little electric motors that turn the lights. Then I thought, I should use the adaptive feature as often as possible as the car is on warranty. I got about 2 months of using the adaptive feature before the motor or electronics burned out.

How do you turn on/off the adaptive lights?

How do you turn on/off the adaptive lights?

Turning the light switch to the far left to turn on the headlights and use the adaptive headlight feature. Turn the light switch to the far right to turn on the headlights without the adaptive feature.

What kind of car do you have?

It's E90 328i Alpine White.

Your car has 4,000 miles or 4,000 km on it? Mine is only a month old and I have about 3,000 km on it

How many miles on your car?
12k now... around 8k when i got it replaced...

It's E90 328i Alpine White.

Your car has 4,000 miles or 4,000 km on it? Mine is only a month old and I have about 3,000 km on it

4,000 miles or 7,000 km.

Got my car fixed today!!! Horay!!!

The problem was a blown stepper motor. The stepper motor probably has a hall effect sensor to position the lights.

Adaptive headlights were introduced to the 3 series in the E46 model. The technician advises that the failure rate is quite low. We'll see.

If you have adaptive headlights, I advise that you always use this feature. If there is a problem, you want to have it fixed under warranty.

Turning the light switch to the far left to turn on the headlights and use the adaptive headlight feature. Turn the light switch to the far right to turn on the headlights without the adaptive feature.

I thought turning it to the left only turned on the automatic lights?

Turning the light switch to the far left to turn on the headlights and use the adaptive headlight feature. Turn the light switch to the far right to turn on the headlights without the adaptive feature.

I thought turning it to the left only turned on the automatic lights?

Turning the switch either way turns on the automatic lights. To the left is automatic with adaptive. To the right is automatic with no adaptive.

Ahh Another happy customer :) Good job.

To the left is automatic with adaptive. To the right is automatic with no adaptive.

Looking in the manual, it seems to the left is auto with adaptive, and to the right is manual without adaptive.

I did not realize turning on the lights manually disabled the adaptive.

To the left is automatic with adaptive. To the right is automatic with no adaptive.

Looking in the manual, it seems to the left is auto with adaptive, and to the right is manual without adaptive.

I did not realize turning on the lights manually disabled the adaptive.

Yes, turning the switch to the right turns the lights on and off with the ignition and turns off the adaptive.

Turning the light switch to the far left to turn on the headlights and use the adaptive headlight feature. Turn the light switch to the far right to turn on the headlights without the adaptive feature.

Silly me, I thought the A was for automatic lights. I should read the manual.

Yeah, I totally thought adaptive headlights was a gimmick, until I used them. It's great.

To the OP - are you sure you had the headlight dial in the right position? I'm guessing that BMW wouldn't replace a working mechanism...