E83 X3 3.0d 2006 155,000mls total failure

[Alan Gunn]

I take it just a small part of the light is working under 50%.
If that is so then disconnect it and it will pass the mot.
Strange but true.

[rockwell]

Thanks Alan, the year before last it was an advisory. At the last MOT in JUne they ignored it. My local mechanic suggested putting a strip of tape over it but ideally I would like to find a replacement. Probably my best bet is a scrap yard.

[Alan Gunn]

I did see a fix for it and did fix mine but it was around 7 years ago.
All it entailed was to soldier a jumper wire on the board.
Will look for it.

[marti]

If you remove it and get the part number and key that in google

[rockwell]

I tried that Marti, still can't find one!

[rockwell]

The headlights on my 2006 e83 3.0d are slowly becoming more candle like, particularly as everyone seems to have blinding LED lights these days.
I have put Osram H7 220 Night Breakers in my wife's 125i and there is a definite improvement.

Could anyone recommend a similar option for the X3?

[rockwell]

Just checked and the Osram Night Breakers seem to fit the X3. I would prefer LED but believe its an MOT fail to fit in Halogen lights.

[X5Sport]

It is if the lamp units aren’t approved for use of LEDs, as is fitting HID bulbs in Halogen approved lamp units. It’s to do with the reflector type being different as the HID arc/LED ‘hot spot’ is in a different place to that of a filament lamp. That causes glare.

[Alan Gunn]

Basically if it didn't come new with them then it's a mot fail that is what the bible say's.
If you fitted new lights then you might get away with it but up to the tester on the day.
Retired now but was a tester for years and my m8 who test's my cars always ribb's me over my led number plate lights but i get away with them.
I just say to him get a life lol.

[sapphireblack]

With Philips and Osram making much of the fact their LED chip positioning mimicks OE halogens filament position, is there now a positive argument to use them?

The UK has its own criteria as we know, but fwiw i fitted LED bulbs, H7, H9, H11 in my 2005 Touareg kept in Greece,, unsurprisingly the light was vastly better and didn't arouse any interest at test time.

I've fitted H11 Philips LEDs in the cornering lights, (E71) and the difference is very significant.

[X5Sport]

A lot will depend upon whether Philips/Osram have gained type approval (the correct ‘E’ marking) for normal use rather than for ‘show’ use.

[sapphireblack]

My purchases were generally NoS deals and all a while ago. The packaging made no claims about legality as i recall, but in Greece, that's pretty academic. The packaging and general advertising i read here simply make a point about LED chip placement.

The H11s in the E71s cornering lights are not illuminated often or for long. I dont recall when i last encountered actual fog

[X5Sport]

From memory, I don’t think there’s an issue with fogs at all. I believe they just have to work if fitted. The challenge is for the main headlights. Those are the ones MOT Testers now have to look more closely at.