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Auto Lights

Discuss the problems with your X5 (E53).
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Denis O
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Location: Maidstone

Auto Lights

Post by Denis O » Sun Nov 25, 2012 8:19 am

Here's an odd ball that is happening to the 06.

When I first bought the car, on the drive back from Aberdeen I put the headlamp switch onto "Auto". An hour or so into the journey I got a check low beam warning and low and behold, the nearside low beam was out. Once the ignition had been turned on and off both low beams were fine and for the last hour of the jouney they worked perfectly in Auto mode.

Since then the same thing has happened a couple of times so I now just use the lights in the normal way (non Auto) and never had the nearside go out since.

Yesterday I thought I'd try Auto again and within 5 secs I got the warning and the nearside went out. Ignition off, back on and lights switched on normally and back to 2 lights and no problems.

Anyone had this before and can tell me of an easy, cheap fix.
06 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.2 SC
05 Mercedes SL350

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kkodal78
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Auto Lights

Post by kkodal78 » Sun Nov 25, 2012 9:20 am

Do you have xenons? Maybe after market?  Ballast do act weird with auto lights if it is aftermarket. Not all of them do but some.
2005(55) VW TouranTDI met. black

Denis O
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Location: Maidstone

Re: Auto Lights

Post by Denis O » Sun Nov 25, 2012 4:11 pm

They are Xenons but factory fit....unlike the 04 car which has aftermarket Xenons which work perfectly in Auto mode  ::)
06 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.2 SC
05 Mercedes SL350

dinger205
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Re: Auto Lights

Post by dinger205 » Sun Nov 25, 2012 10:36 pm

Sounds like a ballast is on its way out,
Swap ballasts left to right and re test, if the headlight goes out on the other side then you know its the ballast,
Same also applies the the bulbs

Denis O
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Re: Auto Lights

Post by Denis O » Mon Nov 26, 2012 4:14 pm

[quote="dinger205"]
Sounds like a ballast is on its way out,
Swap ballasts left to right and re test, if the headlight goes out on the other side then you know its the ballast,
Same also applies the the bulbs
[/quote]

I could understand the ballast issue if the problem was present in both auto and manual modes but its only in auto. I'll give the swap round a go to see if it makes a difference.
06 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.2 SC
05 Mercedes SL350

Raj
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Re: Auto Lights

Post by Raj » Mon Nov 26, 2012 10:05 pm

Maybe the LCM/switch itself if only effects when in auto mode.
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