very helpfull video!!! my situation is the same despite the fact mine is touring 530i. Front level sensor was rusty from inside and the arm was unconnected from suspension (it just hang)
Great video, just installed some new hella angel eyes on my 2000 528i, my original xenon headlights were still working great after 20 years, but needed the angel eye look finally
Super helpful. New to the BMW world and I am on a steep learning curve with all the subtle nuances. Thanks for the walkthrough, it really helped with the diagnosis process.
welp this helped me too. had a 528 for 5 years. got a 540 2 months ago. one light levels and moves. the other doesnt. however the one that doesnt, the highbeam points up into the trees and the low beam is level. i have yet to break into the light housing to see. but this has given me info, wondered for a month now what that level sensor was in the front passenger wheel. i thought it was abs, ha. the 528 did not have that
just saw this broken under my e39 and went searching to find out what it was. assumed it was a suspension height sensor, but assumed it would be for traction control or similar...never would have thought it was for headlights.
@@E39Source NCC, National Capitol Chapter. I think we're the biggest, very active. Successful day, headlight sensor and rear O2 sensors. A lift is a beautiful thing!
Did anyone notice this? Nice vid. And such freakin' stickler for details, I wondered why you allowed your tag to be exposed @16:57 . . so I had to freeze frame it. A humorous salute to our Mercedes friends: HAHA AMG . . love it. I was going to check if that one was available in Georgia then remembered my E46 won't have the same bragging rights.
Thanks for the feedback haha. I'm not secretive about license plates, I never understood why people are. I can drive through a parking lot and see hundreds of them, with VINS if I wanted them too. So why hide it for pictures/videos?
Although my 97 BMW 540i does not have the self-leveling feature, this is a very educational video. Thanks, E39Source. My car has regular halogen headlights and I would like to know if there is way for my to upgrade to projector/xenon even if the self-leveling is missing. If so, which Website and brand would you recommend for installation (forums.videos) and brand? Once again, thanks.
+Jose Bravo you can indeed upgrade in your situation. Kennan did the same thing, and there is a video on the channel about upgrading from a halogen setup, that should give you all the information you need. As for brand, OEM is best (I bought a used set for half the price of new)
Hey ***** I have a 2002 540 and last night I was entering the freeway and I floored it almost all the way and the check engine light came on and flashed about ten times and then I left off and coasted and then everything was fine, the car has 120k and just got new valve cover gaskets etc. Maybe a misfire?
Did the power output feel reduced? The computer just felt something wrong. Maybe a misfire, maybe bad oxygen sensors, maybe a faulty mass air flow meter.. it's impossible to know without the codes that the computer threw though.
***** Yes the output did feel kinda reduced although earlier today My friend coded it and heres what it said: Code 62 evaporative system purge valve, code 3e misfire random/multiple cylinders, code 35 misfire cylinder 4 any ideas what caused this maybe the purge valve? ps it happened again right after I commented while i was on the way to my gym.
@@E39Source Thanks a lot for your response brother. Both my front and rear control arm adjusters are inop. Getting new ones asap. My actual headlight internal adjusters are brand new when I redid my lights with new lenses from ECS tuning that were broken by the millions of pieces.
Thanks for all the info, Ryan. That all leaves me with one question... does all this E39 M5 info carry over to my 2001 E46 330xi? My xenon headlights are pointing down and don't adjust, similar to the problem you describe here. Your info regarding the oil changes for the oil pan, front & rear diffs, and the transfer case was excellent. Finished those about a month ago. Thanks, Gary
@@E39Source Thanks for the quick reply. The easy part is that this car doesn't get driven very often after dark. I'll dig into it a bit deeper and figure out which end has the problem and order the parts. Thanks for the advice.
I have another annoying problem and I don't know how to solve it. Left front brake disc brake less than on the right side. I can notice from right dusty wheel from brake pads and another thing, left brake disk is lttle bit rusty. It's like brake caliper doesn't have enough strength to squeeze the brake disc it just wipes the rusts (when brake pedal is pushed genlty - driving normally). When brake pedal is pushed to the limit, all 4 wheels slides on gravel but not the same as on opposite side... I have changed the caliper piston and all rubber rings. Brake fluid level is OK. No leakage was detected around the caliper. All brake system have been bled perfectly but problem wasn't solved...
That sounds like a bigger issue then. Odd that it's the closest one to the master cylinder. I would have a dealer or trained brake tech look at that soon.
Hi, mine is 2001 xenon. When i start the car and turn on the light, the day time running light will move up. When I turn the knob again to turn on the low beam light, there is no movement. Wondering if it’s the sensor issue or the adjuster. I just replaced both adjusters.
Daytime running lights may adjust the lights when the car is started, and then not again. I'm betting that this is your case, and nothing is wrong. Check the vertical aim module and LCM for any error codes.
hi, you provide very awesome videos.Who do you recommend for parts if bmw factory parts are unavailable? I am thinking about a used bmw f01 in a few years when the prices come down a little more.I have never had a german vehicle before.I know american cars quit making parts after a few years.thanks in advance for your help and I look forward to more of your great videos
Parts will be made for ten years for BMWs. When BMW stops making them, you always have craigslist, ebay, etc. I use ECS for my parts usually, but sometimes the BMW dealership is cheaper.
Hello E39 source not really related to the video but I have a 2001 530i and I was driving home when all of a sudden my abs, brake, and dsc light came on, I got home turned it off then back on and now only my disc light is on, have any idea what could be wrong? I can't turn it off thanks
You have an issue somewhere in your traction or braking system. You'll need to have it diagnosed by a dealer or pretty advanced independant shop. It could be something fairly simple like a wheel speed sensor though. Good luck!
I heard ole "Valentino" saying hello when you turned the ignition on! hehe. If you didn't know (I just recently found out) they have a new Gen2 Valentine One out now.
@@E39Source nooiicccee 👌 I'll be ordering here soon myself. (I'm still keeping my old one as well, just a nice keep sake) she has definitely put in some work over the years lol
I have a 2001 525i (Oct2000) that I have recently replaced the OEM hella halogens with new hella halogens. I've noticed a part number for the leveling adjusters for the halogen headlight that I believe were only offered with LED lights. I could never find a part number for a wiring harness and definitely don't have wiring same as LED. So my question is, do you know if the adjusting motor for halogens was added for people who may have replaced OEM LEDs with halogens cause I'm not finding an upgrade kit "trail". What do you know, if anything, about the halogen headlight adjuster? Maybe it was offered on non-usa models? I would enjoy the leveling technology if I could get it.
I'm sure you could get the auto-leveling technology for your halogen lights... but it would be a pretty big job and probably a lot of money. The xenon (not LED) lights came with it of course. I don't know how you could do it... lots of wiring harnesses would have change, and probably the LCM (light control module) and then the harnesses to the leveling sensors around the car.
Can I run mine without the auto adjusters? I pulled some xenons from a 03 and retro’d them into my 98. Can I just fix the light and adjust them? Without the auto adjusters?
No, the adjusters are part of the headlight assembly, separate from the level sensors. You'll need to either replace the headlights, or open the up and replace the broken adjusters.
Just did the adjusters on my 2000 540iA. The adjusters were literally crumbling and I just crunched the ball ends up with a pick to get them out of the sockets. If you have early model xenons, you shouldn't have to bake your headlights. You will have to cut a spot with an xacto knife or a cutting wheel with a Dremel (like I did) where BMW did a heat seal on one of the tabs the at the factory. You should be able to see it if you look closely. Not a difficult job. Just be patient and careful you should be able to do it without a lot of drama. Actually got a chance to clean out the old bits of plastic and clean the inner lenses and they really cleaned up well, considering their age and condition when I bought it.
The leveling motor connector can be tricky sometimes, I've never found out why. Make sure the locking tab on the connector is getting over the notch and then push the tab down to lock it.
Hi. Nice job man.... I have have BMW e39 today i have gotten facelift but there is no automatic adjuster so how i fix it any tips? and i plug in without and when i switch on the light its blinking and after that my old headlights are not working automatic when i switch on i must on it manual what can cause? thanks in advance .
Automatic adjuster? Are you referring to the levelers? Just adjust them manually with a phillips head or hex key on the top of the headlight. Or are you referring to the automatic position to the headlight switch? Your comment is very difficult to read.
Thanks for answer yes you are right i were confused to write what i mean. I have change my original headlight to facelift and i connect to my car but fail to work i dont know mybe i have not connect them to the right switches ? but now my old headlight are not working automatic normally when switch on the car the headlights are on but i my case they are off until i manual on it. even the parking lights are not working now. what can went wrong?
Hey, I have the preface light headlights 2000 BMW M5 and I wanted to upgrade them, but umnitza was taking a while to ship them to me ect. It that 4-5 month period of waiting I have decided I like the preface lights ( American spec), but I want to upgrade the bulbs and I need to make sure the lifts are working. Do you have any suggestions on what kind of bulbs? Also, if I ever want to buy the postface light lights again any suggestions on where you would buy them from?
Schmiedmann has the post-facelift lights (Euro spec) for cheaper, and will ship them faster. I have never used anything but the stock bulbs myself. The low-beam bulbs are D2S xenons. I would aim for a 5000-6000k (kelvin) light temperature unless you want yellow or blue or something that isn't white.
I’ve had my car for years and never could figure out what was going on . I plan in buying umnitza oem spec lights . I’ve taken my car to bmw and it still wasn’t t fixed 🤦♂️ . Don’t go to bayside bmw if you’re from nyc . Thank you man I’m changing all of this immediately after I check / have these things changed .
Hello thanks for posting the video. I`m havin a problem with my e65. It doesn`t auto aim the headlights. You said that you check the auto aim with nscexpert. Can you give me more details. I don`t know wich sensor is broken. Testing with INPA there is no error. Thanks
+Nastrusnicu NCS is for programming, it won't help you diagnose faults. check the leveling sensors (one on each side), I think they are on the control arms on your car.
In 4:19 says that he changed the LCM then that he check de LCM with NCSExpert. That's why I`m asking. Is there any way that you can activate/check the auto aim check. I need to know wich one is broken or if there any one broken.
+Nastrusnicu The LCM was replaced and coded by a dealer. I read the codes using INPA, there were none. You need to physically check the sensor as it may not throw a code.
+Nastrusnicu if the sensor is disconnected it will report an invalid reading and the headlight aim will throw a code for either the front or rear sensor.
+ahmad ali Turn the screws on the top of the headlights. You can use a large phillips bit or a hex if memory serves. The right one should be a hair higher since they illuminate the side of the road without cars coming.
Hi! My questin is, that where were you buy these stuff? Did you orderd from some kind of website? I also looking for a headlight level sensor for my e39, but I can not find the sensor arm for it. Can you send me the website addresses? Thanky you!
+E39Source Nah the big plastic strip, the black trim that runs across the entire diameter of the vehicle. Sorry I'm an asshole and I don't know how to articulate my issue properly.
The software had faults stored for both the front and rear sensor. We cleared the module, and then turned on the headlights. Only the front sensor fault returned. I had replaced the rear sensor in June, so it had the fault from the old bad sensor still.
I'm guessing the post facelift from the factory are like you said, "Halo's" - or halogen. I am curious though why the ballast says "Xenon" - does that just mean they are capable of xenon style bulbs? Sorry to be a box of questions, I am new to the BMW thing (2003 BMW 530i - Alpine White) Fell in love the 1st time I drove it. Yours is very nice as well :-) our wheels are similar too, look really good but are a pain to clean lol -- Thanks for the response man and have a good evening. Greg Gilreath - East TN
Greg, By halo I mean like halo ring, angle eye, the BMW signature circle rings. Those were added to the E39 in the 2001 'facelift'. More at e39source.com/archives/1848. If you have a ballast that says xenon, you have D2S xenon low-beam bulbs. All E39s got halogen high beams. And the halo (angel eye ring) bulbs are halogen from factory, but I have LED bulbs in mine for a brighter, whiter look.
Great DIY video. Beautiful car. I have an 01 E39 530i same color titanium silver, beautiful as well but without the muscles hahaha you know what I'm talking about hahaha
Aaa okey, cuz I goy 17" and I bet they are fake? It's a 520ia 2003 aaand I have been thinking about restoring them or buy different rims. I am not sure if those I got are OEM or not how do you tell??
Hi! My questin is, that where were you buy these stuff? Did you orderd from some kind of website? I also looking for a headlight level sensor for my e39, but I can not find the sensor arm for it. Can you send me the website addresses? Thanky you!
+Ferenc Kosztyó These parts were purchased from ECS Tuning (www.ecstuning.com). Here are the part numbers: Sensor 37146784697 Bracket 33311093703 Arm 37146752797
