Hey guys and gals, I've got a rather interesting problem. This is for the drivers side headlight only. To my knowledge the passenger side has no issues.

I have an '03 mini with the factory xenons. Starting a few months ago the drivers side headlight likes to "vibrate" as best as i can describe it. Essentially its flickering SUPER fast and I can notice it at night when focusing at the beam on the pavement or looking at the car in front of me.

Now, this only starts to occur after igniting the bulbs, and breaking.

Often under breaking (heavier-ish breaking) the bulb will actually flicker off and then re-ignite. To me while driving it looks like the bulb flashes. Usually only does it once per hard breaking session.

Under very mild breaking I usually get the "shimmer" or "vibrating" effect. Sometimes this results in it becoming less and less stable and all of a sudden the light will go out completely. This happens after breaking, but can occur while stopped, moving, or even after re-accelerating, but only occurs after the headlight first "vibrates"Is this a ballast issue? The ignition seems to be working fine. I have not pulled the bulb (lazy i know) to see if it is at all damaged (was the problem in my buddies M3 that I diagnosed. His would ignite but not stay lit. Bulb was bad)

As I said, its an '03. 120k Miles. I got it at 63kMiles and have not changed the bulbs since I owned the car. Not sure if original owner ever changed them either. I turn on the lights when i get in the car usually by instinct. So they run most of the time.

 

Sounds like a similar ballast issue I had happen to me in an E46 a few times. Does the light output look dull?

-Jorge

 

not normally. Just as bright as the functioning (passenger) headlight. It does dimm slightly when it flickers (before it goes out). The problem does seem to be intermittent however. No problems in the last 2 weeks (that i have noticed). But then again sometimes it will be fine for 3 months, then go out 5 times a day for a week or two, then start working fine again. I think I may just cough up the cash and either get new ballasts, or do my headlight project.

 

Had the same thing with my 03 completely random, problem ended up being the ballast was going out. I replaced with new ballasts and cleaned the hood grounds and the lights were was like new again.

 

but i don't wanna have to pay for a new ballast *sobs* they is soooo expensive XD. ugh. oh well. what's gotta be done has to be done.
-> headlight project time.