Hi Folks, I searched a lot and could not find an answer or a hint on what is going on with my MCS '08 headlights.

The headlight Low Beam works fine on both sides but the High Beam does not work even though the blue light indicator on the dash shows it is on (when I activate it)

Initially I thought maybe the H13 Halogen Bulbs high beam filaments were bad on both sides. So I replaced both bulbs and I am still having the same exact problem.

I would really appreciate any help or input on what to do next or where to look for te problem. I bought my MCS about a month ago and I am enjoying it lot and learning ... Thanks

 

I have the same problem....please help us somebody!!

 

Have you consulted with the dealer on a possible steering column stalk issue?
Search the archives; you're not the first person with this issue.
However, if I recall correctly, it's been easily rectified.

- Erik

 

Thanks Erik. No I haven't consulted with the dealer as I was hoping to get a solution from the experts on this board.

As I mentioned when I toggle the steering column stalk the headlight blue light comes on and stays but the high beam doesn't light up. I will do some more searching in the hope that someone may have found the source of the problem.

 

Thanks Erik!

No I haven't contacted the dealer yet and I am hoping to find a solution with the help of the NAM community.

What's puzzling me is that the high beam blue light indicator comes on and stays whenever I toggle the Stalk. Could the steering column Stalk be faulty? or something went wrong with the wiring?

I'll do some more search in hope of finding some tips on how to diagnose the problem.

 

That's a tall-tale sign of a failing headlight controller stalk.

- Erik

 

Thanks again Erik! and I appreciate your expertize.

I enjoy working on my car and does the replacement of the Headlight Stalk require any special tools for dismantling of the steering wheel to get access to the headlight lever? I just have basic tools and enough skills.

 

While in most cars this is an indication that the stalk is failing, but it is not a failing headlight stalk in the MINI. All of the power for the lighting comes from the FRM module.

Since the high beam indicator is working on the dash the SZL module is sending the signal of the button press. The FRM module controls and handles all of the lighting. There must be an issue with the wiring, bulbs, or the FRM module program or physical issue.

Get a multimeter out and test to see if the wire that powers the high beam filament is getting power. If not, then you will probably need a trip to the dealer for a program update or replacement of the FRM.

Now that I think about it, have your headlights been converted from the XENON HID? Was this car always yours? I am suspicious that the car used to be setup for HID because the signal for the high beam just opens a physical shutter.

 

Strobeyprobey, I bought the car used from a non Mini dealer and I've had it for a couple of months.

I found out that this car originally had the Xenon HID lights and was involved in a minor front accident. Your guess was absolutely RIGHT ...!

Now that half of the mystery is solved ... What do you think the problem is? Is there anything I could do myself to remedy the problem or do I need to visit the Dealer for a Program Update (as you stated in your message).

Thanks a million,

EK

 

The only thing you can do physically is install the xenon housings.

If you have NCS Expert and the programming cable (see electrical mod section) you can do the programming yourself. Or find someone in your area with the setup to give you hand.

Otherwise the dealer will have to do it, and then your dealer will need to contact MINI to get a new Vehicle Order created for your vehicle.

 

Appreciate all the help. I don't have any programming tools yet but plan on buying one in the near future.

 

Strobeyprobey, I did buy a Programming Cable from ECUTools and installed the 'Mini Cooper Standard Tools 5.0' on a MAC laptop running Windows XP in Virtual Mode (Parallels for Windows) as the software is not compatible with Windows 7-64bit.

I got everything working and was able to access my ECU with NCS Expert and read my VIN # successfully. I went as far as reading the car's modules. From here I was unsure as to which FRM2 Module I should select in order to Read and then Modify for fixing my High-beam functionality.

I would appreciate any guidance or references. Also, in the WORK folder under C:\NCSEXPER there are a bunch of Trace files. Can I delete those files or are they needed? Thanks

EK

 

Okay...So what you will want to do is look for the PDF called "USING NCS TO CHANGE VO.pdf"

http://www.4shared.com/office/HVmKqe...CHANGE_VO.html

For the R56 you need to change the VO in both the CAS and FRM module.

Follow the instructions in that document, but instead of adding a VO option, remove the $522 from your VO string list in both the CAS and FRM.

When you are done with that, "default" the FRM module. Some people write a blank .man file or the seemingly more recommended way is to go into the profile editor in NCS and turn off the tracefile manipulation. This procedure resets the module to the default configuration as defined by the vehicle order string.

You can also attempt to process the entire vehicle in this same fashion, or you may want to do the SPEG and CAS and KOMBI if you find any other issue. But I think all you need is the FRM. If you process the entire vehicle you will probably get error messages on the DSC and DME.

 

I think you can leave those there. The only file that really matters during trace file manipulation is the .man file. And usually that needs to blank.


Also to find the trace file manipulation information, refer to a document called FSW_PSW_MAN.PDF.

 

Be very careful with NCSexpert, be sure to read all the documents before actually doing the programming, you can brick your car very easily if you don't know what you're doing, or if you kind of know what you're doing. Not trying to scare you against doing it, but just advising you be careful.

 

strobeyprobey, again thanks for your guidance with NCSExpert. I did do my homework and read a lot about the use of NCSExpert and became very verse with it. However, I still haven't solved the problem despite doing (successfully) all the programming. I still can't get the HighBeam to work even though when toggled I do get the blue symbol on the Tachometer.

After all the Mods I performed, I started getting the error "High-Beam headlamp failed" (which I didn't have before the mods). I did replace both H13 Bulbs with new ones with no change!

To recap here's what I did:

1. I successfully updated the VO by removing the Bi-Xenon option ($522) from CAS & FRM
2. I defaulted (by writing a blank FSW_PSW.MAN) the CAS, FRM, KOMBI & SPEG
3. I modified the FRM trace file & disabled the 'highbeam Cold & Warm Bulb Check' (nicht_aktiv)

I am at loss as to what to try next. Are there any mods that need to be done on the the wirings?

Again my MCS '08 was purchased used and the headlights were changed from Bi-Xenon to OEM Halogen by the previous owner after a front accident.

Thanks

 

It sounds like you have done the right things for the programming. With the possible exception of getting the modified trace file programmed correctly. You shouldn't be getting the error message if you disabled the warm and cold bulb checks...But the error now tells me you got the VO changed correctly and the FRM is looking for the high beam filaments.

So what you need to do now is fix the wiring up near your headlights...something needs to be changed physically. Probably not anything more than moving a pin in a harness plug to a different spot.


Upon more research:







Take a look at these two schematics. You will need the Adobe SVG plugin to view them.

http://wds.spaghetticoder.org/en/svg...4522.svg?m=r56

http://wds.spaghetticoder.org/en/svg...4524.svg?m=r56

Wire color codes:


Looks like you may need to move a pin on the harness that attaches to your headlights. So for the harness that plugs into your headlights unit:

For the standard halogen:
Pin 3 (the pins are sometimed marked in VERY VERY tiny numbers) for low beam power (left side wire color white/green, right side wire color white/blue)

Pin 6 for high beam power (left wire color yellow/blue, right side wire color yellow/blue, same color but different wire from the FRM module)

Pin 4 for ground (brown)


And I see the pinouts for the high beam signal for the HID Xenon are different than the Halogen bulbs wire for the high beam power.

So you will need to make sure the pin-outs and wire colors are correct.

From what I can tell, the car should have the same harness for both headlight versions...But if it doesn't you could always run new wires from the FRM module.

Just depends what they did repairing after the accident, they may have hacked the harness up a bit. Either way, you should be able to get it working fairly easy now that you have the programming done.

 

Thanks a lot Strobey for all your help and guidance. I am half way there and I will tackle the headlight wirings over the weekend.

You have an amazing analytical mind ...