Headlights Problems of BMW 535

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? answer: the adaptive headlight system on my 2015 BMW 535i xdrive sedan has malfunctioned due to water intrusion. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? answer: the malfunctioning adaptive headlights have put my safety and the safety of others at risk because they fail to provide adequate illumination while driving at night. This compromised visibility can lead to an increased risk of accidents, especially on poorly lit roads and during adverse weather conditions. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? answer: yes, the problem has been reproduced and confirmed by an independent service center. They identified water intrusion as the cause of the adaptive headlight malfunction. Reported to Bmwusa with supporting documents/photographs 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? answer: the vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. Only the independent service center has inspected the adaptive headlight system. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? answer: yes, there were warning lamps and messages indicating a headlight malfunction prior to the failure. The warning messages first appeared approximately two weeks before (01/15/2025) the headlights completely failed.

See all problems of the 2015 BMW 535 🔎.

2011-2013 headlight assemblies are subject to leaking and thus soon fail. This is an extensive failure as it impacts the entire headlight assembly (roughly a $2,000 part) and of course is a significant safely problem. Additionally, I have seen many posts on BMW forums about this same problem and heard it at my repair shop as well. I recommend a safety recall based on this very significant and very expensive safety hazard. The failure start with condensation in the headlamps and then results in an electric control model failure for the headlight assembly and subsequent failure of the light to work.

See all problems of the 2013 BMW 535 🔎.

Lighting system malfunction appeared on the dashboard during 1st week of April 2020. It affected battery consumption, turn indicators, window controls, headlight controls, lock/unlock confirmation. . . The dealership suggested faulty footwell module needs replacement, cost approx. $1323+tax. A warranty extension document found on the internet for footwell module lists all models except mine. Https://bimmerscan. Com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/b012016-1. Pdf.

See all problems of the 2011 BMW 535 🔎.

Water and moisture is accumulating in both headlights when it rains causing them not to function properly. This has been happening for a couple of years. I've contacted the manufacture and was advised that they would not take action as the vehicles is no longer under warranty. I have two other cars that much older and never had similar problems.

Water condenses inside the front headlights impacting the performance of the lighting ssystem. Reported this when the car was new but was told it was normal. Since then I have found many others reporting the same problem.

See all problems of the 2012 BMW 535 🔎.

The wire insulation inside the headlamp housing becomes brittle and can short out. They can flicker or go out. If both left and right experience a short, a driver can be left driving at night without headlights. This can result in deadly accidents. This has happened to my rh headlight. The issue has long been known and complaints are posted all over BMW forums. Replacement headlamps are in excess of us$900 each leaving many car owners to go with defective headlamps. I was driving my car tonight when the rh lamp went out for a few moments due to the wiring short. I can only imagine how it would have been if both went out. I don't have photos or video evidence.

See all problems of the 2008 BMW 535 🔎.

Wire insulation inside the headlight housing is falling away leaving bare wires. Currently only affecting the drl. Searching BMW forums - this is not an uncommon problem. This is a dangerous condition being that the headlights could fail at any time. Replacement is prohibitively expensive at more than $700 per unit. With the number of complaints that I have seen in on-line forums, I feel this should warrant a safety related re-call. Thank you in advance for your time.

I have a 2008 535i (e60) w/55k miles, in otherwise perfect condition with no aftermarket alterations. While driving car in the highway, I had a parking light alert/error that my parking light was out. After arriving to my home I inspected my headlight assembly. The angel eyes on both left and right headlight showed completely bare wires on both sides of the bulb connectors, on both sides of the car. I found flaking insulation and bare wires everywhere the inner sealed headlamp assembly!!!. The more I touched the wires, the more insulation flaked off, almost like a powder. I've never seen anything like it. Definitely a fire hazard!!!!.

I ordered new light bulbs to change out my halo angel bulb lights (runningparking lamps) . Which said they were out on my screen inside of the BMW . When I twisted off the housing cap in the back ,the wiring inside of my headlight housing which turns on my parking lights left and right is totally degraded and flaked off ,the copper cables were touching everywhere . I read this is because germany use biodegradable material but this is a very dangerous fire hazard for driving on the highways and road in florida . We as 5 series owners for these years need a recall of new harness with better wiring . Even if you buy a new housing it will do the same thing in 4 years gauranteed . You would have to find some one to rewire it with the same cables Ford uses so it can last 20+ years . Please fix.

My 2008 BMW 535i headlight went out and I took it to a certified mechanic to change the headlight bulb, he took out the headlight and shown to me the wiring in both headlights have flaked off and had presented a fire hazard situation which caused the fuse the blew. I researched the BMW forums and found lots of people with the same issue, hence, it is not an outlier. I contacted BMW USA and they refused to remedy the situation. I was told by them that the vehicle is out of warranty and that the vehicle mileage was past the headlight wiring should not go bad in 8 years and they were rude and told me they will not pay for it. I also learnt that most of these headlight wires in the e60 flaked off within 50k miles and are not discovered until a short or blown bulb. Hella (the manufacturer of the headlight) said it is not their problem since the make the headlights to BMW specifications.

Front headlights builds up condensation and alot of water. Lowering visibility.

Headlight almost caught on fire. Started car and as I was backing out of garage I smelled a burning smell and then received a drivers side bulb out error indication. When I retuned to the house I looked at the headlight and noticed the inner lens had fallen away inside the housing. I began to examine the headlight closer and discovered a lot of wires that were basically rotten. Meaning there was no insulation what so ever to protect against a short if the wires made contact. I examined the passenger side headlight only to find the exact same condition with the wiring, large amounts of bare unprotected wires. Further investigation showed the the entire inner lens became so hot that the plastic welds melted and also the metal housing causing the lens to fall away. I contacted BMW na and was told on the phone they were aware of the problem but could not cover the repair because the car is out of warranty. This situation could have easily led to a full vehicle fire had I not inspected the problem and attempted to repair with electrical tape. I cannot get to all of the bare wires because they are inside the head light. The cost of replacing both headlight is ~ $3000. 00 parts plus around 250 in labor charges. Sadly if this is not properly discovered it could lead to a total destruction from a fire in the vehicle and even death if the driver was to become a afixated from the fumes while traveling on the highway.

Insulation crumbling on all wiring inside both headlight (driver and passenger sides) units resulting in malfunctioning headlights, running lights, and marker lights. Unfortunately, a common problem and a huge safety concern. Issue is exacerbated but not caused by heat. Insulation on wiring to navigation, radio/media player, climate control unit, or ccc (car communication computer), crumbling causing malfunctions to occur in all the above sections. I suspect much of the car's wiring to be in similar, poor condition. I have read that many european cars from the '80s, '90s through the first ten or so years of the 21st century used a soy based, biodegradable wire insulation as part of a "green movement". This early implementation of said wire does not last much longer than 10 years, much less than that when exposed to heat. Please see: https://www. Bimmerforums. Com/forum/showthread. Php?2132684-headlight-wire-jackets-just-flake-off https://5series. . Read more...

The head light wiring has flaked off and caused a shortage in my headlights.

Wires inside headlights have insulation crumbling off. Fire risk. So many BMW's have this problem. A clear issue that BMW knows about.