BMW Headlight

·       BMW is one of the best-selling premium car brands in the US. To keep up with the demand for their vehicles, they rely on over 100 parts companies in their supplier network.

·       While shopping for a replacement headlight, you may have heard of the terms OEM and OE replacement,OEM parts are components manufactured by one of the companies that belong to BMW’s official supplier network whileOE replacement parts are components manufactured by any other parts maker that is not an official BMW OEM.

·       OE replacement BMW headlights can be just as good, if not even better than OEM parts. This is because aftermarket parts suppliers typically reverse-engineer genuine parts while designing their own versions.

·       The price, design, and fit of BMW headlights will vary depending on the model year and generation. The cost of a replacement BMW headlight assembly range anywhere between $20 to over $3,000. 

BMW is undoubtedly one of the largest and most successful luxury car makers in the world. The brand is part of the German ‘Big Three’ which includes automakers such as Mercedes Benz and Audi. Beyond Europe, the Bavarian automaker has also proven its strong position in the American market, becoming the best-selling premium brand in the US five times since 2011.

Like other vehicle manufacturers, BMW relies on a supplier network of over 100 parts companies. These suppliers are either Germany-based or subsidiaries of these companies. HELLA is one such example of BMW’s original equipment manufacturers (OEM). They are a lighting and electronics company that provides the LED technology for BMW headlights.

While shopping for a replacement headlight, you may have heard of the terms OEM parts and OE replacement parts. While these two are categories are both functional equipment, they have minor differences that you should be aware of.

OEM or Original Equipment Manufacturer

OEM parts are components manufactured by one of the companies that belong to BMW’s official supplier network. So when we talk about OEM BMW headlights, we’re referring to assemblies made by HELLA and BMW’s other subsidiaries.

OE Replacement or Aftermarket Parts

OE replacement parts are components manufactured by any other parts maker that is not an official BMW OEM. These parts may carry a different style or design than the genuine part but when compared, OEM and OE replacement parts are functionally equivalent.

OE replacement BMW headlights can be just as good, if not even better than OEM parts. This is because aftermarket parts suppliers typically reverse-engineer genuine parts while designing their own versions. This allows them to identify any flaws or weaknesses that can be corrected in the OE replacement assembly.

Like any other purchase, the quality of OE replacement headlights will depend on who the manufacturer is and where you’re buying it from. CarParts.com has a strict vetting process that ensures that every item in our inventory is only of the best quality.

The price, design, and fit of BMW headlights will vary depending on the model year and generation. The cost of a replacement BMW headlight assembly ranges anywhere between $20 to over $3,000. These are sold individually, in sets of two, or as part of a kit.

Use our website’s search tab to find the right BMW headlight replacement for your vehicle. Browse through our vast selection of BMW headlight bulbs and assemblies. Simply plug in your car’s year, make, and model to choose from all compatible parts.

To ensure safe driving and optimized visibility during nighttime or downcast weather conditions, a fully functional pair of headlights is very important. When either one of your headlights is not working properly or not aiming correctly, it is very dangerous and may cause accidents and injuries for the driver as well as other motorists and pedestrians. The following are some recommendations on how to troubleshoot the common issues of a BMW headlight.

An automotive incandescent headlight does not function

All headlight bulbs have a limited service life, which depend on the amount of time they are used and how much vibration they are exposed to. The more often you drive your vehicle during nighttime, the quicker one or both headlights will burn out. Normally, an automotive incandescent headlamp, either standard or halogen, can lasts from 600 hours to 2000 hours of service. However, constant driving on rough roads or terrains may cut their lifespan shorter due to the jerks, bumps, and vibrations that cause the bulbs' fine filament to malfunction ahead of time. Before changing the burned out bulb, check first the electrical connector on the headlight's back if it is just loose or has been damaged. When changing your BMW headlight bulb, make sure you put in a similar size and style as the original bulb. To improve nighttime and downcast weather visibility, some aftermarket replacement bulbs offers bulbs with higher wattage grade and tinting for better headlight performance.

A high-density discharge (HID) headlight does not function

Since a high-density discharge (HID) headlight does not have a filament unlike the incandescent headlight, the bulb becomes faulty may be due to a leak or crack. Some applications have the bulb and ignitor as a unified unit while other makes them separately. Whichever the case, replace them accordingly. A good way to know if whether the bulb or the ignitor is not working, place the working bulb on the side where your BMW headlight is not functioning, if it lights up, you need to only replace the bulb. If the light still does not work, also place the working ignitor on the side where the headlight is not working. However, if the HID light still does not work, you may have a loose ground connection, a rusted socket, or a faulty wiring.

Headlights look dim and change their brightness when engine is revved

Usually the cause of this problem may be a faulty alternator or a slipping alternator drive belt. Check that the charging voltage should be around 13.5 to 14.5 volts. If not, the charging system is malfunctioning.

Headlights do not light the way very well

Unclean headlights, fogged lens cover, and discoloration of the plastic casing are common causes that make headlights do not illuminate the road correctly. For dirty covers, simply remove them and clean. However, if moisture is the problem, there may be a crack on the housing or the gasket may be leaking.

Other troubleshooting reminders

Especially for halogen bulbs, refrain from touching their glass, as the oil on your fingers will react negatively with the glass, making the bulb burn out quickly. Instead, you may hold the halogen bulb by its plastic base or by wearing gloves. In addition, if both headlights do not work, the wiring, fuse, module, switch, or relay may be causing the problem.