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Re: Wait

I tested with the car one the voltage from the end of the ballast that would be on the bulb,, the one that wasnt working had 0 zero movement,, the other side had plenty of voltage,, but I didnt test voltage to the ballast's ,,, hmmmmm I'll check that out though,, I think Jim said if its not the ballast then its the LCD? meanwhile I bought a ballast ,, juts in case it is1988 E28 M5 stroked and camed SOLD
1991 E30 M3 2.5 SOLD
2003 540SPORT 6 speed current driver
1 of 3000 made by BMW in 2003
1 of 1200 brought into the USA

Wait

What did you test? the input to the ballast or the crazy voltage bulb output from the ballast.
If there's no power going to the ballast then there's something else wrong.

Andreas
Queens NY
BMWCCA# 186796
86 325es (wrecked by careless driver)
87 325 300k (project for life) aka 1BADETA/Christine
00 540is 6spd 180k (daily driver)

My apologies for all those CA drivers :)

wwo !! sorry to hear that and my bad from ALL those CA BMW drivers! they might feel their on the autobahn or something!,, here in NY we have SMALLER highways and we cant quite do that as much :) of course I also had my YOUNG runs of driving crazy with a few beemers in the past but now much more mature/older/wiser :) now I know if u wanna drive liek that take it to the track or autocross its wayyy more rewarding and no tickets or accidents :)1988 E28 M5 stroked and camed SOLD
1991 E30 M3 2.5 SOLD
2003 540SPORT 6 speed current driver
1 of 3000 made by BMW in 2003
1 of 1200 brought into the USA

Re: Bmw community is the best!

LOL BigRick!

Get that James Bond front-mounted 80mm cannon operational and take out a few of those Golden State drivers the world could live without ;-)

Eurodavid

P.S. Nice to see a fellow motorcycle friend. Frist threw my leg over one when I was about 8, and have never been able to get off of them ever since. Anyone who ever rides will have a whole new appreciation of what it means to be courteous and safe when driving a 3000lb automobile. Riding should be required before anyone ever gets a automobile license, imho.

Re: Bmw community is the best!

I can tell by the way you are praising BMW drivers, that you don't live in Southern California.

Most of the freeway driving I do (now that I'm retired) is in my wife's '03 530i (she hates driving, but loves the car), and rare is the day that I don't rail at some "stupid damn BMW driver" who cuts me off, tailgates at 75 or 80 mph, weaves in and out of lanes, yacks on the cell phone, and generally endangers others.

Yes, there are bad drivers in all brands of vehicles, but (at least in SoCal) BMW drivers seem to think that making the large investment in a set of wheels entitles them to drive poorly, aggresively, and dangerously.

I don't claim to be an angelic driver; admittedly, I love to travel at speeds above the posted limits, but I don't do that in heavy traffic. I don't tailgate (after over 80,000 miles on street motorcycles, I'm phobic about that). But the general level of BMW driving around here is atrocious.

just checked,, it was the ballast out!

ok just checked the voltage on the ballast with no lite working and ,, its the culprit 100% opposite side had voltage
,,, 1988 E28 M5 stroked and camed SOLD
1991 E30 M3 2.5 SOLD
2003 540SPORT 6 speed current driver
1 of 3000 made by BMW in 2003
1 of 1200 brought into the USA

Re: Drop by if you need help--

AWESOME!!! I may take u up on that one,,,, I did my oil/filter change with Castrol 0w30 made in Germany using my MityVac and all went smoothly!1988 E28 M5 stroked and camed SOLD
1991 E30 M3 2.5 SOLD
2003 540SPORT 6 speed current driver
1 of 3000 made by BMW in 2003
1 of 1200 brought into the USA

Re: Bmw community is the best!

best sterotypes are the MB drivers :) not only are they the worse on the road they have no consierdation for ohers around them,, I find this to be true every day I drive,, BMW drivers are not only excellent drivers but also have some common sense and awareness!!!1988 E28 M5 stroked and camed SOLD
1991 E30 M3 2.5 SOLD
2003 540SPORT 6 speed current driver
1 of 3000 made by BMW in 2003
1 of 1200 brought into the USA

Bmw community is the best!

And people stereotype us as [Oops!] BMW DRIVERs lol

Andreas
Queens NY
BMWCCA# 186796
86 325es (wrecked by careless driver)
87 325 300k (project for life) aka 1BADETA/Christine
00 540is 6spd 180k (daily driver)

Drop by if you need help--

Yah im a cheap greek gypsy, I waited it out till almost new ballasts popped up on ebay for 50 bux. But yah your better off getting a used one instead of a new overpriced one or a new cheap made in china unit that will die out in a year.
If you have a problem swapping em out when the new one comes just drop by my house.

Andreas
Queens NY
BMWCCA# 186796
86 325es (wrecked by careless driver)
87 325 300k (project for life) aka 1BADETA/Christine
00 540is 6spd 180k (daily driver)

Re: I have a new ballast available

awesome!!!! I did an oil change today so havent had a moment to check the ballast but Im pretty sure thats the culprit,, how much did you want for the ballast? email address is M5mel@aol.com
1988 E28 M5 stroked and camed SOLD
1991 E30 M3 2.5 SOLD
2003 540SPORT 6 speed current driver
1 of 3000 made by BMW in 2003
1 of 1200 brought into the USA

I have a new ballast available

I have a new ballast that I pulled of a brand new light, and I have kept it as a spare. Let me know if you really need it.
2002 540 6 speed, Steel Blue/Black interior, totally loaded with every option including BMW Bluetooth and voice recognition, and now with built in Stealth One/Valentine 1. 18" Staggered Miro BBS LM rep wheels. I am loving the power again!

2003 525iT, Silver/Black, non-sport, 18" Staggered BBS RC wheels. T boned and traded away.

2000 540 6 speed, Biarritz Blue/Sand, M5 shifter, XM Radio Valentine One/Stealth One hardwired in, 17" style 5 wheels
Sold but never forgotten.

2001 525i, stock, great car that got me hooked, sold

[IMG]][IMG]

Re: Most likely a ballast.

Awesome! today I'll test out the side that doesnt lite just to confirm its the ballasts,,, these two you suggested look good a far cry of what a new one would cost1988 E28 M5 stroked and camed SOLD
1991 E30 M3 2.5 SOLD
2003 540SPORT 6 speed current driver
1 of 3000 made by BMW in 2003
1 of 1200 brought into the USA

Re: Most likely a ballast.

Damn i cant find the seller.
Heres a couple of used ballasts

Ballast1


Ballast2



Andreas
Queens NY
BMWCCA# 186796
86 325es (wrecked by careless driver)
87 325 300k (project for life) aka 1BADETA/Christine
00 540is 6spd 180k (daily driver)

Re: Most likely a ballast.

awesome! just looked at ebay,,, was it OEM ? or a diff brand? theres a few used ones but new ones are listed at over $200 :(1988 E28 M5 stroked and camed SOLD
1991 E30 M3 2.5 SOLD
2003 540SPORT 6 speed current driver
1 of 3000 made by BMW in 2003
1 of 1200 brought into the USA

Re: Just swap them, 5 min job

ok if its that short I'll give it a try tomm and see whats the cause ...1988 E28 M5 stroked and camed SOLD
1991 E30 M3 2.5 SOLD
2003 540SPORT 6 speed current driver
1 of 3000 made by BMW in 2003
1 of 1200 brought into the USA

Most likely a ballast.

I bought mine new off ebay from some guy that has dozens of "take offs"
i think i paid $55 shipped. Really was new too. Mine went bad after i had the new LKM programmed. During programming the lights are turned on and off alot and at a high rate. The bulb would change colors then it would just go out.

Andreas
Queens NY
BMWCCA# 186796
86 325es (wrecked by careless driver)
87 325 300k (project for life) aka 1BADETA/Christine
00 540is 6spd 180k (daily driver)

Just swap them, 5 min job

"Drive It Like You Stole It, A Sickness for Quickness"
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Re: One torx screw and the ballast is off. (m)

ok gotcha,,, wonder if with a voltage amp I can test them without changing the balast on each side?1988 E28 M5 stroked and camed SOLD
1991 E30 M3 2.5 SOLD
2003 540SPORT 6 speed current driver
1 of 3000 made by BMW in 2003
1 of 1200 brought into the USA

One torx screw and the ballast is off. (m)

It's at the top of the plastic holder.
The LCM is the Light Control Module which is located behing the pass side kick panel.