Xenon headlights flickering

[xf1ref]

With engine at idle rpm I see the light from the xenon flickering a little. Is this a general behavior? and if it is someone who solved this.

[demag]

Dying battery?

[Lighty]

no, it shouldn't flicker,difficult diagnosis tbh. I would probably swap the bulbs over 1st and see what happens, if fault still remains , it's likely the electronic unit, you can pick them up used as otherwise it's a whole new light & they cost as much as a cheap car.

[GiveMeABreak]

On our cars, X1REF, it is the D1S with internal igniter at the bulb base. I've had this issue on the C5 Mark II and it was the bulb. Always change in pairs and don't buy the fake knock-off bulbs from ebay - always buy original bulbs from an authorised reseller.

On the X7, I replaced my Osram OEM D1S bulbs with the Osram 'Night Breaker Unlimited Xenarc' (still have the originals working fine here as backup). They provide up to 70% more light, up to 20M more beam length and 5% whiter colour than standard Xenon.

Here's an approved UK supplier:
https://www.powerbulbs.com/product/osra ... d1s-single

Currently on offer at £62.99 each. Not cheap, but worth it.

You could try swapping the bulbs over carefully first (wear some rubber gloves - so as not to touch the bulb and to help protect against any residual discharge if possible). Make sure you swap both over and then see if the flicker is on the other side. If it is, it's the bulb for sure.

[Peter.N.]

Could this not be an alternator problem? Does the interior light flicker as well?

Peter

[GiveMeABreak]

Not on a Xenon Peter, the current is regulated by the ballast once ignited and it's only happening to one light - bulb highly likely.

[Peter.N.]

Ah right thanks, never had any of those it was just the flickering at tickover that fooled me.

Peter

[GiveMeABreak]

I've changed quite a few of these over the years and never once had a faulty ballast - it's always been the bulb (so far). The bulbs do last for ages (obviously depending on usage) and although they may seem expensive, the X7 only has one of these D1S bulbs in each headlamp to do the job of the main and dipped bulb. The light output on the Xenarc Nightbreakers is a great improvement over the standard OEM bulb.

The Mark II C5 with directional Xenons also had an additional, traditional halogen main beam lamp next to it, but the lighting effect looked slightly pants as you had a yellowy main beam next to a blue / white xenon. I got rid of that and upgraded the bulbs to an approved 50% brighter / whiter Philips bulb - but those were about £30 each at the time.

[xf1ref]

I forgot to mention that the beam are flickering from engine vibrations. The bulb are ok and with engine stopped or at higher rpm than idle the beam are steady.
The problem is only with the engine at idle rpm, also the daylight led strip is flickering.
From my point of view the vibrations from the engine are not so big but somehow the headlights resonate with engine vibrations at idle.

[GiveMeABreak]

So this is both lights and the LED strip lights then? Well that won't be the bulbs and it won't be the ballast. I know you did the HP19W LED upgrade - is it possible that you dislodged any of the wiring plugs or connectors? One other thing to check - try temporarily disconnecting the HP19W bulbs - these wires are both connected to the control unit for the headlamps and it might rule out any interference. See if it does it then.

[xf1ref]

Marc, I think is not a electrical fault, this behavior is also with original HP19W. I don't know if 'flicker' is the right word...maybe 'vibrate' because I see how the edges of beam vibrate..and that vibration is only when the engine is idle. I checked the mountings of the engine and all are ok.

[GiveMeABreak]

Ok, so just to make sure we understand you correctly:

• The lights don't turn on and off rapidly - so they remain lit
• The lights just vibrate with the engine vibrations - i.e. at lower revs

If it was just the Xenon bulbs doing this, I would of suggested that it is the headlight levelling system that can't keep up with the rough vibrations. I next suggest that you go into the lighting configuration menu and turn the directional headlamps to 'OFF'. That will deactivate the turning function and keep the lights straight ahead. Try this and see if it still happens now.

This wouldn't affect the LED striplights though - as there really isn't any moving parts to these.....