Rt side Bi-xenon headlamp dips sometimes

[V2Evo96]

I have an issue with the right side headlamp only on the 09 D3 SE V6 with bi-xenon option.

There is a shade in front of the bulb during low-beam operation. When the high-beams are needed, the shade moves out of the way and the bulb’s full-light output is projected onto the road. Conversly the shade is meant to activate when taken off hi-beams and provide the 'dip' effect onto the road and not in oncoming drivers eyes....

Lately and frequently the right side lamp shade will not activate when taken off hi-beams.
When this occurs I have to stop and give the right side headlamp lens a 'bump' with my hand and I can then see the lamp dip as it should be for both sides.

I'm thinking a mechanical fault with the dip mechanism but haven't ruled out an electrical connector issue.

Has anyone ever struck this issue before? Any ideas? I'm sure a complete headlamp assy for that side would cost a mint.

Thanks in advance for any help with this one.

[BMKal]

I had a similar issue with one of the aftermarket HID globes I put in the D2. In that case, the "shade" did not move, but the globe itself moved in and out within the headlight assembly, so that the light source was beneath the fixed "shade" for low beam, and clear of the "shade" for the high beam.

One of the globes in mine stopped moving in & out on some occasions. I found it to be a poor electrical connection - they had been crimped using rather cheap crimp connectors (Chinese conversion kit). I replaced all the crimp on lugs with better ones, and soldered the wires into the lugs before crimping with a decent ratchet crimping tool. Problem solvered.

[whitedisco]

Long thread here DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - sticky headlight probably solved (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic73791.html)
has most of the info you need.
cheers
Peter

[V2Evo96]

Guys thanks very much for the advice. I initially thought 'mechanical problem' but as BMKal suggests I won't discount an electrical issue.
Service dealer says a new assembly is $1800 but suggested to me if I had some mechanical ability I could pull it apart and have a go so when I get to the task I will post results here. It will probably take me a couple of weeks to get to it.

Big thanks again!

EDIT - whitedisco - that link explains the problem and the fixes superbly. I can try those out and hopefully get it sorted. Thanks for finding that for me.

[whitedisco]

Good luck V2
The disassembly pictures and instructions in that thread are great. My problem and fix was described in my inputs as whitedisco on 19 aug 2013. Filing two little lugs that catch the edge of the blade. The fix has been all good since then.

The solenoid plunger sticking was not my problem but others seem to have some luck playing with it.

Tell us how you go
cheers
Peter

D3 SE 2.7 and loving it.

[matt_ali_walsh]

We had EXACTLY this problem when we bought our D3 a few months back. Needless to say the dealer wasn't too keen to replace the headlight without exploring further options. We bought the car in Canberra, but took it to Blacklocks in Albury for them to evaluate it. They removed the headlight, and cleaned the connector behind as it was evidently dirty. Since then not one issue - everybody happy :) It seems tapping the light was making good the dirty connection, and the light would dip. Never had any problem getting to high beam, only back to low. Good luck!!!

[V2Evo96]

Hey matt - thanks for posting your experience - good one! I only hope to get lucky as you did.... :-)

I'll give it a shot of electra-clean and clean it up before anything else. Rule no. 1 - always start with the easiest attempted repair first (learned that one working on my Harley......)