Hi guys new user on the forum here.

Just bought a 55 plate 530D M Sport Auto with 148k on the clock in relatively good conditions, just has a few small problems that need rectifying.

The one that is confusing me currently is I get an error message saying the front right parking light is out but I've checked the headlight units on all available settings and the both seem fine to me.. The previous owner mentioned he recently changed from led bulbs back to normal ones so could it be that the error message needs to be 'cleared'?

Cheers!

 

You could clear the bulb codes, but these cars also have a setting (you would need to code/check the coding in the vehicle) to monitor bulb outages--that may be causing the false positives. (I have heard it can in some instances) Moving from LED to traditional may have caused the problem (if that option is enabled) based on the resistance and such.


there are about 30 or so things that can be coded individually, the car has about 5 modules that you can change settings in, but it takes a bit of work.....or you can use the carly app and a smartphone ...

 

Thanks for the reply but surely I shouldn't have to mess about with coding..? The guy that sold me the car said it had LEDs fitted previously but they were aftermarket so when it came to replacing them he went back to traditionals. Could it maybe something to do with quality of bulb?

 

You should not have to--I only meant maybe he messed with the coding and you would need to see if it is set or not. could be the quality, the resistance is how the car measures if a bulb works or not.

 

Mine does the same thing once in a while. I think the light wiring "insulation" are deteriorating and needs to be covered up/repaired with liquid tape (Harbor Freight sells the "Can Spray" kind!). The result of such problem could be moisture touching the bare wire(s) with broken "insulation".

I already bought the liquid tape to see if I can remedy the problem. It's just a matter time before I do it.

 

so all four angel eyes appear lit? you're absolutely positive about that?

 

Yeah everything seems to come on as it should. When I have full beams on everything in both headlights is illuminated. I'm going to be getting a diagnostic tool shortly (as soon as I can figure out how I'm going to install the software on a MacBook..) but in the meantime I may swap the bulbs round and see if the error code follows a 'duff' bulb.

 

The cat started throwing out both left and right parking error messages today and on further inspection I found this (first time I've had chance to check in anything other than daylight!):







Seems the one side has an LED bulb in it and the other has a bulb out. Am I right in thinking the led bulb itself will throw out an error code due to the decrease resistance?

I'm going to pop to halfords tomorrow and get 2x halogen bulbs and fit them which will hopefully put an end to the problem

 

i couldnt find a decent reliable halo system that was reasonably priced