BMW X1 Headlight Range Control Issues & Warning Light

Hey there! I have some experience working on cars, and I actually faced a similar issue with my 2016 BMW X3 last year. The symptoms were exactly the same, irregular beam height and warning lights. After dealing with this headache, it turned out to be a faulty servomotor in the headlight adjustment system. Took it to my regular workshop, and they diagnosed it properly after running some tests. The repair wasn't cheap, ended up paying around 1040 Euro for the parts and labor, but it fixed the problem completely. No issues since then. Just to help you better, could you share if you're getting any specific error codes? Also, does it happen with both headlights or just one? These details would help compare if it's the same issue I had with my X3. If it's the same problem, you might want to get it checked soon since driving with misaligned headlights isn't great for nighttime visibility. Best of luck!

Thanks for sharing your experience! I've got exactly the same symptoms with both headlights doing this weird dance. My X1 is at 46702 KM and just had its service last month, so this caught me off guard. The error code I'm getting is "Check headlight range control" on the dash display. Interesting that you mention the servomotor, makes me wonder if that's my issue too. I'll probably need to bite the bullet and get it checked out at a workshop. Did your repair come with any kind of warranty? Really hoping mine won't cost quite that much to fix!

Hey again! Yeah, those symptoms definitely sound familiar, it's almost exactly what I dealt with on my X3! When you mentioned the same error message and both headlights acting up, I'm even more convinced it's the same servomotor issue I had. About the warranty, yes, I got a two-year warranty on the parts and labor, which was pretty reassuring. You might be in better luck with the cost since the X1's parts are usually a bit cheaper than the X3's. My mechanic mentioned that these servomotors typically start acting up around 40-50K km, so your timing fits right in that window. Quick tip from my experience, while you're waiting to get it fixed, try to park on level ground when you start the car. I noticed this helped minimize the weird headlight adjustments during my issue. Also, if you're planning to get it repaired, try checking with a few different workshops for quotes. I probably could've saved some money if I had shopped around more. The good news is that once it's fixed, it really stays fixed. Haven't had a single problem with mine since the repair, and it's been about 15,000 km now. Let me know how it goes when you get it checked out, curious to see if it's the same issue!

Thank you so much for all that detailed info, it's super helpful! I'll definitely try that parking trick while I sort this out. Already called a couple workshops for quotes, and you're right, the prices are varying quite a bit. One place quoted me around 800 Euro, which is better than what you paid for your X3, so that's somewhat encouraging. Really glad to hear your fix has held up well over time. I've got an appointment scheduled for next week, and I'll make sure to ask about the warranty coverage. The servomotor theory is making more and more sense, especially since you mentioned that typical 40-50K km window, my X1's mileage fits right in there. I'll be sure to update here once I get it sorted out. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it's made me feel a lot better about dealing with this whole situation!