BMW X5 Electrical Gremlins, Xenon Going Purple, Help!

Hey there! I have some experience working on BMWs, and I actually faced something very similar with my 2015 BMW X3 last year. When I had those electrical gremlins (weird error messages, light issues), it turned out to be a bad connection in the headlight wiring harness. The symptoms were pretty much identical to what you're describing, purple xenon light and all. I took it to my regular workshop, and they found that the main plug connecting to the headlight unit was corroded. They had to clean the connections and replace some damaged wires. The whole thing, including labor, set me back about 95 Euro, but it fixed all those unusual electrical issues completely. Before I can give you more specific advice, could you share: Are both headlights acting up or just one side? Did these issues start suddenly or gradually? Have you noticed any moisture in the headlight housings? Also, do you happen to have a 2013 X5 35i or 50i? That'll help me share more relevant info about your specific setup.

Thanks for the detailed response! I'm having these issues with the right headlight only, and it started about two weeks ago. It definitely got worse gradually. My X5 35i just hit 110400 KM and hasn't had any major electrical problems before this. I actually took a look yesterday, and there might be some slight condensation in the housing, but I'm not entirely sure. You're giving me hope that it might just be a wiring issue rather than needing to replace the entire headlight assembly. Did your mechanic need to keep the car overnight for the repair?

Hey again! Yes, this definitely sounds similar to what I experienced. In my case, my mechanic actually did keep the car overnight, but that was mainly because they received the parts late in the day. The actual repair only took about 2-3 hours. Given what you're describing, especially the gradual progression and the condensation, I'm even more convinced it's similar to my issue. The moisture is particularly telling because that's exactly what caused the corrosion in my wiring harness. When I got my X3 back, the mechanic showed me the corroded connector, and it was pretty nasty! One thing I didn't mention in my first reply, before getting it fixed, I noticed the purple color would be more intense during cold starts in the morning. Did you notice anything like that? For me, it was a clear sign the connection was getting worse. Also, since you mentioned the mileage (my X3 had similar mileage when this happened), it's about the time these issues typically show up. I'd recommend getting it checked soon because in my case, waiting made the problem worse and started affecting other electrical systems. Let me know what you end up doing. I'm curious if it turns out to be the same issue!

Thanks so much for all this info! You just described my situation perfectly, the purple tint is definitely worse during cold starts! I'll get it checked out this week before it gets worse. Based on what you're saying, it's really reassuring to know it might just be a wiring issue and not something more serious. I was worried I'd have to shell out for a completely new headlight assembly. I'll make sure to mention the corrosion possibility to my mechanic. The 2-3 hour repair time sounds much better than what I was expecting too. I'll definitely update you once I get it sorted. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, super helpful!