BMW X5 Headlight Leveling System Problems & Warning Light

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2016 BMW X3 3.0i last year. I'd say I have some experience working on cars, but with electrical issues like this, I went straight to my trusted workshop. The symptoms were exactly like yours, inconsistent beam height and that annoying warning light. Turned out the servomotor in the headlight assembly was failing. The repair involved replacing the faulty servomotor, and it set me back about 1040 Euro including parts and labor. I actually considered getting a BMW X4 recently, and the mechanic mentioned these issues are somewhat common across several BMW models from that era. Before I can give you more specific advice, could you share: Have you scanned for specific error codes? Is it happening on both headlights or just one side? Did it start suddenly or gradually get worse? Might help narrow down if you're dealing with the same problem I had.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Yes, I've got similar symptoms with my X5 (currently at 150571 KM). I'm getting error code 4F3A on both sides after scanning. It definitely started gradually over the past few weeks. At first, I thought I was imagining things, but now it's quite noticeable, especially when parking against a wall at night. The service motor theory makes sense, I just had my regular service done last month and everything else seems to be running fine. Appreciate the heads up about the repair costs. I'll probably book it in next week since I don't want to risk driving with unreliable headlights. Just hoping it won't be too much more expensive than what you paid!

Hey again! Glad I could help earlier. Yeah, that error code 4F3A is exactly what I had on my X3, it's basically screaming "headlight leveling system fault" at us. When you mentioned it started gradually, that's another telltale sign it's the servomotor, just like what happened with mine. Since you're at 150571 KM, it's actually right around the time these things tend to act up. My X3 was about the same mileage when I had the issue. One thing I didn't mention before, make sure they check the wiring harness while they're in there. My mechanic found some slightly corroded connectors when replacing my servomotor, and cleaning those up was included in the job. Don't worry too much about the cost difference between the X3 and X5, the parts are pretty similar for this particular repair. If anything, the labor time should be about the same since they're accessing the same area. Just make sure to get it done soon, I learned the hard way that driving with wonky headlights isn't fun, especially on darker roads. Let me know how it goes when you get it fixed. Always curious to hear if others have the same experience I did with these BMWs!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! Just wanted to update you all after getting my X5 checked out today. You were absolutely right about the servomotor, that was exactly the problem. The mechanic confirmed both sides needed replacement, and they also found some corrosion on the connectors, just like you mentioned. The total bill came to about 1200 Euro for both sides, including the cleaning of the connectors and recalibration. A bit more than what you paid for your X3, but not as bad as I was fearing. They got it done in about three hours, and the difference is like night and day, pun intended! The headlights are now perfectly leveled, and that annoying warning light is finally gone. Really appreciate everyone's input on this. It definitely helped me feel more confident about what I was dealing with when I took it to the shop. These BMWs might have their quirks, but at least we've got a good community to help figure them out!