BMW Xenon Lights Going Purple? Fixes for Faulty Lighting

I had the same problem with my 2012 BMW 5 Series last month. The purple tint and error messages are typically caused by failing ballasts or damaged wiring harnesses connected to the headlight assembly. In my case, the main issue was a corroded cable connector that was causing poor contact between the ballast and the xenon bulb. The mechanic showed me that moisture had gotten into the connector housing, leading to corrosion. They had to replace both the connector and the wiring harness on my driver's side. The turn signal problems were actually connected to the same issue, it was all related to the damaged wiring. This isn't just a bulb replacement job, it's more complex because of the electronics involved. The xenon system has high-voltage components that need proper diagnosis. It's not super serious in terms of driving safety, but you'll want to get it fixed soon because the problem usually gets worse and can affect other electrical systems. Based on my experience, make sure they thoroughly check the connectors and wiring before just replacing the bulbs or ballasts. It's worth finding a shop that specializes in BMW electrical systems for this kind of work.

Thanks for sharing that detailed info about your 5 Series issue! Really helpful to know about the wiring and connectors being the culprit. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, has everything been working fine since then, or have you noticed any other electrical quirks popping up? I'm trying to get an idea of what I might be in for with my 6 Series.

Hey there! Happy to give you an update on my repair costs and how things turned out. For the headlight issue on my 5 Series, the mechanic had to replace the wiring harness and fix some corroded connections, which set me back around 450€. The good news is that the purple tint and error messages are completely gone now. Oh, and about the turn signal problem, that ended up being a separate but related electrical issue. They found a faulty cable connection that was causing the weird behavior. That was another 95€ to fix, but honestly, it was worth every cent because everything's working perfectly now. No more unusual flashing or error messages! It's been about a month since the repairs, and I haven't had any other electrical issues pop up. The lights are nice and white again, and all the warning messages have disappeared from the display. From what I learned through this experience, these BMWs can be a bit finicky with their electrical systems, but once you get them properly sorted by someone who knows what they're doing, they're solid. Sounds like you're dealing with pretty much the same issues I had, so hopefully this gives you a better idea of what to expect cost-wise. Just make sure whoever works on it really knows their way around BMW electrical systems.

Thanks for breaking down the costs and sharing the outcome! After reading about your experience, I actually took my 6 Series to a BMW specialist yesterday. You were spot on, it turned out to be a similar wiring issue. The mechanic was really upfront about everything and showed me the corroded connections under the headlight assembly. The repair bill came to about 550€ total, a bit more than yours but they had to replace some additional components. Got to say, it was worth spending the extra money on someone who knew exactly what they were doing. The lights are back to normal now, no more purple tint, and those annoying error messages are gone. Turn signals are working perfectly too. What a relief to have this sorted! Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it definitely helped me make a better decision this time around. Lesson learned about finding the right specialist for these kinds of electrical issues.