E46 - '01 325 ci - One HID headlight works only sometimes, intermittenly...

[palepimp]

Helllo all,

I have a 2001 325 ci. The other day I got into my car and flipped on the headlights to drive home. The dashboard indicator light came on telling me that my front passenger side headlight was out. I assumed the HID bulb went out, so I ordered 2 new Phillips OEM HID bulbs for $75 total off ebay. I replaced both of them carefully, and when I went to turn on the headlights, the passenger side headlight still didn't work. I assumed there was some loose connection or something. A couple of days later it started working again for a day or so, and then I flip the head lights on the following day, and it doesn't work again. I'm not sure if it's related but I do get a carwash every couple weeks or so, and it's also been super cold here in Chicago lately. It almost seems that it works mostly when I keep my car in the garage all night where it's warmer. Does anyone know what might be causing this? The connector on the back of the HIS bulb looked OK, no corrosion or anything visible. Hopefully someone knows why this is.... Thanks in advance for any help!

[phathom]

I just installed some HIDS on my car (2000 323i), all were fine when I tested it until the first time I drove it, the light for the drivers side went on. I stopped and looked at it, the HID wasn't on, so I inspected and jiggled the wires to see when it came on/off and I narrowed it down to the OEM 9006 Plug that powers the Ballast. The kid I ordered had a new 9006 plug for each one with two spade connectors, in the install, it said that those were not needed for H7 installation like I was doing (and they weren't/aren't required), so I put those aside in my spare parts pile. Luckily I did that instead of tossing them because I had a brand new 9006 plug to replace the bad one with. I just cut the factory plug (which actually came apart in 2 pieces when I removed it from the ballast) and spliced in the new one that was with my kit. After that I have had absolutely no problems. I'd say start the jiggle method and see where it is, I'm betting it's probably in the same area, even more so if you have changed your headlights a couple times (I have 6 times prior trying new lights out)