Think my igniter or ballast is bad.

STREETFIGHTER50 · 02-26-2013, 02:32 AM

My passenger side headlight doesn't come on anymore. Tested both bulbs on the driver's side, so it's not the bulbs. If it doesn't even flicker, is it most likely the igniter? Any good alternatives? The OEM igniters are so friggin expensive even for used ones on Ebay

Solidjake · 02-26-2013, 10:17 AM

What year is your 330? I would still swap the ballasts to the other side to be certain.

HyeWarrior · 02-26-2013, 10:21 AM

Igniters are only about $50 used on eBay. Do they come on at all? My headlights would fire up whenever they wanted to, so I replaced the igniters and the problem was fixed. 3/10 times, they would fire up no problem, so I knew the bulbs were fine. If they're not turning on at all, it might be the ballasts

STREETFIGHTER50 · 02-26-2013, 08:00 PM

Car is an '03. Yeah, last month the passenger side flickered every now & then. I thought it could've been my taillight grounds, but I've just had the recall done. As of now passenger side does not come on at all.

ragtop69 · 02-27-2013, 09:23 PM

Swap all the parts side to side to verify if they are bad. I thought my igniter or ballast was bad but swapped them and verified they were good. Then i found one of the 3 small wires that goes to the igniter was broken. Check those wires as well

STREETFIGHTER50 · 03-10-2013, 09:51 PM

Swapped parts. Yup, it sure is a bad ballast. Anyone got 1 for a good price? I might just do the DDM Tuning slim ballasts kit. OEM's are HELLA expensive!

Solidjake · 03-11-2013, 03:50 AM

DDM is crap. I see on ebay that one used ballast is $120 and up. You can get these

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=160

or higher end

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=147

02-26-2013, 02:32 AM	#1
STREETFIGHTER50 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: NorCal SF Bay Coastin' to Rocklin Posts: 74 My Ride: 2003 330i View My Garage	Think my igniter or ballast is bad. My passenger side headlight doesn't come on anymore. Tested both bulbs on the driver's side, so it's not the bulbs. If it doesn't even flicker, is it most likely the igniter? Any good alternatives? The OEM igniters are so friggin expensive even for used ones on Ebay

02-26-2013, 10:17 AM	#2
Solidjake Mod Join Date: May 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 19,926 My Ride: 2002 330i View My Garage	What year is your 330? I would still swap the ballasts to the other side to be certain. __________________ Follow my cross country drive to Bimmerfest West 2013 http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=987217 Youtube - Electric Fan Swap/Aux Fan Removal - Projector Retrofit - E46 Bulb Guide

02-26-2013, 10:21 AM	#3
HyeWarrior Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Dimas, CA Posts: 2,757 My Ride: '03 325i --> '13 GTI View My Garage	Igniters are only about $50 used on eBay. Do they come on at all? My headlights would fire up whenever they wanted to, so I replaced the igniters and the problem was fixed. 3/10 times, they would fire up no problem, so I knew the bulbs were fine. If they're not turning on at all, it might be the ballasts __________________

03-11-2013, 03:50 AM	#7
Solidjake Mod Join Date: May 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 19,926 My Ride: 2002 330i View My Garage	DDM is crap. I see on ebay that one used ballast is $120 and up. You can get these http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=160 or higher end http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=147 __________________ Follow my cross country drive to Bimmerfest West 2013 http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=987217 Youtube - Electric Fan Swap/Aux Fan Removal - Projector Retrofit - E46 Bulb Guide

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02-26-2013, 08:00 PM	#4
STREETFIGHTER50 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: NorCal SF Bay Coastin' to Rocklin Posts: 74 My Ride: 2003 330i View My Garage	Car is an '03. Yeah, last month the passenger side flickered every now & then. I thought it could've been my taillight grounds, but I've just had the recall done. As of now passenger side does not come on at all.

02-27-2013, 09:23 PM	#5
ragtop69 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Maryland Posts: 21 My Ride: 2004 bmw 330 conv. View My Garage	Swap all the parts side to side to verify if they are bad. I thought my igniter or ballast was bad but swapped them and verified they were good. Then i found one of the 3 small wires that goes to the igniter was broken. Check those wires as well

03-10-2013, 09:51 PM	#6
STREETFIGHTER50 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: NorCal SF Bay Coastin' to Rocklin Posts: 74 My Ride: 2003 330i View My Garage	Swapped parts. Yup, it sure is a bad ballast. Anyone got 1 for a good price? I might just do the DDM Tuning slim ballasts kit. OEM's are HELLA expensive!