Valley Auto World BMW

3822 Sycamore Dairy Rd
Fayetteville, NC 28303
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Jan 13, 2023
Does Your BMW Need New Headlights?

Headlights are essential for proper visibility while also making you more visible to other drivers. They even keep you safer during daylight. Research has found that drivers who always keep their headlights on, both night and day, reduce their chances of road accidents by as much as ten percent. Given the importance of having bright headlights, the following signs of trouble should prompt you to visit your local BMW dealer for new headlights right away.

One Bulb Fails

If one of your headlights stops working, have them both replaced. A pair of bulbs tend to share the same lifespan and so the second bulb is usually soon to follow the first. It’s not worth the risk of driving with only one functioning headlamp. The overall brightness is halved, and you might not see obstacles in the road on the darker side of your car.

A single bulb failing might be due to wiring issues. Before replacing a suspect bulb, you can test it using a multimeter. You’ll know for sure if the wiring’s at fault when you install a brand-new bulb.

Dimming Bulbs

As soon as you notice a considerable loss of brightness, your visibility is threatened, and it’s wise to change your bulbs. Dimming headlights might also be due to alternator problems. Or if they only dim when the engine’s off, then your battery could be to blame.

Otherwise, halogen bulbs and Light-Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs will tend to dim noticeably as they age. High-Intensity Discharge (HID) bulbs dim far less before dying, which makes it difficult to predict when it’s time to replace them.

Flickering Light

Any flickering of a headlamp’s light usually means either the wiring is damaged or a bulb’s filament is broken. Once again, you can use a multimeter or swap out the bulb to diagnose the problem.

Know the Expected Lifespan of Your Bulbs

It helps to know in advance how long your headlight bulbs are likely to last. You can find out which types of bulbs your car uses in your owner’s manual or ask a technician. Traditional halogen bulbs only last 500 to 1,000 miles of usage. HID bulbs can last anywhere from 2,000 to 8,000 miles.

But most modern BMW vehicles use LED bulbs as standard. LED bulbs are the longest-lasting bulbs, with an expected 25,000 to 30,000-mile lifespan. Remember that this isn’t 30,000 miles of driving; it’s 30,000 miles of driving with your headlights on. So modern LED bulbs can often last the lifetime of your car.

Upgrade at Your Nearest BMW Dealer

If your vehicle is still using halogen or HID bulbs, you can usually have them upgraded to LED bulbs at your local dealership. And if you already have LED bulbs, consider having Adaptive LED headlights installed, which emit even more light and pivot in the direction you’re steering for improved visibility around corners and curves.

Have your bulbs inspected, replaced, or upgraded today at alley Auto World BMW. We’ve been proudly providing the communities of Fayetteville and Fort Bragg with great cars and service since 1964.