Buy BMW 328i Headlight Assembly

BMW 328i headlights-also called headlamps, front lights, or lighting assemblies-vary by model year, bulb type, and feature set. Across its generations, the car has used basic halogen capsules, high-intensity-discharge (HID) xenon burners, and more recent adaptive light-emitting-diode (LED) units. Key points to know: check your build year before buying bulbs; H7 fits most halogen cars, while D1S or D3S fits xenon systems (SEALIGHT); water inside the lamp, adaptive-motor faults, and poor aim are the three issues owners report most (E90Post, E90Post); U.S. rule FMVSS 108 sets the legal beam pattern and brightness (CrashStats); and a 2015 recall fixed a wiring problem that could dim the lamps on 2012-15 sedans (NHTSA). Below is a plain-language guide that dives into every useful detail.

Overview

Overview

BMW built the 328i badge from 1996 to 2016 over three main generations: E36, E90, and F30. Each uses a different head-light housing and wiring layout (Wikipedia). The 2019-on G20 3-Series dropped the 328i name, moving to the 330i instead (Wikipedia). Because of these changes, always match the lamp to your exact build date before ordering.

Fitment Years

Fitment Years

• 1996-1999 (E36) - glass lenses; H1 halogen low beams standard; retrofit HID kits are common but need projectors for safe use.
• 2007-2011 (E90/E92/E93) - plastic lenses; base cars run H7 halogen; optional adaptive xenon with D1S burners (SEALIGHT, E90Post).
• 2012-2016 (F30/F31) - re-styled lamp with LED "angel-eye" rings; halogen H7 in entry trims, D1S xenon or adaptive LED in higher trims (BMW, BMW).
• 2019-present (G20 330i) - full LED units only; listed here for cross-shopping info .

Headlight Types

Headlight Types

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*Typical hours under normal use.
Osram lists 4,500 K color for standard D1S xenon, close to noon daylight (osram.com).

Key Parts

Key Parts

1. Lens & housing - keeps water out and shapes the beam.
2. Bulb or LED board - makes the light.
3. Ballast/driver - powers xenon or LED units.
4. Adaptive motor - aims the beam while turning (E90Post).
5. Control module (FRM/AHL) - talks to the car network for warnings and auto-level.

Common Problems

Common Problems

• Foggy lens - Moisture sneaks past the rear caps; mild heat from driving can clear it, but new seals fix it for good (E90Post, newTIS).
• Adaptive failure - A worn stepper motor causes the "adaptive light" dash message; module can be rebuilt without buying a whole lamp (E90Post).
• Poor aim - Halogen reflectors on 2016 IIHS tests lit only 130 ft, earning a "Poor" score (IIHS).
• Dim xenon - Arc lamps fade before they burn out. If one side looks pink or purple, replace both for color match.
• Wiring recall - 2012-15 F30 328i sedans had a harness that could loosen; dealers added tape wrap and secure clips (NHTSA).

Simple Maintenance

Simple Maintenance

• Wash the plastic lens with car-safe soap, not household glass cleaner, to avoid haze.
• Rub on UV sealant after any sanding or polishing. See a pro method in this step-by-step lens restore video (YouTube).
• Keep rear caps tight; check the foam gasket once a year.
• Run the headlights for five minutes after a car wash to dry out stray moisture (The Irish Sun).

DIY Steps

DIY Steps

1. Open the hood and remove the black top cover.
2. Unclip wheel-arch liner for easier hand space on E90 cars (newTIS).
3. Undo Torx screws on the lamp bracket; lift straight out.
4. Swap the bulb-never touch the glass with bare hands; oil shortens life (E90Post).
5. Re-install and test high and low beams before closing up.

Adjust & Code

Adjust & Code

Aim screws sit on top of the housing; turn clockwise to raise, counter-clockwise to lower (YouTube, YouTube). Park 25 ft from a wall and keep the cut-off no higher than head-light height. After lamp swap, clear any dashboard bulb fault with a scan tool or in-car coding menu. Older models let you set the halo "angel eyes" as daytime running lights via the cluster settings (E90Post).

Safety Rules

Safety Rules

• U.S. law FMVSS 108 controls beam pattern, glare, and aim (CrashStats).
• SAE J600 gives test specs for aim machines (SAE International).
• IIHS says LED curve-adaptive lamps on the 3-Series score "Marginal," a step up from older halogens (IIHS).
• Never fit blue "off-road use only" bulbs for street driving; they exceed Kelvin limits.

Upgrade Ideas

Upgrade Ideas

• Swap factory halogen for DOT-approved projector xenon or OEM LED assemblies to double forward light reach (IIHS).
• Use high-output halogen capsules (65 W) for a quick brightness bump (Bimmerpost).
• Add clear protective film to prevent yellowing.
• Code welcome-light animations if your car supports it via iDrive (BMW FAQ).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What bulb fits my 2013 328i with halogen lights?
A: The low-beam and high-beam share an H7 capsule on 2013 models with standard reflectors (SEALIGHT).

Q: How can I tell if I have xenon?
A: Xenon lamps have a ballast box under the housing and D1S or D3S labeling on the dust cap (AutoHausAZ).

Q: Why do my head-lamps fog up after rain?
A: A small vent lets the lamp breathe; if its seal cracks, humid air condenses on the lens (E90Post).

Q: Is condensation dangerous?
A: Light mist is normal and burns off; heavy water can short bulbs, so reseal the vent or replace the rear cap (newTIS).

Q: What is "adaptive" lighting?
A: Motors swivel the projector left or right with the steering wheel for extra corner light (E90Post).

Q: How long do xenon bulbs last?
A: About 2,000 hours, roughly five years of average night use (osram.com).

Q: Can I fit LED bulbs in a halogen reflector?
A: Many drop-in LEDs create glare and fail FMVSS 108; use full projector conversions for safe results (CrashStats).

Q: My dash says "Adaptive head-light failure." What next?
A: Replace or repair the stepper motor; coding may clear the fault after install (E90Post).

Q: Was my car recalled?
A: 2012-15 F30 328i sedans had recall 15V-520 for loose lamp wiring; check your VIN at the NHTSA lookup .

Q: Are brighter bulbs legal?
A: Yes if they meet DOT marking and do not exceed 3,000 lumens per filament (SAE International).

Q: Do I need to align lights after bulb change?
A: Yes; new bulbs can sit differently in the reflector, shifting the beam pattern (YouTube).

Q: What does IIHS say about 3-Series lights?
A: Older halogens scored "Poor," but LED curve-adaptive systems moved up to "Marginal" in tests (IIHS, IIHS).

Q: Can I program angel eyes to be my daytime running lights?
A: On many 2011-2016 cars you can turn this on in the iDrive lighting menu or with coding apps (E90Post).

Q: How do I remove scratches from the lens?
A: Wet-sand with 2000-grit paper, polish, then seal with clear UV coating; a detailed video demo shows the full steps (YouTube).

Q: Are head-light washers required?
A: They are mandatory in some regions for HID systems to reduce glare but not required in the U.S. unless factory-installed (newTIS).

For deeper technical reading, see the SAE headlamp aiming guide, the complete FMVSS 108 text, and Osram's D1S datasheet for color and brightness specs.