Right Main Beam Headlight - Error Help Needed Pls

[wildcat333]

Hi guys. I researched this as much as I could, but am still not sure what to do. I receive the "Right Main Beam Headlight" error on my DIS followed by the loud beep everytime I start my car and put it in drive. Everything was working fine, and this error just occurred out of the blue to me. All bi-xenon headlights (lows and highs) work fine with all bulbs working. All other lights work - DRL, CITY, TURN SIGNALS. I have had the Osram D1S CBI's installed for approx. one year exactly now with no issues.

I really am just asking if anyone on here has had similar issues, and how they were resolved. Besides swapping bulbs from right to left, and left to right, to see if the error follows the bulb, what else am I to do?

Also, just to note - this error comes on approx. 98% of the time, but not always; and I'm not sure why it is not constant.

Photo of the error:


Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[Audibot]

Have you had any work done recently that may have nicked a wire or forgot a sensor or something?

Also amazed by your low miles!

[wildcat333]

Have you had any work done recently that may have nicked a wire or forgot a sensor or something?

Also amazed by your low miles!

Nope. I do have resistors for LED City and LED DRL, but that was done a few years ago, and I didn't mess with any wiring recently. Just one day this error started.

Yeah, I would like to drive this thing forever, ha.

[B7OrangeA4]

Loose pins in the harness? Or loose or corroded wire in the headlight. See if anyone local can meet up with a complete passenger headlight and plug your harness in and turn the car on/off a few times and see if the message comes back. You ll at least be able to rule the headlight in or out

[wildcat333]

Loose pins in the harness? Or loose or corroded wire in the headlight. See if anyone local can meet up with a complete passenger headlight and plug your harness in and turn the car on/off a few times and see if the message comes back. You ll at least be able to rule the headlight in or out

I don't know how I would resolve a "loose pin" in the harness. Besides an obvious loose wire out of the harness that is. And not sure how I would identify a corroded wire inside the headlight. What do you mean?

I don't think it will be easy for me to find someone local to help me, let alone have then remove their bumper, etc and remove their working headlight. Not ideal.

[Audibot]

Well, a VCDS scan may tell you more than that stupid error does. If it's a voltage fault or something. I agree that this is strange as heck.

[B7OrangeA4]

I don't know how I would resolve a "loose pin" in the harness. Besides an obvious loose wire out of the harness that is. And not sure how I would identify a corroded wire inside the headlight. What do you mean?

I don't think it will be easy for me to find someone local to help me, let alone have then remove their bumper, etc and remove their working headlight. Not ideal.

No need to take bumper or headlight out just unplug the back of the headlight and plug in to the new one. The harness should fit. if not its clipped in around there to give you extra length

[wildcat333]

Well, a VCDS scan may tell you more than that stupid error does. If it's a voltage fault or something. I agree that this is strange as heck.

Yeah, I'm going to borrow a friend's Vag-Com this weekend to see what it says.

[jaycurn]

Are you running a retrofitted setup? Also, does the error icon go away if you turn the lights on, then right back off again?

[wildcat333]

Are you running a retrofitted setup? Also, does the error icon go away if you turn the lights on, then right back off again?

Nope. OEM xenons that came with the car. I have done the clear corner mod. And also the LED DRL and LED City mods. But that was approx three years ago and no issues.... Until this new issue.

Lights on and off does not fix it. Low to high and back to low does not fix it. Multiple iterations of either does not fix it.

[jaycurn]

Hmmm, i'd suspect one of the LED's if the code wasn't so specific. Try swapping the HID bulbs, then maybe the ballasts and see if the code follows, as mentioned above first.

[mattj150]

Nope. OEM xenons that came with the car. I have done the clear corner mod. And also the LED DRL and LED City mods. But that was approx three years ago and no issues.... Until this new issue.

Lights on and off does not fix it. Low to high and back to low does not fix it. Multiple iterations of either does not fix it.

Do you have resistors on your LED DRL and LED City Light bulbs? One of your connectors may have come loose. From my experience "Main Beam Headlight" can mean either the D1S bulb OR the DRL bulb. The city lights will throw a different error.

[wildcat333]

Do you have resistors on your LED DRL and LED City Light bulbs? One of your connectors may have come loose. From my experience "Main Beam Headlight" can mean either the D1S bulb OR the DRL bulb. The city lights will throw a different error.

Hmm. Yes I have resistors on the LED DRL and LED City bulbs.

Do resistors ever just go bad over time? From the heat they create that is... Just trying to think about things I might have to address.

[mattj150]

Hmm. Yes I have resistors on the LED DRL and LED City bulbs.

Do resistors ever just go bad over time? From the heat they create that is... Just trying to think about things I might have to address.

Its possible that one could have burned out. Best bet would be to check with a multimeter. I had this issue when one of my crimp connectors slipped off after a few months.

[wildcat333]

Its possible that one could have burned out. Best bet would be to check with a multimeter. I had this issue when one of my crimp connectors slipped off after a few months.

Okay. I can get a multi meter. But once I have it in my hand what am I checking for?

[mattj150]

Here is a good guide on how to do it. You basically are checking to see if the actual resistance differs from the resistance stated by the manufacturer.

[Axis]

Pretty sure your resistance for the led drl is taking a crap, put back a regular bulb in there. I have no more led lights on my car, got fed up with errors while the bulbs were good.

[wildcat333]

Here is a good guide on how to do it. You basically are checking to see if the actual resistance differs from the resistance stated by the manufacturer.

Pretty sure your resistance for the led drl is taking a crap, put back a regular bulb in there. I have no more led lights on my car, got fed up with errors while the bulbs were good.

Thanks guys.

I will attempt to test the resistor, but also have replacements in hand to wire in if needed.

I also will put back normal DRL bulbs back as a test if I cannot figure out the multimeter testing.

If anyone has any other thoughts in the meantime, let me know!

[fly300kts]

The error code shows main beam so I don't see why DRL or city light would be the culprit
Did you try to swap the ballast (driver to passenger) to see if the problem follows?

Phil

[wildcat333]

The error code shows main beam so I don't see why DRL or city light would be the culprit
Did you try to swap the ballast (driver to passenger) to see if the problem follows?

Phil

Hi Phil,
I did not yet. Any tips on doing that? I know I saw a few photos a while ago with a couple screws. But is there anything to be careful of if I do this?

Thanks.

[fly300kts]

Only 3 screws holding the ballast to the housing and gently pry off
You will need to clear the codes after the swap

Phil

[Hugh@EuropaParts]

Hi Mike...

[wildcat333]

@ phil - thanks.

@ hugh - :(

[evolution2147]

I have never had a bulb failure on my b7 yet but I would assume it means the HID light when it says mainbeam because there is only one bulb for the high and low.

As said earlier I would swap the HID lamps around to see if the error follows. There are a lot of generic China HID lamps that are marketed and labeled as original brands like Osram and Phillips.

[fly300kts]

As said earlier I would swap the HID lamps around to see if the error follows.

He already did that and no changes

Phil

[evolution2147]

He already did that and no changes

Phil

I don't see that anywhere but after doing some research it looks like if you have the bixenon system the "main beam" refers to the DRL lights and the "dipped" errors refer to the HID lamps.

[jaycurn]

I don't see that anywhere but after doing some research it looks like if you have the bixenon system the "main beam" refers to the DRL lights and the "dipped" errors refer to the HID lamps.

This is a good find, which would lead back to the LED or related resistor... well played sir!

[Axis]

As mentionned by someone else, I had burnt drl bulb and "mainbeam" was the warning light on my dis.

[wildcat333]

Hi guys. I have not yet swapped anything (bulbs or ballasts). But I was able to get my hands on a VAGCOM tonight, and I ran a full scan. Below is the one relevant lighting error that I have that might be of some interest:



Address 09: Cent. Elect. Labels: 8E0-907-279-8EC.lbl
Part No: 8E0 907 279 N
Component: int. Lastmodul ECE 0907
Coding: 01021
Shop #: WSC 06325
VCID: 3D71D425378CDAC9459-4AE8

1 Fault Found:
02746 - Bulb for Daytime Running Light; Right
30-00 - Open or Short to Plus



There were no headlight faults. The fault above is the only thing related to lighting.

Based on this info, would you agree that it is a safe assumption that my Right DRL resistor has gone bad? If yes, I plan on just splicing in a new one and hopefully this will be resolved. Thanks.

[mattj150]

Hi guys. I have not yet swapped anything (bulbs or ballasts). But I was able to get my hands on a VAGCOM tonight, and I ran a full scan. Below is the one relevant lighting error that I have that might be of some interest:



Address 09: Cent. Elect. Labels: 8E0-907-279-8EC.lbl
Part No: 8E0 907 279 N
Component: int. Lastmodul ECE 0907
Coding: 01021
Shop #: WSC 06325
VCID: 3D71D425378CDAC9459-4AE8

1 Fault Found:
02746 - Bulb for Daytime Running Light; Right
30-00 - Open or Short to Plus



There were no headlight faults. The fault above is the only thing related to lighting.

Based on this info, would you agree that it is a safe assumption that my Right DRL resistor has gone bad? If yes, I plan on just splicing in a new one and hopefully this will be resolved. Thanks.

Yeah that sounds like the resistor for your right DRL is bad or the connection came loose.

[fly300kts]

Hi guys. I have not yet swapped anything (bulbs or ballasts). But I was able to get my hands on a VAGCOM tonight, and I ran a full scan. Below is the one relevant lighting error that I have that might be of some interest:



Address 09: Cent. Elect. Labels: 8E0-907-279-8EC.lbl
Part No: 8E0 907 279 N
Component: int. Lastmodul ECE 0907
Coding: 01021
Shop #: WSC 06325
VCID: 3D71D425378CDAC9459-4AE8

1 Fault Found:
02746 - Bulb for Daytime Running Light; Right
30-00 - Open or Short to Plus



There were no headlight faults. The fault above is the only thing related to lighting.

Based on this info, would you agree that it is a safe assumption that my Right DRL resistor has gone bad? If yes, I plan on just splicing in a new one and hopefully this will be resolved. Thanks.

Yes DRL ans also check if your headlight harness is not cracked, as seen before




Phil

[Alucard136]

Do you have xenon? When my lights went bad i got the same warning. Went away after replacing blubs. Still, my lights did look just fine, just got the error from time to time.

[wildcat333]

New DRL resistors ordered. I will update this thread once installed soon.

[wildcat333]

I am happy to report that a new resistor for the right DRL solved the problem! Thanks for the input and help, gentlemen.

[2kwik4u]

I am happy to report that a new resistor for the right DRL solved the problem! Thanks for the input and help, gentlemen.

I love it when people report back what the solution to the problem was. Makes internet forum searches SOOOO much more productive!

[wildcat333]

I love it when people report back what the solution to the problem was. Makes internet forum searches SOOOO much more productive!

Yup. And because POGTFO, here it is



It's the shiny one on the right. The older one on the left is for my LED City lights.

[fR3ZNO]

Necro bump.

I know this is B7, but I figure the lighting systems are close enough to be helpful.

When the DIS reports a "main beam" headlight out, what headlight is it referring to? I would assume the lowbeam, but my lowbeams come on with no issues... I've been getting an error for left and right main beam after removing the high beam splitter for my MiniH1 retrofit and replacing the projector with the new 7.0 MiniH1. Does the DIS have a separate warning for the high beam? or does main beam include high and low?

[hooligan24rings]

I am happy to report that a new resistor for the right DRL solved the problem! Thanks for the input and help, gentlemen.

Four years later, and this thread is still saving lives. I have the same setup as you with the resistors on the DRL. I'll get the resistor replaced today! Thanks for doing all the ground work.

[DattPat]

Yo yo! This is now starting with my car. I believe the previous owner set the lights like this. What is DRL? and does anyone have a link to the resistors they bought?

[Audibot]

Yo yo! This is now starting with my car. I believe the previous owner set the lights like this. What is DRL? and does anyone have a link to the resistors they bought?

DRL = Daytime Running Light