BMW XM Multiple Lighting Faults, Warning Signs to Check

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2020 BMW X6 (also had an X5 before). I have some experience working on cars, mainly basic maintenance and electrical troubleshooting. Your symptoms sound very familiar. Last year, my X6 started showing multiple lighting faults and weird behavior with the instrument cluster. After taking it to my trusted workshop, they found it was actually a faulty connection in the main lighting control module wiring harness. Some cables had worked loose over time, causing all those weird symptoms. The fix involved reconnecting and securing the cables properly, cost me 95 Euro and solved everything. Before I can give more specific advice, could you share: Have you noticed any pattern when these issues occur (like when it's wet or after driving for a while)? Are there any other electrical issues (like windows or mirrors acting up)? Did your error code scanner show any specific lighting control module codes? Let me know these details, and I might be able to help further!

Thanks for the detailed reply! My XM has 37336 KM and was last serviced about 2 months ago. The issues typically show up after driving for about 20 minutes, regardless of weather. Haven't noticed any problems with other electrical components, windows and mirrors work perfectly fine. The scanner showed fault code B7352 related to the lighting module and another one for the instrument cluster communication. I wasn't sure if I should take it to the dealership right away or try troubleshooting it myself. Your experience with the wiring harness issue is really helpful, sounds pretty similar to what I'm experiencing. Definitely less scary knowing it might just be a connection problem rather than having to replace the entire lighting system! Would you recommend checking the wiring connections first before heading to the dealer?

Hey again! Since you asked about checking the wiring first, based on my experience with my X6, I'd actually recommend going straight to the dealer in your case. Here's why: while my wiring issue was similar, yours sounds a bit more complex with that specific B7352 code and the instrument cluster communication fault. I initially thought about checking connections myself on my X6, but these newer BMWs (especially the XM) have such complex electrical systems. When I tried poking around the wiring on my car, I actually triggered a few more error codes, definitely not my proudest DIY moment! Plus, since your car is a 2022 model, it should still be under warranty. My repair was relatively cheap because my X6 was out of warranty, but you shouldn't have to pay anything if it's covered. The dealer also has the proper diagnostic tools to pinpoint exactly what's going on with those communication errors. One quick tip though, before you go in, make sure to document when and how the issues occur (like that 20-minute warm-up period you mentioned). That really helps them diagnose it faster. My repair took longer because I wasn't clear about the timing patterns at first. Let me know what you decide to do, I'm curious to hear if it turns out to be similar to what I experienced!

Thanks so much for the advice! You make a really good point about the warranty, I hadn't even thought about that. I was so focused on trying to fix it quickly that I almost forgot my XM is still covered. Definitely don't want to risk making things worse by poking around the wiring myself, especially after hearing about your experience with triggering more error codes! I've just booked an appointment with the dealer for next week. I wrote down all the symptoms, including that 20-minute warm-up pattern and the fault codes. Hoping they can sort it out quickly since I've given them all the details upfront. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it's helped me avoid potentially making things worse with DIY attempts. I'll update once I hear back from the dealer about what they find. Thanks again for steering me in the right direction with this!

All I my lights are working but I switched them to LED’s now I keep getting alerts

When switching to LED lights, it's common to encounter alerts due to the car's system detecting a different electrical load. This can often be resolved by installing load resistors or using LED bulbs with built-in resistors to mimic the original bulb's load. Check if your LED bulbs are compatible with your vehicle's CAN bus system. Let me know if you need further assistance or have any questions!