silvercayenneS

I'm getting the dipped beam warning and high beam warning. Both bulbs are out in the right headlight. The car is 2004 Cayenne S. Couple questions:

1. Is this something that I can replace myself with basic tools?
2. Do I just need to buy a new low-beam DS1 bulb and high-beam H7 bulb?
3. Do I need to buy the same thing for the other side? Of I don't will there be a color/brightness difference?
4. Is there any real/functional difference between OEM and an aftermarket part?
5. Has anyone had any experience with these bulbs? (OSRAM Cool Blue D1S Xenarc)

Dennis C

You probably don't need new bulbs. You are probably experiencing a loose connection. Try removing the headlight assembly and make sure the headlight mounting bracket is tight. Once it's tight, reinstall the headlight and see if it works.

hahnmgh63

I agree, the chance of both bulbs going out at the exact same time is not very likely. There is the slip connection that the headlights slide into when they are removed/replaced then there is another plug connection to the rear and lower, accessible from the fender well with liner removed, that is also prone to issues.

silvercayenneS

This sounds like a possible scenario - is there a tutorial or instructions on this? I looked and can't figure out how to remove the headlight.

mellowyellow-atlanta

It's in the manual, very easy process to remove the whole headlight assembly and swap a bulb out. I've replaced quite a few H7 cornering bulbs.

cordsig79

Rtfm?

hahnmgh63

If you don't have the manual you can go to Renntech.com and for a low membership fee to become a contributing member you can download a copy.

silvercayenneS

Wow -- that was awesome. I can't believe it was that easy! Under 30 second fix, and saved me hundreds of dollars. It seriously took me more time to clean out my trunk to get to the tool, than it did to fix the headlight.

Thanks mellow yellow!

silvercayenneS

And also thank you to hahnmgh63 - that's exactly what the problem was.

silvercayenneS

Yes I am definitely going to go back and read the basic points of the manual, sometimes things are right under your nose and you don't even know it.

CarreraCup03

Dennis,

How do you tighten the mounting bracket. I took out the light assembly, but I dont see a way to tighten the base.

Dennis C

There are two 10mm bolts on the front of the bracket that need to be inspected/tightened. One is easy to see, one is a bit obstructed.

CarreraCup03

Dennis,

I just tightened both sides. Hopefully this will fix it. Thanks!

I drove the car extensively last night, and NO dipped beam error after the fix.

I tightened the mounting bracket per Dennis's suggestion. I found three bolts to tighten. They were all relatively loose. I had also noticed over the years, that when I went over a bump, the lights would vibrate. I also bent the pins in the plug slightly, to get more contact force.

This seemed to do the trick.

CarreraCup03

OK it was not the mount, or the connection, as it happened a few more times. It was the bulb! I could see a cloudy connection in one section of the bulb. I replaced the blown bulb with this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/230813932593...84.m1497.l2649
They are 51.88. I inspected them when I received them, and they look like they are real Osram, and identical to the ones that came with the car.
After I replaced the one bulb, I could see a clear difference in the color of the new bulb, very bright and white, with the original bulb that was not as bright and had a purple tint (this is the original bulb that came with the car). This is a side by side comparison, as I only replaced the blown bulb. I just ordered another one for the other side, so the color matches.