99 540i headlight help

[bmxben14]

Hey guys bought a 99 540i and it came with aftermarket headlights. Unsure on what kind as i cant for a name anywhere. I have the "check side lights" on my dash and figure its because the angel eyes are not connected.( i checked and all other "side" lights) But that is where my main problem is, my headlights have the connector for the angel eye connection but they are not the same as my car connector. The aftermarket AE only have two wires, red and black, and the original AE connectors have 4. So 1st question, if i splice the red and black into the power sources of the original wires to power the angel eye would that possibly make the dash warning go away? And if not then ill just replace the headlights. So then what aftermarket headlights at a reasonable price will hook right up with my angel yes and have projector lenses? Kinda hard to find good condition used stock ones and new is over priced. And $500 is not a reasonable price... Suggestions?

I hope that wasn't all to confusing.. Here's a pic to try and assist with my problem.
Ps. Yes i did search forums and google, could not find my issue. And new to e39, not new to bmw or the forums.

[tmvE39E53Z32TT]

Pre-facelift E39 doesn't have AE connector. You can tap into pretty much any power wire to get supply for the AEs in your aftermarket headlights. I'm not familiar with pre-facelift headlights so I don't know what the white connector in the picture is.

[lag5]

I think the white connector in the picture, is the plug for the self leveling feature.

[bmxben14]

Hmm. I know i have a pre face lift but they still didn't come with AE? And i also thought only the face lifts came with auto leveling? So what is that middle connector? And what would still be setting off my side light warning?

[Nicks1k]

You have to make an adapter, heres a picture of one 494927

[JimLev]

That white connector does look like the stepper motor connector used for leveling the HID lights like Lag5 said. You don't have HID's, I don't see a ballast behind the lights.
For more help take a better pic of the back of the light showing all of the connectors.
HID's were available for pre facelift cars. Pretty sure the AE's started withe the face lift cars.

[bmxben14]

I'll take another after work. But yeah i dont have hid's. Just h7 bulbs connected directly to the lowbeam connector.

But what else could be setting off my "check side lights"? Would the auto leveling affect it? I suppose i could physically check all my side lights. I know sometimes the connections are flaky some times

[spencercat]

I had that error and one of my turn signals was disconnected. Check that connection and see what is up.

[lag5]

OP, so I have a 99 540 and I bought a set of 2003 facelift headlights and ran into the same situation you are in right now.

1. your e39 doesn't have a plug for the Angel Eyes
2. the corner light (or side light as your obc calls them) plugs are different. (im assuming this is why you are getting the "check side lights" error, it's simply not plugged in, or plugged in incorrectly)

Solution:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Facelift-Headlights-Adapter-Cable-Harness-SET-XENON-BMW-5-E39-/200749009322?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ebd92c9aa&vxp=mtrNow

let me warn you that there is no true plug and play solution for our cars. Even when I received this in the mail, I had to modify it to correctly run the angel eyes and turn signals. But if you go the same route i did, this basically this splits your pre-facelift turn signals into the angels eyes and turn signal.

Prefacelift Corner light:
1. Acts as both a corner light i.e. stays on when you switch on your lights
2. AND a turn signal i.e. blinks when you hit the stalk

Facelift Corner light:
1. Corner light = angel eyes i.e. stay on when you switch on your light
2. Turn Signal ONLY i.e. is off except for when you hit the stalk and then it blinks.

I hope this makes sense.

[bmxben14]

It's making more sense. I'll tinker with things a little.

[jicaino]

It can all be resolved by coding or rewiring. The connector that's not plugged in your car (not in the AM headlights but the car's harness, mind you) is either the manual adjusting level or the HID level thingy. Tap the last 7 digits of your VIN here> http://www.bmwarchive.org/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html and see if your car came with HID's from factory or not, and let us know.

[bmxben14]

Thats a cool site!^

Says it came with xenon lighting.
I also took my head lights out to look at them entirely. Three things, it has this extra connector for the turn bulbs. And also they were only a single filament. Third, my car also has a m5 rep front bumper, not sure what bulb type are for the original fogs but they are now 9006 bulbs. Not only that but the previous owner cut and re-soldered the fog wires for the 9006 bulbs. So a number of things to work though.. Suggestions on any of these?

I'm not afraid of wiring, but specific stuff of electrical things like resistors and what not if there is anything of that sort involved. I dont not know all about that stuff so bear with me. I'm very quick learner though.

[Tomdownunder]

Hmm. I know i have a pre face lift but they still didn't come with AE? And i also thought only the face lifts came with auto leveling? So what is that middle connector? And what would still be setting off my side light warning?

I have a pre facelift 1997 touring and it has self levelling headlights and the adjuster knob next to the fog light switch to lower the headlights. Although I now have aftermarket headlights, the originals were also self levelling(auto adjust - whatever you want to call them).