E90 Headlight Help

4u2nv · 03-13-2009, 07:46 AM

Guys this is my first post so be kind. I've have 320D (E90) and a few months ago the car came out of warrenty so I thought that I'd have a HID kit fitted but since having it fitted i have 2 problems.

1) There is water buildup on the passenger side but not on the drivers side.

2) The lights blink when you turn the car on.

I don't think that they were fitted properly but I can't take the car back as the fitter has closed down

Can anyone please help with any suggestions.

Thanks.

dxb335d · 03-13-2009, 07:58 AM

You have a nice username!

dxb335d · 03-13-2009, 07:59 AM

Baris' Mate? He told me of your plate. Cool-as.

jjbirch · 03-13-2009, 08:08 AM

dont bother fitting any to them as they chuck up error codes on the dashboard and getting a cheap pair of xenon's off of ebay is a waste of time too as it costs lots to get them coded to your car i have been down a few routes but never botherd in the end as they would mess up the headlights in the first place

Carrera RSR · 03-13-2009, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4u2nv

Guys this is my first post so be kind. I've have 320D (E90) and a few months ago the car came out of warrenty so I thought that I'd have a HID kit fitted but since having it fitted i have 2 problems.

1) There is water buildup on the passenger side but not on the drivers side.

2) The lights blink when you turn the car on.

I don't think that they were fitted properly but I can't take the car back as the fitter has closed down

Can anyone please help with any suggestions.

Thanks.

Sorry to hear of your problems

1. If the headlight unit has been opened then it may not have been sealed back up properly. You may need to remove the unit and investigate.

2. I had error codes and blinking LED's when I tried and gave up. BMW's computer doesn't like certain bulb/LED fitments.

Looks like its your problem if your seller has gone to the wall. Remove the HID kit and reseal your headlight unit looks like the only way forward.

biscuits · 03-13-2009, 09:07 AM

It sounds like the lamp-to-ballast lead hasn't been sealed properly, causing the water/mist. HID lamps need a seperate ballast/box, this is mounted outside of the normal headlight unit, then a small hole is made in the rear cover to allow the HID lamp and the original 12v lamp connections to be made. The kits normally come with rubber grommets, but you ned to use some silicon too to make is a pukka seal.

The flashing, is this all the time, or only when you start the car? If it's only when you start the car, try switching the light switch to OFF, start the car, then switch the headlights on and see if it happens. It could be the type of ballast you have doesn't like the voltage drop when the starter motor is turning, causing the lamp to not strike properly. The other thing it could be is the BMW lamp sensor circuit, it uses pulses to detect if a lamp blows, could be that if it happens all the time.

I'm not just guessing here either, I installed an HID kit to my 996... so know what hassles you can get.

4u2nv · 03-13-2009, 09:21 AM

jjbirch : I'm kicking myself at the moment I'm gutted that I even got the HID kit installed. I just want the car back to factory default.

biscuits · 03-13-2009, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4u2nv

jjbirch : I'm kicking myself at the moment I'm gutted that I even got the HID kit installed. I just want the car back to factory default.

If they did a proper job, it would be a half hour job to "rip" the HID kit out. If they did a really proper job (removing the BMW plugs and using crimps etc), then it's a lot more work.

Where abouts r u based ?

4u2nv · 03-13-2009, 09:29 AM

biscuits : Thanks for the info. I had a feel about under the hood and couldn't see any obvious holes etc etc. I've just come back from a garage and they said that I would need to get a new headlight for the car. I called BMW and they wanted £300+ for one. I've also been reading that there a Lug repair kit anybody come across this and would that sort my problem out?

biscuits · 03-13-2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4u2nv

biscuits : Thanks for the info. I had a feel about under the hood and couldn't see any obvious holes etc etc. I've just come back from a garage and they said that I would need to get a new headlight for the car. I called BMW and they wanted £300+ for one. I've also been reading that there a Lug repair kit anybody come across this and would that sort my problem out?

You just need to take the headlight unit out, remove the HID lamp, ballast and cables, put a normal lamp in, plug the hole the other guys will have made, use a hair dryer and get rid of the moisture, lob a pack of silica gel in the back, close it all up and re-fit the unit to the car.

Carrera RSR · 03-13-2009, 10:02 AM

When I fitted LED's to the fogs and corona rings I found they flashed for 3 to 5 seconds whether switched on or off. Its as Biscuits said the blown bulb sensing pulse which triggers the flashing. Switched those over to different LED in the corona rings and a bulb in the fogs and it was all sorted.

As for the the moisture a new headlight unit should be the last resort TBH. Just need to find either the route moisture is getting in and reseal. The ballast needed to fire up the HIDS must be outside the headlight unit, not inside as this will create more heat and condensation when cooling.

4u2nv · 03-17-2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biscuits

If they did a proper job, it would be a half hour job to "rip" the HID kit out. If they did a really proper job (removing the BMW plugs and using crimps etc), then it's a lot more work.

Where abouts r u based ?

Hard day at work guys and the to55ers blocked the e90 forum. Biscuits i'm in Croydon so really looking for help on this one.

xenon · 03-18-2009, 03:42 AM

I think your best bet is to get a pair of original halogen lights from eBay and refit them. Without seeing how the HID bulbs were fitted it's difficult to say how easy it is to revert the lights you have, but as biscuits says, it shouldn't be too hard.

HIDs should not be fitted in the standard halogen free-form parabolic reflectors anyway as there is too much light scatter. An MOT station I know also checks for headlamp washers and self-levelling if HIDs are fitted and won't issue a pass if either are missing - more will follow suit.

The flickering issue is almost certainly the bulb-failure circuit pulsing.

The only way of doing the job properly is to buy OEM xenon lamps with the correct projector lenses.

adamshaban1 · 04-08-2009, 09:10 AM

the way i got rid of my error with my hids is to put a 4700uf 16v capacitor in the cable which gets the 12v power from the car,I hardly get an error for the headlamps and if I do then all you gota do is turn on the headlamps for a few seconds for the capacitor to charge and give the ok to the computer and thats it
i also heard using resistors is a good way to get rid of my little problem of having to turn the headlights on every once in a while to get rid of the error but i have never been able to get the ones i have working

anyways i have a problem with the moisture too,my lights came with the rubber rings but ive been too chicken to drill the hole in the back of the cover since its almost impossible to find just that cover as a part
another question would be after drilling the cover and fitting the rubber with the hid lamp wires,what about the 12v wires?how will those pass through the cover?

03-13-2009, 07:46 AM	#1
4u2nv Enlisted Member 14 Rep 38 Posts Drives: BMW 325i M-Sport Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: London iTrader: (0)	E90 Headlight Help Guys this is my first post so be kind. I've have 320D (E90) and a few months ago the car came out of warrenty so I thought that I'd have a HID kit fitted but since having it fitted i have 2 problems. 1) There is water buildup on the passenger side but not on the drivers side. 2) The lights blink when you turn the car on. I don't think that they were fitted properly but I can't take the car back as the fitter has closed down Can anyone please help with any suggestions. Thanks.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

03-13-2009, 07:58 AM	#2
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 1015 Rep 29,344 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	You have a nice username! __________________ 997.2 GT3
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-13-2009, 07:59 AM	#3
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 1015 Rep 29,344 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	Baris' Mate? He told me of your plate. Cool-as. __________________ 997.2 GT3
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-13-2009, 08:08 AM	#4
jjbirch Banned 79 Rep 2,927 Posts Drives: E60 530D M SPORT Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: england iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 320d m sport [0.00]	dont bother fitting any to them as they chuck up error codes on the dashboard and getting a cheap pair of xenon's off of ebay is a waste of time too as it costs lots to get them coded to your car i have been down a few routes but never botherd in the end as they would mess up the headlights in the first place
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-13-2009, 09:07 AM	#6
biscuits Dimmer than a dim thing 81 Rep 1,291 Posts Drives: M4 GTS, EQC, X5 40d, simrig Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW X5 (F15) 4 ... [0.00] 2016 BMW M4 GTS [10.00]	It sounds like the lamp-to-ballast lead hasn't been sealed properly, causing the water/mist. HID lamps need a seperate ballast/box, this is mounted outside of the normal headlight unit, then a small hole is made in the rear cover to allow the HID lamp and the original 12v lamp connections to be made. The kits normally come with rubber grommets, but you ned to use some silicon too to make is a pukka seal. The flashing, is this all the time, or only when you start the car? If it's only when you start the car, try switching the light switch to OFF, start the car, then switch the headlights on and see if it happens. It could be the type of ballast you have doesn't like the voltage drop when the starter motor is turning, causing the lamp to not strike properly. The other thing it could be is the BMW lamp sensor circuit, it uses pulses to detect if a lamp blows, could be that if it happens all the time. I'm not just guessing here either, I installed an HID kit to my 996... so know what hassles you can get.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-13-2009, 09:21 AM	#7
4u2nv Enlisted Member 14 Rep 38 Posts Drives: BMW 325i M-Sport Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: London iTrader: (0)	jjbirch : I'm kicking myself at the moment I'm gutted that I even got the HID kit installed. I just want the car back to factory default.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-13-2009, 09:29 AM	#9
4u2nv Enlisted Member 14 Rep 38 Posts Drives: BMW 325i M-Sport Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: London iTrader: (0)	biscuits : Thanks for the info. I had a feel about under the hood and couldn't see any obvious holes etc etc. I've just come back from a garage and they said that I would need to get a new headlight for the car. I called BMW and they wanted £300+ for one. I've also been reading that there a Lug repair kit anybody come across this and would that sort my problem out?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-13-2009, 10:02 AM	#11
Carrera RSR Colonel 75 Rep 2,937 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Location: Location: iTrader: (1)	When I fitted LED's to the fogs and corona rings I found they flashed for 3 to 5 seconds whether switched on or off. Its as Biscuits said the blown bulb sensing pulse which triggers the flashing. Switched those over to different LED in the corona rings and a bulb in the fogs and it was all sorted. As for the the moisture a new headlight unit should be the last resort TBH. Just need to find either the route moisture is getting in and reseal. The ballast needed to fire up the HIDS must be outside the headlight unit, not inside as this will create more heat and condensation when cooling.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-18-2009, 03:42 AM	#13
xenon Major General 1471 Rep 8,200 Posts Drives: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coventry iTrader: (0)	I think your best bet is to get a pair of original halogen lights from eBay and refit them. Without seeing how the HID bulbs were fitted it's difficult to say how easy it is to revert the lights you have, but as biscuits says, it shouldn't be too hard. HIDs should not be fitted in the standard halogen free-form parabolic reflectors anyway as there is too much light scatter. An MOT station I know also checks for headlamp washers and self-levelling if HIDs are fitted and won't issue a pass if either are missing - more will follow suit. The flickering issue is almost certainly the bulb-failure circuit pulsing. The only way of doing the job properly is to buy OEM xenon lamps with the correct projector lenses. __________________ Ian Current: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Previous: 2018 A6 Avant S-Line MMI+, 2014 F31 320d M-Sport, 2013 F10 520d M-Sport, 2011 F10 530d M-Sport, 2008 320i M-Sport Coupe, 2002 325i, 2001 318i valvetronic, 1998 318i, 1996 525i, 1990 Porsche 944S2
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-08-2009, 09:10 AM	#14
adamshaban1 New Member 0 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 2007 e90 320i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Egypt iTrader: (0)	the way i got rid of my error with my hids is to put a 4700uf 16v capacitor in the cable which gets the 12v power from the car,I hardly get an error for the headlamps and if I do then all you gota do is turn on the headlamps for a few seconds for the capacitor to charge and give the ok to the computer and thats it i also heard using resistors is a good way to get rid of my little problem of having to turn the headlights on every once in a while to get rid of the error but i have never been able to get the ones i have working anyways i have a problem with the moisture too,my lights came with the rubber rings but ive been too chicken to drill the hole in the back of the cover since its almost impossible to find just that cover as a part another question would be after drilling the cover and fitting the rubber with the hid lamp wires,what about the 12v wires?how will those pass through the cover?
	Appreciate 0 Quote