[Trevendous03]

Originally Posted by DistantCube

Hey guys, so I got my Umnitza's with FX-R retrofit a few days ago. Did a test run yesterday, i.e. just plugged them in without mounting them - and they worked great, didn't throw up any errors whatsoever and looked fantastic.

The following applies to the above lights on a 2007 (built in late '06) E90.

Errors
Then today, mounted them in - and got all the errors. Flickering, start-up error (which doesn't bother me so much) and the feared continuous beeping error. As far as I can tell, these errors are occurring predominantly as a result of the warm bulb check. The good news about the errors is I have a few more options up my sleeve;

1. I've got a cable coming next week, so hopefully code them out (Following Trevendous' posts)
2. I've got the optional wiring harness to bypass the Light Control Module.
3. I can get some gold resistors to simulate the wattage of the OEM halogens.
So I'm not so stressed about the errors yet.

Fogging
What has got me frustrated is the fogging of the housing. The drivers side more so than the passenger side. One user a couple of pages back mentioned that he was going to try to plug any gaps by sealing with silicone. Just wondering is there a better way? Silicone is messy and difficult to work with - and will probably need sanding to make sure everything is plugged and will fit properly. Anyone got any ideas for the fogging?

EDIT - the fogging is not THAT bad, but it shouldn't be happening and I'm really unhappy about it. Though I got another idea, might cover the entire headlight with a film. Waiting for Umnitza's response on this.

I will post pics if anyone wants them - but they're similar to everyone else. I'm otherwise happy with the lights if I can fix the fogging and code out the errors. It all sounds doable though inconvenient - I will keep you guys posted if you're interested.

(Oh, I've been lurking this forum for like 2 years, and this has made me join)

Since you already bought the coding cable, just do coding. You won't have to spend any extra $$. Ever since I coded out all my errors, the lights have been running perfectly for about 6 weeks now. Very happy to be error-free!

BTW, cancelers/harnesses will just compound the problem if you code and get those. Think of it arithmetically... a negative (canceler harness) times a negative (coding out errors) equals a positive (you'll get errors).

Just coding will be enough! Make sure you code for xenon first (http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=500068) then get rid of all the low/high beam and turn signal and parking lamp warm and cold checks.

Anyway, I have slight fogging too, but only in my passenger light, and it seems to go away really quickly. It also only happens during heavy rainfall.

[Trevendous03]

Originally Posted by Simon.bmw

Hi Trevendous03, finally i got my cable, but just now, i follow the Junior's NCS DIY PDF, and when i got to step 9. i just can not find my com 1 port, i m run a wins xp system, i have no idea how to find com1. can u give me some help? Thank you.

Did the cable automatically download its drivers to your laptop?

If so, then you can find the ports within Device Manager through the control panel in Windows XP.

Mine showed up as COM4, but it has to be set to COM1. You should be able to do this by right-clicking and clicking Properties.

[Simon.bmw]

I dot think my cable would auto download the drivers, coz when i plug in the cable, it tells me to find the drives... i m no ideas..lol...

Originally Posted by Trevendous03

Did the cable automatically download its drivers to your laptop?

If so, then you can find the ports within Device Manager through the control panel in Windows XP.

Mine showed up as COM4, but it has to be set to COM1. You should be able to do this by right-clicking and clicking Properties.

[DistantCube]

Originally Posted by Trevendous03

Since you already bought the coding cable, just do coding. You won't have to spend any extra $$. Ever since I coded out all my errors, the lights have been running perfectly for about 6 weeks now. Very happy to be error-free!

BTW, cancelers/harnesses will just compound the problem if you code and get those. Think of it arithmetically... a negative (canceler harness) times a negative (coding out errors) equals a positive (you'll get errors).

Just coding will be enough! Make sure you code for xenon first (http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=500068) then get rid of all the low/high beam and turn signal and parking lamp warm and cold checks.

Anyway, I have slight fogging too, but only in my passenger light, and it seems to go away really quickly. It also only happens during heavy rainfall.

Yup - it seems we are twins when it comes to the errors and so on. My story is EXACTLY the same as yours. Thankfully, you're ahead of me by a few weeks, so I'm following what you did to solve my problem.

Meanwhile, re. the fogging - Umnitza got back to me and said that it's normal to have fogging once due to climate/pressure changes from where the headlights were assembled and shipped versus where I am now. So far, I can't fault that logic. I had a bit of condensation which indicated a hole to me. EDIT - The drivers side is fogging up badly with extensive condensation, the passenger side is ok. Confirmed with the pressure washer and with the rain

[Trevendous03]

Originally Posted by Simon.bmw

I dot think my cable would auto download the drivers, coz when i plug in the cable, it tells me to find the drives... i m no ideas..lol...

That's why it's not creating a communication port for you then. What is the cable naming itself on your laptop? Try google searching the name of the cable with "drivers" at the end of the search. You should be able to download some from the internet, cause I did that in case the drivers it automatically downloaded didn't work.

Originally Posted by DistantCube

Yup - it seems we are twins when it comes to the errors and so on. My story is EXACTLY the same as yours. Thankfully, you're ahead of me by a few weeks, so I'm following what you did to solve my problem.

Meanwhile, re. the fogging - Umnitza got back to me and said that it's normal to have fogging once due to climate/pressure changes from where the headlights were assembled and shipped versus where I am now. So far, I can't fault that logic. I had a bit of condensation which indicated a hole to me. EDIT - The drivers side is fogging up badly with extensive condensation, the passenger side is ok. Confirmed with the pressure washer and with the rain

That is so wild! We have had a ton of rain, and I have washed my car 3-4 times, and I only see a slight bit of condensation in the passenger headlight only, and it's just in the bottom corner. It goes away after about a half hour when sitting in the sun or garage.

Make sure you do code for xenon first, because you will have to reset your CAS and FRM submodules right after you code the $522 into the VO FA string. That tutorial on coding the VO doesn't describe that part. You have to start with a blank .MAN file and SG_CODIEREN (write over) the FRM and CAS submodules, so the appropriate code shows when you read the ECU. Otherwise you'll still have your code from your old VO, which won't allow you to code the car for xenon correctly.

[ecaedus]

I'm the OP here, and I have updates again for these lights.

well i contacted unmitza and they said they'll fix the fogging and the broken turn signal issue for me.

HOWEVER, after a trip to a professional repair shop, they said that my car's lighting module is completely broken due to me plugging in the headlights and ballast, they claim it to be a hardware problem. and guess how much they r asking to fix it? $1500

right now i'm running out of options, i think i'll just have to let someone code the car and hope for the best....

[rollinstone157]

Originally Posted by ecaedus

I'm the OP here, and I have updates again for these lights.

well i contacted unmitza and they said they'll fix the fogging and the broken turn signal issue for me.

HOWEVER, after a trip to a professional repair shop, they said that my car's lighting module is completely broken due to me plugging in the headlights and ballast, they claim it to be a hardware problem. and guess how much they r asking to fix it? $1500

right now i'm running out of options, i think i'll just have to let someone code the car and hope for the best....

That sounds really dumb.
1. Do the coding
2. Send headlights back to Umnitza.
3. What's the name of your "professional repair shop". Your FRM won't cause the funky blinker issue you were having.

[DistantCube]

Originally Posted by Trevendous03

That's why it's not creating a communication port for you then. What is the cable naming itself on your laptop? Try google searching the name of the cable with "drivers" at the end of the search. You should be able to download some from the internet, cause I did that in case the drivers it automatically downloaded didn't work.



That is so wild! We have had a ton of rain, and I have washed my car 3-4 times, and I only see a slight bit of condensation in the passenger headlight only, and it's just in the bottom corner. It goes away after about a half hour when sitting in the sun or garage.

Make sure you do code for xenon first, because you will have to reset your CAS and FRM submodules right after you code the $522 into the VO FA string. That tutorial on coding the VO doesn't describe that part. You have to start with a blank .MAN file and SG_CODIEREN (write over) the FRM and CAS submodules, so the appropriate code shows when you read the ECU. Otherwise you'll still have your code from your old VO, which won't allow you to code the car for xenon correctly.

Cheers for the pro-tip! I didn't think of that step either.

Originally Posted by ecaedus

I'm the OP here, and I have updates again for these lights.

well i contacted unmitza and they said they'll fix the fogging and the broken turn signal issue for me.

HOWEVER, after a trip to a professional repair shop, they said that my car's lighting module is completely broken due to me plugging in the headlights and ballast, they claim it to be a hardware problem. and guess how much they r asking to fix it? $1500

right now i'm running out of options, i think i'll just have to let someone code the car and hope for the best....

Umnitza have sent me an e-mail stating that they will reply in detail shortly. You're lucky you're in LA mate and can send them back without significant cost. I live in Australia - shipping to here was just shy of $200!

As far as I'm concerned though, they didn't reseal the lights properly after doing the retrofit, and so I should be duly compensated.

[Trevendous03]

Originally Posted by ecaedus

I'm the OP here, and I have updates again for these lights.

well i contacted unmitza and they said they'll fix the fogging and the broken turn signal issue for me.

HOWEVER, after a trip to a professional repair shop, they said that my car's lighting module is completely broken due to me plugging in the headlights and ballast, they claim it to be a hardware problem. and guess how much they r asking to fix it? $1500

right now i'm running out of options, i think i'll just have to let someone code the car and hope for the best....

How do you know the turn signal is broken? What's happening with it again? That could also just require coding. Coding out the turn signal bulb checks might do the trick.

I have heard of modules being burned out with improper usage (not coding for xenon and solely trusting on resistors/cancelers), so that shop may be accurate, but before you trust their word, I'd definitely do the coding. Plus, wouldn't your "broken" module throw errors elsewhere or randomly turn off your brake lights or sidemarkers or something? I feel like nothing would work, because all the lighting is within the same module.

Coding got rid of all my errors, and the car supplies the appropriate wattage to the ballasts. Everything functions as if the car came with these headlights from the factory. I did notice a small amount of dust getting into my headlights though. I sure hope this doesn't accumulate to more.

[ecaedus]

Originally Posted by Trevendous03

How do you know the turn signal is broken? What's happening with it again? That could also just require coding. Coding out the turn signal bulb checks might do the trick.

I have heard of modules being burned out with improper usage (not coding for xenon and solely trusting on resistors/cancelers), so that shop may be accurate, but before you trust their word, I'd definitely do the coding. Plus, wouldn't your "broken" module throw errors elsewhere or randomly turn off your brake lights or sidemarkers or something? I feel like nothing would work, because all the lighting is within the same module.

Coding got rid of all my errors, and the car supplies the appropriate wattage to the ballasts. Everything functions as if the car came with these headlights from the factory. I did notice a small amount of dust getting into my headlights though. I sure hope this doesn't accumulate to more.

just came back from Alpine's place, a coder in the LA area, he was very nice and friendly. anyway, he says it's definitely a hardware issue after some tests.

first possibility, the connector from the car to the headlight is broken, two wires touching and shorting eachother

second possibility, the way the umnitza headlight was wired fried the circuit inside the car, so the entire lighting module needs to be changed. $1500 lol

and that's that. i guess i'll have to live with it as long as i own the car.

[DistantCube]

Ecaedus - sorry to hear that. Surely if it's a fault that is obviously caused by the retailer/manufacturer then the retailer should compensate you with a refund or replacement or repairs?

[Trevendous03]

Originally Posted by ecaedus

I'm the OP here, and I have updates again for these lights.

well i contacted unmitza and they said they'll fix the fogging and the broken turn signal issue for me.

HOWEVER, after a trip to a professional repair shop, they said that my car's lighting module is completely broken due to me plugging in the headlights and ballast, they claim it to be a hardware problem. and guess how much they r asking to fix it? $1500

right now i'm running out of options, i think i'll just have to let someone code the car and hope for the best....

Originally Posted by ecaedus

just came back from Alpine's place, a coder in the LA area, he was very nice and friendly. anyway, he says it's definitely a hardware issue after some tests.

first possibility, the connector from the car to the headlight is broken, two wires touching and shorting eachother

second possibility, the way the umnitza headlight was wired fried the circuit inside the car, so the entire lighting module needs to be changed. $1500 lol

and that's that. i guess i'll have to live with it as long as i own the car.

I feel so sorry for you. This is such a bad situation... Idk what I'd do!

I'm wondering where the problem truly lies, cause it looks to me like Umnitza knows what they're doing when it comes to wiring but that they lack quality parts, like the projectors for example seem like defects. The wiring inside my headlight looked very clean and well done.

[anthonym96]

Originally Posted by ecaedus

just came back from Alpine's place, a coder in the LA area, he was very nice and friendly. anyway, he says it's definitely a hardware issue after some tests.

first possibility, the connector from the car to the headlight is broken, two wires touching and shorting eachother

second possibility, the way the umnitza headlight was wired fried the circuit inside the car, so the entire lighting module needs to be changed. $1500 lol

and that's that. i guess i'll have to live with it as long as i own the car.

What problems are you having? I took my car to alpine alex too he coded everything for me it was fine up untill a couple weeks ago when my left lowbeam shuts off then turns back on with the car on lift on my dash Im going to meet up with alpine alex again so he can check it out

[rollinstone157]

Originally Posted by anthonym96

What problems are you having? I took my car to alpine alex too he coded everything for me it was fine up untill a couple weeks ago when my left lowbeam shuts off then turns back on with the car on lift on my dash Im going to meet up with alpine alex again so he can check it out

Go back and have him do this:

Originally Posted by Trevendous03

...
Make sure you do code for xenon first, because you will have to reset your CAS and FRM submodules right after you code the $522 into the VO FA string. That tutorial on coding the VO doesn't describe that part. You have to start with a blank .MAN file and SG_CODIEREN (write over) the FRM and CAS submodules, so the appropriate code shows when you read the ECU. Otherwise you'll still have your code from your old VO, which won't allow you to code the car for xenon correctly.

[anthonym96]

Originally Posted by rollinstone157

Go back and have him do this:

I will show him that post.. I hope its an easy fix because its very annoying

[ecaedus]

Originally Posted by DistantCube

Ecaedus - sorry to hear that. Surely if it's a fault that is obviously caused by the retailer/manufacturer then the retailer should compensate you with a refund or replacement or repairs?

umnitza is saying their product won't cause damage to my car, they r fixing it right now....

it's now very big of a problem and i can live with it, its just annoying

[ecaedus]

Originally Posted by anthonym96

What problems are you having? I took my car to alpine alex too he coded everything for me it was fine up untill a couple weeks ago when my left lowbeam shuts off then turns back on with the car on lift on my dash Im going to meet up with alpine alex again so he can check it out

alex just left town today, won't be back till sunday...... i was hoping he could code my car for me after i got the lights installed on friday. my roadtrip is on Saturday so guess i'll have to find another coder...

[Simon.bmw]

Hi, ecaedus. did u see my pm?? so now u r trying to have ur car code right??

Originally Posted by ecaedus

alex just left town today, won't be back till sunday...... i was hoping he could code my car for me after i got the lights installed on friday. my roadtrip is on Saturday so guess i'll have to find another coder...

[Simon.bmw]

what does umnitza gonna fixing for u? you mean the foggy inside the headlight? or something else??

Originally Posted by ecaedus

umnitza is saying their product won't cause damage to my car, they r fixing it right now....

it's now very big of a problem and i can live with it, its just annoying

[Trevendous03]

Originally Posted by anthonym96

I will show him that post.. I hope its an easy fix because its very annoying

It is an easy fix. I had my right headlight go out then come back on with the car on lift error, and I had done all the bulb check deactivation, and I couldn't figure it out. Coding for xenon (like I have stated earlier in this thread) will definitely resolve the error, because I did that and have been error-free for about 6 weeks now.

Have Alex code the car for xenon with the $522 added to the FA string in the VO. He will have to re-code all the bulb check deactivation again though.

Originally Posted by ecaedus

alex just left town today, won't be back till sunday...... i was hoping he could code my car for me after i got the lights installed on friday. my roadtrip is on Saturday so guess i'll have to find another coder...

If I lived out west, I'd help you out. You should try to get a cable on here though cause it's really easy.

[ecaedus]

Originally Posted by Simon.bmw

Hi, ecaedus. did u see my pm?? so now u r trying to have ur car code right??

hi simon, so sry i wasn't able to get back to you in time, was trying to do all sorts of different things.

anyway, it seems that the problem cannot be solved by coding, it's a hardware problem and either Umnitza's headlight caused it or i caused it myself while installing. basically there are two wires touching eachother in the car somewhere and its shorting out the circuit. that's why the corner light stays on.

i'm going to go to the dealership and have them to take a look at it, and determine how much it'll cost me to fix. hopefully not too much lol

i told umnitza to sort out the LED signal bulb wiring on their headlight and clean up the fog inside the headlight, i sent them the headlight last week and it got delayed twice for shipping so now i'm expecting it to arrive on friday this week?.....hopefully....

[AW128i]

I've read every post in this thread because I would like to get rid of the crappy halogens in my 128i and Umnitza sells a 1-series DEPO retrofit with all the goodies talked about in this thread such as LED AEs and FX-R retrofit. But from what I've seen in this thread, the lights from Umnitza have two problems on all of them: one, fogging issues; and two, shitty projector light output. Some of the beam pattern pics of the FX-R retrofits in the DEPO lights are absolutely horrific. The part that worries me the most, is that the fogging could be a result of a couple things. One, the lights may not be properly sealed after Umnitza does the LED AE retrofit. Or two, the HID retrofit cables coming through the housing may not be properly sealed.

Point being, this seems like a lot of money to spend only to receive a product that definitely doesn't live up to the hype from Umnitza. Has anyone gotten the Umnitza lights and not had fogging and FX-R problems??