no power going to my headlight??

YianniM3 · 01-13-2010, 03:40 PM

hey everyone

so ive had HID;s for headlights and one of them kept going out so i went to get it fixed and for some reason they couldnt fix it somehow there is no power going to the headlight but all the fuses are working fine. they told me i have to go to bmw because they have the computers. so i went to another friend i know to see what hed say and he told me the same thing that all the fuses seem fine but no power going to the headlight so now i have my stock bulbs in and i really wanted to avoid the dealer cuz my warranty is up and theyll prob charge me way to much for somthing there computer can prob fix in 5 minutes. idk basicly wondering if theres anywhere else i could prob go to that have computers like the dealers but wont cost me an arm and a leg. any advise or has this happend to anyone else before??? also its only one of my headlights that is having this problem the other side works fine.

Arustik1 · 01-13-2010, 04:17 PM

Don't know if he will be able to help but you can try to PM dave --> dave96dcm and see what he says.
I know he has fixed headlight problems before.

-D

Derek Zoolander · 01-13-2010, 05:15 PM

Sounds like the ballast is bad.
Do you have OEM Xenons, or reflector housings with drop-in HIDs?

YianniM3 · 01-13-2010, 05:19 PM

i have OEM halogens, i dont have xenons

Derek Zoolander · 01-13-2010, 05:22 PM

Well there's your first problem. It's illegal to put HIDs in reflector housings. It also causes many problems with fried wiring/ballasts due to the excess heat.

YianniM3 · 01-13-2010, 07:39 PM

other people on the forums have them Mr. zoolander

YianniM3 · 01-13-2010, 07:40 PM

and if heat is a problem why do they only mess up in the winter because same thing happend last winter but work perfect all summer

Derek Zoolander · 01-13-2010, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nixta325

other people on the forums have them Mr. zoolander

Of course, tons of people do it. Doesn't mean it's right! I would never do drop-in HIDs in reflector housings. It's risky and dangerous.

My guess is the ballast is shot.

jopa489 · 01-13-2010, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Zoolander

Of course, tons of people do it. Doesn't mean it's right! I would never do drop-in HIDs in reflector housings. It's risky and dangerous.

My guess is the ballast is shot.

I agree. And if you really want it done right, get OEM xenons.

YianniM3 · 01-13-2010, 09:21 PM

i understand that but now i have my stock back in and it still wont work my original question was has this happend to anyone else and is there anywhere i can go that has computers like the dealer but wont cost me an arm and a leg. in short how do i fix it

alex2112 · 01-14-2010, 12:55 AM

I'm not sure about a fix but, I might have a possible explaination/clarification as to why it went out.

Plug-n-play HID kits are all the rage nowadays because you can drop them in in place of halogen bulbs and gain a ton of light output for cheap. However, doing this is actually very bad. First, halogen headlights were made for a halogen bulb. If you are to put a HID bulb in there, the intense light is not correctly controlled by the reflectors and it scatters everywhere in front of you, causing very dangerous and blinding glare to oncoming cars. This is why you see so many cars with these kits that look like their high-beams are on constantly.

Second, the wiring for the OEM headlight bulb was designed to power a 55-watt halogen bulb. A Halogen bulb is incandescent, meaning it has a filament, and draws a constant amount of juice from the wiring when it's on. Now, a HID ballast on the other hand needs to ignite the HID bulb every time you turn on your lights. This places extreme strain on the stock headlight wiring. Also, if I am not mistaken, HID ballasts need some more juice to ignite the bulbs in cold weather than in warm weather. A solution to this is to use a harness and wire the HID kit to the battery, and have your OEM wiring only act as the 'switch' to turn them on and off.

Cliff notes: The current draw from the HID kit probably messed up your wiring. Also, drop-in HID kits blind people and are illegal.

lopealle · 01-14-2010, 12:59 AM

well this great info i was gonna buy some hid for my mustang but never mind now lol.

alex2112 · 01-14-2010, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lopealle

well this great info i was gonna buy some hid for my mustang but never mind now lol.

If you or anyone wants to read up on more as to the problems with using a hid kit on a car originally with halogens, this site is excellent:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html

514Bimmer · 01-30-2014, 11:34 AM

Any News ?

01-13-2010, 03:40 PM	#1
YianniM3 Lieutenant 111 Rep 590 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mass iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 335i [10.00]	no power going to my headlight?? hey everyone so ive had HID;s for headlights and one of them kept going out so i went to get it fixed and for some reason they couldnt fix it somehow there is no power going to the headlight but all the fuses are working fine. they told me i have to go to bmw because they have the computers. so i went to another friend i know to see what hed say and he told me the same thing that all the fuses seem fine but no power going to the headlight so now i have my stock bulbs in and i really wanted to avoid the dealer cuz my warranty is up and theyll prob charge me way to much for somthing there computer can prob fix in 5 minutes. idk basicly wondering if theres anywhere else i could prob go to that have computers like the dealers but wont cost me an arm and a leg. any advise or has this happend to anyone else before??? also its only one of my headlights that is having this problem the other side works fine. __________________ Current:F80 M3 SB/SO Full leather, Black Wheels, Executive Package, Adaptive Suspension, Manual Sold: LeMans Blue 335i e92 Sold: JB 325xi e90
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01-13-2010, 04:17 PM	#2
Arustik1 HYEPWR 103 Rep 2,868 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mesa, AZ iTrader: (3) Garage List 2007 E92 335i [0.00]	Don't know if he will be able to help but you can try to PM dave --> dave96dcm and see what he says. I know he has fixed headlight problems before. -D __________________ 2002 330ci Titanium Silver / Gray 2005 X5 3.0i Black Sapphire Metallic / Black 2002 M3 Laguna Seca Blue / Black 2001 M5 Jet Black / Black
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01-13-2010, 05:15 PM	#3
Derek Zoolander Banned 102 Rep 1,873 Posts Drives: 09 E90 M-Sport Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Nashua, NH iTrader: (0)	Sounds like the ballast is bad. Do you have OEM Xenons, or reflector housings with drop-in HIDs?
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01-13-2010, 05:19 PM	#4
YianniM3 Lieutenant 111 Rep 590 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mass iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 335i [10.00]	i have OEM halogens, i dont have xenons __________________ Current:F80 M3 SB/SO Full leather, Black Wheels, Executive Package, Adaptive Suspension, Manual Sold: LeMans Blue 335i e92 Sold: JB 325xi e90
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01-13-2010, 05:22 PM	#5
Derek Zoolander Banned 102 Rep 1,873 Posts Drives: 09 E90 M-Sport Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Nashua, NH iTrader: (0)	Well there's your first problem. It's illegal to put HIDs in reflector housings. It also causes many problems with fried wiring/ballasts due to the excess heat.
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01-13-2010, 07:39 PM	#6
YianniM3 Lieutenant 111 Rep 590 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mass iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 335i [10.00]	other people on the forums have them Mr. zoolander __________________ Current:F80 M3 SB/SO Full leather, Black Wheels, Executive Package, Adaptive Suspension, Manual Sold: LeMans Blue 335i e92 Sold: JB 325xi e90
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01-13-2010, 07:40 PM	#7
YianniM3 Lieutenant 111 Rep 590 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mass iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 335i [10.00]	and if heat is a problem why do they only mess up in the winter because same thing happend last winter but work perfect all summer __________________ Current:F80 M3 SB/SO Full leather, Black Wheels, Executive Package, Adaptive Suspension, Manual Sold: LeMans Blue 335i e92 Sold: JB 325xi e90
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01-13-2010, 09:21 PM	#10
YianniM3 Lieutenant 111 Rep 590 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mass iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 335i [10.00]	i understand that but now i have my stock back in and it still wont work my original question was has this happend to anyone else and is there anywhere i can go that has computers like the dealer but wont cost me an arm and a leg. in short how do i fix it __________________ Current:F80 M3 SB/SO Full leather, Black Wheels, Executive Package, Adaptive Suspension, Manual Sold: LeMans Blue 335i e92 Sold: JB 325xi e90
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01-14-2010, 12:55 AM	#11
alex2112 Lieutenant 37 Rep 467 Posts Drives: 2016 X1 M-Sport Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: MA iTrader: (4)	I'm not sure about a fix but, I might have a possible explaination/clarification as to why it went out. Plug-n-play HID kits are all the rage nowadays because you can drop them in in place of halogen bulbs and gain a ton of light output for cheap. However, doing this is actually very bad. First, halogen headlights were made for a halogen bulb. If you are to put a HID bulb in there, the intense light is not correctly controlled by the reflectors and it scatters everywhere in front of you, causing very dangerous and blinding glare to oncoming cars. This is why you see so many cars with these kits that look like their high-beams are on constantly. Second, the wiring for the OEM headlight bulb was designed to power a 55-watt halogen bulb. A Halogen bulb is incandescent, meaning it has a filament, and draws a constant amount of juice from the wiring when it's on. Now, a HID ballast on the other hand needs to ignite the HID bulb every time you turn on your lights. This places extreme strain on the stock headlight wiring. Also, if I am not mistaken, HID ballasts need some more juice to ignite the bulbs in cold weather than in warm weather. A solution to this is to use a harness and wire the HID kit to the battery, and have your OEM wiring only act as the 'switch' to turn them on and off. Cliff notes: The current draw from the HID kit probably messed up your wiring. Also, drop-in HID kits blind people and are illegal.
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01-14-2010, 12:59 AM	#12
lopealle Resident Black Guy 280 Rep 2,302 Posts Drives: Lion Join Date: May 2009 Location: Federal Way, WA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 M5 [10.00]	well this great info i was gonna buy some hid for my mustang but never mind now lol.
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01-30-2014, 11:34 AM	#14
514Bimmer Private First Class 7 Rep 160 Posts Drives: 2008 328 Xi Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Montreal iTrader: (1)	Any News ?
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