XSeries-forum

I have the standard Xenon dipped beam headlights with halogen main beams.

My nearside xenon is poorly  :'( in that after a couple of hours of running the lamp goes out and I get the 'check low beam lights' messaged, also if they are on then switched off and straight back on, it again fails.  If the lamp is left of for a couple of minutes, it will fire back up OK.

So - is it the ballast or is the lamp faulty? 

I was going to switch the lamps over but figured that if I bought a pair of new lamps I would eliminate them and after 6 years of use they could do with replacing anyway.

Osrams work out approx £73 for the pair (OE spec) 

Then I looked at the upgrade kits for £60 ish for a '55W NEW SMART CANBUS HID KIT SLIM' from HIDs Direct.

If I were to buy said kit I could upgrade my 35W to 55W, have new lamps and ballast for less than two new lamps, but if I bought 2 kits I could upgrade the main beam too. 

What do people think?  Should I stick OE and try and find the faulty part or upgrade the lot?

Also, 4300K, 5000K or 6000K?  I don't want to go illegal, but am I right in thinking that the higher the colour temp the less light output you get?


Thank you for any useful input 

With regard to colour temp yes as the temp increases then to our eyes (which are centred on green colours) they seem dimmer as the colour becomes bluer.  5,000K or slightly below is fine, 4,300 is a little cold though used as some for OEM.  6,000K is the upper sensible limit (you can go to 30,000K but they're only useful as a sunlamp).

The lamp going out is by the sounds of it a loss of the ability to sustain an arc plasma which would more likely be the ballast.  Letting the system cool is probably allowing the ballast to recycle into a 'full start' rather than perhaps a 'hot start'.  The bulbs usually go 'yellow' if they are failing.  Regular or frequent 'hot starts' are supposed to be bad for HIDs.

Remember the inner lights are a different fitting so the 'hot spot' may be in a different place to get the correct beam formation.  The inner lamps would use an 'R' type bulb as the lamp unit is a reflector type rather than the 'S' type for projector lamp units.

Richard

I've just this weekend gone from std to 55 watt. The difference is quite literally day and night

Thank you guys - it all makes sense to me just like a bit of confirmation.  Thought I may go for the 5000K

Richard - yes I was going to go for the conversion on the Main beam, but essentially the ballast bits are the same?

The next question is, would the wiring of the OE be easily modified to suit the new?  How was your install Ubatoid?

Ballast is the same.  The 'R' bulb just has an anti-glare shield (which may not be needed for the main beam) added but the controls/workings are the same.

Richard

Russ,

It does sound like the ballast as opposed to the bulb tbh.

I've just upgraded mine to the 55w kit from hids direct. £60 delivered and gone with 4300k bulbs again from my previous 6000k. The wiring to the OE ballast has been cut to fit the connectors needed to fit to the aftermarket ballast input wires but nothing too serious. It is a bumper off job though and the slim ballasts are now mounted inside the headlamps as opposed to underneath like the OE ones.

I wouldn't bother with full beam upgrade tbh and just get the dipped replaced.

The next question is, would the wiring of the OE be easily modified to suit the new?  How was your install Ubatoid?

I had the benefit of the HIDs being already fitted to my new ( second user) lights, but the connectors plugged straight into the OE loom. Also the ballasts fitted perfectly in place of the old ones under the headlight. Piece of cake.

[quote="Raj"]
Russ,

It does sound like the ballast as opposed to the bulb tbh.

I've just upgraded mine to the 55w kit from hids direct. £60 delivered and gone with 4300k bulbs again from my previous 6000k. The wiring to the OE ballast has been cut to fit the connectors needed to fit to the aftermarket ballast input wires but nothing too serious. It is a bumper off job though and the slim ballasts are now mounted inside the headlamps as opposed to underneath like the OE ones.

I wouldn't bother with full beam upgrade tbh and just get the dipped replaced.
[/quote]

Thanks Raj.

Are the ballasts better off mounted there to keep them dry etc but are there any heat implications or is it just for ease of wiring?  Anything for an easy life 

Why not bother with the mains, any particular reason?  Just thought it made sense as I would be in there messing with the loom and the more light the better.  Did you just upgrade the halogen lamps?  And finally, how long does it all take to install? 

Thanks all

Ubatoid wrote:

The next question is, would the wiring of the OE be easily modified to suit the new?  How was your install Ubatoid?

I had the benefit of the HIDs being already fitted to my new ( second user) lights, but the connectors plugged straight into the OE loom. Also the ballasts fitted perfectly in place of the old ones under the headlight. Piece of cake.

Andy
I actually had to purchase the wiring between the ballast and the oe connection. Made it easier to swap back and kept oe plugs.

[quote="Rusty"]
[quote="Raj"]
Russ,

It does sound like the ballast as opposed to the bulb tbh.

I've just upgraded mine to the 55w kit from hids direct. £60 delivered and gone with 4300k bulbs again from my previous 6000k. The wiring to the OE ballast has been cut to fit the connectors needed to fit to the aftermarket ballast input wires but nothing too serious. It is a bumper off job though and the slim ballasts are now mounted inside the headlamps as opposed to underneath like the OE ones.

I wouldn't bother with full beam upgrade tbh and just get the dipped replaced.
[/quote]

Thanks Raj.

Are the ballasts better off mounted there to keep them dry etc but are there any heat implications or is it just for ease of wiring?  Anything for an easy life 

Why not bother with the mains, any particular reason?  Just thought it made sense as I would be in there messing with the loom and the more light the better.  Did you just upgrade the halogen lamps?  And finally, how long does it all take to install? 

Thanks all
[/quote]
Now a days the xenons you purchase all waterproof. The one that ubatoid has actually can be dropped in water and turned on and it will work as normal submerged.
When it comes to upgrading the main beam, i would not bother with it as you should get enough light output from dipped beam and won't need to worry needing too much assist from main beam

That's a fair point. Thank you for your input mate.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk 2

Now a days the xenons you purchase all waterproof. The one that ubatoid has actually can be dropped in water and turned on and it will work as normal submerged.

For reference I will not be testing the wading capabilities of the X.  :'(

I just received another 55w kit same as yours and don't know if i should install it. I will be putting the X5 for sale this week or so. I have been notified that i will be deploying again so there is no need for me to keep the X for almost a year and try to sell it when i come back as i will want to try to sell it before i leave the country. Time flies and now my eyes are on the F15 X5 rather than E70.
Anyone interested buying the HID kit? PM me please if interested 55W kit with 4300K D2S kit.
Apologise the hijacking the thread.

Ubatoid wrote:

Now a days the xenons you purchase all waterproof. The one that ubatoid has actually can be dropped in water and turned on and it will work as normal submerged.

For reference I will not be testing the wading capabilities of the X.  :'(

if works as should than no need for tests

[quote="Rusty"]
[quote="Raj"]
Russ,

It does sound like the ballast as opposed to the bulb tbh.

I've just upgraded mine to the 55w kit from hids direct. £60 delivered and gone with 4300k bulbs again from my previous 6000k. The wiring to the OE ballast has been cut to fit the connectors needed to fit to the aftermarket ballast input wires but nothing too serious. It is a bumper off job though and the slim ballasts are now mounted inside the headlamps as opposed to underneath like the OE ones.

I wouldn't bother with full beam upgrade tbh and just get the dipped replaced.
[/quote]

Thanks Raj.

Are the ballasts better off mounted there to keep them dry etc but are there any heat implications or is it just for ease of wiring?  Anything for an easy life 

Why not bother with the mains, any particular reason?  Just thought it made sense as I would be in there messing with the loom and the more light the better.  Did you just upgrade the halogen lamps?  And finally, how long does it all take to install? 

Thanks all
[/quote]

Ballasts housed inside headlights due to seals and wiring that's all. As for main beams, I just think you don't use them enough to warrant and when flashing they won't reach full strength straight away.