who has converted halogen to xenon?

karl210 · 10-31-2017, 02:28 PM

I fitted genuine pre-lci xenon lights to my non xenon pre-lci e90 a couple of months ago.
All was fine at first then my left light started going out after about 5 minutes. I replaced the bulbs which didnt help. I have now fitted a pair or new replacement non genuine teplacement ballasts from hid's direct.
They work absolutely fine with the engine off but once the engine is started they flicker badly.
Id like to know how others have fixed this as im ready to give up and go back to halogens.
thanks

Wilt · 10-31-2017, 02:39 PM

There is no way to take a halogen reflector system and simply insert an HID bulb into it, and have a street legal vehicle capable of passing any state inspection. [edit: now I see you are in Manchester, so you don't care about that, do you?!n OTOH, you do have quite stringent requirements over there about features that must be in place with xenon projector housings.]

The ONLY thing you can do is [removed factory reflector headlight housing] and then [retrofit projector headlight housing].

Unfortunately the 3rd party aftermarket products are fraught with buyer complaints that the housings 'leak'. The retrofit of factory projector housings would seem to be the only way to get a proper conversion, but this must be too expensive a proposition of anyone to have done this, judging by the lack of testimony about this.

karl210 · 10-31-2017, 02:53 PM

Im confused as to where you read that i have fitted hid bulbs to my oem reflectors?
Yes im from Manchester why wouldnt i care about it meeting inspection requirements?
Im an mot tester and i can gaurantee you it meets all requirements.

karl210 · 10-31-2017, 02:57 PM

I have retrofitted pre-lci genuine xenon headlight units to my pre-lci halogen equipped car.
Obviously not very well as they dont work

I have followed all guides including adding an earth but i have flickering with my new ballasts.
To add extra resistance I have tried adding a 5w bulb to the circuit in parallel and then in series configuration with no effect. and also tried the same with a 21w bulb

tgyberg · 10-31-2017, 04:06 PM

I had some problems with this deal on the E36. I ended up buying the most expensive balasts and that fixed my troubles. Not sure if any of that will apply for you

karl210 · 10-31-2017, 04:29 PM

thanks. possibly, but they arent cheap. Already wasted £80 on ballasts that dont work haha. I may try and get a genuine used ballast though and see how that goes

Willsbma · 11-01-2017, 03:34 PM

Did you code the car for them? I’m pretty sure they need a different voltage then halogen

nuron · 11-02-2017, 01:15 AM

I'm having the same issue as you and it seems like other users in the past had the same problem. In my case, I retrofitted projectors and an HID kit into my pre-lci halogen headlights. I believe the problem is in the FRM module so I will inspect it this weekend and hopefully find a solution.

nuron · 11-03-2017, 12:40 AM

It was the FRM. INPA showed two short circuit fault codes. I had to clear them in Tool32 with these instructions:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495535

post #9

then I cleared codes in INPA and it was good again.

Scrawler · 11-03-2017, 10:41 AM

My friend bought a set from amazon of pre-LCI E90 headlights, wired it himself and it's running smoothly. No coding required, almost plug n play.

karl210 · 11-08-2017, 09:58 AM

cheers guys. been a bit busy with the arrival of a new sproggy, so not had chance to look.
It must be down to the frm module sending out a different signal. I must have frm1. I think my only options are:
Find an anti-flicker canbus box thingy (which i cant find for a d1s bulb
Try to figure out how to wire in a capacitor.
Get an aftermarket canbus hid kit and fit them into my projectors.
Sell them and stick with hallogens.
Nothings ever straight forward haha.

McPikie · 11-08-2017, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karl210

cheers guys. been a bit busy with the arrival of a new sproggy, so not had chance to look.
It must be down to the frm module sending out a different signal. I must have frm1. I think my only options are:
Find an anti-flicker canbus box thingy (which i cant find for a d1s bulb
Try to figure out how to wire in a capacitor.
Get an aftermarket canbus hid kit and fit them into my projectors.
Sell them and stick with hallogens.
Nothings ever straight forward haha.

I'd grab a cheapo sunwolf kit with resistors of eGay and try that

karl210 · 11-09-2017, 08:10 AM

Just ordered a set of error free canbus d1s ballasts. I will cry if this doesnt work

10-31-2017, 02:28 PM	#1
karl210 New Member 1 Rep 18 Posts Drives: 325i Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: manchester iTrader: (0)	who has converted halogen to xenon? I fitted genuine pre-lci xenon lights to my non xenon pre-lci e90 a couple of months ago. All was fine at first then my left light started going out after about 5 minutes. I replaced the bulbs which didnt help. I have now fitted a pair or new replacement non genuine teplacement ballasts from hid's direct. They work absolutely fine with the engine off but once the engine is started they flicker badly. Id like to know how others have fixed this as im ready to give up and go back to halogens. thanks
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10-31-2017, 02:39 PM	#2
Wilt Major 228 Rep 1,050 Posts Drives: 2011 328i Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: SF Bay area iTrader: (0)	no 'conversion' is street legal There is no way to take a halogen reflector system and simply insert an HID bulb into it, and have a street legal vehicle capable of passing any state inspection. [edit: now I see you are in Manchester, so you don't care about that, do you?!n OTOH, you do have quite stringent requirements over there about features that must be in place with xenon projector housings.] The ONLY thing you can do is [removed factory reflector headlight housing] and then [retrofit projector headlight housing]. Unfortunately the 3rd party aftermarket products are fraught with buyer complaints that the housings 'leak'. The retrofit of factory projector housings would seem to be the only way to get a proper conversion, but this must be too expensive a proposition of anyone to have done this, judging by the lack of testimony about this.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-31-2017, 02:53 PM	#3
karl210 New Member 1 Rep 18 Posts Drives: 325i Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: manchester iTrader: (0)	Im confused as to where you read that i have fitted hid bulbs to my oem reflectors? Yes im from Manchester why wouldnt i care about it meeting inspection requirements? Im an mot tester and i can gaurantee you it meets all requirements.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-31-2017, 02:57 PM	#4
karl210 New Member 1 Rep 18 Posts Drives: 325i Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: manchester iTrader: (0)	I have retrofitted pre-lci genuine xenon headlight units to my pre-lci halogen equipped car. Obviously not very well as they dont work I have followed all guides including adding an earth but i have flickering with my new ballasts. To add extra resistance I have tried adding a 5w bulb to the circuit in parallel and then in series configuration with no effect. and also tried the same with a 21w bulb
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-31-2017, 04:06 PM	#5
tgyberg Second Lieutenant 88 Rep 261 Posts Drives: E90 328 6MT / E36 M3 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Minneapolis, MN iTrader: (0)	I had some problems with this deal on the E36. I ended up buying the most expensive balasts and that fixed my troubles. Not sure if any of that will apply for you __________________ Save the manuals!
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10-31-2017, 04:29 PM	#6
karl210 New Member 1 Rep 18 Posts Drives: 325i Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: manchester iTrader: (0)	thanks. possibly, but they arent cheap. Already wasted £80 on ballasts that dont work haha. I may try and get a genuine used ballast though and see how that goes
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-01-2017, 03:34 PM	#7
Willsbma First Lieutenant 77 Rep 330 Posts Drives: 07 328xi Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: 11703 iTrader: (0)	Did you code the car for them? I’m pretty sure they need a different voltage then halogen
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11-02-2017, 01:15 AM	#8
nuron Private First Class 80 Rep 199 Posts Drives: '07 328i Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Washington iTrader: (0)	I'm having the same issue as you and it seems like other users in the past had the same problem. In my case, I retrofitted projectors and an HID kit into my pre-lci halogen headlights. I believe the problem is in the FRM module so I will inspect it this weekend and hopefully find a solution.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-03-2017, 12:40 AM	#9
nuron Private First Class 80 Rep 199 Posts Drives: '07 328i Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Washington iTrader: (0)	It was the FRM. INPA showed two short circuit fault codes. I had to clear them in Tool32 with these instructions: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495535 post #9 then I cleared codes in INPA and it was good again.
	Appreciate 1 markv12344.50 Quote

11-03-2017, 10:41 AM	#10
Scrawler Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2010 320D Saloon E90 Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	My friend bought a set from amazon of pre-LCI E90 headlights, wired it himself and it's running smoothly. No coding required, almost plug n play.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-08-2017, 09:58 AM	#11
karl210 New Member 1 Rep 18 Posts Drives: 325i Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: manchester iTrader: (0)	cheers guys. been a bit busy with the arrival of a new sproggy, so not had chance to look. It must be down to the frm module sending out a different signal. I must have frm1. I think my only options are: Find an anti-flicker canbus box thingy (which i cant find for a d1s bulb Try to figure out how to wire in a capacitor. Get an aftermarket canbus hid kit and fit them into my projectors. Sell them and stick with hallogens. Nothings ever straight forward haha.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-09-2017, 08:10 AM	#13
karl210 New Member 1 Rep 18 Posts Drives: 325i Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: manchester iTrader: (0)	Just ordered a set of error free canbus d1s ballasts. I will cry if this doesnt work
	Appreciate 0 Quote