Reliable Ballasts for Aftermarket HID Headlights

Diddler · 12-12-2018, 06:09 PM

About a year or so ago, I bought aftermarket headlights from here.

It worked great for a few months, but since then I've had a ton of problems with my lights. The left or right low/high beams would go out, and sometimes work on occasion. I got new ballasts twice from the manufacturer, and I still have problems with 1 or both low/high beams not working (DRL and angel eyes always work).

Does anyone have a link to reliable Ballasts I can switch in?

chuckles01 · 12-12-2018, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diddler

About a year or so ago, I bought aftermarket headlights from here.

It worked great for a few months, but since then I've had a ton of problems with my lights. The left or right low/high beams would go out, and sometimes work on occasion. I got new ballasts twice from the manufacturer, and I still have problems with 1 or both low/high beams not working (DRL and angel eyes always work).

Does anyone have a link to reliable Ballasts I can switch in?

You could try the new morimoto XB 2.0 ballasts. Or Hylux ones. You can find both at The Retrofit Source or Lightwerkz.

Here's a link to the morimoto ones on TRS, just the ballasts. They have a full kit as well.

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/am...moto-xb35.html

TRS also sells OEM ballasts from denso, matsushita, osram, etc. if you want to go that route.

Logicoeur · 12-12-2018, 11:56 PM

+1 for Morimoto ballasts and TRS. Used both for 4 swaps on a couple different cars. Great ballasts, bulbs, and projectors for the money.

Diddler · 12-14-2018, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckles01

You could try the new morimoto XB 2.0 ballasts. Or Hylux ones. You can find both at The Retrofit Source or Lightwerkz.

Here's a link to the morimoto ones on TRS, just the ballasts. They have a full kit as well.

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/am...moto-xb35.html

TRS also sells OEM ballasts from denso, matsushita, osram, etc. if you want to go that route.

Thanks for the suggestion - I've ordered them and will see how they turn out after installation.

Do you recommend I code out the low beam voltage monitoring using a coding app, or is it not needed?

chuckles01 · 12-14-2018, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diddler

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckles01

You could try the new morimoto XB 2.0 ballasts. Or Hylux ones. You can find both at The Retrofit Source or Lightwerkz.

Here's a link to the morimoto ones on TRS, just the ballasts. They have a full kit as well.

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/am...moto-xb35.html

TRS also sells OEM ballasts from denso, matsushita, osram, etc. if you want to go that route.

Thanks for the suggestion - I've ordered them and will see how they turn out after installation.

Do you recommend I code out the low beam voltage monitoring using a coding app, or is it not needed?

Yeah I'd code out both warm and cold monitoring. Make sure you get the canbus harness to use with the ballasts as well or else you'll still get an error.

Solidjake · 12-16-2018, 03:29 AM

+1 morimoto

Diddler · 12-17-2018, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logicoeur

+1 for Morimoto ballasts and TRS. Used both for 4 swaps on a couple different cars. Great ballasts, bulbs, and projectors for the money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckles01

Yeah I'd code out both warm and cold monitoring. Make sure you get the canbus harness to use with the ballasts as well or else you'll still get an error.

Thanks, I assume I'll need to get the H7 Harness type?

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/ca...reselect=47697

Logicoeur · 12-17-2018, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diddler

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logicoeur

+1 for Morimoto ballasts and TRS. Used both for 4 swaps on a couple different cars. Great ballasts, bulbs, and projectors for the money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckles01

Yeah I'd code out both warm and cold monitoring. Make sure you get the canbus harness to use with the ballasts as well or else you'll still get an error.

Thanks, I assume I'll need to get the H7 Harness type?

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/ca...reselect=47697

Not sure. Haven't looked at the OE system.

Usually you get whatever the OE system used, so you can connect the body harness into the ballast. However, there are many ways to interface that. I've used an adapter in between the body and ballast before, on one retrofit, and other times I haven't. This was just a short piece of wire with the appropriate plugs on either end, eg. H7 to H11.

Diddler · 12-17-2018, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logicoeur

Not sure. Haven't looked at the OE system.

Usually you get whatever the OE system used, so you can connect the body harness into the ballast. However, there are many ways to interface that. I've used an adapter in between the body and ballast before, on one retrofit, and other times I haven't. This was just a short piece of wire with the appropriate plugs on either end, eg. H7 to H11.

I know the bulbs are H7. I guess my question is if this refers to the Harness type as well.

bheng89 · 12-17-2018, 07:44 PM

I have the Hylux ballasts. Been going strong for a couple of months.

The only issue I run into with them is when I hit a spot of shade and back to regular light. Idrive will give me an error saying one bulb is out. But if a switch the toggle to turn on headlights, the problem goes away. I suspect the the ballast has an issue with a quick on/off. Other than that, they perform spectacular

chuckles01 · 12-17-2018, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diddler

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logicoeur

+1 for Morimoto ballasts and TRS. Used both for 4 swaps on a couple different cars. Great ballasts, bulbs, and projectors for the money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckles01

Yeah I'd code out both warm and cold monitoring. Make sure you get the canbus harness to use with the ballasts as well or else you'll still get an error.

Thanks, I assume I'll need to get the H7 Harness type?

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/ca...reselect=47697

If your original headlight bulbs were halogen (which I assume so from your post above), then correct you'd need the H7 canbus harness. Basically, for the morimoto system, original headlight plug —> plugs into canbus harness —> plugs into ballast —> plugs into igniter —> plugs into HID bulb.

Goodluck!

chuckles01 · 12-17-2018, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bheng89

I have the Hylux ballasts. Been going strong for a couple of months.

The only issue I run into with them is when I hit a spot of shade and back to regular light. Idrive will give me an error saying one bulb is out. But if a switch the toggle to turn on headlights, the problem goes away. I suspect the the ballast has an issue with a quick on/off. Other than that, they perform spectacular

Did you cold out both cold and warm checks? If you haven't already that might help?

bheng89 · 12-18-2018, 10:07 AM

I have not. I'll go ahead and give it a try!

Diddler · 01-24-2019, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckles01

Yeah I'd code out both warm and cold monitoring. Make sure you get the canbus harness to use with the ballasts as well or else you'll still get an error.

So far, everything is looking good. Thanks guys!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bheng89

I have the Hylux ballasts. Been going strong for a couple of months.

The only issue I run into with them is when I hit a spot of shade and back to regular light. Idrive will give me an error saying one bulb is out. But if a switch the toggle to turn on headlights, the problem goes away. I suspect the the ballast has an issue with a quick on/off. Other than that, they perform spectacular

I had similar problems with my old ballast. It may be a physical ballast problem instead of coding that you're having.

Hypermile · 01-25-2019, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logicoeur

+1 for Morimoto ballasts and TRS. Used both for 4 swaps on a couple different cars. Great ballasts, bulbs, and projectors for the money.

^ This

chuckles01 · 01-25-2019, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diddler

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckles01

Yeah I'd code out both warm and cold monitoring. Make sure you get the canbus harness to use with the ballasts as well or else you'll still get an error.

So far, everything is looking good. Thanks guys!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bheng89

I have the Hylux ballasts. Been going strong for a couple of months.

The only issue I run into with them is when I hit a spot of shade and back to regular light. Idrive will give me an error saying one bulb is out. But if a switch the toggle to turn on headlights, the problem goes away. I suspect the the ballast has an issue with a quick on/off. Other than that, they perform spectacular

I had similar problems with my old ballast. It may be a physical ballast problem instead of coding that you're having.

Awesome, thanks for reporting back! Glad it's all good now.

12-12-2018, 06:09 PM	#1
Diddler New Member 12 Rep 22 Posts Drives: 2013 F30 328i Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Reliable Ballasts for Aftermarket HID Headlights About a year or so ago, I bought aftermarket headlights from here. It worked great for a few months, but since then I've had a ton of problems with my lights. The left or right low/high beams would go out, and sometimes work on occasion. I got new ballasts twice from the manufacturer, and I still have problems with 1 or both low/high beams not working (DRL and angel eyes always work). Does anyone have a link to reliable Ballasts I can switch in?
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12-12-2018, 11:56 PM	#3
Logicoeur Lieutenant Colonel 993 Rep 1,934 Posts Drives: F30 335i xDrive Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	+1 for Morimoto ballasts and TRS. Used both for 4 swaps on a couple different cars. Great ballasts, bulbs, and projectors for the money. __________________ F30 335iX \| Remus Axleback \| Fabspeed Catted DP \| VRSF Comp IC \| 18X9 ET35 19lb MT1 \| 255/40/18 ECS \| Ohlins RT Millway Street \| Millway Control Arm Bushings \| Turner Endlinks \| TMH 75mm 14x1.5 Studs \| BMW MPerf LSD \| XDelete \| Pipercross Filter \| MHD Stg2 93
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12-16-2018, 03:29 AM	#6
Solidjake ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 947 Rep 1,762 Posts Drives: '13 328i Msport 6MT Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NYC/SNJ iTrader: (2)	+1 morimoto __________________ Tensioner/belt DIY \| Side skirt extension DIY Apex SM-10/DWS06+ \| 400m/X-ice Xi3 \| Injen Exhaust \| Stoptech SS Lines \| 335 Front Brakes Hawk HPS 5.0 \| RBF600 \| ER Charge Pipes \| Wagner Evo Comp 2 FMIC
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12-17-2018, 07:44 PM	#10
bheng89 Second Lieutenant 79 Rep 270 Posts Drives: 2012 328xi Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: KY iTrader: (0)	I have the Hylux ballasts. Been going strong for a couple of months. The only issue I run into with them is when I hit a spot of shade and back to regular light. Idrive will give me an error saying one bulb is out. But if a switch the toggle to turn on headlights, the problem goes away. I suspect the the ballast has an issue with a quick on/off. Other than that, they perform spectacular __________________ 2013 328i xDrive \| M Performance Exhaust \| Injen Intake \| DEPO Headlights \| 2019 440i xDrive \| Muffler Delete \|
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12-18-2018, 10:07 AM	#13
bheng89 Second Lieutenant 79 Rep 270 Posts Drives: 2012 328xi Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: KY iTrader: (0)	I have not. I'll go ahead and give it a try! __________________ 2013 328i xDrive \| M Performance Exhaust \| Injen Intake \| DEPO Headlights \| 2019 440i xDrive \| Muffler Delete \|
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