Xenon retrofit coding issue pls help

Vishnukbr · 08-13-2020, 10:59 PM

2013 328i I retrofitted amazon headlights and Xenon kit. When I start the car in night with lights on auto and it cranks up, The xenons begin to flicker due the power being supplied being unstable. This causes them to shut off. I am able to get the lights to turn back on by switching the dial to 0 and then back on again. If I start the car in 0 and turn lights on after it is started it works fine. Is this a problem with my Xenon? the ballast? or is there any coding I can do so the lights wont turn on while the engine starts or xenon specific coding in bimmercode. I currently have monitoring off and bulb set to Halogen. Thank You

Solidjake · 08-15-2020, 01:11 PM

Yes, you need to code the car for xenon lights. The resistance is different compared to halogen so the car is failing the cold/hot checks. If coding doesn't work it can be due to cheap quality ballasts which will need replacement with better ones (Morimoto, Phillips, etc) and possibly capacitors.

Billfitz · 08-15-2020, 01:30 PM

He said he coded the warm/cold checks off. The problem is probably the high initial current draw of the HID, which is considerably higher than the stock H7 halogen, especially if the bulbs are 55w. A time delay relay would be worth looking into.

Vishnukbr · 08-15-2020, 01:50 PM

Here is a video of the problem

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LAF...ew?usp=sharing

I bought the headlights and ballast second hand from a guy who had to return his car, I am not sure how many watts the bulbs are or what the quality is.

About 1 time out of 10 on the right side I do not have the issue and the lights work fine.

I have monitoring off and bulb type set to halogen.

Do you think buying a different ballast/bulb would work or is there anything I could code?

Thanks for the help

Billfitz · 08-15-2020, 02:17 PM

There's nothing to code for HID. LED must be coded because they don't work the same as H7 halogens, which are incandescent. HID is also incandescent.

08-13-2020, 10:59 PM	#1
Vishnukbr New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: '13 328i Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Xenon retrofit coding issue pls help 2013 328i I retrofitted amazon headlights and Xenon kit. When I start the car in night with lights on auto and it cranks up, The xenons begin to flicker due the power being supplied being unstable. This causes them to shut off. I am able to get the lights to turn back on by switching the dial to 0 and then back on again. If I start the car in 0 and turn lights on after it is started it works fine. Is this a problem with my Xenon? the ballast? or is there any coding I can do so the lights wont turn on while the engine starts or xenon specific coding in bimmercode. I currently have monitoring off and bulb set to Halogen. Thank You
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08-15-2020, 01:11 PM	#2
Solidjake ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 945 Rep 1,762 Posts Drives: '13 328i Msport 6MT Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NYC/SNJ iTrader: (2)	Yes, you need to code the car for xenon lights. The resistance is different compared to halogen so the car is failing the cold/hot checks. If coding doesn't work it can be due to cheap quality ballasts which will need replacement with better ones (Morimoto, Phillips, etc) and possibly capacitors. __________________ 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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08-15-2020, 01:30 PM	#3
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8233 Rep 16,069 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	He said he coded the warm/cold checks off. The problem is probably the high initial current draw of the HID, which is considerably higher than the stock H7 halogen, especially if the bulbs are 55w. A time delay relay would be worth looking into.
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08-15-2020, 01:50 PM	#4
Vishnukbr New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: '13 328i Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Here is a video of the problem https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LAF...ew?usp=sharing I bought the headlights and ballast second hand from a guy who had to return his car, I am not sure how many watts the bulbs are or what the quality is. About 1 time out of 10 on the right side I do not have the issue and the lights work fine. I have monitoring off and bulb type set to halogen. Do you think buying a different ballast/bulb would work or is there anything I could code? Thanks for the help
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08-15-2020, 02:17 PM	#5
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8233 Rep 16,069 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	There's nothing to code for HID. LED must be coded because they don't work the same as H7 halogens, which are incandescent. HID is also incandescent.
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