E30 Headlamp flickering

[genozide]

Hullo,I have a problem...I have retrofitted a HID into low beam (projector lamp type with smiley) and when i pull the headlamp switch into position 1 and the lamp will start to flicker until i pull inthe switch to position 2.Never had this issue when I was using the halogen H1 bulb nor when i pull the switch into position 1 when the engine is off. Tried looking into the Haynes wirirng diagram but then no success leads.Sifus please help...Thanks in advance.

 

[pussy]

bro, need to check if the electrical feed is crossing... or your switch is faulty...

cheers..

 

[nawtyboy]

i m no sifu but i have had this flickering issue on my after market HID kit on my e36 before.

HID would draw a lot of electricity from the battery on the initially start up to the ballast. If the power load is not sufficient or weak, this flickering issue will occur.

i suggest you take this to the wiring man to help diagnos it. The problem could be either the wiring, the ballast or you may need additional relay to boost the current for the ballast.

I even had different colour on both headlamps (Toyota Rav4) due to insufficient current to the ballasts. I fitted 4.5K HID on the car but the colour on the driver side is whiter (close to 6K) than the passenger side (4.5K).

 

[genozide]

I am thinking of the switch too since there were times either one side of the lights would not lit.

Need to explore the switch over the weekend.

BTW how much does it cost to replace the switch?

Thanks

 

[pussy]

very expensive, source for used ones.. there is many around..

cheers..

 

[genozide]

Hi Guys...This is the update on my trouble shooting with the headlamp...

When I bought over the car, I realised that there was a relay installed in the headlamp wiring...2 wires were wired to one relay input.

I have removed the relay and connected the HID in between while rearrange the wires as per original intended position.

What happened was when you pull the switch into position 1, there is current flowing into the parking light and also into the projector lamp.

The HID ballast sensing lack of current causing flickering of the lamp.

When I pull the switch into position 2, there is sufficient juice flowing into HID ballast leading the HID operating as per usual.

Solution: Remove the HID kit and replaced with a 30% brighter philips bulb.

No more flickering and now you get the glow in the projector and smiley when you pull the switch into 1 and full lighting under switch 2.

Drawback...not as bright as HID..

Future mod: probably the fog lamp will be under HID to support better driving