HID Foglight Installation Help

maX5 · #1 01-21-2008, 08:15 PM

Hey,

I just bought an H11 6000k kit for my 06 x5 4.4 and the installation went smooth. But there is one problem.

When the car is not fully turned on, meaning the engine isnt on, the HIDS work perfectly fine. But once the car is turned on, they start flickering like crazy.

I did install them through a wiring harness which include grounds, fuse, relay, and power supply from the battery. I tried without the harness and I still get the same thing.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks a lot.

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X5Dawg · #2 01-22-2008, 02:34 PM

MaX5, when you say they are flickering, does this stop after a few seconds or is it continuous??

I just installed a set on my '01 fogs (H3) bulb and here is what I have encountered. The initial set went in and the first few times lighting them were uneventful (worked fine). Then I started having the flickering issue. Sometimes after flickering they would eventually fire up and stay on, sometimes only one would. I also had a few times where I would turn them on while in Park (inital startup in the morning) and then when I applied the brake to put into gear, one of the bulbs would flash like a camera and then go out. Even had once or twice where the fogs did not fire up initially, I got down the road a little and tried again and they actually tripped my hazards and my interior lights. Finally figured out I had a bad ballast and sent it back for a new one. Installed the new one and I have not had the brake light/ hazard issue, but I still have times when they will not fire up initially.

Not sure if this might be the issue, but it has been really cold here lately (under 35F) and I have noticed that they seem to fire up better once the motor has warmed up (which my have in turn warmed up the ballasts).

I will have to try lighting them without the motor running to see if they work all the time with no issues - will let you know.

One more thing, I am not using any relays or harnesses supplying power to the ballasts - mine are just hooked up to the factory wiring for the fogs.

mrbmwx5 · #3 01-22-2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X5Dawg

MaX5, when you say they are flickering, does this stop after a few seconds or is it continuous??

I just installed a set on my '01 fogs (H3) bulb and here is what I have encountered. The initial set went in and the first few times lighting them were uneventful (worked fine). Then I started having the flickering issue. Sometimes after flickering they would eventually fire up and stay on, sometimes only one would. I also had a few times where I would turn them on while in Park (inital startup in the morning) and then when I applied the brake to put into gear, one of the bulbs would flash like a camera and then go out. Even had once or twice where the fogs did not fire up initially, I got down the road a little and tried again and they actually tripped my hazards and my interior lights. Finally figured out I had a bad ballast and sent it back for a new one. Installed the new one and I have not had the brake light/ hazard issue, but I still have times when they will not fire up initially.

Not sure if this might be the issue, but it has been really cold here lately (under 35F) and I have noticed that they seem to fire up better once the motor has warmed up (which my have in turn warmed up the ballasts).

I will have to try lighting them without the motor running to see if they work all the time with no issues - will let you know.

One more thing, I am not using any relays or harnesses supplying power to the ballasts - mine are just hooked up to the factory wiring for the fogs.

its exactly happened to my and still didn't figure it out yet but it only happen sometime.
X5Dawg make sure you put stronger fuse between the power line.( like 20amp )

dkl · #4 01-22-2008, 11:39 PM

Why would you need a stronger fuse? I thought the HID uses LESS power than the halogen fogs, not more. Also, HID uses higher voltage, therefore, current is lower. HID=~35W, Halogen=~55W. Is this not true?

Kamel Jockey · #5 01-23-2008, 12:01 AM

I have the same issue with my hid fogs, I installed relays to keep the bulb-out warnings from coming up on the dash but the issue occurs with or without them. Sometimes they both turn on and sometimes only one side. When the both turn on one side will usually flicker for several seconds before remaining lit. Also cold weather definitely has some effect on this as it happens much more frequently now that its winter time.

Sedoy · #6 01-23-2008, 12:36 AM

Most HIDs at start (first 5-20 sec.) use more current which creates additional load on the harness. But not a big deal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkl

Why would you need a stronger fuse? I thought the HID uses LESS power than the halogen fogs, not more. Also, HID uses higher voltage, therefore, current is lower. HID=~35W, Halogen=~55W. Is this not true?

Nick@Jlevi SW · #7 01-23-2008, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamel Jockey

I have the same issue with my hid fogs, I installed relays to keep the bulb-out warnings from coming up on the dash but the issue occurs with or without them. Sometimes they both turn on and sometimes only one side. When the both turn on one side will usually flicker for several seconds before remaining lit. Also cold weather definitely has some effect on this as it happens much more frequently now that its winter time.

That's normal and has to do with the unusually high initial power draw of the HID ballasts. Sometimes the alternator does not have enough power to ignite one side so you need to flip it off and then on. This occurs on a lot of HID fog installs, not anything to worry about.

dkl · #8 01-23-2008, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick@Jlevi SW

That's normal and has to do with the unusually high initial power draw of the HID ballasts. Sometimes the alternator does not have enough power to ignite one side so you need to flip it off and then on. This occurs on a lot of HID fog installs, not anything to worry about.

If what you're saying is true, then why do the OEM HID not have this problem?