[a l l a n]

So I just did the halogen to xenon conversion myself yesterday. Thanks for the inputs/tips guys! You're the best. All I did was swap my halogens with an AHL US-spec Xenon headlights and did the wiring mod per ADHD's Halogen to Xenon conversion (1. add new #2 ground wire and attach to #4 and 2. add new #5 bi-xenon wire and attach to #6). No footwell module or "Parachute" error-removal kit.

I'm quite happy I got Xenon working but sadly I'm having more errors/issues than I anticipated.

Issues:

1. Low-beam error (low-beam symbol with "!" inside the the bulb symbol) when light switch is on ON/Auto/Parking position.
2. Lighting system failure (raised car symbol in red) when light switch is on ON/Auto/Parking position
3. The first two errors above result to a warning chime/sound every 5-10 secs when light switch is on ON/Auto position. No error chime when on Parking/OFF position. Imagine driving for an hour with the lights on!
4. Buzzing sound coming from the Xenon headlight when light switch is on ON/Auto/Parking position.
5. Intermittent loss of Xenon low-beam (most often the passenger side and sometimes both).
6. Sometimes when light is first turned on, it starts on high-beam but switches to low-beam in less than 1 min.
7. Turn signal blinks rapidly (about 3x faster than normal).

Anyone have some ideas on the above errors? I need help! Please!

Some pics below:

Wiring - pre-mod

Wiring - post-mod


Light output (awesome!)


Straight shot (with Predator Ice upgrade)


"ON"/"Auto" light switch position (angels are on, low-beam is on, drl is off)


"Parking" light switch position (angels are on, low-beam is off, drl is on)


Thanks.

[Bimmer335i07]

I don't know about the rest, but I think the buzzing sound that you're hearing are the fans from the predator ice. I'm not sure if they have fans to cool down the led, but the LUX's have them and I know it makes that sound when I turn on my car. My headlight switch is always set to Auto.

GL, hope you get everything resolved.

[a l l a n]

Originally Posted by Bimmer335i07

I don't know about the rest, but I think the buzzing sound that you're hearing are the fans from the predator ice. I'm not sure if they have fans to cool down the led, but the LUX's have them and I know it makes that sound when I turn on my car. My headlight switch is always set to Auto.

GL, hope you get everything resolved.

Thanks Scott for the quick response. Yeah hopefully these errors can be fixed.

I don't mind the buzzing sound right now given the other issues I have.

[ADHD]

Well first off Congrats on getting the conversion done and actually having them work!!!
Know lets see what we can do to solve your errors!!
1. Does your car have idrive?
2. Do your high beams work?
3. The turn signal rapidness usually is because a bulb is out have u checked your corner bulbs??

[jaespark87]

is that wall shot with your highs on ? if not, the pattern doesnt look right...

[imaznumkay]

you should try a relay setup (battery powering the hid kit instead of the factory wiring)

[a l l a n]

Originally Posted by ADHD

Well first off Congrats on getting the conversion done and actually having them work!!!
Know lets see what we can do to solve your errors!!
1. Does your car have idrive?
2. Do your high beams work?
3. The turn signal rapidness usually is because a bulb is out have u checked your corner bulbs??

Thanks! Without your detailed DIY and feedback from other members I would have no clue on how to do it.

1. No iDrive
2. Yes, but only the DRLs work as highs. It works if I pull or push the turn signal stalk. But I think the Xenon low-beam sometimes activate as the highs when the car is first started on the ON/Auto switch position (not sure if this makes sense or even possible). What should be the highs for a halogen-to-xenon converted headlight? DRL or the same low-beam bulb?

Originally Posted by jaespark87

is that wall shot with your highs on ? if not, the pattern doesnt look right...

The highs were not on. Probably because my garage is a little elevated from the road level. I'm not sure. But this could be related to issue #6.

How's your PnP headlight btw? Got a chance to install it yet?

Originally Posted by imaznumkay

you should try a relay setup (battery powering the hid kit instead of the factory wiring)

Can you elaborate more please? Any DIYs? I'd be interested to do this but I need to figure out first why I'm having more issues than expected from the halogen-xenon conversion.

[jaespark87]

It's arriving on Monday.

I'll post a new thread with pictures

[a l l a n]

Originally Posted by jaespark87

It's arriving on Monday.

I'll post a new thread with pictures

GL! Send me a PM if you need tips on how to remove the bumper and headlights. I sure learned a few things on these while doing this conversion.

[a l l a n]

Originally Posted by ADHD

Well first off Congrats on getting the conversion done and actually having them work!!!
Know lets see what we can do to solve your errors!!
1. Does your car have idrive?
2. Do your high beams work?
3. The turn signal rapidness usually is because a bulb is out have u checked your corner bulbs??

Tyler, you may be right on the turn signal blinker issue. It looks like my passenger turn signal buld is either loose or out as it's not blinking.

I'll recheck this now and review/improve my wirings...

[jaespark87]

Originally Posted by a l l a n

GL! Send me a PM if you need tips on how to remove the bumper and headlights. I sure learned a few things on these while doing this conversion.

sure, i printed out the instructions but it looks pretty straight forward. just require removing a lot of screws =D

[jetblk328i]

are u using all OEM components, ballasts especially?

[ScheerSpeed]

the buzzing is because you have DRL enabled. you must disable DRL to stop the buzzing

[a l l a n]

Originally Posted by jetblk328i

are u using all OEM components, ballasts especially?

Yep, OEM everything. Except for the Predator Ice of course and wiring mod of course.

Originally Posted by ScheerSpeed

the buzzing is because you have DRL enabled. you must disable DRL to stop the buzzing

That's what I thought/read before but it doesn't seem that way (at least in my case). I'll have to play with different light switch settings to confirm when the buzzing happens.

[a l l a n]

My turn signal rapidness issue is fixed. It has nothing to do with the conversion and was due to a loose bulb as Tyler (ADHD) correctly guessed.

Unfortunately, everything else (all errors in my original post other than the signal turn issue) is failing. This is after redoing the wirings and making use of butt splice connectors and those snap-in connectors that plugs and snaps into the headlight plug unit. I didn't have the snap-in connector for the ground wire so I used the same connector for bi-xenon and modified it to make it useable.

Last night when I was driving, the errors (#1 and #2 on original post and the annoying error sound that chime every 10 secs) came up after I started the car. But about 10mins after starting car, I was error-free for about 40mins but also during this time I noticed that the light output was not as bright.

Anyone knows the part #s for the ground wire snap-in connector that goes into the headlight plug? Unfortunately I don't have a picture of this as I was in a rush to get my wirings done yesterday.

[Speranza]

Hi Allan,

Any progress with fixing errors?

[xpillzboyx]

my friend had the same problem with lights blinking on anfd off. turned out to be bad ballasks

[nyalpine90]

i didnt hear no buzz and i have predator ice kit..it doesnt have no fan or does it.

[MOTO69JOE]

Try switching out the lighting switch for a actual xenon light switch. There are different light switches believe it or not. Maybe the use of a halogen light switch with xenons is throwing everything out of wack?

[a l l a n]

Here's the latest update on my issues since somebody asked. This was after I redid my wiring last weekend.

1. Yellow low-beam error (low-beam symbol with "!" inside the the bulb symbol)
2. Red lighting system failure (raised car symbol in red)
3. Intermittent error chime (which is depressing)

Errors 1-3 are still happening. But for a certain time when driving on an interstate I wasn't experiencing these errors and no error sound either. All I had that time was the #8 error. When I entered a rough road, the errors came back again. I think this has something to do with imperfect wiring. When the wire loses contact due to car movement or shake it triggers the errors.

4. FIXED (sort of) - Buzzing sound coming from the Xenon headlight

Sort of, because I had to disable the DRL to get rid of the error otherwise it buzzes when the light switch is on OFF or PARKING position.

5. Intermittent loss of Xenon low-beam
6. Sometimes Xenon starts at high-beam on startup
7. FIXED - Fast blinker

Due to loose turn signal bulb. Just popped it out and put it back in.

8. Orange Exclamation mark


My tips to anybody who'll be doing this:
- use butt splices (get the yellow, blue, and red) for 12-18 gauge wires
- use crimpers
- use the bmw connectors specific for the headlight plug (see http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...91&hg=61&fg=15)

Not sure which exact sizes you'll need but you'll need at least 2 small connectors (for the #5 bi-xenon wire) and big connectors for the #2 ground wire. Also get the rubber grommet since that will help keep the wires in place and keep the moisture out. I ordered sets of different sizes since I don't know the exact size for the ground connector.

I'm currently missing the ground wire connectors so my current ground may not be great. I ordered these parts already and plan on improving my ground connection when I get the parts.

[a l l a n]

Originally Posted by nyalpine90

i didnt hear no buzz and i have predator ice kit..it doesnt have no fan or does it.

Yeah, the buzzing was actually related to DRL which I have now turned off.

[a l l a n]

Originally Posted by MOTO69JOE

Try switching out the lighting switch for a actual xenon light switch. There are different light switches believe it or not. Maybe the use of a halogen light switch with xenons is throwing everything out of wack?

I read somewhere before that xenon had a different switch but couldn't confirm that. For now I'll work on my ground wiring and most likely buy parachute's harness (error-removal kit).