HID problem

[Scotriders]

I fitted an HID conversion to the main beam on my 2010 GSA a couple of years ago.

Can't remember retailer details but this is the ballast box

Lately it's hit or miss if the damn thing will come on when starting the bike.

Sometimes switching the ignition off and on will resolve it, other times it can be on/off half a dozen times before it lights up.

I've also noticed it flickering a couple of times when parking it up.

Took it all apart today to see if any connectors are corroded or dirty but all looks good.

Here's a pic of the bulb

Dunno if the centre is supposed to be clouded or if it's a sign the bulb is needing replaced.

Any advice welcome.

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[jags]

hid

mine did the same until i got a new battery.

 

[Scotriders]

Can't understand why a low battery will power up the bulb on second, third, fourth, etc attempt if not first time?

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[bikemad]

Iv recently had a problem same as yours not coming on & it flickered over bumps too,replaced it same symptoms think it was headlight connectors,if I wiggled wires it came on so Iv taken them out of the plastic L shaped holder & crimped them tighter on the rolled ends so the male spades fit tighter its been behaving ok so far

But I still wonder if headlight wiring itself was/is to blame ? cos the high beam wires look tarnished where their crimped on if I could access from inside them Id rewire it.

Maybe if there is rotten wire or slightly bad connection thus a fluctuation of input power the canbus or HID says NO

 

[bikemad]

Oh my bulbs look the same as yours & my bike had a new batt from previous owner so I know it wasn't that !

 

[bikemad]

The other thing I did was take main plug off the headlight just bellow highbeam left side,sprayed it with GT85 plugged & unplugged it several times incase conections where dirty.

 

[Myke Rocks]

2 possible causes.

First cause:
Lamp (burner) is past it's sell by date.
Second cause.
Lamp replaced and replacement is not totally compatiable with ballast. I have had this.
Changed to another and problem went away.
I suspect though I am not sure that 55 w lamps have a larger gap for the arc to strike across than 35w lamps, and when you put a 55w into a 35w system, the arc has difficulty striking when cold.
Myke

 

[Flipfly]

More likely to be the ballast than the bulb ime. Speak to Les Wassall of this parish.

It won't be bulb incompatibility as it was working before.

Yours is a 35w unit, do not replace with a 50w unless you are also changing your bulb to a 50w type.

 

[G5RJO]

This WILL be the connector on the headlamp unit. Pull it off. Contact clean it then, if all else fails give each of the pins a very slight twist to regain the connection.

Been there, done it, solved the problem

Roger.

 

[Scotriders]

Found that the connector on the yellow wire was loose in the housing. Nothing I did was making it stay put so I just crimped it a bit tighter and made sure the male was right in and tight.
Hopefully it'll do the trick.

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[bikemad]

Found that the connector on the yellow wire was loose in the housing. Nothing I did was making it stay put so I just crimped it a bit tighter and made sure the male was right in and tight.
Hopefully it'll do the trick.

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There you go sorted all the people come out telling you need a new HID its knakerd when it's the wiring I wonder how many peeps never check 100%
I was going to replace my bulb anyhow for a refector type cos been flashed a few times.

 

[Bendy toy]

Maybe peeps didn't like the flickering. Also check the headlamp alignment. And (if you have them) the aux spot/head lights.
My headlamp has the same type of bulb but I never get flashed for dazzling people.

 

[bikemad]

My lights are fine low beam has the slight shadow to the right now so when close to cars I'm not lighting the interior so much
Spots are adjusted down switchable low set but have highbeam always on oval spots,these are tall bikes so some people don't understand why beam is where it is.

The flickering has only recently affected the bike in the last week think (prey) it's all ok now.

 

[Bendy toy]

I find the standard headlamp has too little angular difference between main and dip.
When dip is acceptable, main is too low to be useful. Set it for a a main beam that does the job and it dazzles on dip
IMO main beam is little more than a farkle with halogens.
It's better with HID but still not good enough. It's why I'm looking for some LED spots with dimmers for running as DRLs.

 

[Scotriders]

There are quite a few LED lights available, just depends if you wanna take a chance buying direct from China or from a UK distributer who has bought from China.
And your electrical knowledge and capabilities.
After having a loan of the 800gsa with LED spots they are a huge improvement on the standard spots but not cheap from BMW.

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[bikemad]

I have seen some Cree LEDs claiming to be better than hid direct replacement H7 bulbs ?

I don't think it's taking a chance buying Chinese lights they all seem to originate from there anyhow,been using a pair of Cree spots for 4500 miles so far no probs Id buy from UK seller quicker delivery

 

[MWH]

My HID played up like yours. Couple of days later and the bike wouldn't start. New battery fitted and ID problem went and bike starts first stab. Wonder if one of the cells in the battery was duff so showed 12 n a bit volts but under load failed with its dishing out of amperage.

 

[bikemad]

That happend to my van 3 weeks ago 9.5 volts on battery had to jump it off the bike one Sunday morn to get out lol

 

[Scotriders]

Well I had the same problem again today so it's gotta be something other than the loose connection at the headlight.
Never had any problems with it starting and I'm constantly starting and stopping all day every day while instructing.

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[Flipfly]

I'm still going with the ballast.