HID conversion kits AC vs. DC
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 36
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2008 C300 Lux
HID conversion kits AC vs. DC
I've searched the boards for any possible insights, but couldn't find what I'm looking for. I recently converted my 2008 Lux to HID's with an aftermarket kit (Xentec)...I know, I went the cheap route 
. Anyway, installation was pretty simple as I've installed several kits on mine and other family/friend's cars. Fired the lights up and everything works, but I notice that there are slight flickers in both lights, moreso in the passenger side light. Slight meaning that it's not noticeable when driving, but when I pull up to the rear of another car I can see the flickering. The lights haven't shut down and they turn on and off without any other issues.
I just checked my ballasts and confirmed that they are of the DC type. Does anyone know if my flickering issues is due to the ballast being a DC type instead of an AC? I have error code eliminators installed on both sides, and am not throwing any codes. I don't want to waste anymore money if DC or AC doesn't make any difference. Please help!
. Anyway, installation was pretty simple as I've installed several kits on mine and other family/friend's cars. Fired the lights up and everything works, but I notice that there are slight flickers in both lights, moreso in the passenger side light. Slight meaning that it's not noticeable when driving, but when I pull up to the rear of another car I can see the flickering. The lights haven't shut down and they turn on and off without any other issues. I just checked my ballasts and confirmed that they are of the DC type. Does anyone know if my flickering issues is due to the ballast being a DC type instead of an AC? I have error code eliminators installed on both sides, and am not throwing any codes. I don't want to waste anymore money if DC or AC doesn't make any difference. Please help!
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 8
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From: San Diego
2000 E430 Sport
Your probably experiencing the CAN-BUS flickering problem I havae as well. I have the slim ballasts, Xentec I think, It's been awhile since I put them in.
There are ballasts that are supposed to work with vehicles that have CAN-BUS and I've seen cables you can add to your existing HID's to resolve the problem. I am currently looking at the following HID's that are also AC instead of DC:
http://shop.hidcountry.com/CAN-BUS-H...t-p/canbus.htm
Good luck!
There are ballasts that are supposed to work with vehicles that have CAN-BUS and I've seen cables you can add to your existing HID's to resolve the problem. I am currently looking at the following HID's that are also AC instead of DC:
http://shop.hidcountry.com/CAN-BUS-H...t-p/canbus.htm
Good luck!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
2008 C300 Lux
Your probably experiencing the CAN-BUS flickering problem I havae as well. I have the slim ballasts, Xentec I think, It's been awhile since I put them in.
There are ballasts that are supposed to work with vehicles that have CAN-BUS and I've seen cables you can add to your existing HID's to resolve the problem. I am currently looking at the following HID's that are also AC instead of DC:
http://shop.hidcountry.com/CAN-BUS-H...t-p/canbus.htm
Good luck!
There are ballasts that are supposed to work with vehicles that have CAN-BUS and I've seen cables you can add to your existing HID's to resolve the problem. I am currently looking at the following HID's that are also AC instead of DC:
http://shop.hidcountry.com/CAN-BUS-H...t-p/canbus.htm
Good luck!
. I guess I'll be shopping around for a set of new ballasts now. Thanks for the link, I'll go check it out. Good luck to you too!
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 591
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From: San Francisco
'08 Mercedes C300
You should also think about purchasing more reputable brands. Although the Xentec brand does work now, you'll kick yourself when they die after only a few months.
Its more worth it to invest in a higher quality ballast that'll last a few years. I purchased my HID kit from TRS.com and they're warrantied to last 5 years and they cost $150. Divide that by the years they last and it comes out to around the same price of $30 per year but without the hassle of troubleshooting dying ballasts/bulbs.
Its more worth it to invest in a higher quality ballast that'll last a few years. I purchased my HID kit from TRS.com and they're warrantied to last 5 years and they cost $150. Divide that by the years they last and it comes out to around the same price of $30 per year but without the hassle of troubleshooting dying ballasts/bulbs.
Last edited by Domm; Apr 9, 2012 at 09:47 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
2008 C300 Lux
You should also think about purchasing more reputable brands. Although the Xentec brand does work now, you'll kick yourself when they die after only a few months.
Its more worth it to invest in a higher quality ballast that'll last a few years. I purchased my HID kit from TRS.com and they're warrantied to last 5 years and they cost $150. Divide that by the years they last and it comes out to around the same price of $30 per year but without the hassle of troubleshooting dying ballasts/bulbs.
Its more worth it to invest in a higher quality ballast that'll last a few years. I purchased my HID kit from TRS.com and they're warrantied to last 5 years and they cost $150. Divide that by the years they last and it comes out to around the same price of $30 per year but without the hassle of troubleshooting dying ballasts/bulbs.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 332
Likes: 4
From: Charlotte
2012 C63; 2011 E350 Coupe
Philips HID Kits
Sorry to hijack your thread. Just bought two Philips Xenon kits for my C300 and GLK350. All the threads I've read indicate this is a simple plug-n-play. Take a look at this kit. I've never seen so many connections. The harnesses sitting in front of the light kits are for connecting directly to the battery. I've read where a lot of people just plug the kit to the existing wiring with no issues. Do I need the extra wiring harnesses? They were $100. I also paid $60 for the little metal mounting clips in the lower RH of the pic.
I paid $700 for everything. Lots of $$$. Kinda feel like I've been screwed.
Open for any and all opinions.
Thanks
I paid $700 for everything. Lots of $$$. Kinda feel like I've been screwed.
Open for any and all opinions.
Thanks
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
2008 C300 Lux
I'm not familiar with the Philips kits, but $700 is very expensive, even for two kits. Where did you purchase from, online or brick and mortar?
Most kits nowadays are plug-n-play. The harness you are speaking of is a relay harness, which is used to connect the kit to the vehicle's battery, an unneccessary step in our/most applications. The little metal mounting clips seem unneccessary (especially for $60) also. All you really need are the ballasts (preferably AC), a set of error code eliminator harnesses (or buy ballasts with built-in eliminators) and the bulbs. The error code eliminator (CAN-BUS) help 'trick' the vehicle's system into thinking that you are still running a 55w bulb instead of a 35w HID bulb. When the system senses anything less than what it is rated for, it'll send an 'error code/check light/bulb out' message on your console because it thinks that one or more of your bulbs are out of order.
You should be able to get a good kit for less than $150 each. I bought my cheap set with a pair of separate error code eliminator harnesses for less than $40. But as you may have read, I believe that my ballasts are of the DC variety, thus causing my flickering issues, so now I'll have to spend a little more money to get better ballasts (AC type). Nonetheless, you shouldn't have needed to pay $700.
Most kits nowadays are plug-n-play. The harness you are speaking of is a relay harness, which is used to connect the kit to the vehicle's battery, an unneccessary step in our/most applications. The little metal mounting clips seem unneccessary (especially for $60) also. All you really need are the ballasts (preferably AC), a set of error code eliminator harnesses (or buy ballasts with built-in eliminators) and the bulbs. The error code eliminator (CAN-BUS) help 'trick' the vehicle's system into thinking that you are still running a 55w bulb instead of a 35w HID bulb. When the system senses anything less than what it is rated for, it'll send an 'error code/check light/bulb out' message on your console because it thinks that one or more of your bulbs are out of order.
You should be able to get a good kit for less than $150 each. I bought my cheap set with a pair of separate error code eliminator harnesses for less than $40. But as you may have read, I believe that my ballasts are of the DC variety, thus causing my flickering issues, so now I'll have to spend a little more money to get better ballasts (AC type). Nonetheless, you shouldn't have needed to pay $700.
