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HID not working/buzzing noise

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Old Jan 6, 2025 | 11:00 AM
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E350 CDI
HID not working/buzzing noise

I have just replaced two ballasts on the driver's side since my HID suddenly died. The HID was working fine briefly, until it died again. I have done this twice and same result. I used OEM ballasts. I also hear a strong buzzing noise coming from either the wires going into the HID or the ballast.

Anyone else ran into this problem before? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks
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Old Jan 6, 2025 | 01:17 PM
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W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
HID Repair

Originally Posted by m01befc
I have just replaced two ballasts on the driver's side since my HID suddenly died. The HID was working fine briefly, until it died again. I have done this twice and same result. I used OEM ballasts. I also hear a strong buzzing noise coming from either the wires going into the HID or the ballast.

Anyone else ran into this problem before? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks
Your replacement high-voltage HID's keep buzzing and burning...

> Bulbs die before ballasts expire... Can you swap the (clean) bulbs left to right for testing or get a new set if you have not yet done so recently. Old tired bulbs have a low light output...

> Inspect the wiring insulation between ballast to bulb.

> Last inspect the igniter adapter in the back of the bulb to strike high-voltage for plasma ignition.

HIGH-VOLTAGE means... you'll be working without active power and without voltmeter.


Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Jan 6, 2025 at 01:32 PM.
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Old Jan 6, 2025 | 02:32 PM
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Thank you.
i did forget to mention, that at first when the hid stopped working, the bulb was briefly flickering on the first start of the car.
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Old Jan 6, 2025 | 03:03 PM
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Originally Posted by m01befc
Thank you.
i did forget to mention, that at first when the hid stopped working, the bulb was briefly flickering on the first start of the car.
How old are the flickering HID bulbs?
You can have an all good system not work with only bad bulbs.
Besides bad bulbs kill the ballast by increasing current and voltage.
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Old Jan 6, 2025 | 04:10 PM
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When I first changed the ballast, I changed the HID first to see if that was the problem. I changed the HID and it didnt work. I reverted to the original bulb and the ballast was, so i thought, the problem.
I've linked a video that shows the buzzing, hope you can hear it. The buzzing does happen after I move the wires around that power the HID. I cannot pinpoint where the buzzing is coming from.

Last edited by m01befc; Jan 6, 2025 at 04:19 PM.
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Old Jan 6, 2025 | 04:28 PM
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now, I am all confused with what's new and killing what.

Don't keep old HID bulbs...

[HID Bulbs + ballasts]
are very similar to
[Spark plugs + coils]
one kills the other with high voltge spikes.
​​​​​​​

Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Jan 6, 2025 at 04:49 PM.
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Old Jan 6, 2025 | 04:35 PM
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So I got a new HID when the original one died. I put the new HID in, and it did not work.
I replaced the ballast, and both HIDs worked, i.e. both the original, and the new one. So I kept the original.
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Old Jan 6, 2025 | 04:54 PM
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Originally Posted by m01befc
So I got a new HID when the original one died. I put the new HID in, and it did not work.
I replaced the ballast, and both HIDs worked, i.e. both the original, and the new one. So I kept the original.
I don't know how to troubleshoot the igniter built in the bulb socket. Maybe it's what's buzzing
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Old Jan 6, 2025 | 05:10 PM
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I'll have a try at replacing the HID again, see if I can find anything out. I have a few laying around I think.
Thank you very much for the help, I'll keep everything in mind
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Old Jan 6, 2025 | 05:34 PM
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Originally Posted by m01befc
I'll have a try at replacing the HID again, see if I can find anything out. I have a few laying around I think.
Thank you very much for the help, I'll keep everything in mind
This is one good place to apply "parts-canon" when everything is built to go anyway. The parts count is low.

In that order:
  1. New plasma bulb
  2. New HID Ballast
  3. Then strike igniter
  4. (defective wiring insulation)

You can't go wrong.

Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Jan 6, 2025 at 05:36 PM.
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Old Jan 8, 2025 | 10:46 AM
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Ive replaced the ballast, ive replaced the HID, nothing changed.
​​​​​​When taking the ballast out, I saw a blue residue between the pin connectors. This liquid came out because the ballast overheated? If so, what could it be? Its unlikely that 3 ballasts have failed.
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Old Jan 8, 2025 | 01:22 PM
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​​​​​​​The IGNITER...

Originally Posted by m01befc
Ive replaced the ballast, ive replaced the HID, nothing changed.

​​​​​​When taking the ballast out, I saw a blue residue between the pin connectors.
This liquid came out because the ballast overheated?
If so, what could it be?
Its unlikely that 3 ballasts have failed.
the bulb igniter
the bulb igniter
located in the socket where you spotted blue residue... presumably electrolyte from a leaking capacitor.

Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Jan 8, 2025 at 01:28 PM.
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