Legendaia

I'm installing aftermarket HIDS but they shut off right away then try to start up again. I have a wire harness hooked up so it does'nt draw alot of power but it still wont come on. What can I do?

Moneypit SEL

Sounds like it either needs more power, or you've hooked something up wrong. Go back and check everything.

amdeutsch

1) Aftermarket without the proper knowledge.

2) hookup with problems.

Both of these could have been answer by using the proper forum search function prior to implementation. Yes, this may sound harsh; but you are the one who wanted to save the $s.

Legendaia

all the wiring is connected right it shuts off when I turn it on, but when I attach the regular bulbs in with the harness it works. I just have to figure out a way to trick the computer into thinking there is factory bulb connected. As far as not enough power I connected a wiring harness that draws power directly from the battery. So if i can maybe find a resistor something that shows the same impedance as the bulb I've got it.

amdeutsch

Resistors do just that; show resistance unless they are wire wound and then you might find another component intruding. What you are talking about is representing a complex load normally known as a lamp load. Which, by the way can be approximated by a resistance. Confusing? Yes.


Make sure you mount your resistor to a good insulator like plastic. That way the heat will form a protective shield, keeping the dirt out, around your component, by reforming the plastic around it due to the heat. :v

steph280

bribe your dealer to program your car for Xenon present.

PHML

Yah...i heard someone tell me the same thing.....that the dealer had to switch the computer to Xenon HIDs in order for aftermarket HID kits to work on OEM halogens.

Is this true for my 2002 ML320?

Thanks in advance.

Pete

Fast55

Yes.

PHML

Can you tell me whats involved in this "switching"? How much does it normally cost to do this? Im about to go to my MB dealer to get my replacement Smartkey programmed....so it makes sense to have this done at the same time.

Thanks in advance.

Pete

Fast55

Totally dependent on the dealer. They may not want to do it at all because the setup is aftermarket, but the reason it doesn't work is the halogens draw 55 watts each, the HID's, 35 watts. The programming can only be done through Star Diagnostics.

PHML

Hmmmm....so the HIDs drawing 20 watts less...would the ecu think there is a problem and automatically shut down the lowbeams?

Does it make any difference in how HID kits draw power? I seen some kits draw power for the ballasts directly from the battery...and the lowbeam sockets are utilized as the ON/OFF trigger.

Then there are some kits that pull power for the ballasts directly from the lowbeam sockets (no hookup to the battery at all).

Does one or the other counter the need to have the ecu "switched"?

Btw... my dealer service rep said he's checking into it...not sure if I need to do it, but thinks that if I did need to do it, it will cost me 1.5 hours.....roughly $165 to switch the setting.

Pete

Fast55

Not being a tech, I would say that if the setup you are using doesn't draw from the headlight socket, you may have trouble. Even if the car has factory xenons, it expects to see a 35W draw, not 1-2 watts using the circuit as a trigger. I can't believe it would take them that long to find the sub-menu and change it, but again, only someone with a Star Diagnostics machine can do it.

steph280

my stealer charged me $150 to do it (along with nav encoding), while some dealer will do it for you free. It's as simple as connecting the computer to your car and select a few options, can't take more than 10 minutes if the tech knows where to look.

Some kits comes with wiring harness that connects the ballast directly to your battery, with the stock halogen connection used to trigger a relay to turn on/off this connection. While this is the preferred method, it will not work with your MB as it needs to see that 35watts power going through so the "lamps out" error is not triggered.