Bi-X Igniter replacement / disassembly DIY Guide
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,034
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From: Corona, CA
03 g35 coupe...........02 c32 Sold
just spend $25..get a hid harness. Connect the harness to the ballasts and the other end to the car battery. Then connect the trigger to your side marker using wire taps.
For $25 and $1 worth of wire taps..you fixed your hid issue. You will still have the head light error but your hids will work and should no longer flicker.
Also keep in mind..yes hid use less amps then halogens on average, but they almost use double the amps during start up. You do running the risk of damaging your oem head light harness, since it was not designed to run that many amps.
This is why i always recommend to people to use a separate harness if your car was not originally equipped with HIDS.
Also keep in mind most aftermarket hid ballasts use a lot more amps then oem ballasts.
Here's the link to the harness.
http://store.theretrofitsource.com/p...25466de0d8baec
good luck..
Mercedes has too many sensors for useless things..anyone know if you can disable all the light sensors through star?
For $25 and $1 worth of wire taps..you fixed your hid issue. You will still have the head light error but your hids will work and should no longer flicker.
Also keep in mind..yes hid use less amps then halogens on average, but they almost use double the amps during start up. You do running the risk of damaging your oem head light harness, since it was not designed to run that many amps.
This is why i always recommend to people to use a separate harness if your car was not originally equipped with HIDS.
Also keep in mind most aftermarket hid ballasts use a lot more amps then oem ballasts.
Here's the link to the harness.
http://store.theretrofitsource.com/p...25466de0d8baec
good luck..
Mercedes has too many sensors for useless things..anyone know if you can disable all the light sensors through star?
Last edited by TemjinX2; Oct 4, 2008 at 03:17 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!




Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,258
Likes: 168
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Hey Guys,
My passenger side Bix started flickering the other day...
yes, Xenon is set to present.
What does it mean?
I'm going to switch the bulbs side to side, but from what I've read, it's unlikely it's the bulb.
So is the likely culprit the igniter or the ballast?
I could see the ballast mounted on the side of the unit when I installed it,
but where the igniter?
Help!
Which Gen ballast do these cars use? I see "Gen 3" Gen 4 on ebay....
My passenger side Bix started flickering the other day...
yes, Xenon is set to present.
What does it mean?
I'm going to switch the bulbs side to side, but from what I've read, it's unlikely it's the bulb.
So is the likely culprit the igniter or the ballast?
I could see the ballast mounted on the side of the unit when I installed it,
but where the igniter?
Help!

Which Gen ballast do these cars use? I see "Gen 3" Gen 4 on ebay....
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Oct 7, 2008 at 05:09 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,034
Likes: 6
From: Corona, CA
03 g35 coupe...........02 c32 Sold
Hey Guys,
My passenger side Bix started flickering the other day...
yes, Xenon is set to present.
What does it mean?
I'm going to switch the bulbs side to side, but from what I've read, it's unlikely it's the bulb.
So is the likely culprit the igniter or the ballast?
I could see the ballast mounted on the side of the unit when I installed it,
but where the igniter?
Help!
Which Gen ballast do these cars use? I see "Gen 3" Gen 4 on ebay....
My passenger side Bix started flickering the other day...
yes, Xenon is set to present.
What does it mean?
I'm going to switch the bulbs side to side, but from what I've read, it's unlikely it's the bulb.
So is the likely culprit the igniter or the ballast?
I could see the ballast mounted on the side of the unit when I installed it,
but where the igniter?
Help!

Which Gen ballast do these cars use? I see "Gen 3" Gen 4 on ebay....
its more likely a bad ballast or bad ground. If your car came with HIDS then its not likely the grounds.
Most new ballasts have the ballast and ignitor intergrated together. Its more cost effective, uses less amps and produces less heat. I believe the old bosch ballasts used in e46 bmw's and old mercedes had the ballast and ignitor separate.
pic of a bosch ballast. The block box is the ignitor and the gray box is the ballast.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...spagenameZWDVW
Pic of matsu****a (panasonic) ballasts. Same used on lexus and infinite, the ignitor is in the ballast.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/INFIN...spagenameZWDVW
if your cars under warranty have them replace the ballast.
MBWorld Fanatic!




Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,258
Likes: 168
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
OK, so I took a look...how do I remove the bulbs?
I got the socket off the back, but don't see exactly how the bulb comes out.
I got the socket off the back, but don't see exactly how the bulb comes out.
MBWorld Fanatic!




Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,258
Likes: 168
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
DTB-p-b-82.10/376d Anyone have accesss to pull this up?
Anyone have an Alldata or WIS account to pull this up?
If so, please do, and post or email to me please....
dtb-p-b-82.10/376d
It's in regards to Xenon sockets...it says to look this up in the EPC.
If so, please do, and post or email to me please....
dtb-p-b-82.10/376d
It's in regards to Xenon sockets...it says to look this up in the EPC.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,034
Likes: 6
From: Corona, CA
03 g35 coupe...........02 c32 Sold
Remember not to touch the bulb with any part of your skin or you just ruined the bulb.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,498
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From: San Diego, CA & San Jose, Costa Rica & Stuttgart, Germany
1959 220S / 1979 230 G / 2002 A210 AMG / 2003 C320 SC / 2004.5 C320 SS / 2005 ML350 SE / 2008 smart
please post it here for all to reference.
No sense in posting up the bulletin reference # and then no info in the thread.
No sense in posting up the bulletin reference # and then no info in the thread.
Where are the OEM ballast and igniter located? I have looked all over and come to the conclusion that they must be neatly and inaccessibly tucked into the headlight assembly?
Has anyone managed to retrofit the OEM system with aftermarket ballasts and igniters or integrated units? If so, what would be involved in this?
KP
Has anyone managed to retrofit the OEM system with aftermarket ballasts and igniters or integrated units? If so, what would be involved in this?
KP
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,365
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From: Orange County, CA
GMC - Miata - Trek - P-Car
Carlos, to do so poses members with an intellectual property conundrum.
As part of MBW’s TOU one agrees, “…not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or to post copyrighted material without permission of its owner.”
It’s been done on occasion when there is a compelling thread in which sharing it may potentially benefit or enlighten the populous, by others and me. I rationalize it by comparing it to loaning a magazine I’ve paid for with a friend.
Don't know if they're hot about it or not?
As part of MBW’s TOU one agrees, “…not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or to post copyrighted material without permission of its owner.”
It’s been done on occasion when there is a compelling thread in which sharing it may potentially benefit or enlighten the populous, by others and me. I rationalize it by comparing it to loaning a magazine I’ve paid for with a friend.
Don't know if they're hot about it or not?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,498
Likes: 4
From: San Diego, CA & San Jose, Costa Rica & Stuttgart, Germany
1959 220S / 1979 230 G / 2002 A210 AMG / 2003 C320 SC / 2004.5 C320 SS / 2005 ML350 SE / 2008 smart
my bad.... thanks for the save John !!
don't want to get anyone in trouble.
OK.... how about just posting what the problem is, and then the solution...
all in paraphrased format for us cavemen to understand !!
don't want to get anyone in trouble.
OK.... how about just posting what the problem is, and then the solution...
all in paraphrased format for us cavemen to understand !!
MBWorld Fanatic!

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,013
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From: Livingston, California.
2002 c32 AMG 2012 c250 Coupe
+1. A bit of information won't hurt anyone and won't make anyone liable for a lawsuit. It's just like word of mouth(which we all around the world pass around).
Still taking the approach that the dealers service advisors owe you something vs. the honey appoach, to each his own. A typical independant MB mechanic does not have a Star Diagnostic computer to reset this option for you. Steve is coming to the U.S. in October, he can do it for you but you'll have to drive to a city he will be at. Have you considered blue tinted halogen bulbs?
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Super Moderator

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 191
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Fair complaint - That's where Carlos & others are great & give you a pic of the part with it's number on the packaging.
Super Moderator

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 191
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires


