HID Question

[t_marat]

Is this HID bulb any useful?
http://cgi.ebay.com/BMW-5-Series-E34-E39-87-W5W-501-Xenon-Sidelight-bulbs_W0QQitemZ8026357676QQcategoryZ72235QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem

Its very cheap. The Kaizen one is much more expensive:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HID-xenon-kit-KAIXEN-bmw-honda-acura-toyota-suburu-benz_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ36476QQitemZ802531 7477QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Why is there sucha a big price difference?

[Jon K]

lol dude, the first one is a "sidemarker" bulb with "xenon gas" which is a total gimmick. It's not an HID. The second one is an HID kit... whether or not "Kaizen" is a good brand is another matter, but at least it is an actual HID system.

PEOPLE! HIDs need ballast and bulbs, and some kits still use seperate "ignitors". Do not give into the "Xenon gas" filament bulbs... they'er just blue tungsten light!

[t_marat]

I thought you just insert the HID lamp into the headlight. As far as I understood, these are different systems and you will need ballasts to ignite the HID lamp and control the current going through it. http://www.cooperlighting.com/solutions/industrial/hid.asp

Do these HID kits affect in any way the car's electric system?

[Jon K]

No, true HID systems require a ballast and the HID capule itself requires extremely high voltage (when compared to a halogen light) to ignite. The ballast serves as an amplifier/voltage conditioner. As far as an effect ont he cars electric system, sometimes intial fire-up will cause low voltage over the car, but it is only momentary. I run 4 HIDs (two low beams two fog lights) and i can fire them all at the same time without any weirdness.

[Qube]

Kaixen is good. Their support is top notch!

I have also used Cebt, though doesn't seem to be as well made (ballast). Their support is also top notch!

Top notch support meaning they will answer your questions VERY promptly and their warranty exchange is great! They also sent me a Christmas card :) No, I'm not a high volume buyer.

[t_marat]

Jon, what brand do you use?

[Jon K]

I use Phillips bulbs and Phillips ballasts, not cheap.

[t_marat]

So for an HID setup you need an HID bulb plus the ballast. The HID buld will fit directly into the headlight socket? HID bulb connected to the ballast, which in turn is connected to the headlight connector, right?

[Alexlind123]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-e34-e36-6000k-9006-D2R-Xenon-Kit-3-5-Series-M3-HID_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ36476QQitemZ8019858 210QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

How do these look? And how much are bulbs to replace?

[Qube]

Bulbs, which should last the lifetime of the car, cost ~$90 bucks to a pair. Before you buy, check what company manufactures the kit and what the warranty is. Like I posted earlier, I did quite some research on the two I bought from and they have been great!

[Alexlind123]

How much did you spend on yours, Qube?

[Torque]

Question for those running HIDs:

Do you get the 'Headlight' message on the dash every time you start the car? If so, is there a way to work around it?

[632 Regal]

yep

Question for those running HIDs:
Do you get the 'Headlight' message on the dash every time you start the car? If so, is there a way to work around it?

[Torque]

yepyep to both?

[liquidtiger720]

I spend $190 shipped for my xtec kit :)

[632 Regal]

yes
yep to both?

[Torque]

I spend $190 shipped for my xtec kit :)do tell where. if its something nobody can know, feel free to pm me. :D

[liquidtiger720]

Bought from Jim @ apexcone


Though, it was a special...so I doub't he'll honor the price anymore.

[Qube]

$200 for the Cebt kit and I believe $225 for the Kaixen kits. All USD.

No issues with Low Beam Warning. I have used both kits. Kaixen in my 89 535iM and Cebt in a Focus and 90 (?) 535iA.

[Johntee540]

$250 from Umnitza for the Pro-Lumen Kit. I am running both Headlamps and Fogs.

LowBeam Message was a problem. I tried Relays, Resistors and nothing worked. I finally wired a set of "Auxillary" Lights under the hood and the message went away.

others here have not had the issue I had. - JT

[willobmw]

To ME, the best combination for the HID conversion is using Hella Euro Smileys and Hella Ballast. I chose generation 3 ballast for the built in ignitor and it's rugged construction. In addition NO CODES. Generation 2,3 and 4 ballast are readily available on Ebay for some low and not so low prices. I don't think you will get codes using either one.
I got rebased 4300k H1 bulbs,wiring adapter and wiring harnesses all from cebthk (Hong Kong) on Ebay. Easy plug and play installation. I am presently rebasing a set of Hella/Osram bulbs to have around as spares.
Willobmw

[t_marat]

What does "rebasing a bulb" mean?

[Guapo]

Question for those running HIDs:

Do you get the 'Headlight' message on the dash every time you start the car? If so, is there a way to work around it?

http://www.bbesound.com/bmw/HIDinstall/

[willobmw]

First the disclaimer: I'm no expert on the subject by any means. The Euro Smileys normally take H1 bulbs. Xenon bulbs I believe come standard as say 9006 bulb sockets or whatever. The Guy in Hong Kong and a few others out there mold new bases around Phillips and a lot of inferior HID bulbs to fit light sockets such as H1, H4, H7 etc.
I'm using one of his bulbs as a guide to cut (dremel tool) the standard HID bulbs to a H1 socket. I will practice on a known bad bulb first, but only paid $25.00 each on Ebay for new Osram bulbs.
Willobmw

[t_marat]

This item has ballasts and D2S bulbs. Will it fit on an E34 Euro Smileys?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HELLA-D2S-KIT-XENON-HID-BALLASTS-HEADLIGHT_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ36476QQitemZ8 025443635QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[willobmw]

Yes those are the ballast that I am using. Yes with some modifications (rebasing) to the base of the bulb. If you have Hella Euro Smileys, you are half way home. The price of the system you have shown is way too expensive in my opinion. The bulbs could be DOA or soon after. Keep looking and take your time.
you can get everthing a lot cheaper. Get new bulbs.
Willobmw

[t_marat]

The stock lamps are H1, right (Hella Euro Smiley)? Bulbs shown in the item description will need to be rebased for H1 socket?

[willobmw]

The stock lamps are H1, right (Hella Euro Smiley)? Bulbs shown in the item description will need to be rebased for H1 socket?
That's correct.