Help! I switched Xenons to LED, won't light.

[WilsoN55]

I switched to LEDs and driver side wasn't lighting, I tried reinstalling the Xenons and the driver side still won't light... Checked fuses, found one fuse that was loose but not related to headlights.. no luck. Tried jostling the wires, double and triple checked for damaged prongs... I'm baffled.. any ideas? AEs and turns still work fine. No errors on my dash, ran codes, nothing..

[WilsoN55]

I ordered a new ballast, should be here tomorrow.. fingers crossed.

[Papa Popov]

Originally Posted by WilsoN55

I ordered a new ballast, should be here tomorrow.. fingers crossed.

Never dealt with Xenons, but I wouldn't think that the ballast would be the issue if the LED didn't work. LEDs are usually plug and play since the control is integrated into most bulbs. Maybe your wiring harness came loose?

[WilsoN55]

Appreciate your response. Thinking about this more I realized I took my car for a wash before I changed the bulbs.. I'm guessing a bit but it may have shorted the ballast... Only way I can understand why the Xenon I just removed wouldn't ignite after reinstalling it either (and having gone through a few checks). I received the new ballast today but 9 out of the next 10 days it's supposed to be raining and my garage is housing another project... I called a used car dealer and asked if I could use their shop for 45 mins and the owner told me to come by on Saturday when the mechanics are off and he'll let me use the shop for a few hours! Sweet, there are still some good ppl left!!!

[WilsoN55]

Originally Posted by Papa Popov

Never dealt with Xenons, but I wouldn't think that the ballast would be the issue if the LED didn't work. LEDs are usually plug and play since the control is integrated into most bulbs. Maybe your wiring harness came loose?

Can now confirm {moisture entered the chat}.. swapped headlight ballast and it fired right up.. upon inspecting it, it was filled with white corrosion.. probably been on the fritz for years. Pro tip: I ordered a $65 hid ballast on Amazon instead of ordering the $660 version from BMW... They're lighting up the same colours as well.. I was wondering if I would need to swap both.

[golfer23rm]

did the led bulbs not work?
i was also thinking of switching from the D1S bulb to an LED but the reviews i've seen indicate that the lighting output and direction won't work so well in the D1S housing.

[WilsoN55]

Originally Posted by golfer23rm

did the led bulbs not work?
i was also thinking of switching from the D1S bulb to an LED but the reviews i've seen indicate that the lighting output and direction won't work so well in the D1S housing.

No issues, mine are working well.. I fried the ballast (module, driver) that sits on the bottom of the assembly with moisture.. ordered $60 replacement on Amazon vs $660 replacement from BMW.. working perfect, LEDs are nearly as sharp as my F10 w. Adaptive LEDs. I wouldn't hesitate.

[ShocknAwe]

Why'd you switch xenon to LED? That's a major downgrade in a HID projector. Maybe whiter, illusion of visible light IMO.

[WilsoN55]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Why'd you switch xenon to LED? That's a major downgrade in a HID projector. Maybe whiter, illusion of visible light IMO.

I had just had low battery issues a few months ago, I don't generally park and leave my lights running but I was thinking about the energy usage... I think my old Xenons were tired and probably not as bright as they should have been, leaving me thinking the HID performance wasn't that great.. I wanted to match the look of my F10 with LEDs..

I would say that the light cut off is much sharper. I feel like the brightness improved but it may just be improved from tired HIDs, bulbs are cheap.. I can go back to HIDs if I feel like it..

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by WilsoN55

I had just had low battery issues a few months ago, I don't generally park and leave my lights running but I was thinking about the energy usage... I think my old Xenons were tired and probably not as bright as they should have been, leaving me thinking the HID performance wasn't that great.. I wanted to match the look of my F10 with LEDs..

I would say that the light cut off is much sharper. I feel like the brightness improved but it may just be improved from tired HIDs, bulbs are cheap.. I can go back to HIDs if I feel like it..

The D1S bulbs do get tired after a few years. I replaced with osram night breakers when I did my front end conversion and they're amazing, incredible output and retains close to stock temps for good mist performance too. I also use 2500K H8 bulbs in my rings with the power turned up for some fog performance, works well.

[WilsoN55]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

The D1S bulbs do get tired after a few years. I replaced with osram night breakers when I did my front end conversion and they're amazing, incredible output and retains close to stock temps for good mist performance too. I also use 2500K H8 bulbs in my rings with the power turned up for some fog performance, works well.

I'm no cheapass and honestly didn't know they had a higher potential. I may grab a set because those Osram night breakers were what I was considering before getting the LEDs.

[golfer23rm]

Can you post some pictures with the led bulbs.
thanks.