Xenon bulb retrofit problem

[gfromleeds]

Morning guys I've recently installed a hid xenon bulb conversion kit into my w204 and they work great with impressive light output, and a nice colour.
However with the ignition on they work great but...... with the engine running they randomly turn off, then 3-5 seconds later, turn back on.
I'm assuming they are not faulty as with the engine off, they work fine for as long as you like, but with the engine on, they misbehave.
So I'm going out on a limb and saying it's something to do with the voltage/wattage and the bulb failure monitor not liking them?
Anyone got any ideas of how best I can re-teach the monitor or resistors to trick it or even a better option ie brighter bulbs, leds ect..
Although I've been down the led road with another car and it wasn't fun! Not very bright and didn't last long anyway.
Cheers in advance

 

[harrye500]

Would suggest that unless the Xenon kit is MB OE you could get issues. Could be faulty Ballasts? Not questioning your reasoning on fitting as Xenon generally better over Halogen. Among other 'legal' issues, unless your headlamp is a genuine HID unit, your projector lenses will be incompatible with HID bulbs. Various issues including incorrect alignment and shape of light, dazzling oncoming drivers etc. Also, you will find it is likely to fail the next MOT. An MOT mandatory requirement is headlamp washers for Xenon headlamps so that alone may give you issues. You need a constant current to power HID ballasts. Voltage in a ballast is insane so whatever you do be exceptionally careful handling the retro kit as a shock from one can seriously hurt you. I can see why you wanted to fit them, but it may give you problems aside of your current one, in the future.

 

[gfromleeds]

Yea I've had them for quite a few year on different vehicles and not had any problems with mots
I know the units can be temperamental about having good clean conditions I've seen them melt a plug connection when the earth wasn't the best and had a heck of a belt form them (don't unplug the bulb while turned on lol) but what's confusing me now is they work perfectly with the engine off but when I start it they start playing up.
I've even tried an old 100w kit I have and that's the same only it cycles the on/off much more regularly! That's what's got me thinking it's the cars computer that dosnt like them!
I'm thinking about ditching them and trying led again!
Has anyone got any recommendations regarding which are good and not so good!

 

[brandwooddixon]

Don't you have to set a code to tell the car that it has Xenon HID fitted? I gather that the bulb test function plays up otherwise as the feedback from the ballast is different than from a Halogen bulb.

 

[LostKiwi]

LEDs in an Halogen housing are illegal. The beam pattern is wrong and they have a tendency to dazzle oncoming drivers.

They invalidate the type approval and certificate of conformance for the vehicle.

 

[DSK]

Interesting, I thought the HID kit would work better on Mercs. When I fitted LED bulbs to my CLS219 I had the same issue as you. I had to get an additional resistor which sorted the issue. It’s not a great solution and therefore I will be looking at what’s involved in getting the full OEM xenon units fitted as this car has been fully reliable and should keep going for several more years.

I think I have seen your model with factory halogen mentioned to also be very poor for OEM halogen lighting. I had to get out and check my dipped beam hadn’t failed as it looked like I had side lights on only! In the early hours pitch pitch black country lanes I just switched the lights off and use the tree lines to guide myself home over 1 ad hours! That’s is how beyond shockingly, awful the original setup is. Fvck knows how it passed any R&D testing. Must have been an approval in exchange for a pint down the pub. If I had known how fussy these Merc’s are before hand, I’d have either got rid of the car or, investigates what’s involved in fitting a full OEM xenon conversion as the aftermarket stuff is just a ball ache.

As for dazzling, I have seen OEM cars that dazzle and hurt everyones eyes as well as, some badly done xenon conversions. Likewise, I have seen many cars with xenon bulbs on their OEM halogen headlights causing me no issues at all either behind or oncoming.


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[gfromleeds]

Yea the standard lights are projector lenses but as you said there like candles in the wind lol
I do a lot of out in the country driving at very early hours (already still dark when I leave for work)
I've used these kits for years with no real problems, as when in projector lenses they seam to project the proper pattern !
The light output seams 100% better but every minute or so, 1 or the other turns off for 5 or 6 seconds , which is not exactly ideal lol.
Only does it when the engine it running though ?
I've Seen the hid error cancelling capacitors and for £15 I've ordered a set and will report back when they arrive.

 

[LostKiwi]

As with LEDs HiDs in a halogen housing invalidate type approval and Certificate of Conformity making the car illegal to drive on UK roads and also potentially invalidating insurance.

 

[brandwooddixon]

You may be experiencing one of two problems - the lighting circuit is not detecting the correct current draw and so as part if the bulb test function it appears to be turning the circuit off and on. Another potential, often seen in aftermarket LED fitting, is that the units are overheating and turning themselves off as they cool down.

 

[gfromleeds]

You may be experiencing one of two problems - the lighting circuit is not detecting the correct current draw and so as part if the bulb test function it appears to be turning the circuit off and on. Another potential, often seen in aftermarket LED fitting, is that the units are overheating and turning themselves off as they cool down.

I don't think there over heating because there turning off for exactly 5 seconds each time although they don't both turn off at exactly the same time each one comes back on 5 seconds later

 

[brandwooddixon]

I don't think there over heating because there turning off for exactly 5 seconds each time although they don't both turn off at exactly the same time each one comes back on 5 seconds later

Which leaves you with the coding/current draw issue.

 

[DSK]

Like I said I had the same issue which I only noticed one day whilst waiting for several minutes watching my reflection. I had to fit an extra set of resistors to eliminate the issue. It’s seriously a total ball ache, even more so with the useless lack of access on some models.

I know it costs more but I’d only look at a genuine xenon assembly upgrade for sanity’s sake which, should come with all the gubbins you need to ensure reliable operation.


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[gfromleeds]

Would the oem xenon light units work without any modification ie plug and pluy or would the bulb failure module still throw teddy out?

 

[brandwooddixon]

I'm sure that this has come up in the past, you will likely still need to get the vehicle on Xentry/Star to code it for Xenon rather than Halogen headlamps.