Angel Eye Burned Out (Literally) *Pictures Attached*

Fupa92 · 03-07-2011, 07:39 AM

I was told that one side of my HID Angel Eyes wasn't working, so when I had a friend look at it, we noticed the bulbs were fine. To our surprise, the wiring to one of the ballast was burned out, literally. I'm glad an engine fire didn't come of it, because it was a little scary when we saw it. I'm working with the vendor now who is a reputable fellow on getting this resolved.

In the meantime, does anyone know how this could of happened? If I can't resolve this with the vendor, would I be able to use different ballasts with the same bulbs? Any feedback would be appreciated.

elm3 · 03-07-2011, 08:06 AM

It looks like your balast got really hot.

J08M3 · 03-07-2011, 09:02 AM

I suggest not using that type of stuff anymore.....

ChrisK · 03-07-2011, 10:10 AM

It's one thing to put an LED in the AE, but a HID bulb and ballast? That's just not worth the problems.

Sean@PYSpeed.com · 03-07-2011, 10:57 AM

Ouch... Look at that damage. I can't imagine the things that happen when the whole thing burns through.

Jaypod · 03-07-2011, 11:10 AM

I had owned a kit like that. I used it for about 6 months and I noticed one of my bulbs was off. I took a look and the plastic cover for one of the wires was split. When I took it out of my car the wires were fairly brittle and parts of it just fell apart. IMO those kits are junk for our cars. Proper plug and play are the way to go.

Joonsup · 03-07-2011, 11:33 AM

what brand of HID angel eyes? So we know to stay away from them.

GOLFFRR · 03-07-2011, 11:36 AM

wow

808MGuy · 03-07-2011, 11:45 AM

Seen this happen even in an OEM HID setup (not a BMW). What happens is over time the heat in the housing hardens the insulation on the wires and instead of flexing like they should they actually start to crack. The cracked insulation eventually splits further and further apart to the point where the bare conductors are exposed and you get a short. The OEM setup I saw didn't melt to the point that yours did but the fuse for the headlight kept blowing and after inspecting the ballast, we found the broken insulation. It appears that could have been an extreme case of that where either the internal safety components of the ballast didn't kick in fast enough to stop the fire or your fuse at the fuse box didn't react like it should have. That is assuming the ballast were connected with the proper fuse size.

Keep in mind that on the OEM setup I saw this on, the car was already 7 years old when this happened so the hardening of the insulation happened over a long period of time. Our cars and your kit shouldn't even be close to that age so it could also be that the insulation rating on the wires they used were not high enough for that application.

mot · 03-07-2011, 12:04 PM

holy crap.

Fupa92 · 03-11-2011, 05:15 PM

*Update*

The vendor is sending out a new ballast, which is a new design. My question for those of you out there is would it be safe to have two different ballasts? Will it make a difference in Angel Eye color if the bulbs are still the same?

Any feedback would be appreciated, thanks!

Cab5er · 03-11-2011, 05:50 PM

All to have some brighter angel eyes

808MGuy · 03-11-2011, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fupa92

*Update*

The vendor is sending out a new ballast, which is a new design. My question for those of you out there is would it be safe to have two different ballasts? Will it make a difference in Angel Eye color if the bulbs are still the same?

Any feedback would be appreciated, thanks!

Sometimes I think these vendors BS about new ballast designs just to make you think its an improvement. Fact is, no one will come out with a new design and produce it in a matter of a few weeks. I'd be surprised if it was even a few months if proper testing is done. As far as if its ok to run two different ballasts, you can but I probably wouldn't want to. Every ballast is different and the characteristics could cause color shifting which would be obvious on a car since there are only 2 lights. Other issues would be if one ballast is more efficient than the other, you'd get more heat in the housing of the less efficient one and possibly cause that lamp to burn out faster. Ideally you'd like some symmetry in the system so you're not changing out 1 lamp at a time every few months.

Singletrack · 03-11-2011, 06:04 PM

Scary.

MonteCarloM3 · 03-11-2011, 07:43 PM

yoikes, i hope you don't wreck your car mang

03-07-2011, 07:39 AM	#1
Fupa92 Do you FUPA? 14 Rep 148 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Honolulu iTrader: (0)	Angel Eye Burned Out (Literally) Pictures Attached I was told that one side of my HID Angel Eyes wasn't working, so when I had a friend look at it, we noticed the bulbs were fine. To our surprise, the wiring to one of the ballast was burned out, literally. I'm glad an engine fire didn't come of it, because it was a little scary when we saw it. I'm working with the vendor now who is a reputable fellow on getting this resolved. In the meantime, does anyone know how this could of happened? If I can't resolve this with the vendor, would I be able to use different ballasts with the same bulbs? Any feedback would be appreciated. Attached Images
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03-07-2011, 08:06 AM	#2
elm3 ///M Fan 366 Rep 2,159 Posts Drives: '09 E92 M3 IB/'17 f85 X5M LBB Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Canton, GA. iTrader: (1) Garage List 2017 BMW / X5M [9.00] 2009 E92 M3 [10.00] 2004 Yamaha R1 [10.00]	It looks like your balast got really hot. __________________ '09 E92 ///M3 Interlagos Blue,6MT,Silver Novillo Leather,CF Trim,Premium Package,Technology Package,Cold Weather Package,Premium Sound,19"Wheels,Moonroof-Toy/'17 X5M, Long Beach Blue, Executive Package,Technology Package, Lighting Package, Driver Assist, Full Mughello Red Interior, 21" wheels-Toy/'14 535i with M Sport and 19" wheels-Daily
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03-07-2011, 09:02 AM	#3
J08M3 Major General 285 Rep 6,007 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 COUPE Join Date: May 2008 Location: NEW YORK iTrader: (8)	I suggest not using that type of stuff anymore..... __________________
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03-07-2011, 10:10 AM	#4
ChrisK Major General 4449 Rep 7,594 Posts Drives: '19 M2C Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chicagoland iTrader: (7) Garage List 2019 BMW M2C [7.00] 2015 Porsche Macan S [0.00]	It's one thing to put an LED in the AE, but a HID bulb and ballast? That's just not worth the problems. __________________ www.ReTuneTheDeTune.com 2019 M2 Competition (Sunset Orange)
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03-07-2011, 10:57 AM	#5
Sean@PYSpeed.com Major General 306 Rep 8,952 Posts Drives: 2009 AW E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (22)	Ouch... Look at that damage. I can't imagine the things that happen when the whole thing burns through.
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03-07-2011, 11:10 AM	#6
Jaypod Brigadier General 125 Rep 4,971 Posts Drives: Frozen M3, AM V8V, 991 GT3 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Toronto iTrader: (7)	I had owned a kit like that. I used it for about 6 months and I noticed one of my bulbs was off. I took a look and the plastic cover for one of the wires was split. When I took it out of my car the wires were fairly brittle and parts of it just fell apart. IMO those kits are junk for our cars. Proper plug and play are the way to go.
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03-07-2011, 11:33 AM	#7
Joonsup Lieutenant General 322 Rep 17,316 Posts Drives: E92 M3, E30 325i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (8) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [9.50]	what brand of HID angel eyes? So we know to stay away from them.
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03-07-2011, 11:36 AM	#8
GOLFFRR 10796 Rep 27,588 Posts Drives: GOLFFRR cart Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: we sell BMWs to "ALL" US states iTrader: (4)	wow __________________ BEFORE YOU BUY YOUR NEXT BMW, EMAIL OUR GUY KOTE FIRST! Kote M Sales:Kotem@bmwofcamarillo.com Cell:805-368-9101 vipfinance@bmwofcamarillo.com for warranties!
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03-07-2011, 11:45 AM	#9
808MGuy Colonel 219 Rep 2,339 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 M3 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Oahu, Hawaii iTrader: (3)	Seen this happen even in an OEM HID setup (not a BMW). What happens is over time the heat in the housing hardens the insulation on the wires and instead of flexing like they should they actually start to crack. The cracked insulation eventually splits further and further apart to the point where the bare conductors are exposed and you get a short. The OEM setup I saw didn't melt to the point that yours did but the fuse for the headlight kept blowing and after inspecting the ballast, we found the broken insulation. It appears that could have been an extreme case of that where either the internal safety components of the ballast didn't kick in fast enough to stop the fire or your fuse at the fuse box didn't react like it should have. That is assuming the ballast were connected with the proper fuse size. Keep in mind that on the OEM setup I saw this on, the car was already 7 years old when this happened so the hardening of the insulation happened over a long period of time. Our cars and your kit shouldn't even be close to that age so it could also be that the insulation rating on the wires they used were not high enough for that application. __________________ 2016 Porsche Cayman GTS - Sapphire Blue / Black Full Leather Interior / Carrera S Wheels
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03-07-2011, 12:04 PM	#10
mot Banned 38 Rep 936 Posts Drives: e92 AW M3 6MT Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Bay Area, California iTrader: (8)	holy crap.
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03-11-2011, 05:15 PM	#11
Fupa92 Do you FUPA? 14 Rep 148 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Honolulu iTrader: (0)	Update The vendor is sending out a new ballast, which is a new design. My question for those of you out there is would it be safe to have two different ballasts? Will it make a difference in Angel Eye color if the bulbs are still the same? Any feedback would be appreciated, thanks!
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03-11-2011, 05:50 PM	#12
Cab5er Colonel 80 Rep 2,339 Posts Drives: 09 E90 M3 (Sold) 13 A1 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fremont, Hainan iTrader: (22)	All to have some brighter angel eyes __________________ E90 ///M3/ AW/ Fox Red
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03-11-2011, 06:04 PM	#14
Singletrack 4th down; 4th quarter? Renegade. 87 Rep 3,850 Posts Drives: 09 SSII E92 M3; 19 FG M5C Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA iTrader: (3)	Scary.
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03-11-2011, 07:43 PM	#15
MonteCarloM3 Banned 52 Rep 576 Posts Drives: a shitty M3 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Uranus iTrader: (0)	yoikes, i hope you don't wreck your car mang
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