Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

HID ballast failure-water

Post Reply
flybobbie
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4015
Joined: Sat May 25, 2013 8:27 pm
Location: Stourbridge

HID ballast failure-water

Post by flybobbie » Thu Dec 29, 2022 5:56 pm

So if like me you modded the headlamp, (wanted new glass as original scratched and grazed) and the seal fails (silicone won't do the job and the original sealant would be right b...r to get out, tried heating, the plastic starts to buckle, gave up that idea), any water that enters goes straight to the bottom of lamp housing, through the connecting socket and into the ballast unit.
Good design put ballast unit at the bottom, with no seals.

I had small amount of condensation initially and the headlamp failed, tried replacing the bulb, no joy.
Now removed ballast and opened up, all wet, some corrosion and white stuff inside.
Just drying out having used contact cleaner, hope it resuscitates it.
20221229_135524.jpg
20221229_135524.jpg (166.37 KiB) Viewed 480 times
Quite surprised how much electronics inside.

User avatar
Smartbear
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 13685
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:54 pm
Location: a barn in Somerset

HID ballast failure-water

Post by Smartbear » Thu Dec 29, 2022 6:00 pm

At this rate your z4’s going to be renamed triggers broom!
Rob
Image

e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
e85 3.0si sold

flybobbie
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4015
Joined: Sat May 25, 2013 8:27 pm
Location: Stourbridge

HID ballast failure-water

Post by flybobbie » Thu Dec 29, 2022 6:01 pm

On reassembly think i will stick a large gob of Vaseline in the socket and seal the ballast with the same gutter sealant i used on lamp housing.
Finish of wrapping aluminium sticky backed foil.

If that fails i will visit the BMW breaker up the road next week, see if they have ballast.

User avatar
Chris_D
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 6615
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2016 11:41 pm
Location: Mostly Holland. Sometimes UK.

HID ballast failure-water

Post by Chris_D » Thu Dec 29, 2022 6:08 pm

Good luck with that idea!
if it's failed electrically, due to a short etc then you will have more chance of seeing Oscar Pistorious catching athletes foot than rescusitating it!
Best is just to bite the bullet and replace it, making sure you prevent condensate forming and dripping on it again.
E85 3.0i roadie (03) 'Benny'. E93 320d M-Sport Cabrio (11) 'Bob'.
Image
'Always different, always the same.' John Peel on The Fall.

flybobbie
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4015
Joined: Sat May 25, 2013 8:27 pm
Location: Stourbridge

HID ballast failure-water

Post by flybobbie » Thu Dec 29, 2022 6:24 pm

Chris_D wrote: Thu Dec 29, 2022 6:08 pm Good luck with that idea!
if it's failed electrically, due to a short etc then you will have more chance of seeing Oscar Pistorious catching athletes foot than rescusitating it!
Best is just to bite the bullet and replace it, making sure you prevent condensate forming and dripping on it again.
Well, we shall see.

flybobbie
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4015
Joined: Sat May 25, 2013 8:27 pm
Location: Stourbridge

HID ballast failure-water

Post by flybobbie » Tue Jan 03, 2023 6:07 pm

Rather than take a risk, ordered a new one.

flybobbie
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4015
Joined: Sat May 25, 2013 8:27 pm
Location: Stourbridge

HID ballast failure-water

Post by flybobbie » Mon Jan 16, 2023 10:56 am

Chris_D wrote: Thu Dec 29, 2022 6:08 pm Good luck with that idea!
if it's failed electrically, due to a short etc then you will have more chance of seeing Oscar Pistorious catching athletes foot than rescusitating it!
Best is just to bite the bullet and replace it, making sure you prevent condensate forming and dripping on it again.
Well dried out one works.

So will be sending back the new one.

User avatar
Chris_D
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 6615
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2016 11:41 pm
Location: Mostly Holland. Sometimes UK.

HID ballast failure-water

Post by Chris_D » Mon Jan 16, 2023 2:41 pm

flybobbie wrote: Mon Jan 16, 2023 10:56 am
Chris_D wrote: Thu Dec 29, 2022 6:08 pm Good luck with that idea!
if it's failed electrically, due to a short etc then you will have more chance of seeing Oscar Pistorious catching athletes foot than rescusitating it!
Best is just to bite the bullet and replace it, making sure you prevent condensate forming and dripping on it again.
Well dried out one works.

So will be sending back the new one.
Hard to believe.
E85 3.0i roadie (03) 'Benny'. E93 320d M-Sport Cabrio (11) 'Bob'.
Image
'Always different, always the same.' John Peel on The Fall.

flybobbie
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4015
Joined: Sat May 25, 2013 8:27 pm
Location: Stourbridge

HID ballast failure-water

Post by flybobbie » Mon Jan 16, 2023 7:47 pm

Well it's well lacquered, so other than the high voltage jumping something, it survived.

Post Reply