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.
Quite surprised how much electronics inside.
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HID ballast failure-water
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- Lifer
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- Smartbear
- Lifer
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HID ballast failure-water
At this rate your z4’s going to be renamed triggers broom!
Rob
Rob
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
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- Lifer
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HID ballast failure-water
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.
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.
- Chris_D
- Lifer
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HID ballast failure-water
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.
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'.
'Always different, always the same.' John Peel on The Fall.
'Always different, always the same.' John Peel on The Fall.
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- Lifer
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HID ballast failure-water
Well, we shall see.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.
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- Lifer
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- Joined: Sat May 25, 2013 8:27 pm
- Location: Stourbridge
HID ballast failure-water
Rather than take a risk, ordered a new one.
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- Lifer
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HID ballast failure-water
Well dried out one works.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.
So will be sending back the new one.
- Chris_D
- Lifer
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HID ballast failure-water
Hard to believe.flybobbie wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 10:56 amWell dried out one works.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.
So will be sending back the new one.
E85 3.0i roadie (03) 'Benny'. E93 320d M-Sport Cabrio (11) 'Bob'.
'Always different, always the same.' John Peel on The Fall.
'Always different, always the same.' John Peel on The Fall.
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- Lifer
- Posts: 4017
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2013 8:27 pm
- Location: Stourbridge
HID ballast failure-water
Well it's well lacquered, so other than the high voltage jumping something, it survived.